Comments on: Don’t hate on Pujols for taking the money and running

By: bluesfan58

bluesfan58 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:46:50 +0000

Bryan Burwell of the Post-Dispatch wrote a good article this morning, questioning the Cardinals’ front office approach to the negotiations. I agree that they could have and should have tried harder to lock AP up a year or two ago. Quite frankly, I think AP felt disrespected by the approach taken, and it seems very clear now that he wanted out (barring a last-minute $300m deal from STL) to make a point. He has already had a full-page “letter to the fans” printed in the Post-Dispatch this morning, thanking them and saying good-bye. That had to have been prepared some time ago in anticipation of his move somewhere different, and was ready to go on a moment’s notice (Lozano probably e-mailed it to the paper the minute AP agreed to terms with the Angels) — a final slap in Mozeliak’s face. As a Cardinal fan, I will miss Albert (as we all will for probably the next 2-3 seasons), but the front office will quickly regain our respect if they use some of the money saved on Albert and re-invest that in the team by seeking some other quality free agents.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:17:43 +0000

Seriously! And the guy was a FREE AGENT. He completed his contract and was not required to sign anywhere. Fans need to realize that it is a business, just like where they work.

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:21:19 +0000

The main point is that his numbers have been declining. The $250 million dollar rodriguez contract destroyed Texas. Alex Rodriguez this year reward the Yankees 7.5 million dollar raise to 32.5 million with a .276 ba and 66 rbi. A lot of players parlayed their drug use into multimillion dollar multiyear contracts that didn’t pan out. And the stupid owners and general managers just don’t learn from history. Since they are playing with your money, they are just as greedy as the ball players who are just big children that are playing a child’s game. The surest way to kill initiative in a player is to give him a large multiyear guaranteed contract.
It was reported that almost 73% of these multimillionaires go bankrupt after they stop playing. And baseball stats show conclusively that most stars either quit, retire or show tremendous declines in productivity by the age of 35. Ruth, Berra, DiMaggio Brothers, Mantle, Bond etc. Why should Pujols be the exception. 4 years and he is begging for hits. But dumb L.A. is stuck with this and no other team is going to want him.

By: chuckj1234

chuckj1234 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:02:32 +0000

Well actually Weaver took 30 million less to sign with the halos, just to stay with the team that signed him. He said 80 million would last for three generations in his family. How refreshing!

By: phillyphreak

phillyphreak — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:59:39 +0000

And also plenty of people here respect Craig and the rest of the HBT staff. They fuel our obsession for baseball.

If you want an article that’s not “trash” go read the StL papers or start your own blog.

By: phillyphreak

phillyphreak — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:57:36 +0000

“He’ll never be remembered in this town the same way ever again…”

2 World Series, 1 Rookie of the Year, 3 MVPs. 11 years of being one of the if not the best 1B in baseball. I’m sure you’d trade it all for “loyalty.”

By: serbingood

serbingood — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:18:23 +0000

A-Rod should be giving Albert a big wet kiss and send him a Mercedes. A-Rod is no longer the highest paid player in MLB and therefore the heat is off him and now on King Albert. He’ll have a couple of good years like A-Rod and then injuries and age will make his value and talents decline, just like A-Rod.

Thank you Angels. With the pressure off A-Rod maybe he can have a few good years in peace and quiet without excess press pressure.

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:31:47 +0000

St Louis fans quit crying that Pujols left for more money! Get used to being in last place now!

By: saintsfire

saintsfire — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:52:27 +0000

P u j o l s
sorry sleep overdue

By: saintsfire

saintsfire — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:47:19 +0000

After taxes thats 125 mil in california + it costs way more to live in Southern California than St.louis.

The weather in Cali will be better for Pujos and good luck to him, those guys that squat down in the box tend to wear out from the strain and his stance is a squat stance.

Being in the A.L. they can always give him some rest from 1b and slot him at D.H. but Pujos won’t will probally dictate he will be playing a full 9 on both sides of the ball.

Really watching Pujos at bat is a wonder, he makes batting look so effortless.

Phat Albert has been a delight and a torment, and here’s to him fulfilling that contract, looking forward to hopefully seeing another 10 years of Pujos wreaking havok.

Poor Dodgers after years of Anheim wrecking them in interleague they finally turned the tables in 2011 now they have to contend with 2012 and “El Hombre”

Incidentally Pujos doesn’t like being referred to as “El Hombre” shucking off any comparisions to “Stan the Man” Musial.

Pujos was a humble role model, charitable in his time in S.Louis with the only exception of 2011.
After a slow start in 2011, Pujos certainly jabbed the media back several times. After he heated up later in the season he was found to be correct and the press not so much so. There was easily discernible tension over the pending free agency and no one needed a sleuth in the press to figure that one out.

I’m from the midwest, we read the St. Louis post dispatch daily, and have done so for decades.
Not a Cardinals or Cubs fan, but their organization, fans and Mr. Pujos have always deserved a tip of the hat.

Spring training is what 3 months away?

By: jollyjoker2

jollyjoker2 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:38:16 +0000

going from 30k a year to 40 k per year or 50-70 doesnt make a world of diffence because your going to work til 65 – 68 on either salary so quality of life and location is more important. A guy making 250 m doesnt have to work and has only a limited career anyway. I would take the money and laugh all the way to the bank. Scre w winning a world series, especially if you have 2 already. Honestly, can anyone remember who went were 20 years ago? I seriously doubt.

By: brianc6234

brianc6234 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:44:43 +0000

Didn’t the Marlins offer Pujols more money than the Angels did? That’s what I heard. If that’s true it proves it wasn’t about the money. The Marlins wouldn’t offer a no trade clause. Pujols wanted the best offer for him. The Angels gave him the no trade clause and the money he wanted. As an Angels fan I think it’s great. Now we don’t have to hear we need a big bat. Oh, wait, I bet we still will. It gets tiring hearing that year after year.

By: phillyphreak

phillyphreak — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:11:51 +0000

Bob Nightengale reported that figure and followed up saying the Cards offer was the lowest of four offers Pujols received. It could be total hogwash but it’s out there.

By: jbandit2116

jbandit2116 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:39:49 +0000

Your article is trash…if we want to slam the man who left a city where he was the second coming of Stan Musial we have that right and we’ll certainly do it. It’s totally unfair to say “any of us would leave our jobs” simply for money. Maybe you’ve never had happiness and respect where you work (probably because of article like this) but some of us have and wouldn’t consider leaving where we are. He’ll never be remembered in this town the same way ever again and hopefully he’s happy being called El Chili Davis or some other bum Angels legend.

By: richsaint

richsaint — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:27:13 +0000

I agree, apples and oranges. Of course I would have to consider taking a 25% pay raise (in reality in this case its actually closer to a 10-15% pay raise), but I didnt make $20m this year, and I am not considering re-upping with my company for $220m. The average person makes what $40k a year so of course if they have a chance to make $40k or $250M they are gonna take the 250 without even a question.
I dont begrudge him his money, and hell I’m pretty thrilled how this ended, being a Reds fan, but to say this move was anything more than just plain greed is ridiculous, he got everything he wanted out of the cards, 10 years, over $200m and he still jerked them around to try to get them higher. He left and for a time will probably be hated, but like everytime a player leaves after a while he will be forgiven (See Griffey, Ken:Seattle).

By: bluesfan58

bluesfan58 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:13:20 +0000

We in this dank hellhole are completely jealous of his move to an area where he’ll pay 50% more for gas to sit in a two-hour traffic jam on the interstate, pay much more for housing that might or might not survive the next earthquake or brush fire, etc. OK, it will admittedly be pretty hot here in St. Louis at least for one week next summer, but “devoid of culture”? Seriously? What am I missing? What don’t we have here that everyone else does (except the NBA)?

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:08:53 +0000

Bkertz: Me too…but you gotta’ be man enough to allow yourself to be interviewed.
My guess…he hides all Winter.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:05:00 +0000

CG: I am talking true success. By that I mean playoff success. Your 909 wins and NL is weaker comment doesn’t hold water.
In 11 years: 8 playoff appearances, 3 World Series (w/ TWO Titles). Enough said.

By: goawayeverybody

goawayeverybody — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:03:45 +0000

I think it’s really funny how all these money-grubbing people call themselves “Christians.” Pujols is supposed to be this big-time Christian, but when all he cares about is money, you know he’s not a true Christian. It’s funny how some people think that if they speak out against gay marriage or abortion, that makes them a Christian. Mind-boggling.

By: southbeachtalent

southbeachtalent — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:59:37 +0000

Your in the minority.

By: ftbramwell

ftbramwell — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:57:19 +0000

Yes, but if you were a good (as opposed to merely competent) financial adviser you wouldn't need to work because you'd be rich. That you didn't respond at all to my comment about leverage is telling.

By: udub

udub — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:56:48 +0000

So why was A-Rod vilified for taking the money and running from Seattle to Texas, but now you are asking for us to not hate on Pujol$?

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:55:49 +0000

Phreeak: That figure is total BS.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:52:37 +0000

Absolutely Piffle. I was a Cardinals fan long before A.P. came on board. Doesn’t mean I have to like him lying to everyone though. Yeah…I want to win. Cardinal for life. Why would I leave for 3 or 4 million more a year? I have made my money. Total bullshit.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:49:25 +0000

Hahaha! Yeah…we was looking to score in East St. Louis.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:48:04 +0000

Navy Chief: I sincerely appreciate where you are coming from. However, the difference is…you haven’t made more monies thus far in your career than you could ever hope to spend. As a result, it doesn’t correlate. Please know I do NOT begrudge anyone as a result of them wanting more monies. The Cardinals were offering $22per year (about 3 – 4 less a year than what he ultimately agreed to with the Angels.
The only issue I (and many others) have is this…
“Do I want to be in St. Louis forever? Of course,” Pujols said. “…People from other teams want to play in St. Louis and they’re jealous that we’re in St. Louis because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you want to leave a place like St. Louis to go somewhere else and make $3 or $4 more million a year? It’s not about the money. I already got my money. It’s about winning and that’s it.”

–Albert Pujols, 15 February 2009

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:29:48 +0000

He is a rich guy, but he is rich because he doesn’t throw his money away. That makes him smart. You guys in St. Louis have to calm down. You have enough talent to try and repeat in the central. With Wainwright coming back, you will have at least 3 stud starters, and that is more than the Reds hope to have. The Reds have just one guy and several “potential” starters, even with Chapman. Who by the way, may never be a starter because of continuing shoulder problems. Tommy John can fix the elbow, but nothing can help the shoulder.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:24:41 +0000

Take the money of course.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:21:54 +0000

I have heard that before, but I doubt it. He is in great condition, and still looks like he heals very fast. How does an old timer get to heal a broken wrist in two weeks?

By: mcfaj0dm

mcfaj0dm — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:19:08 +0000

For the sour grapes Cards fans out here…. if the 30 MM difference between what the Cards offered and the Angels offered isn’t that big of difference (lifestyle, after taxes, whatever)…. then why didn’t the Cards just pony up the cash?

Pretty simple to say Pujols should’ve forgone the extra 12%, but how come the franchise isn’t crucified for just paying that little tiny bit more and match the offer?