Comments on: Albert Pujols signs 10-year, $254 million contract with Angels

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:55:53 +0000

Detroit Michael Just plug in Baseball and Steroids and you get everything from 50% from the Mitchell report which is conservative to 85% from Jose Conseco’s book. Then there are sites with the individual teams, and lists showing 200-300 names and stories from individual players who name names. And there are so many examples of players who just all of sudden take off with the stats who aren’t named in the reports. Of course players who experimented, kept quiet and stopped missed being named.
Steroid uses got the really giant contracts and traded the use for a shorter life span and health problems.
The 78% was before testing and when steroid use was not considered illegal. The owners, gms and managers winked at it, as long as it filled the seats.
Look at Adrián Beltré. Before 2004 he had never hit more than 20 home runs or driven in more than 80 runs in his career, nor had he hit over .450 (which represents the total number of bases divided by the player’s at-bats – essentially how much power production the player has). So Beltré wasn’t a power hitter, until 2004, that is, when he became a free agent and had his one shot at big-time money. This was also the last year that the MLB didn’t test for steroids. That year he hit 48 home runs and drove in 121 runs, with a batting average of .629. Beltré signed a five-year, $64 million contract. In 2005, however, MLB started testing for steroids. Beltré went right back to his 20 home runs and 80 RBI, and his slugging percentage dropped 200 points to .432.

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:08:39 +0000

rkb555 – take away the steroids and what did you see? A steady decline. What are you expecting more to see Bonds in the Hall of Fame or behind bars?

By: westcoastredbird

westcoastredbird — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:50:51 +0000

Arte Moreno the owner of the Angels just signed a 20 year – 3 billion dollar contract with Fox Sports. The dude has got money to burn. They already had a 141 million dollar payroll. Being a Cardinal fan all my life and living in SoCal the past 30 years this really sucks. Now I have to look at him in Angel gear and put up with the giddy Angel fans. The presser they had today made me want to vomit. How come the Cardinals can’t get a deal like that from Fox? With Cardinals fans in Mo, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee you would think there would be plenty of fans to support the station. Fox Sports was ready to give Frank McCourt the same funny money when Major League baseball intervened.

By: sjwitte

sjwitte — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:57:27 +0000

“Do I want to be in St. Louis forever? Of course. 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 million 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.”

Basically answers Detroit Michael spot on….btw I was there when your pathetic team lost to the Cardinals on 10/27/2006

By: bdlancaster

bdlancaster — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:33:36 +0000

Here is the link to the story stating he told the St. Louis press he wanted to be a Cardinal for life.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-what-else-can-pujols-want/article_31828a7c-af37-519e-9d6c-ac34299b95fc.html

About 10 graphs down.

By: mlblogsblee132325

mlblogsblee132325 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:29:49 +0000

As a lifelong Cardinal fan of 64 years, I am VERY sorry to see Albert leave, but I totally respect his decision. I loved every minute of his 11 years playing for us, and I will enjoy following the remainder of his storied career. I would be sad that he’s in the American League, but since I live about an hour from Minute Maid Park, I will get to see him playing for the Halos beginning in 2013.

Nothing can change my love for the Cardinals, but I will also
continue to love and respect Albert both as a ballplayer and a man, and I know my Cardinals will find a way to go on without El Hombre, although our team will suffer without his bat and glove in the lineup and his spirit on the field, in the clubhouse, and in and around St. Louis.

Here’s wishing you the best, Albert, and “Thanks for all the Wonderful Memories”…

By: Coaching for Champions

Coaching for Champions — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:19:56 +0000

Wow! this may be the Angel’s year!!

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:10:50 +0000

Interleague will be year round due to realignment so it may be more times than you might think.

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:08:35 +0000

Or Kendrys Morales.

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:58:46 +0000

There was a security detail posted to it.

By: auriex

auriex — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:25:45 +0000

Laboratory Scientist signs 10-year, $350,000 contract with Pfizer!

By: lanflfan

lanflfan — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:20:49 +0000

Even though LA is the broadcasting hub for the LA basin area, it is the Anaheim media, NOT LA, as the Angels play in Anaheim. And I’d be far more worried about the fans (the good, the bad and the ugly ones) than the media. The New York media is far, far worse.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:15:33 +0000

Absolutely DB: Between Vernon Wells, A.P. and now CJ Wilson…they are gonna’ need all the monies they can get.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:14:24 +0000

Juda: He was demanding 300 Million in the offseason and turned down $22 Million per just prior to Spring Training. Then…there is this quote I spent 2 hours looking for that Paper so kindly tracked down. Yeah…no reason to be bitter.
“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: lanflfan

lanflfan — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:07:30 +0000

halo your exactly right regarding a “return on investment” for Arte Moreno from signing Pujols. Despite the fact he bought a team in Anaheim (Orange County), Mr. Moreno still goes after the large LA hispanic population, and this signing might influence more people his way. The Angels could absolutely see a large part of that contract offset by an increase in revenue.

However, as one Dodger fan, I would never root for the Angels over the Dodgers. Most Dodgers fans I know tolerate the Angels, but would never root for them. You might find some fans “on the fence” that switch, but fickle/bandwagon fans like that will quickly change sides again with the next big signing.

By: halo5280

halo5280 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:50:14 +0000

IMO you are NOT looking at the big picture. AP is going to be a marketing machine for the Angels. Even if it’s only for 4-5 years. The Dodgers are tanking right now and there is a battle for the LA Orange county market. +1 for the Angels. This signing just moved Dodgers fans over to the Angels. This just sold additional season tickets. This will help increase the dollar value of the TV contracts they are about to renegotiate. Advertising on Angels Radio stations just went up. Merchandise sales just went uup, etc., etc I couldn’t disagree more. Arte Moreno is a business man first. In 4-5 Years Arte’s return on this investment will have paid off. It already is starting to with all the buzz this is creating.

By: db105

db105 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:42:18 +0000

Time for me to renew my Angel season tickets!

By: humancigar

humancigar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:33:57 +0000

Sorry about Albert, but let’s move on.

Next year Matt Holiday should be healthier and Adam Wainwright certainly will be. All is not lost!

Our biggest hole may be at MANAGER! We will see.

Odd thought for the day: Prince Fielder moves well for his size (app. 285 lb). What if the Cardinals signed Prince. he worked out with Lance Berkman in the off season, and came to training camp at 245 with a slight increase in muscle mass?

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:39:25 +0000

@StLouis: I agree with you. I think that had he resigned, there would not be any negatives. I have done the same with free agents…just, the modern day equivalent of a baseball god was not on my team.

All the ribbing aside…I cannot believe that he moved on from a Championship team for 30 Million…when he already has made over 100 million.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:36:25 +0000

Falcon, I gave you a thumbs up for your honesty.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:35:18 +0000

Who I root for has nothing to do with the fact that the Matt Holliday contract is what allowed Pujols to leave St. Louis. The organization can say all they want, but the truth is, bidding against themselves for Holliday is what caused them to no have the cash (which they probably do anyway) to retain the best player on the planet…who would have been the best player in the Cardinals history, had he resigned.

In all seriousness, I feel badly for the fans because he was that team…and I would not have been happy to see him go. Oh, and I grew up in Massachusetts, so I root for the Red Sox…but living in Phoenix, I also follow the D’Backs…

By: lovesmesomeme

lovesmesomeme — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:21:53 +0000

HaHa All you suckers who hitched your wagon to a human being who was offered a contract worth an extra $35 million. You crybabies who call him a sellout are the sameones who would quit your $50k a year job for a chance to make $75k. Boo fieakin hoo. His alligator tears will appease some of you. Take solace on the fact that you can go visit his statue

By: judahbenhur

judahbenhur — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:56:02 +0000

Attention bitter Card fans: Albert played his whole career at way below the going pay rate. The Yankees alone had three players making more, and that was on one team. He gave your organization a huge discount making a fraction of lesser players all over baseball. He donated huge amounts to your city… and yet the Cards didn’t put a deal together despite having years to do so. The man did nothing wrong.

By: michael228

michael228 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:54:07 +0000

$254 million? maybe all these Occupy losers can go set up camp down at the ol’ ballyard.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:30:28 +0000

I completely agree. And in the same vein, a player should not be obligated to take a lesser contract merely because taking the biggest one may make him overpaid and cause him to move to another team.

By: worldforesight

worldforesight — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:09:01 +0000

Recession! What recession? Who says we are in a recession? With that kind of money being offered in this day and time it is clear that there is no recession in Sports America.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0000

42: It’s probably already tipped over.

By: rkb555

rkb555 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:50:52 +0000

pjmarn6 – Dec 8, 2011 at 11:32 AM

: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, Texas spent $250 on Rodriguez and it broke them. The Yankees gave Rodriguez $32.5 million last year and he rewarded them with a .276 batting average and 66 RBI. Quickest way to spoil a player is big money and a guaranteed contract. When they know they don’t have to put out every year, it is down, down, down. Pujols production has been down every year for the last 3-4 years. And most players only last 5 years or less in the big years. Even the huge stars like Dimaggio, Ruth, Berra, Bonds, Mays all retire or are fired by 35 or show diminishing returns 35 of after.
It is your money that fuels this idiocy. The owners and general management should be lumped with the congressmen and all politicians. They love to waste our money.
——————————-
I’m not sure what u meant by bonds on the decline after 35. He played some of his best ball later in his career and was still pretty dominate. So it’s very conceivable that pujols could continue at a high level late in his career.

By: vaquero01

vaquero01 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:44:38 +0000

not sure how anyone can be mad. I’m die hard Cardinals fan (whole family bleeds card red) but to be fair the Cards never paid him market value once in his career. The Cards front office wanted to play this out in the media and make it look like Albert was greedy this time so they could save face. The Cards could have signed him to an extension before last season for considerably less, but wanted to go cheap and see what would happen. Now we know.

By: tone360

tone360 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:44:11 +0000

As a Cub fan I’m glad to see him go but for $250 mil I’d liked to see him stay. The damn Cardinals are too smart for that.