Pujols' foot is still ailing despite All-Star break

ANAHEIM -- While Albert Pujols enjoyed spending time with his family over the All-Star break, the four days without a baseball game did not offer any significant improvement to his ailing left foot.

"Feels the same," Pujols said. "I feel decent, but I'll see when I play."

Plantar fasciitis caused Pujols to serve as the team's designated hitter for 57 of the 91 games he played in during the first half, and because Pujols' production is so crucial to the Angels' success, his health will be monitored accordingly.

"Albert's naturally a guy that is important to us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Just like any player, you are always looking for things that might be out of character, as far as how they're moving or some of the time if they are laboring doing things. That doesn't change with any player, and we'll keep our eyes on him the same way."

Despite the injury, Pujols has managed to avoid the disabled list this season and sat out only two games in the first half.

Pujols is determined to be in the lineup and help his team in any way possible for the rest of the season, but offseason surgery is not out of the question.

However, it is not something Pujols wants to think about until the season is over.

"I don't want to talk about that right now," Pujols said. "That's not what's in my mind. We've still got a lot of games left and I don't want to put that distraction in this clubhouse."

What is on Pujols' mind is helping his team win games and finish the season a lot stronger than tit started.

"Obviously success is huge in the second half because when your team needs it the most, you put up some numbers," Pujols said. "But my goal is to get ready every day, have good quality at-bats and help my ballclub out."