OPINION

By Stan McNeal

updated 6:28 p.m. ET June 26, 2009

For the first time in a non-All-Star setting, Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer will play on the same field Friday. The second-place Twins visit steamy St. Louis for three games against the first-place Cardinals on the final weekend of interleague play.

Therefore, it is an opportune time to consider this question: Who would you rather have, Pujols or Mauer?

I understand. Choosing between the game's best hitter and the American League's best player is like deciding between Halladay and Santana, Fenway and Wrigley, peanuts and popcorn. You can't go wrong with either.

Both bring a lot of old-school to their game. Neither is a chest-pounder, though Pujols has been known to admire his home runs on occasion. Both lead without screaming. Both have spent their careers (so far) with the team that drafted them. Both have become icons in their communities. Barring injury, both should end up in Cooperstown.

Pujols has the more impressive resume, partly because he is older (29 to 26) and more experienced (nine seasons to five). He has won two MVPs, made seven All-Star teams and won a batting title, a Gold Glove and a World Series. Mauer has made two All-Star appearances, won two batting titles and one Gold Glove, and reached the postseason only once.

Career-wise, Pujols owns a decided edge in the batter's box. His numbers: .334 average, .426 OBP, 1.054 OPS. Mauer's: .324, .405 and .882. Power-wise, there is no comparison: Pujols is averaging 38 homers and 116 RBIs in nine seasons (even if he doesn't homer again or drive in another run in 2009). Mauer is averaging about 12 homers and 69 RBIs.

This season, however, Mauer has taken his offense to Pujols' level by adding power. Mauer, a lefthanded hitter, already has set his career high (14) in homers, despite missing a month because of back woes. He also kept his average above .400 until this week, and he enters the weekend at .395/.465/1.163. Pujols has been even better than usual, leading the majors with 26 homers and 70 RBIs, yet he trails Mauer at .324/.446/1.146.

Both have more walks than strikeouts (Pujols has twice as many) and raise their game in clutch situations. Mauer is hitting .571 with runners in scoring position and two outs; Pujols is 5-for-6 with the bases loaded, including three grand slams (he missed a fourth by about 10 feet against Johan Santana on Thursday).

Mauer rates a significant edge on defense because of his position. He is not a Mike Piazza-type of catcher, either. Mauer is a "premier defender at a premier position," as one scout said. In the past season, Mauer has taken more ownership in handling pitchers by becoming a vocal leader in pitchers' meetings.

Of the four talent evaluators who weighed in on the Pujols vs. Mauer debate Thursday, the one who clearly prefers Mauer does so because of his position. "First base is important, but to have a premier catcher who hits like Mauer is so valuable," the scout said.

Or, as former catcher turned Yankees analyst John Flaherty pointed out, "You should be able to find corner players who will hit."

The scout also agreed that the gap between Mauer and the second-best catcher -- "I don't even know who that would be," he said -- is greater than the difference between Pujols and the next-best first baseman, the Yankees' Mark Teixeira.

Interestingly, Pujols and Mauer both have highly productive sidekicks at the other's position. The Cardinals' catcher is Yadier Molina, a worthy candidate for second-best catcher in the majors. "He is the best catch-and-throw catcher in the game -- yes, better than Mauer," said another scout of Molina, who also was a .300 hitter last season. The Twins' first baseman is Justin Morneau, the 2006 A.L. MVP.

So, then, who would you rather have: Pujols and Molina, or Mauer and Morneau?

"Answering that is no easier than deciding between Pujols and Mauer," one scout said.

Whitey Herzog, the former manager and general manager, offered the most logical answer. "If I already had Molina, I'd take Pujols. If I had Morneau, I'd take Mauer," Herzog said.

That, of course, is the way the teams are built and, added a scout, "That's why their teams are always in contention."

The best reply came from another scout. "Look at it like this: If it's the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series, who do you want to have up," he asked. "I want Albert Pujols."

I agree, but I would not be disappointed with Joe Mauer, either.

Also on NBCSports.com PFT’s Picks: Eagles, Saints, Colts, Pats primed for wins   College football: Slideshow of Top 25 games MLB: Take a visual tour of the Yankees’ Series win College hoops: Season starts Monday! Are you ready?   Video: Red card? Some rough play in women's soccer Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Yanks on top, but dynasty talk premature   Vote, discuss: Will the Yankees repeat in 2010? Sosa’s skin undergoing noticeable color change Jays GM Anthopoulos hints at Halladay trade Damon wants to return, but has ‘a lot of options’ World Series rematch? Don’t count it out Crowds roar, bells ring as NYC fetes Yankees   Slideshow: Yankees on parade When confetti runs out, Yankee fans toss files Celizic: Winning for the Boss? Times have changed Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: