I Never Saw Albert Pujols Play

It's been almost a month since Albert Pujols, brought the hatred of Cardinal fans upon him. Naturally I don't like him leaving for another team, but it is the free market; get as much as you can.

The only thing that makes me dislike him, is the attitude he carried. He made mention multiple times, it wasn't about the money. It was about wanting to be in St. Louis, playing for a winning/contending team, etc. There were more important things, he said. But if that was true he would have had a deal done two years ago. In the end, him and his wife can say what they want about a long-term deal and lack of respect, but it was about the money.

Good riddance, then. The Cardinals made the right decision, in not outbidding any other teams. Continue building and developing young players and St. Louis will continue to field decent teams. The Yankees did just fine after Babe Ruth....

But the only thing I got to thinking about the other day was I never got to see Pujols play. I mean I could still see him, but not in a Cardinal uniform, unless something drastic happens. I haven't been to a game in 11 years. Heck I only saw LaRussa manage one game and McGwire take one at bat in that game, but I can say I saw them in Cardinal uniforms. I was planning on going to a game this summer, but didn't want to go by myself.

Thinking about it, the only remedy is winning multiple championships in the coming years

The Wasted 6 Months, Known as the St. Louis Cardinals season

I know I'm not the only one, sorely disappointed with the St. Louis Cardinals sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in the Divisional series. I'm just trying to figure out where they went wrong... The anemic offense over the last month was the telltale problem. Starting with our All-Star M.V.P. first baseman. Albert Pujols didn't hit a homer for over a month and just seemed to lack his fizzle. Sure he had a good average and some R.B.I.'s, but he was never the same after the All-Star Game.
Or in my eyes after the arrival of Matt Holliday. I think he got too relaxed. Look at the first three months when Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan and everyone else was in a slump, along with Ryan Ludwick being injured, when he was carrying the team they had some fire. I think that team they fielded in mid-June, with Ryan Ludwick coming around, would have beat the Dodgers and had that underdog fighting spirit.
But just some of Pujols late-season playing and gaffes(Think of the last game in Colorado where he was full running on a one-out pop fly and got doubled off. Never mind the second baseman dropped the ball...). If I was Tony LaRussa, I would have benched him at some point even in the playoffs. Hey, remember Scott Rolen? He might have gotten pissy about it, but you know what? He started hitting better after that. Pujols needed something to light his fire. Either that or bat him lead-off, which would give him more at-bats and if you want to walk him, an early easy base runner to help the offense get going.

Where do the Cards go for next year? They have quite a few free agents, Holliday, Mark DeRosa, Rick Ankiel, John Smoltz, Joel Piniero and Troy Glaus, among others. And the big worry in a few years, when Pujols and Chris Carpenter are up for free agency. Hopefully, they at least get DeRosa back. When he was healthly he was a solid veteran player. And if the price is right even with his gaffe, Holliday is a potential monster. But that play still eats me...
Not to mention the manager might not return. And I think the front office already pissed off the pitching coach.
They've got some solid guys and role players back in Skip Schumaker, Julio Lugo and Brendan Ryan, plus the potential in Colby Rasmus, Blake Hawksworth and Mitchell Boggs.Plus you're one-two starting punch of Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
As for needs? A lead-off hitter, someone who can get on base, with some good speed and score. I think Julio Lugo, could be this guy if he was a little more consistent. I don't think Skip Schumaker is bad, but they need someone who can spark this offense. But unless Holliday doesn't come back, there really isn't a spot for anyone else in the line up, unless they'll be platooned, which I've never been a fan of. Potentially I think if Colby Rasmus can fine-tune his skills and base running, he could be a candidate. Now if him and Ryan would just fix their hat bills...
I'm not sure about a closer. I think Ryan Franklin just picked the worst time to falter in the season. And while he gave up everything else in game two of the series with the Dodgers, his left-fielder blew it. Wait til next season to see...Maybe some minor tweaking to the rest of pen.
I think the starters should be pretty good. Hopefully Lohse will pick up some of his better form next year
The bench actually needs some role players on it. Aside from whichever outfielder and infielder was being platooned, there wasn't much there. I swear anytime Khalil Greene was brought up it was an automatic out.
I guess there's always next year. And unlike the Cubs, the Cards will have an actual chance.

Matt Holliday National League M.V.P.?!

With all of the talking heads insisting that whoever wins the Most Valuable Player award in Major League Baseball, must be on a playoff team(a thought I feel is normally ridiculous) and should be which player has the impact numbers wise for his team.
So, in that instance shouldn't Matt Holliday be the front runner for National League M.V.P. award? Look at the all the important numbers since he came to the Cardinals in late July. He's been on a tear, racking up super numbers even with Mr. Pujols around. And most importantly look at the team's win-loss record since his arrival. He has had the most impact solidly helping push his team into October.
Granted, the man hitting in front of him is no slouch when it comes to it. The first three months he single-handidly carried this team, putting them in first place. But he's seemed to relax too much since his "protection" has arrived and his numbers have jumped down scores. But still shouldn't Matt Holliday get some respect for this award?