Pujols Signs With Angels

[M1IRONMIKE]

I don't know whether to believe anything in this article but found it interesting

With Thursday's news that Pujols has agreed to a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cardinals officials, players and fans are finally permitted say what has gone unsaid far too long -- that Albert Pujols is a pain in the rear.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/09/opinion/p ... index.html

[Spider John]

Sorry for the wishy-washy post. But its been harder on me then I ever imagined it would be. Just need to vent.

A piece from Jerry Crasnick that might help you and others be more optimistic:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove11/story ... s-st-louis

I really believe that in five years we'll be a better team without him than if he had stayed.

[jim]

I do agree spider ... never disagreed with that premise. Which is why buried in these pages is a comment that has been a little nugget for me, because it describes exactly who I was feeling leading up to the signing which went something like this: If he signed, I'd be happy but worried. If he didn't, I'd be sad but relieved.

[Socnorb11]

I do agree spider ... never disagreed with that premise. Which is why buried in these pages is a comment that has been a little nugget for me, because it describes exactly who I was feeling leading up to the signing which went something like this: If he signed, I'd be happy but worried. If he didn't, I'd be sad but relieved.

That pretty much nails it, jim.

I think the sadness will subside fairly quickly. Even moreso if 2 things happen - the Cardinals win and Albert doesn't destroy the AL in the first month of 2012.

Guarantee this will get easier for Cardinals fans.

[AdmiralKird]

I don't know whether to believe anything in this article but found it interesting

With Thursday's news that Pujols has agreed to a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cardinals officials, players and fans are finally permitted say what has gone unsaid far too long -- that Albert Pujols is a pain in the rear.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/09/opinion/p ... index.html

[a_smith]

I do agree spider ... never disagreed with that premise. Which is why buried in these pages is a comment that has been a little nugget for me, because it describes exactly who I was feeling leading up to the signing which went something like this: If he signed, I'd be happy but worried. If he didn't, I'd be sad but relieved.

yup that nails it for me.

Now, I want to see what kind of GM MO is. I am impressed that he didn't cave to Pujols, and now I wonder if he will be able to find and develop talent for the team that can make us a consistent winner.

[KyCardinalFan]

Fan_in_NY had it:

I feel the same as Erik Manning does
" If Pujols re-signs I will be happy yet disgusted with the contract. If he signs with Miami I will be disgusted yet relieved"

[stlouie_lipp]

From Bernie:

When the Cardinals approached Pujols and agent Dan Lozano about a contract extension, two years (or so) ago, this is what they were told: Pujols wanted the Alex Rodriguez contract of 10 years and $275 million. That was the starting point. So what was there to negotiate unless the Cardinals were willing to do the A-Rod deal or something close to it?

Confident in their chances of hitting a mega jackpot, Lozano and Pujols were understandably willing to explore free agency to make it happen. And they were correct; Pujols got $254 million. But there was never going to be an early-bird contract extension at a discount rate for the Cardinals. Lozano delayed Pujols' entry into free agency by accepting a short-money deal with the Cardinals for Pujols in 2004. Team Pujols wasn't going to settle for the short money again.



Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1g73qJKwj

Yeah, I posted earlier that I was getting pissed hearing "the Cardinals blew it, they could have extended him before he reached free agency". They weren't willing to pay $254 million Wednesday, and they weren't willing to pay him that two years ago. How is that "blowing it"?

[fanforever]

How did the Mariners do the following year after they lost A-Rod?


and How long did it take Texas to recover from that signing?

[Hungary Jack]

From Bernie:

When the Cardinals approached Pujols and agent Dan Lozano about a contract extension, two years (or so) ago, this is what they were told: Pujols wanted the Alex Rodriguez contract of 10 years and $275 million. That was the starting point. So what was there to negotiate unless the Cardinals were willing to do the A-Rod deal or something close to it?

Confident in their chances of hitting a mega jackpot, Lozano and Pujols were understandably willing to explore free agency to make it happen. And they were correct; Pujols got $254 million. But there was never going to be an early-bird contract extension at a discount rate for the Cardinals. Lozano delayed Pujols' entry into free agency by accepting a short-money deal with the Cardinals for Pujols in 2004. Team Pujols wasn't going to settle for the short money again.



Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1g73qJKwj

Yeah, I posted earlier that I was getting pissed hearing "the Cardinals blew it, they could have extended him before he reached free agency". They weren't willing to pay $254 million Wednesday, and they weren't willing to pay him that two years ago. How is that "blowing it"?

This what makes Burwell's lamentations and thinly veiled allegations of racism in the FO so ridiculous. The original proposal of A-Rod money was a non-starter, and how could Moz be expected to move AP from that stance? They made a bonafide effort to keep Pujols. In fact, on a real, tax adjusted basis, he is getting paid less in CA than he would have here. Not to mention the opportunity to etch his name in annals of the more storied franchise in the NL. I think AP made a bad decision.

I am not religious, and distrust pretty much any church. But I take it as a sign from a higher being that the Cards won the championship in 2011 right before Pujols' departure. I think it was a gift to the fans. I look forward to the days ahead for this club.