As the Cardinals and Pujols try to pin the tail on the contract donkey we ask "How much is he going to get?" Let's start off by putting the cliches on ice. You'll start hearing them all if you haven't already. My three favorite. "All athletes are greedy", "No one deserves that much money" and "How much is enough?" Isn't it amazing that fans get all worked up when an athlete who entertains hundreds of thousands get all worked up over how much they make but when a CEO of an oil company or an S & L makes five times that amount no one bats and eye. So back to the task at hand, "How much is he going to get?"
The Cardinals have two things going for them and one thing working against them. The two bright spots are that both the Yankees and Red Sox have first baseman that they seem to be very happy with. Therefore you can eliminate two major suitors with deep pockets. So who would be the cardinals big competition if Pujols decides to test the free agent waters? How about a team that has about $30 plus million coming off the books at the end of this season? Smile Northsiders it may just be a great year to be a Cubs fan. So how much money would the Rickett's family be willing to spend on arguably the best player in the game?
I really don't cheer one way or another when it comes to players and outcomes anymore. I just want great match-ups, great story lines, and entertaining events. And let's face it there really is only one rivalry in baseball that is worth its weight in any precious metal. We all know what Ruth going from Boston to New York did for that rivalry. That was before TV, the Internet, and well even nationwide radio use. It was so long ago the players used trains for road trips. In today's media age Pujols from the Cardinals to Cubs would reignite that rivalry to what it once was.
So how much is he going to get? It doesn't matter to me at all. I really doesn't So long as the Cubs pay $1 more than the Cardinals.
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| Times were so much simpler then |
When I was a kid 'Payday' meant one of two things to me. The first of which was a fantastic delectable peanut treat and the second was a highly under rated board game. As I have gotten older the word "Payday" means one thing and one thing only. We all know what payday means to each and everyone of us. What is means to Albert Pujols is something totally different. As Pujols starts his 11th season with the Cardinals his number are unprecedented. At 31 years old he has put together a number log that make both stat geeks and fantasy sports enthusiasts get hot flashes. With 1,900 hits, 402 home runs and 1230 RBI his numbers, for his age, are on par with only one other: George Herman Ruth.
As the Cardinals and Pujols try to pin the tail on the contract donkey we ask "How much is he going to get?" Let's start off by putting the cliches on ice. You'll start hearing them all if you haven't already. My three favorite. "All athletes are greedy", "No one deserves that much money" and "How much is enough?" Isn't it amazing that fans get all worked up when an athlete who entertains hundreds of thousands get all worked up over how much they make but when a CEO of an oil company or an S & L makes five times that amount no one bats and eye. So back to the task at hand, "How much is he going to get?"
The Cardinals have two things going for them and one thing working against them. The two bright spots are that both the Yankees and Red Sox have first baseman that they seem to be very happy with. Therefore you can eliminate two major suitors with deep pockets. So who would be the cardinals big competition if Pujols decides to test the free agent waters? How about a team that has about $30 plus million coming off the books at the end of this season? Smile Northsiders it may just be a great year to be a Cubs fan. So how much money would the Rickett's family be willing to spend on arguably the best player in the game?
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| Baseball is better for Ruth leaving Boston |
The similarities between Pujols and Ruth are quite staggering. They are the only two players with career batting averages over .320 to go with seasonal home run and RBI averages of 40 and 120 respectively. They both slug well over .600 and have an OPS of 1.000. Ouch....brain freeze. I am not a stat geek, I am not a stat geek. In Pujols we are watching this generation's Ruth. But could we be approaching what would be the biggest similarity of them all? Could Albert Pujols be on the move from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs? Would this be the biggest act of "treason" we have ever seen in baseball? Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs both ended up in New York after leaving Boston but they had at least one bus stop prior to. I can't think of one anthlete in the range of their prime that has left one organization for its arch rival. One thing I know for sure. You can count me in as one of the people that hopes this happen.
I really don't cheer one way or another when it comes to players and outcomes anymore. I just want great match-ups, great story lines, and entertaining events. And let's face it there really is only one rivalry in baseball that is worth its weight in any precious metal. We all know what Ruth going from Boston to New York did for that rivalry. That was before TV, the Internet, and well even nationwide radio use. It was so long ago the players used trains for road trips. In today's media age Pujols from the Cardinals to Cubs would reignite that rivalry to what it once was.
So how much is he going to get? It doesn't matter to me at all. I really doesn't So long as the Cubs pay $1 more than the Cardinals.
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| Cub Fans...Tell me this doesn't make you smile! |
Great pic Seth. Yes I would love to have Pujols manning first base at Wrigley next season. I'd be fine with Prince Fielder as well. As a die-hard Cubs fan who watches day in and day out, there are still plenty of holes to fill in that lineup even with one of these sluggers. However I digress. I did get a little irritated with your comments regarding the Peoria Chiefs/Lebron promo the other night. Idiotic promo to be certain. A little bit of the pot and kettle to be certain. I guess I hate being reminded of 1908 in the midst of a lousy season. I am from the Chicagoland area, and have recently relocated to Savannah, and you had alluded to being from Northern Indiana. Question. Were you a Cubs or Sox fan growing up? Just wondering, and you can't like em' both. Also, I am a fellow MAC grad (NIU) with a broadcasting degree. I covered Richmond Hill High School's Varsity Baseball team this past, and intend on broadcasting next year as well. From a professional perspective, do you have any career advice or tips that might help along the way? Keep up the great work on WZAT. Thanks again. Kyle Lawson.
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