As the old saying goes, the only two sure things in life are death and taxes.
The 2011 Albert Pujols version of the phrase includes the certainties of hitting and money, lots of both.
In the compensation department, the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman and free agent-to be is anticipating the huge contract heading his way this fall – even if he doesn’t yet know who will be signing his checks for the next decade or so.
In the interim, the hits haven’t been coming at their typical rate as Pujols has gotten off to an uncharacteristically rough start with the bat. Albert arrived in Chicago this week lugging a .248 batting average and just two doubles in his first 35 games.
Could it be that Pujols’ spirits were raised by his Tuesday batting-practice embrace with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry? Both sides are clearly motivated to create the appearance of a budding courtship.
Hendry, in his ninth year in the job, has every reason to want to create hope for uneasy Cubs fans to “wait until next year.” In his favor, the GM has a past record of being able to convince his owners to spend lavishly on free agents. The decisions haven’t often been proven to be wise, but somehow, Hendry has survived despite an ownership change and his clubs’ last playoff wins having been back in 2003, long-since departed manager Dusty Baker’s first season with the Cubs.
After dealing away incumbent first sacker Derrek Lee last summer, Hendry brought in a one-year replacement for 2011. Despite averages of .196 and .227 the previous two seasons with Tampa Bay, Scott Boras client Carlos Pena received a generous $10 million contract to don Cubbie blue. His .213 Chicago average isn’t building him any support to stick around beyond this season, however.
With the traditional big spenders in New York, Boston and Philadelphia apparently set at first base for years to come, Pujols needs deep-pocketed bidders to step forward and enter the fray for his next contract. The Cardinals’ National League Central rivals from the north side of Chicago are considered by some to be shaping up as their most formidable competitor for Pujols’ ongoing services.
All eyes were on Pujols Tuesday as he and the Cubs’ front-office leader fanned those embers for everyone to see.
No one knows exactly what Hendry whispered into Pujols’ ear. Even though $300 million surely wasn’t stated – after all, that would be tampering – it had to be in their collective thinking.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, the man with the (TD Ameritrade-sourced) money, was also on hand but stuck to a more business-like handshake with the Cardinals superstar.
That Pujols went on to log his first four-hit game of the 2011 season on Tuesday night, raising his batting average 20 points in the process, was perhaps just coincidental – or maybe it wasn’t…
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Oh man, if Pujols becomes a Flub, he better pray hard he makes it in or out of Busch Stadium alive.
Albert was playing it for the camera, fuguring it would get a lot of play amongst the homies.
Still, if Brian is in Chicago he might let us know if there’s a box of chocolates in Albert’s locker.
We have seen some truly aweful throws by outfielders lately, from both sides. Holliday’s here in the third was pitiful. Rasmus got his man earlier but the throw was pretty far offline.
At least we have been on the recieving end too. I just hate seeing such poor execution of a fundamental part of the game.
Jeesh, now its three stooges time. Ras lets it go through him to the wall, then on the throw in brickhands lets it pop out of his glove. Sad.
There was a nice one by Matt. Just what Franky needs.
Jim Hendrie is a very, very, very handsome man. I can see why it would be hard to resist giving Jim a nice long hug, squeeze, squeeze, grope, grope.
The hype of where Albert might play in 2012 is deeply uninteresting and I shall not succumb to being interested. He will either resign with the Cards or move on. In either event, the world will keep spinning on its axis.
The groping of Pujols by GMs is unseemly, but it must be a melodrama that MLB wants to hype.
Love it Jumbo.
Albert got on 60 Minutes. Its all orchestrated to hype interest among MLB’s fan base. Get fans in many cities talking about whether their team can land Pujols this off season. Its a collaboration between the Union and MLB.
They want melodramas to give barbers and taxi drivers something to talk about with patrons, something to get workers to discuss down at the watercooler.
I think it has got to be rough on Albert. Seriously, who would want to have to hug Jim Hendrie?
Last night’s game has been wiped from my brain.
Jaime better get some major league caliber playing from his teammates today.
I agree that the discussion of where Albert plays next year is getting less and less interesting. The only significance I see to the snuggly scene in Wrigley is as it relates to how Albert is playing this year.
Albert stated that he would not negotiate during the season as he did not want to be “distracted” by contract issues during the season. Yet here he is posing for a photo op that will get more reaction than Bin Laden’s post raid pics in the middle of the worst start to a season he’s ever had. I don’t know if he actually planned to fan speculation and put pressure on the Cardinals but it’s hard to believe that he didn’t understand the effects it would have. That indicates to me that he is, indeed, very much distracted by the contract situation and that his struggles can likely be attributed to it. If you reran that poll about what’s wrong with Albert I’d cast my vote firmly for the contract distraction.
I don’t how all this plays to the FO, but I can say Albert is not helping himself with the fans. If he means all this as a third finger salute to the fans, he is getting what we wants. Continued poor performance, plus this kind of shenanigans, silly though it may be, is having its toll on fan support of his situation. If he has no intention of remaining a Cardinal, then it doesn’t matter.
Albert probably doesn’t know how this is going to end, but he is clearly keeping his options wide open.
Good thing, we might not want him back!
Lineup:
Lineup:
Jay RF, Craig 2B, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Rasmus CF, Molina C, Descalso 3B, Greene SS, Garcia P
What the hell?
You wouldn’t believe the real story on this line-up if I told you. Remind me to mention it next week Crd.
Okey dokey
How did Craig look at 2B? I can’t imagine why Descalso switched positions with him.
Nutlaw-i read on another board that Garcia has gotten 3 times as many groundballs to 3B this year as he has to 2B.Descalso better option defensively than Craig.Seemed to workout okay today.
In that context it sounds like something Tony would do.
His senior year of college, Craig played SS. He is mediocre at many positions.
Even though TLR is safely in rehab, the lineup can be original.
I’m still splitting a gut over Lohse’s TLR impersonation. That was priceless. I am happy to see the players having fun. Last year they always looked like they were going to a funeral. Do we have Lance Berkman to thank for this?
Either its Lance being there or Tony not being there.