The special ed guy are gone…………………..The pitchers are the men……..and rbi contenders with this lot.

Tony breeds individuals with his platoon system. I wish he would leave, but I see that he’s not.

Nutlaw, no you certainly can’t expect us to field Yankeesque All-Star teams, but I do think we could easily carry a couple more stars. By the way, I would add Yadier to your short list. Molina is simply a game changer and that is the definition of a star.

I guess the questions still remain as to his motivation for not having the surgery. Is he afraid he’ll let down his team-mates and fans if his absense will cause a losing season? Is he worried his record setting string of numbers will be halted? Does he fear the surgery won’t be 100% corrective and therefore leave him unable to perform at his normal dizzying heights? Is it that Latin Machismo; he’s tough, he’ll be fine? Or is it as simple as he thinks his elbow is just fine and he’s just having technical issues with his swing? Will he feel guilty if he’s on the sideline and not ‘earning’ his salary? Maybe, being the role model his is, he just doesn’t want to let anyone down. Will the team revenues suffer if he’s not in the lineup?

A lot of things to think about for the man who only carries a nation on his shoulders. We the fans, don’t expect too much. Just that he’s able to be faster then Vince Coleman, more powerful than Mark McGwire, able to leap tall stadiums in a single bound. And we expect nothing less………………….no pressure there!!!

I ain’t going to see that movie (let’s just call it the ‘Cardinal Conspriacy Factor’ for now) either! LOL!!!

I personally don’t believe that Albert’s elbow was the source of his hitting problems. Fear of snapping the ligament could have played a part. If he was that paranoid about his early bat path causing pain and or catastrophe, he could have just changed its position. He did experiment some I will admit. The tactical advantage of moving him to cleanup if he was concealing an injury was to great for any of this to be true. That would make him a selfish A__H–le. There is a denial issue still developing here. It has cost us Holiday, and in the end probably Albert. I want to see the clean out video and the ligament. Lets hope it makes u-tube. Albert seemed excited about something that was revealed to him…………..about his elbow? the team? a clarification of his relationship to the management. I believe he thinks he scored somehow……lets see. I would have had it fixed in a minute if I were him. Right now! Maybe he wants Tony back that bad?

As for the minor league system Jumbo, thanks for the compliment, but I’m not sure my knowledge measures up to yours. Man you got the history of the players down; where they came from; when they were drafted; what brand of glove they use………..

BB, I just cringed when I read McGwire’s comment. I mean thanks a lot Mark, it will be hard enough for Mo trying to come up with a reasonable figure that all parties can live with. Memo to McGwire: “You’re not helping!!!!!!!”

Some aspects of the myseterious Pujols situation may be refreshingly simple. Obviously Albert had a physical problem. But if the player chooses not to acknowledge this to the presss, the team should not disclose the injury. This would be true for any player. Players can reveal their aches and pains, but the employer should generally not violate a guys right to privacy about his conditions. So Albert’s mysterious slump is not intended to be insulting to fans. Its crazy, but its the way things have to be, I guess. If Albert has a physical vulnerability, he chooses not to reveal it to opposing pitchers by talking about it. Even though everyone knows something is amiss.

I think the feeble attempt by the team to claim nothing was wrong was an insulting tact to Joe Fan. It’s like Cardinal Nation as a whole was too stupid to see the obvious drop in production; the change in his swing and the opposing teams new found gonads to pitch to him. Obviously they didn’t want to give any advantage to the other teams by coming forth with that info, but you know what? I have to think any advanced scout worth his salt picks up on Albert’s fall from superhuman grace.

Westie, while the whole affair may have been wraught with conspiracy and coverup. At least we have some closure on the issue and we can move on to the next topic. Brian, what have you got for us?

In Albert’s case, he is likely the one making the treatment decisions.

He seems to have an aversion to TJ surgery, if he can keep playing without it. He has to have borne a lot of pain during the past 7 years, as a result.

Albert has a guaranteed contract. If he decides he needs an operation, he will still get paid. while on the DL Some other players would just do the operation to put it behind them. Albert wants to keep playing. He has a remarkable work ethic.

These are a few of the questions that I feel some resolution about.

1) Why the contentious posturing by Albert at years end?

Very likely, a distressed Albert requested, through his agent possibly, a review of his elbow problems by an independent doctor at seasons end. Apparently this request was received with some concern by the Cardinals. ( Reasons for concern? Take your pick.) Possibly, the Albert camp took exception to the tone of this dialog and he ceased being cooperative to Managements needs. (Refusing to talk to the press at Mo’s request while excepting a phone interview with a Dominican radio station).

2) This comment by Mo; Mozeliak said “the thinking was if there was a reconstruction, Paletta would be a part of the process.”

Understanding a bit about this; the rights and privileges of the employer and their business associates, Albert’s contract insurance carrier, both had the right for review and input on these procedures. (Most all claims for insurance payouts on the loss of services are settled before a judge at some point.) This would not include intervention in Dr. Andrews procedure, but overseeing the surgical removal of ligament materials from the another parts of the insured beast. (no way Albert uses cadaver tissue unless it was from superman).

3) What does this have to do with anything?

All parties now have a medical report and a procedural/ exploratory video which shows the real state of Albert’s ligament. This makes the Insurance carrier happy. This is a nice selling tool for an enterprising agent. This either heightens or relieves Albert’s worries about potential conflict of interest with the cardinal medical staff. ( “You want to just do the Tj surgery while were in here. This thing could blow at any time”).

There is fertile ground for endless speculation on these topics, all leading through the process of “reductive symmetry” to the elevated perspective characterized by the statement, ” I like the Phillies to beat the Yankee’s in 6″. ( We will never hit like these teams unless we get a hitting coach. Cubs pay 2million plus for Jarmillo).

Whats the point of all of this ego soothing detail now?….Scrub up George, this is getting nasty….it goes on and on. There was undoubtedly an insurance carrier there with his specialist too. What a lumpy rug we have now.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/cardinal-beat-updates/2009/10/pujols-after-surgery-cant-wait-to-see-you-in-jupiter

That pretty much covers it. All legal and everything.

“Andrews examined results from an MRI before offering Tuesday’s opinion.

Cardinals medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta accompanied Pujols, underscoring the possibility of a more complicated procedure.

Paletta typically does not accompany players on trips such as Tuesday’s when only bone spurs or chips are suspected. Likewise, Pujols probably would have remained in St. Louis for such a procedure.”

The total impression given is that Albert went with Paletta from St. Louis. But of course it doesn’t really say that, does it. The trip was from Albert’s hotel, or the airport? To Andrews office. I’m speculating that Albert did this on his own initiative and that the Cardinals were there by contractual right. Thus all the double speak. I mean give me a break. If his tendon was fine, the hustle was on last year. For obvious reasons that have been talked about here often enough. Lets watch and see if Albert makes a statement.

Having said that, I hope Jumbo and others who feel as he does can see clearly enough not to paint all media with the same wide brush.

1) Do Albert’s problems stem from throwing of hitting too much?
2) Did Albert fly to Birmingham with Paletta, or from the Dominican as reported last week?
3) Since Albert is not talking to the press, are all reported details being generated by the organization to obscure other issues, and is their involvement a consequence of more complex contractual obligation and privileges?