Albert Pujols is competing with some of baseball’s greatest ever as he compiled his sixth 40 home run season in 2010.
As many know by now, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols collected his 40th home run of the season on Thursday. It was a two-run shot in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He added another home run in the sixth, his National League-leading 41st of the season.
It was Pujols’ 39th career multi-home run game, two ahead of Hall of Famer Stan Musial for the most in team history. It was Albert’s sixth multi-homer game this season alone.
Pujols reached the 40 home run plateau for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in his 10-year career. That ties him for eighth all-time across MLB in seasons with 40 or more dingers. His immediate company includes the immortal Willie Mays, still-active Jim Thome and his own hitting coach, Mark McGwire.
To answer the question as to the names of the other past greats on that list, researcher Tom Orf pulled the following table with the top 20 players in MLB history in terms of 40 home run seasons.
Pujols would require five more of these seasons just to tie The Babe. Note how similar Albert’s trajectory is to the name just above him on the list, recently-retired Ken Griffey Jr.
Most 40 home run seasons, MLB history
| Rank | Player | Years | 1st | Last | Age |
| 1 | Babe Ruth | 11 | 1920 | 1932 | 25-37 |
| T2 | Alex Rodriguez | 8 | 1998 | 2007 | 22-31 |
| T2 | Barry Bonds | 8 | 1993 | 2004 | 28-39 |
| T2 | Harmon Killebrew | 8 | 1959 | 1970 | 23-34 |
| T2 | Hank Aaron | 8 | 1957 | 1973 | 23-39 |
| T6 | Sammy Sosa | 7 | 1996 | 2003 | 27-34 |
| T6 | Ken Griffey | 7 | 1993 | 2000 | 23-30 |
| T8 | Albert Pujols | 6 | 2003 | 2010 | 23-30 |
| T8 | Jim Thome | 6 | 1997 | 2006 | 26-35 |
| T8 | Mark McGwire | 6 | 1987 | 1999 | 23-35 |
| T8 | Willie Mays | 6 | 1954 | 1965 | 23-34 |
| T12 | Adam Dunn | 5 | 2004 | 2008 | 24-28 |
| T12 | Manny Ramirez | 5 | 1998 | 2005 | 26-33 |
| T12 | Frank Thomas | 5 | 1993 | 2003 | 25-35 |
| T12 | Juan Gonzalez | 5 | 1992 | 1998 | 22-28 |
| T12 | Ernie Banks | 5 | 1955 | 1960 | 24-29 |
| T12 | Duke Snider | 5 | 1953 | 1957 | 26-30 |
| T12 | Ralph Kiner | 5 | 1947 | 1951 | 24-28 |
| T12 | Jimmie Foxx | 5 | 1932 | 1938 | 24-30 |
| T12 | Lou Gehrig | 5 | 1927 | 1936 | 24-33 |
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Nice to the Harmon Killebrew on the list.One of baseball real gentlemen .I remember reading Ron Luciano`s book and reading about how Luciano was always talking to the players when he was working the bases and Killebrew hit a double and Luciano was yakking away and Killebrew was so polite he answered and got picked off 2B and Herzog got mad a Killer because he answered Luciano instead of keeping alert at 2B.
I remember the 1965 Twins team that i rooted for against the Dodgers in the WS,
Earl Battey,Bob Allison,Zoilio Versailles,Don Mincher,Jimmy Hall,Mudcat Grant,Rich Rollins and Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew.
Albert is gaing on some mighty select company and a fine person in Killebrew.
It will be interesting to see what happens in relation to TLR come October.
The Reds won the division this year, helped by Rolen, who came to be unhappy with LaRussa, even if Scott can foregive, unlike Ozzie.
It has been reported and not denied by LaRussa that he threatened to demote Rasmus. This is bullying and does not reflect well on TLR. Either demote somebody or shut up, but don’t issue threats that you cannot implement, because they make TLR look like a jerk.
Now TLR is using Pagnozzi as catcher and giving minimum play to Anderson. This cannot send an encouraging signal to Anderson. It is in keeping with TLR skepticism of minor leaguers and may represent a tension between manager and team. TLR has made scant use of PJ Walters the past two years and modest use of Tyler Greene this year, though Brendan Ryan has hardly excelled. A few years ago, TLR admitted he advocated giving up Haren for Mulder, preferring a veteran who then declined to the up and coming Haren. Dave Duncan has had doubts minor league pitchers are getting the right training.
While DeWitt and Mo are aiming to cultivate homegrown talent, its not clear TLR is on the same page. Mo has said he wants a decision on 2011 from TLR promptly come October. That’s a good message to TLR.
Could it be that the FO and TLR are deciding if Pagnozzii has a future with the organization? Pagnozzi will be 28 and offers decent defense and very little offense.Anderson offers better offense and less defense.Anderson just turned 24.Maybe since the Cards are not yet officially out of the race TLR values Pagnozzi game calling and defense right now.
The Rasmus and TLR debate has been hashed over and Rasmus clearly needs to at least listen to experience.I think TLR sees Rasmus wasting his potential.
Ryans defense is better than Greenes.Greene will be battling for utility role next year if not traded.
This fallacy about TLR and young is overplayed IMO.Jon Jay,Colby Rasmus and others got large amount of playing time their rookie years.
Most managers would prefer a veteran-and young player mixIMO.TLR obviously felt Miles offered more than Greene at the time.
McClellan,Salas,Motte Garcia Hawksworth all got used in their rookie season.
Bw52, here is one for you. In a past life, Julio Becquer’s son worked for me and I ended up buying a couple of suits from papa, who then worked in a department store.
Was getting ready to build up Anderson just before he made a couple of ugly mistakes.
Wasn`t he a infielder from the senators and Twins.I probably had a baseball Card of him when i was a kid.A lot of the old guys made very little money.I know the NFL guys are battling about the guys playing now contributing to the guys who played before the pension plan was created.
I think baseball has been a bit more generous to the old time pre-pension fund bunch.
Speaking of old players many years ago i was a bartender at a restaurant/bar that was owned by a former minor league player.Motts Minogue.He played in thelate 40`s and early 50`s.We used to talk baseball and he brought in newspaper clippings of his career.Pretty interesting stuff.One of the guys he played with later became a MLB umpire for many years.He said the competition was very tough in those days because there were many more players and teams and levels.Many great baseball stories where told to me by him over a cold beer.It was very interesting when him and his old playing buddies got together over beer.A really nice guy who loved baseball and his son played college baseball.
Very nice man who passed on almost 20 years ago.
Yes. If I remember correctly, the Twins brought Becquer back in 1963 for a single at-bat so he would qualify for his pension.
Becquer is known for beating the White Sox with a walk off pinch hit grand slam. The next day Killebrew beat them with is only inside the park home run.
Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez. Ugh.
Aaron and Griffey, hooray.
Albert besting 40 6 times already is nice testimony to his prolonged excellence and durability.
I know I am going to get a lot of numbers thrown at me (and maybe some names), after this post, so take your best shot.
Tyler Greene is a bust. Anybody who thinks he is a better alternative to BR at short is well, grossly mistaken. He makes too many errors and K’s too much. You can number me to death but I know what I see with my own eyes.
Everybody wanted Anderson to play because he was so much better. Again, I will get the numbers reply. We can thank Mr. Anderson for a significant part of this loss today. I saw what I saw. I’ve seen what I’ve seen in other starts (terrible throws, bad blocks, missteps with pitchers). Thank God TLR didn’t start Anderson yesterday with Wainwright.
Ok, let me have it.
Hmm….not a lot of numbers.
Greene is either not as good at playing SS or is not yet accustomed to the majors and could improve. He has ML tools in terms of arm and speed. He has hit sufficiently well at Memphis to suggest he could hit ok, not great, in the majors, if he gets enough playing time to settle in. The choice for the team is Miles or Greene for 2011. Greene has spent enough time at Memphis, so the Cards need to bring him up for 2011 or trade him. He would make an acceptable platoon partner for Skip early in 2011, because its helpful to have a backup SS on the ML roster.
I would not have wanted Anderson starting for Wainwright. I am also ok with Anderson spending the rest of his life in the minors if he cant play some D. But he could have started when Lohse had his last start. The Cards need to give Anderson a few at bats and not sit a kid in the dog house.
The Cards will have to sort out who catches at Memphis next year, who are they grooming for the majors. Is it Hill or is he hopeless behind the plate? Is it Anderson again? Or Cruz? They can go with Pagnozzi as a replacement for LaRue for a while. He’s the nephew of Tom and plays good D. But the team will have to make some choices about how to cultivate a minor league catcher who can step up and play at a ML level in the event of an injury.
When TLR retires, Mike Matheny seems like one plausible choice to be the next manager. Get someone who knows the game, is respected for his own catching ability, and can be constructive with younger players.
Wow. Make Matheny an MLB manager with zero coaching experience at any level? Pass.
I don’t know that I’d call Tyler Greene a bust, but I certainly agree that Brendan Ryan provides much better promise as the team’s starting shortstop.
A lot of managers begin as catchers: Torre, Scoscia, Brenly, Girardi, etc. Matheny’s a bright man. In Mo’s stable of helpers, last I knew.
Riggleman would have been good and has been doing a good job for the Nationals. He seems good as a teacher of young men.
But its not necessary to have decades managing, like Riggleman, as shown by Girardi and Mike Scoscia.
The real story is worse than that CRD…………… Tony’s ejection was much more provocative than the obvious. Tony is a player………..a sophisticated player thinking in more than one dimension. He just made it perfectly clear to me what his plans are………..and that he sees impediments.
Carp has really petered out these last few weeks and Tony just couldn’t take it anymore. He thinks Carp is entitled to continue being what he has been and if he isn’t its due to someone or something other than Carp. Not fair, he thinks. Bad umpire, he thinks, as if Carp hadn’t been dealing with his fair share of bad umpiring all along. When everyone could see that Albert wasn’t right Tony would have none of it, until the media corps got the message and quit asking about it. Same with Holliday earlier in the year. Same with Ankiel and Duncan last year. I’d be surprised if Mo was really hoping Tony will be back. BDW maybe, but not Mo.
It seems like the organization agrees with crdswmn about Greene, based on playing time. Now trying to see if Descalso is what Tyler isn’t.
The Andersen start today was an accommodation BB. It didn’t go well. Tony’s ejection was a diversion from the real issue. Tony has no taste for the hemlock……….no matter how its served.
So far I am liking Descalso.
Sort of like the Craig start at third.
Descalso took a page out of Jay’s book. Fast start at the plate, solid enough defense. Avoid bonehead baserunning blunders. Today, it would have been helpful if he was 7 feet tall, but aside from that, what’s not to like.
Come on Westy share with the rest of us what TLRs plans are.Enlighten us.Or are you just going to continue to throw out more conspiracy BS.
Some details a baseball buff like 52 might have missed.
Carp does not like to call his own game. He concentrates and lets the Yadi due the work. LaRue was actually a good study. Both didn’t have a problem accepting dugout “suggestions”.
I’m sure CRD probably noticed that Carp ended up just watching Andersen go through the signs…………….. sometimes (often) as many as 5 different pitches before Carp just started his motion without acknowledgment……………………. hoping it appeared, that Andersen knew what the last sign he waved even was…………………..Carp was pissed……………… when he approached Carp for a conference………..I actually was worried about a few things. Carp is suffering some shoulder stiffness and needed all the help he could get…………………….. Some wanted to see how Andersen would receive Carpenter……….many important people already knew the answer to that………but such are the hazards of running a tryout camp in front of 40 thousand hostiles…… and there are plenty of fans that didn’t even notice the drama.
The problems and behaviors suggested by how various individuals reacted during today’s events is very telling concerning their behavioral priorities and job descriptions. Or as you would say “conspiracy or Bachelor of Science information” as you apparently intellectualize it.
Tony deflected a potentially bad situation…………damaging BD/Mo’s property, by deflecting attention to the Umpire….and himself……………away from Andersen and Carp……and getting the hell out of there………. Carp may not start another game this year. I wouldn’t put him out there again.
An article on Fangraphs site talking about ratings and revenue included the following stgatement:
“At its simplest level, MLB’s postseason ratings game boils down to two things: market size, and brand power. More often than not, the two are intertwined, with some exceptions (this would be you, St. Louis).”
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/why-mlb-postseason-tv-ratings-could-likely-to-be-down
Brand power, Bw52, is the men’s game going on behind the boy’s game we see on TV. It’s the former that Westy thinks about not the latter. So while it may sound like rubbish in the context of the product we see and know about, it may or may not be in when applied to the real game the owners play and which we know little about. Last winter, after McGwire was hired, I kept track of how long that move kept the Cards in the New York Times. The team from little ol’ midwest St. Louis in the NY Times during the offseason, Bw. Mac earned his salary before the season ever started. Nobody paid any attention to my posts on that, except Westy, because it bore on the owner’s game, not the game on the field. Maybe Mac was hired only because he would be so much better than McRea, but I doubt it.
This blog could be more like the blogs and comment boards out there, where everybody gets in a circle and . . . scratches each other’s back. I guess some people like that sort of thing. There are plenty of other places to get those sort of Jollies.
Well said BB………………………can you imagine Carp shaking of the kid 5 times every pitch?????????
He just gripped his pitch and waited for Andersen to pass by that sign which triggered his motion.
We all know how Tony never takes someone out after an error……………let alone defaming an expensive property at the same time. It won’t happen again. They will move Andersen or reposition him.
Its hell when you’re not one of the cool kids. It didn’t matter what he threw down Westy, it was going to be wrong. That was decided before batting practice. If Mo likes Anderson, he’ll have to trade Pags, or cut him. Then he’ll sit on the bench every single game until Yadi’s knees explode and the rest of his body bursts into flames. Mo knows this, of course, he’s caught on.
I leave the melodrama to WC. I only know I didn’t like what I saw.
bb, I am not with you on the “hiring McGwire increased brand power” line of thinking.
Do you think the hire was DeWitt’s idea instead of TLR wanting to help restore his former slugger’s image? I am pretty sure the manager does not care about or has any stake in the image and strength of the Cardinals brand.
Are you suggesting that articles in the NY Times led to the sale of more tickets in St. Louis and increased the ratings of Cardinals games?
If Carp’s shoulder is stiff as WC says, then I share the hope that he is done for the year.
Good points and questions Brian. First, I have no PhD in marketing. That said, I do know that brand recognition, or brand power, equals money. The article I cited, and which was also discussed in Biz of Baseball (not the STL mention though), evidences that BDW is a master at the game. Why else the mention of St. Louis, of all places.
I think Mac was Tony’s idea. One that BDW jumped on. Manna from heaven. Tony just wanted to help out the Mac he knew and loved, but that’s not why Mo and Bill got on board.
I’m not sure about the particulars and time lines when it comes to brand power strategies, but ‘that would be you, St. Louis’ sort of speaks for itself. Not that the Mac move was a big part, but still, it doesn’t just happen by magic, you do stuff that some how, some way, some day, makes it happen. So maybe it didn’t sell tickets in St. Louis, we already want to go to a Cards game. But the Cards go other places and are a strong draw. Teams that don’t draw flies like it when we roll into town.
By the way, Jack’s ‘poopy’ comments have gotten a lot of play everwhere, even youtube. Look for him to reappear next year.
Selig and DeWitt ended the steroid era. Tony gave them the opportunity. Rodger C thinks that he will sneak around his troubles……………….he made it for himself. He was already mated to Bonds as the “goat”……ebony and Ivory………. no racial bias…………… Keeping the cost of baseball down by keeping Boston and NY at the “luxury tax limit” by shooting over A-Rod and then Big Pappi’s head was the last act of the Commish and his discretionary powers surrounding 2004 testing………..thanks to a new AG in Washington…..
But hey…………you couldn’t prove any of it………………………
I was under the impression that the Selig’s tenure was to end…………he suggested that it was his decision to retire or not Friday……………. interesting situation…………..kind of like the pilot putting on a parachute and walking down the isle………….makes you wonder what hazards or bad weather information he is privilege to………………. or is he just a stunt pilot????
For readers that are unaware of Steroid history………………..its been with us for awhile. The Olympic moment found it essential during the cold war………………… It became an issue in baseball because of the nature and characteristics of the collective bargaining agreements. Players contracts to long………..legacy records being rendered meaningless……….and their demise fueling escalating salary expectations surrounding current “bargaining rules”. During the onset of the Bush administration………………the Texas Rangers changed baseball………. escalating all baseball related revenues……………………….. now salaries are rolling back…….but not ticket prices of concessional…
The owners making big money…………………….. these are exact models of the Savings and Loan rip offs……….followed by the Enron scheme………and then the housing Bubble derivatives fiasco………..all taking place during Bush administrations……………
I see signs that AP’s future may have been decided………….. all that’s left is creating cover. If he stays……….6yrs with lots of differed money….under 200mill……… if he goes……….it happened 10 months ago, and the Red Sox will be the likely recipients. But hey……… lets watch and see.
that’s “or concessions.”
“I leave the melodrama to WC. I only know I didn’t like what I saw.” Nothing wrong with that crdswmn. They say a hot dog tastes better if you don’t read the ingredients. Baseball is the same way.
I used to have problems in school do to thinking outside the box. In junior high civics class we were studying the campaigning process and the assignment was to design a survey aimed at finding out what sort of voters lived in a certain area. Students came up with a variety of questionaires and such. What I did was write down the ingredients off a hot dog package on one index card and the ingredients off a can of Alpo on another and then then showed the cards to people and asked which they would rather eat. I did this on the campus of the most prestigious medical school in St. Louis, and concluded that the voters there are so dumb they’d rather eat dog food.
So maybe it doesn’t hurt to dig a bit deeper, ask a few questions, not take what is there to be seen at face value.
I bet Albert doesn’t catch the Babe in 40 homer seasons. Bet A-Rod doesn’t either.
Chapman is 1-2 with 2.61 ERA. I believe he has now blown two saves out of two chances. It takes more than throwing hard I guess.
The Reds have done their best to let us have it, going 7-13 the last 20 games. We’ve gone 8-12, so we’ve closed the gap by one game.
BB- I have no problem with people wanting to dig deeper. Separating the wheat from the chaff is part of what I do for a living. Law is my profession, but baseball is entertainment. I don’t mix the two. Ultimately the why of it doesn’t matter to me, only the what.
A bit of existentialist angst there CRD……………. Sometimes cursing the fiddler doesn’t contribute to the fun in dancing……………… but it sure doesn’t help when you’re dancing the fandango and he’s playing a Virgina reel…………………the game is contested on many levels now……….and I find that distracting. BD’s egotistical expressions have nothing to do with baseball. He is addicted to controlling that which he now perceives as the public illusion of his competitive interests. The Romans really got into it. Manipulating the system………………right in front of people who follow out of habit and desperation………… Look at the financial sacrifice that all of the teams in contention made……………only the Rays were close to our commitment. He he got away with it in the name of Cardinal Tradition. He went underground in 2007, surfacing as our GM behind the curtain……for a number of reasons. His agenda for a youth movement is upon us……….. and look how he achieved it………………he is on target.
I’ve never been a Kierkegaard fan WC. I am more of a Descartes kind of gal.
Descalso could contribute in 2011. He played 3B in college, the Cards have shifted him to 2B because this better suits him, offensively and defensively. But because the Cards have a gaping hole at 3B, Descalso could gain experience as an interim 3B.
Descalso has been durable, playing full seasons since signing 3.5 years ago. During 150 at bats at Memphis in 2009, his OPS was 647. In 2010, in 468 at bats, he lifted this to 771, including 44 extra base hits. Descalso is about where Jon Jay was at coming into 2010. He could spend next April/May at Memphis getting fine tuning, but he’s in the competitive mix for spring training. If Freese cannot get healthy or if the Cards cannot acquire another 3Bman, Descalso could play 3rd next year on an interim basis and replace Skip at 2B for 2012.
It is interesting the Cards have 3 left swingers who can play 3B. In addition to Descalso, there are bonus baby Zack Cox and Matt Carpenter. Carpenter can play 3B for Memphis in 2011, while Cox begins at Palm Beach.
For 2011, the Cards could try to get by with Freese and Descalso at 3B. Descalso would be a better fielder at 3B than Craig or Mather.
Reference comment #33, I tend to agree with you, bb. On the other hand, Ruth’s last 40-homer season was at the age of 37. If Pujols could do it in six of the next seven years, he would pass Ruth with 12 seasons at the same age, 37. A lot would have to go well for that to happen though, mostly Albert maintaining decent health. Also note that Aaron and Bonds hit 40 at age 39.
Ref comment #38, for me the biggest question by far is one that will be most difficult to predict – Freese’s health. The Cards gambled in 2010 on him and lost. I think they need a decent veteran to keep in reserve. They can’t afford a second black hole season from that position.
There are only a few positions where the offense might be realistically upgraded. Second base, short, right field and third. If Ryan is staying for his glove and they want to platoon Jay and Craig in right to try to get decent production at a low price, that leaves second and third as the candidates for improvement.
I’d rather see Descalso get a chance at second base and pursue outside help for third. TLR’s reluctance to play Descalso at second feels a bit like a “protect Skip” manuever.
Further, freeing up Skip would provide a proven veteran backup to serve behind the youngsters in right and a sub at second.
Descalso could grow into a multi-year ML regular at 2B. This being so, it would not be a bad idea to introduce Descalso into the majors via 3B for a year, simply because this is where the “at bats” are available. Descalso has an infielders hands, so he can field grounders at 3B; his arm is less than prototypical for 3B, but its better than Miles.
One free agent 3B will be Beltre, rep’d by Boras. Beltre will be looking for a costly deal. Its unclear the Cards can afford him. Other available 3B are likely to be ho-hum, stop gaps. The Cards could add one, to provide depth, in case Freese cannot get it together.
Their other hope can be Descalso can contribute at 3B in 2011, in a R/L platoon situation with Freese or a veteran to be acquired. By 2012, Matt Carpenter might be ready to contribute at 3B or by 2013, Cox, enableing Descalso to shift to his better position of 2B.
Descalso is playing 3B right now because Pedro Feliz is ready for retirement.
The offense at SS can upgrade next year if Brendan Ryan’s wrist gets stronger.
Descalso could take over at 2B and liberate Schumaker for a utility role.
But a lot will hinge on who can play 3B in 2011. Descalso could give the Cards another option in the mix for 3B. They need options. 3B is a problem.
Fully agreed, Brian. One minor correction: 2011 would be the third straight black hole season at 3B.
Beltre will be overpriced, sure. Ty Wigginton is always undervalued ($3.5M this year), hits for a lot of power, and can play a lot of different positions including 3B, 2B, and the outfield in a pinch. Melvin Mora ($1.3M) might be a reasonable option to cover 3B and 2B in a pinch. I’m a little less comfortable with Cantu, Inge, and especially Lowell, but there are options out there.
Jeeez the behind the scenes drama sounds like a 3rd rate play.If thats your thing then have at it.
As for 3B next season how about Juan Uribe……He can play all infield positions adequately and would offer a decent bat. I think he is making 3 million this year with SF.Veteran insurance at several positions.It would be nice to see Descalso win the 2B job next year and Schumaker can be a 4th OF.
Of course much depends on Freese `s health.If Freese okay Cards might not spend on a veteran utility man.
Westy since i didn`t get to see the game i missed all the melodrama and behind the scenes moves.As for running a tryout camp in front of 40.000 hostile fans ……………….you got to play the kids sometimes.You know Westy.sometimes things are simply what they are.
In 07, Rolen was out of action by August. In 08, Glaus suffered a late injury the severity of which may have been not fully understood; he missed 09. In Jan 09, Freese had his accident that wiped out his season. In 10, Freese lost a half season. In sum, there have been problems at 3B for four years. Mo will not want to go into 2011 depending on Freese bouncing back to health and putting together a strong offensive season.
3Bmen tend to be harder to obtain than 2B. Beltre will be looking for a multi-year expensive deal. Mora is old. Uribe sounds like an interesting idea. Inge too. Not sure about Wiggington’s defense at 3B. Lowell’s done, Cantu cant-u field.
Uribe is 31 and has no injury history that i can recall and offers veteran experience at multiple positions. Can Mo pay Uribe enough to come to STL.Uribe has said he likes SF.I have to say either Uribe or Wiggington would be the only two i would consider as top choices.
Checking latest Elias ratings
Uribe type B Free agent
Wiggington none
If we bring in a guy from outside the organizion, I hope its a third baseman rather than a multi-position guy playing third.
I think if the FO brought in another 3B that would show a lack of faith in Matt Carpenters potential.Wiggington and Uribe are guys who play adequate defense at several positions.Would you feel comfortable with a Melvin Mora or a Miquel Tejada playing 3B at this stage of their careers.If thats the case then Cards might as well re-sign Feliz.How much do any of those guys have left in the tank.Thirdbaseman aren`t exactly falling out of trees.Unless you trade with a team like the White Sox who have Dayan Vicedo and Brent Morel two rookies who are getting some playing time this year.
I agree it would be hard to come up with a veteran 3B. Would have to trade for one. Would cost something we need off the ML roster, and ad some payroll. The alternatives, and end of career guy or a deluxe multiposition guy, I hope we stay away from. The idea of a veteran guy to platoon and/or back up Freese and/or another rookie sounds good, but if Tony is back, it may end up with the veteran getting the reps.
52, its fine to feel good about Carpenter or Cox for the future, but Mo and TLR care about April 2011. The short term dominates their thinking, as well it should.
Mo can’t daydream hopefully about Matt Carpenter. And he can’t trust Sawbones Paletta to fix Freese or Freese to stay off the sauce (even if his ankle works).
After 4 straight years of problems, Mo and TLR are going to be risk averse about 3B in 2011. If Ludwick could play 3B, he never would have been traded. We need help there for 2011. Either quality (which costs money) or quantity (several cheap bodies).
TLR will favor good defense. Defense rocketed Molina to the Show. We had Abe Nunez at 3B for much of 05 and he had spent most of his prior career at SS.
The Cards will think long and hard about how to cover 3B in 2011. They will examine all the possibilities.
JS it would be wise to have a backup option available at 3B.The team should prepare as though Freese won`t be back.The question is who would be the best option.Thats one reason i like Uribe-average defense at several positions-better than average bat.If Freese is able to come back and start the season Cards still would have a versatile veteran to back up Descalso (who i hope gets a chance).I have seen enough of Skips defense at 2B..Either way the Cards know what the problems are………………………lets see them get the problems fixed.
Jumbo, your comments have been showing a little extra bite lately. I approve!
That game should not have been that close. Why do I care?
Nutlaw, I try to damp down my natural tendency toward irony or being acerbic, so I become a pale shadow of my true self. The Cards being middle America, some people might take these amiss. Some posters here are a tad sensitive.