rangers will three-peat in the west. maybe even figure out how the hell to win it all, who knows...

downstairs: Really? 8 games into a 162 game season?

Came to say this...

As much as I'm upset at Pujols for how little class he handled this whole free agent debacle like every other Cardinal fan, I agree that it's way to early to reach conclusions just yet subby.

What Mrtraveler01 said. Pretty much verbatim.

However, that doesn't mean I'm not rooting for him to fail. I cheered this afternoon, when Fox was playing the Angels/Yankees game during the Cards/Cubs rain delay, and Pujols dove to his right but flubbed the grounder. Gave the hitter the benefit of the doubt, but we St. Louisans have seen him make that play with no trouble countless times. Should've given him the 'E.'

Does this mean we get the article about someone on pace to hit 132 home runs and a pitcher set to win 24 games with a .04 era based on seasonal stats too?

It's pronounced Pooh-holes. That silent J really did a number on his last name. A number 2.

Ba-dum chhhhehh!

It's possible he's just in between cycles right now.

Mrtraveler01: As much as I'm upset at Pujols for how little class he handled this whole free agent debacle like every other Cardinal fan

Class? Are you kidding? What was he supposed to do? Not take the deal with the most money?

I just don't see a downside to this. May it continue.

JE

SUS

CHRIST

IN 1961, through TEN games, Roger Maris had shiats in 31 ABs. That's a .131 batting average...and all 5 were singles.

If memory serves, he went on to have the worst season in history, but I'll need someone to back me up on that.

DeWayne Mann: Roger Maris had shiats in 31 ABs

Bet none of you knew that fact about Maris.

Also, he had five hits in those 31 ABs.

(It's also a .161 BA, not a .131. Too mad to type and/or do math)

JohnBigBootay: Mrtraveler01: As much as I'm upset at Pujols for how little class he handled this whole free agent debacle like every other Cardinal fan

Class? Are you kidding? What was he supposed to do? Not take the deal with the most money?

Don't you know? These days, taking what you're worth = selling out.

DeWayne Mann: IN 1961, through TEN games, Roger Maris had shiats in 31 ABs.

That's why some called him "The Splendid Sphincter".

Babe Ruth, 1920.

Through 9 games: 0 HR, 7 hits in 31 AB, only one double. I believe the Yankees converted him back to a pitcher, seeing as how he couldn't hit.

DeWayne Mann:

IN 1961, through TEN games, Roger Maris had shiats in 31 ABs. That's a .131 batting average...

Maybe that's why his average was so low.

JohnBigBootay: Class? Are you kidding? What was he supposed to do? Not take the deal with the most money?

When he constantly said things to the effect of, "It's not about the money this (free agency period) around" and "I've already made more than is humanly reasonable," we in St. Louis started to believe him. Coupled with his Christian faith and the fact that his family was pretty well established around here--their charity, in particular--we assumed we weren't crazy that he might take a few million less to stay in St. Louis. And, really, the difference between what the Cards and Angels offered was only about 4.4 million a year (never mind that the cost of living here in St. Louis is substantially lower).

But, really, all that being said, I'm not bitter he's gone. In any NL city, he'd probably do pretty well and be worth every penny for the next 4-6 years. I'm glad the Cardinals elected not to saddle themselves with a 40-year old first baseman that they owe over $20m. And while he and his wife seem to have been counting on fans to pressure management to get a deal done, I don't personally know anyone who thinks Mozeliak or the owners should have tried harder (spent more money) to get him to stay. The AL makes sense, anyway, where a team could kind of hide him as a DH when his legs finally give out for the last time.

One thing will be interesting to see: in St. Louis, the Cardinals are always #1. I've been to LA once, but I get the impression that the rankings, among sports teams, is more along the lines of Lakers, Dodgers, USC football, Clippers (now that they're good), Angels, etc. And that's without a pro football team (other than USC, anyway...). And if they struggle at all over the next decade, Pujols and his massive contract could become an easy target for what fans do stick around.

madden101: JohnBigBootay: Class? Are you kidding? What was he supposed to do? Not take the deal with the most money?

When he constantly said things to the effect of, "It's not about the money this (free agency period) around" and "I've already made more than is humanly reasonable," we in St. Louis started to believe him. Coupled with his Christian faith and the fact that his family was pretty well established around here--their charity, in particular--we assumed we weren't crazy that he might take a few million less to stay in St. Louis. And, really, the difference between what the Cards and Angels offered was only about 4.4 million a year (never mind that the cost of living here in St. Louis is substantially lower).

But, really, all that being said, I'm not bitter he's gone. In any NL city, he'd probably do pretty well and be worth every penny for the next 4-6 years. I'm glad the Cardinals elected not to saddle themselves with a 40-year old first baseman that they owe over $20m. And while he and his wife seem to have been counting on fans to pressure management to get a deal done, I don't personally know anyone who thinks Mozeliak or the owners should have tried harder (spent more money) to get him to stay. The AL makes sense, anyway, where a team could kind of hide him as a DH when his legs finally give out for the last time.

One thing will be interesting to see: in St. Louis, the Cardinals are always #1. I've been to LA once, but I get the impression that the rankings, among sports teams, is more along the lines of Lakers, Dodgers, USC football, Clippers (now that they're good), Angels, etc. And that's without a pro football team (other than USC, anyway...). And if they struggle at all over the next decade, Pujols and his massive contract could become an easy target for what fans do stick around.

The thing that was real off-putting to me was not the fact he took the money (Good for him for doing that), it was the absurd lengths him and his wife went to try and convince us that Albert didn't make the decision based on money but rather how "wanted" he felt by both teams (which he apparently based on how big the contract was).

If he was just up front and honest with us that it was about the money, I wouldn't be as upset.

Plus there was this from the other day:

When he was asked Friday morning if there's anything he misses about St. Louis, Pujols basically scoffed at the question.

"I'm way past that," he said. "I have a new family, new teammates." (new window)

Way to show love for the team and fanbase who supported you during the majority of your career.

Mrtraveler01: but rather how "wanted" he felt by both teams (which he apparently based on how big the contract was).

In fairness, isn't that really, really similar to people who claim that the team that wins a given game is the team that wants it more?

madden101: JohnBigBootay: Class? Are you kidding? What was he supposed to do? Not take the deal with the most money?

When he constantly said things to the effect of, "It's not about the money this (free agency period) around" and "I've already made more than is humanly reasonable," we in St. Louis started to believe him. Coupled with his Christian faith and the fact that his family was pretty well established around here--their charity, in particular--we assumed we weren't crazy that he might take a few million less to stay in St. Louis. And, really, the difference between what the Cards and Angels offered was only about 4.4 million a year (never mind that the cost of living here in St. Louis is substantially lower).

But, really, all that being said, I'm not bitter he's gone. In any NL city, he'd probably do pretty well and be worth every penny for the next 4-6 years. I'm glad the Cardinals elected not to saddle themselves with a 40-year old first baseman that they owe over $20m. And while he and his wife seem to have been counting on fans to pressure management to get a deal done, I don't personally know anyone who thinks Mozeliak or the owners should have tried harder (spent more money) to get him to stay. The AL makes sense, anyway, where a team could kind of hide him as a DH when his legs finally give out for the last time.

One thing will be interesting to see: in St. Louis, the Cardinals are always #1. I've been to LA once, but I get the impression that the rankings, among sports teams, is more along the lines of Lakers, Dodgers, USC football, Clippers (now that they're good), Angels, etc. And that's without a pro football team (other than USC, anyway...). And if they struggle at all over the next decade, Pujols and his massive contract could become an easy target for what fans do stick around.

I'll stick around. I like Pujols but I was pretty high on K Morales and felt a bullpen was of more importance. Early in the season the bullpen is struggling while Morales is not. But fans hang on and if we made it through Tony Reggins we can make it through this.

Cards won today. Freese and Berkman both sat and they still managed a 5-1 win over the Cubs.

Fact: Most Cardinal fans no longer have a fark to give about the fact he left.

I wish he had stayed; however, under the terms of the contract he signed with the Angels I'm glad he's gone. The Cardinals simply can't afford to pay anyone that amount of money, period.

That's something most fans appreciate. And the bottom line is he played here for 10 great years....but the Cardinals have been around for about 130. Players great and horrible have come and gone under ever set of circumstances one can imagine. There's never been a player that's going to trump a generational devotion to a team as old as the Cardinals, not now, not ever.

I feel he certainly earned his payday, and to be honest if I care at all how he does with Anaheim I hope he does well. But my opinion is he's got a couple seasons of 'Pujols-level' awesomeness left in him if he avoids injury, he'll be 'good' for another 3 or 4, and the remainder of his contract he'll be DHing on two shiatty knees and a wretched elbow. Which leads me to my final point:

At the end of the day he's playing for the Angels and a fanbase that didn't even sell out a single game over opening weekend. Their tolerance of the contract he's signed during his decline years will be minimal at best. And no matter what success he or that team has, they'll always be second-fiddle to the Dodgers, particularly now that Magic is sitting owners box. I don't think Pujols really cares, but it's sort of a shame to see him end his career on that team. Better than the Royals I suppose.

Mrtraveler01: As much as I'm upset at Pujols for how little class he handled this whole free agent debacle like every other Cardinal fan, I agree that it's way to early to reach conclusions just yet subby.

Did you even listen to the Machine speak? God wanted him to go to LA.

Hey Cardinal's fans, butthurt and bitter is now way to go through life. Pujols is gone, get over it.

Mrtraveler01: As much as I'm upset at Pujols for how little class he handled this whole free agent debacle like every other Cardinal fan, I agree that it's way to early to reach conclusions just yet subby.

Personal feelings aside, that post was an English language trainwreck.

domdare: DeWayne Mann:

IN 1961, through TEN games, Roger Maris had shiats in 31 ABs. That's a .131 batting average...

Maybe that's why his average was so low.

There is no number of hits Maris could have had in 31 ABs and been hitting .131. It's impossible.

6 Hits = .194
shiats = .161
4 Hits = .129

Oh wait, you said shiats...Totally .131

srhp29: There is no number of hits Maris could have had in 31 ABs and been hitting .131. It's impossible.

Yeah, I know it was a long way down the page, but I DID correct myself in my next post.

Only 2 World Series titles and 12 years of (relatively) underpaid service from one of the best hitters of all time? Thanks for nothing, Albert Hitler bin Pujols

Pressure of a new team and contract? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr it might be that this is the first year MLB tests for HGH thanks to the newest collective bargaining agreement. But of course it's natural for you to almost double in size in both muscles and head size within two years of your rookie year.

Slothfart: Pressure of a new team and contract? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr it might be that this is the first year MLB tests for HGH thanks to the newest collective bargaining agreement. But of course it's natural for you to almost double in size in both muscles and head size within two years of your rookie year.

OR IT'S EIGHT FRIGGIN GAMES

Slothfart: Pressure of a new team and contract? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr it might be that this is the first year MLB tests for HGH thanks to the newest collective bargaining agreement. But of course it's natural for you to almost double in size in both muscles and head size within two years of your rookie year.

Citation needed for his change in size.

Explanation needed for his shiatty start last season when presumably he had syringes full of HGH sticking out of every vein.

New league, new pitchers, new backdrops, new teammates. If anyone wants to go, I'll take .295/32/95 or better at seasons end. And yes, I was sorry to see him go, I wish him all the best, happy the Cardinals didn't mortgage the future, and wish the parting had been handled better. Great player.

the biggest redneck here: How old does he claim to be, and how long is that contract?

If his stated age is correct, he turned 32 in January...and the contract is 10 years. He also agreed to a $10 year personal services contract with the angels that kicks in when the contract is up or as soon as he retires if it is prior to that contract ending.

The idea behind the length is while he won't be hitting .325 with 40 homers a year near the end, he'll be hitting big milestones that in theory should generate a ton of interest. Probably in front of a fan base with whom he's going to need to bank a lot of goodwill early on to tolerate his .240 average as a $25-30 million per year DH.

As a fan of the Cardinals I have to admit while I really don't care if he does well or not, I am really curious to see how it all turns out. For him, the Angels, the Cardinals, etc. Like I said earlier, while I was sorry to see him go, I'm pleased as hell the Cardinals aren't saddled with that contract or one close to it.

Sweet... another Mo Vaugn!

Outlaw2097: rangers will three-peat in the west. maybe even figure out how the hell to win it all, who knows...

This.

I think it's hilarious how ESPN has written off the Rangers and keep blabbering about how great the Angels are. Well Ranger's pitching (aside from some closer hiccups) has them with 7 wins already and the offense hasn't really even gotten going yet. I posted in a thread the other day: while the Angels got better, so did the Rangers this offseason. The Rangers won by 10 games last year. This year the Rangers are going to win 99 - 100 games. The Angels didn't get 13 - 14 games better.

The Rangers will take the West again.
The Angels will lose to Tampa Bay in the one game Wild Card playoff.

det0321: .295/32/95 or better at seasons end

The problem (for the Angels) with those numbers is they are in line with the downward trend he's had over the past three years.

2009: ..327/47/135
2010: .312/42/118
2011: .299/37/99

That contract is going to turn into a clunker quickly if the trend continues. He better produce a WS run pretty quickly for Anaheim before starts wheeling out lines like .295/32/95 for what they are paying him. He's not going to have a docile St. Louis media (or fanbase) letting him dodge questions about his performance and contract.

I think he will do fine with the Angels, it may have been a smart move career-wise to move to the DH during the later years.

I used to have a pool hose as part of the equipment for a project I worked on during his rookie year. I named the hose Albert.

*sniff*

Shrugging Atlas: Slothfart: Pressure of a new team and contract? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr it might be that this is the first year MLB tests for HGH thanks to the newest collective bargaining agreement. But of course it's natural for you to almost double in size in both muscles and head size within two years of your rookie year.

Citation needed for his change in size.

Explanation needed for his shiatty start last season when presumably he had syringes full of HGH sticking out of every vein.

Citation? Both my eyes and yours. Just the same citation that was needed for Bonds, McGuire, Canseco, Sosa, Manny...

cJ wilson is the ace so far.

way
too
early

and WC=WS