Pujols Signs With Angels

[Spider John]

Yeah, it's not the Cardinals fault, but AP outperformed his contract by $200 million +....

That's my point. It's not that AP signed what he did, but that DeWitt as a businessman liked the idea of winning the business deal by 200 million more than he liked the idea of bringing AP back at market price.

[ghostrunner]

On a personal/fan level, this is really punching me in the gut today. I didn't really get into baseball much from 1987 to 2000, and I was just a kid in the 80's. So from 2000 onward is really the bulk of my time as a baseball fan, and Albert has been on the team since 2001. Today I feel like a part of whatever linked me to the team is gone in some way. Doesn't help that La Russa is gone too, even though I was ready for him to go. Next year is going to be weird.

[skmsw]

I think they legitimately thought their offers would be good enough to land him ...

Nope, disagree ... I think they might have been HOPING that the amount of risk they were willing to float COULD be enough, if Albert wanted to stay badly enough ... but I think they knew that was not the most likely (or maybe, even knew it was not a very likely at all) outcome.

If they DID think it was, then I'd also be back to the "misreading the market" thing. Really, there was never really any good reason to think no one would be ponying up A-Rod type terms to get him.

But as it is, I really do not think they wanted the liability of an 8 to 10 year large contract hanging over them. As I said earlier, this might be seen as good judgment on their part -- will he be worth this for ten years? If the odds are no, then they did the right thing (although they might have taken better care of the "window" he was here for).

But if you think that any of the below are true ...

a) keep him at any price, he'll be more or less worth it on the field, buy 10 to get 7-8+

b) keep him at any price, whatever you lose on the field will be more than balanced with what you gain in legacy/milestone/historical capital and good will

c) Keep him, what you overpay now still balances out with what you underpaid the past 8 years

d) if you're not going to resign him, maximize the window you have with him, win-now mentality applies for the last two-three years of the contract

... then you probably don't think they handled the situation very effectively

[cards2468]

It really does feel like I just broke up with a really hot girl friend who I got along with, but then eventually realized it wasn't meant to be. And she was going to drain my bank account dry. Now I can use that money on alcohol and bang all sorts of hood rats.

[OmahaCard79]

To the City of St. Louis and Cardinal Nation,

I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for the love and support you have me and my family for the past 11 years. In my time with the Cardinals, I have been fortunate enough to play on championship teams, and in front of championship fans. This community has reached out and embraced me, and for that I am truly humbled and grateful.

My decision to leave has been incredibly difficult, and your support is the biggest reason why. While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, it was very important to me to let you know that St. Louis has been, and will always remain, in my heart. I have been honored to be able to wear the Cardinal uniform the last 11 seasons, and I want to thank the entire Cardinal organization, my teammates, coaches, managers and staff for everything they have given to me as well.

We call St. Louis home and my family and I are so blessed to have made lifelong relationships in St. Louis that we look forward to continuing for many years to come, and words cannot fully express our gratitude to you all.

Thank you and God bless,
Albert and Deidre

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/2902 ... -my-heart-

for some reason, this just is grating on me in a way I can't quite put into words.

Shoulda just said, "I got paid! Peace out playas! I just bought a private plane! See you in an interleague series at some point!"

[cards2468]

To the City of St. Louis and Cardinal Nation,

I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for the love and support you have me and my family for the past 11 years. In my time with the Cardinals, I have been fortunate enough to play on championship teams, and in front of championship fans. This community has reached out and embraced me, and for that I am truly humbled and grateful.

My decision to leave has been incredibly difficult, and your support is the biggest reason why. While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, it was very important to me to let you know that St. Louis has been, and will always remain, in my heart. I have been honored to be able to wear the Cardinal uniform the last 11 seasons, and I want to thank the entire Cardinal organization, my teammates, coaches, managers and staff for everything they have given to me as well.

We call St. Louis home and my family and I are so blessed to have made lifelong relationships in St. Louis that we look forward to continuing for many years to come, and words cannot fully express our gratitude to you all.

Thank you and God bless,
Albert and Deidre

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/2902 ... -my-heart-

for some reason, this just is grating on me in a way I can't quite put into words.

Shoulda just said, "I got paid! Peace out playas! I just bought a private plane! See you in an interleague series at some point!"

When somebody gives us that big of a middle finger, I wish they'd at least be honest about it. I would have been less pissed if he just said, "[expletive] YOU, GOT MINE! LOL"

[robbotis]

It's like dating a girl, you thought she was special, you though she was the One. But, she cheated on you. Turns out she's just another HO.

Albert made his choice. Good for him.
I can make mine, and hate him. I hope they give #5 to Punto next season.

[cards2468]

Too bad it didn't make sense to re-sign Laird. It would have been funny for him to joke about having 5 tools with us.

[ghostrunner]

To the City of St. Louis and Cardinal Nation,

I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for the love and support you have me and my family for the past 11 years. In my time with the Cardinals, I have been fortunate enough to play on championship teams, and in front of championship fans. This community has reached out and embraced me, and for that I am truly humbled and grateful.

My decision to leave has been incredibly difficult, and your support is the biggest reason why. While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, it was very important to me to let you know that St. Louis has been, and will always remain, in my heart. I have been honored to be able to wear the Cardinal uniform the last 11 seasons, and I want to thank the entire Cardinal organization, my teammates, coaches, managers and staff for everything they have given to me as well.

We call St. Louis home and my family and I are so blessed to have made lifelong relationships in St. Louis that we look forward to continuing for many years to come, and words cannot fully express our gratitude to you all.

Thank you and God bless,
Albert and Deidre

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/2902 ... -my-heart-

for some reason, this just is grating on me in a way I can't quite put into words.

Shoulda just said, "I got paid! Peace out playas! I just bought a private plane! See you in an interleague series at some point!"

When somebody gives us that big of a middle finger, I wish they'd at least be honest about it. I would have been less pissed if he just said, "[expletive] YOU, GOT MINE! LOL"

\

Jeez, I don't get it. What is he supposed to say?

[planet planet]

To the City of St. Louis and Cardinal Nation,

I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for the love and support you have me and my family for the past 11 years. In my time with the Cardinals, I have been fortunate enough to play on championship teams, and in front of championship fans. This community has reached out and embraced me, and for that I am truly humbled and grateful.

My decision to leave has been incredibly difficult, and your support is the biggest reason why. While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, it was very important to me to let you know that St. Louis has been, and will always remain, in my heart. I have been honored to be able to wear the Cardinal uniform the last 11 seasons, and I want to thank the entire Cardinal organization, my teammates, coaches, managers and staff for everything they have given to me as well.

We call St. Louis home and my family and I are so blessed to have made lifelong relationships in St. Louis that we look forward to continuing for many years to come, and words cannot fully express our gratitude to you all.

Thank you and God bless,
Albert and Deidre

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/2902 ... -my-heart-

for some reason, this just is grating on me in a way I can't quite put into words.

Shoulda just said, "I got paid! Peace out playas! I just bought a private plane! See you in an interleague series at some point!"

When somebody gives us that big of a middle finger, I wish they'd at least be honest about it. I would have been less pissed if he just said, "[expletive] YOU, GOT MINE! LOL"

\

Jeez, I don't get it. What is he supposed to say?

++

Reading that was the only thing that elicited tears from me so far. You can still believe Albert's a good, sincere man and cared about STL, just not enough to overlook the contract delta.