Pujols Out 4-6 Weeks With Wrist Fracture

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is out four to six weeks with a small fracture in his left wrist. Pujols left Sunday's game with the Royals when he collided with Wilson Betemit. It's really too bad, because he had just started to really get it going hitting .317 with 8 HRs in his last 17 games. This is also really bad news for the Cardinals who are tied for 1st place in the NL Central, but are just 3-7 in their last 10 games.

MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

Offense:
1. Ryan Theriot-SS
2. Lance Berkman-LF
3. Albert Pujols-1B
4. Matt Holliday-RF
5. Colby Rasmus-CF
6. David Freese-3B
7. Yadier Molina-C
8. Skip Schumaker-2B

Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball and Matt Holliday is a hell of a compliment but like last year it was pretty evident that these two needed more support. I don't know if Berkman and Theriot can provide that, but I guess we shall see. I worry about Berkman because I don't believe he can be an everyday outfielder, he hasn't been able to really since 2004. I'm sorry I just don't believe in the rest of the order, I know Rasmus has good power in centerfield in which he hit 23 homers last year, but I'm not a Freese, Molina (offensively), and Schumaker fan. I think they still have a hard time scoring timely runs.

Rotation:
Chris Carpenter
Jamie Garcia
Jake Westbrook
Kyle Lohse
TBA

This rotation took a major blow this offseason when Adam Wainwright got injured and was required to have Tommy John surgery. Now this rotation will be heavily relied on aging Chris Carpenter and Youngster Jaime Garcia. Carpenter reclaims his role as the Cardinals 1. Carpenter is an impressive 33-13 with a 2.78 ERA the last two years. I don't know how he does it, but for some reason I don't take him seriously. Garcia had a great rookie campaign going 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA. Jake Westbrook and Lohse are serviceable.

Overall:

There has been a ton of awful shit going on this year for the Cardinals. First the Pujols drama is going be weighing on everyones mind all year, figuring he could walk (I don't believe he will). Then Wainwright goes down with Tommy John, and now there are grumblings Chris Carpenter wants out. Going to be a long year in the Lou.

77-85

Adam Wainwright To Get Tommy John

Somehow this story slipped through our fingers yesterday.

If not signing Albert Pujols to a contract extension is a big enough distraction how about losing 20 game winner Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery.

This is a huge blow to the Cardinals who now have to rely on an aging Chris Carpenter and probably a shitbum fill in like Kevin Millwood to take Wainwrights spot. Pretty big difference from a guy who was 20-11 last year with a 2.42 era and 214 Ks compared to Millwoods 4-16 record with a 5.10 era and 132 ks.

Things could get real ugly for the Cardinals quickly as this pretty much knocks them out of the playoffs already with the Reds getting a lot better.

So What Did Pujols Turn Down?

There is a report today that says that Albert Pujols turned down a 9 year deal worth $200 million (According to Sports Illustrated). If this is true they should be close to a deal. I know there are rumors that Pujols wants a 10 year deal for about $300 million, but that is fucking ridiculous, and I don't think he will get that from St. Louis (or anyone else).

The deal they offered would work out to be about $22.25 million. That wouldn't make him the highest paid player, but with the contract being a guaranteed I think it is a very fair offer. Pujols will be 40 at the end of that contract, and there is little chance he will worth anything near that amount by then. Maybe they just front load the contract, so that Pujols gets to be the highest plaid players for a couple year, and then make it more manageable later.

Either way, this proves to me that they are a lot closer then I ever thought, and I think they will get a deal done at some point.

Is Anyone Else Sick Of This Albert Pujols Stuff?

There are only a few things I hate in this world, Ketchup, Strawberry Nutragrain Bars, and now fake deadlines can go into that list. Albert Pujols happened to extend his contract talk deadlines 24 hours and it's going to end today at 12pm. Really Albert? You're telling me if tomorrow St. Louis comes up to you and offers you your 10 year, 300 million dollar deal you wouldn't take it? Shut up. I know this could be a way to keep the media out of it, but everyone is smart enough.

Also Albert, we all know your awesome and all but asking for a 10 year, 300 million dollar deal is just rude. Your a baseball player and your asking for 30 million dollars a year, look at what a teacher, cop and fireman makes. My question is that what happens if he gets 30 million dollars a year, is Bryce Harper or whoever the next young stud that needs an extension get 35 a year. Baseball is ridiculous when it comes to contracts and something eventually needs to be done. But until then, I'll sit back and enjoy Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.

Pujols Rejects Cardinals' Offer

"Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols received and rejected a contract proposal from St. Louis two weeks ago and there has been no progress in the talks since then, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney (ESPN)."

Not sure how much I believe it, but rumor is Pujols is going to announce that he will not listen to anymore offers from the Cardinals until the season is over. That means he will be a free agent. Pujols is looking for a 10 year deal worth roughly $300 million. There is no word on what the Cardinals offered, but I just don't see anyone giving him that money. There is no question that Pujols is the ebst hitter in the game, but giving him that 10 year deal would mean you'd be paying a 40 year old $30 million dollars at the backend of that contract. Sorry, but that is just insane.

The question now is, if the Cardinals then who? The Yankees are usually the answer, but they have Mark Teixeira locked up long term. The Red Sox should be signing a long term deal sometime around opening day. Those are you're 2 big spenders, so I just don't see Pujols getting a 10 year deal. My guess is that he eventually resigns with the Cardinals, but he'll make them sweat through free agency next offseason.

MLB Previews: St Louis Cardinals

Lineup:
1. 2B Skip Schumaker
2. CF Colby Rasmus
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. LF Matt Holliday
5. RF Ryan Ludwick
6. C Yadier Molina
7. 3B David Freese
8. SS Brendan Ryan

Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday give the Cardinals the NL's best 3-4 bash brothers and Yadier Molina seems to improve every season, however, I'm not sold on the rest of the line up. Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus will be more than important to how this team will do offensively. If they all struggle this team may be a middle of the pack offensive team.


Rotation:
1. RHP Chris Carpenter
2. RHP Adam Wainwright
3. RHP Kyle Lohse
4. RHP Brad Penny
5. RHP Kyle McClellan

CL: RHP Ryan Franklin

Wainwright and Carpenter were the best 1-2 rotation punch in the game last season (even though I'm not a fan of either), and Kyle Lohse is garbage to me. The guy who may be most intriguing is our old friend Brad Penny. Penny had a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts with Red Sox, but 2.59 in 5 starts with Giants. If he can keep up the NL Magic this rotation can be pretty serviceable. I have nothing really to say about closer Ryan Franklin.

Outlook:
Any team with Albert, Holliday, Wainwright and Carpinter should be able to take the NL Central. They will be a little bit better than last years team.

93-69

Mark McGwire Comes Clean, Admits Steroids

Here is his whole admission:
"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.

I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season.

I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.

During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.

I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.

Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.

I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.

After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."

Well doesn't that beat all? Mark McGwire did steroids, you don't say? This was a smart move by him anyways due to him being in the limelight again. He would be constantly bombarded by these questions all the time in St. Louis, and now it can be all brushed under the rug because America loves forgiving. Now if they can please leave that innocent Barry Bonds alone.


BMack's Take:


All I can say is it is about fucking time...

"Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998. McGwire said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade.

"I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said in a statement. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

McGwire also used human growth hormone, a person close to McGwire said, speaking on condition of anonymity because McGwire didn't include that detail in his statement (Boston.com)."

Since McGwire wants to come back into baseball and be a hitting coach I am glad that he finally came out and admitted it. I wish he had just done it right away, but now there is no question that he used steroids, and probably will not be voted into the Hall of Fame, but the road to forgiveness with fans usually starts with the truth. I don't think you'll see as much backlash as you might think....

La Russa's Real Motives For McGwire As DH

I found this very interesting...

"Yesterday we talked about how Mark McGwire will begin the next stage of his baseball life as hitting coach of the Cardinals, but Tony La Russa might have more in mind.

La Russa told the Contra Costa Times that he might even consider using McGwire as a pinch-hitter. To wit: "If we're in contention, we'll put him on the roster Aug. 31. It's a nice little dream," said La Russa. "Is it likely? Probably not. I don't think it's a zero possibility."

Now, however, people are questioning motives. The conspiracy theorists -- we use such phrases as the highest of compliments -- at the New York Daily News speculate that La Russa is actually buying time for McGwire to get into the Hall of Fame. By pushing back the initial vote on Big Red another five years, more time will pass and we'll get all weepy and come to terms with our own conflicted love affair with the steroid era ... or something along those lines (ESPN)."

I hate it, but I have to admit it is a smart move. If they can delay the vote for the Hall of Fame McGwire has a much better shot at getting in. All the numbers are there, but it is obviously the whole steroids thing that is holding him back. I don't think he should get it, but I am also very against steroid use. Still, you got to admit that this is an ingenious plan.....if it's true.

McGwire Coming Back As Coach And Pinch-Hitter?

"Mark McGwire will begin the next stage of his baseball life as hitting coach of the Cardinals, but could manager Tony La Russa have something else in mind? La Russa told the Contra Costa Times that he might even consider using McGwire as a pinch-hitter.

"If we're in contention, we'll put him on the roster Aug. 31. It's a nice little dream," said La Russa. "Is it likely? Probably not. I don't think it's a zero possibility."

La Russa added that he expects McGwire to have a press conference by the end of the month and definitely before the start of spring training. Remember, Big Mac doesn't like to talk about the past (ESPN)."

Personally, I don't think McGwire should be aloud near an MLB field again, but that is completely biased. Still, he has been out of the game too long, and I just don't think he has anything in the tank to be a pinch hitter. My real question here is why would you put more of a spotlight on a guy who has done everything he can to avoid it?

Cardinals Close To Signing Holliday?

"The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be moving closer to a deal with free agent outfielder Matt Holliday, but it will cost more than $100 million to get it done. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney is reporting that there is increased optimism within the Cardinals' camp about working out a deal for Holliday.

Agent Scott Boras is believed to have an offer in excess of $100 million from the Cardinals, and club officials with other teams sense he is shopping that offer. Boras has been doubling back to teams that had previously touched base on the outfielder, citing a possible salary figure of $18 million.

Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch reports today that a deal is "gaining momentum" and that the Cards' offer is potentially the largest in franchise history, topping the $100 million extension signed by Albert Pujols in 2004. Goold added that a resolution could come as early as next week (ESPN)."

It sounds like the Cardinals (much like the Mets with Bay) are competing against themselves. The Cardinals really need Holliday back, and I believe the will get him. There had bee rumors earlier in the week that the Orioles were going to jump into the mix, but their owner has come out and shot down those rumors. Boston had interesting, but after signing Lackey and Cameron, they seem to be at their max payroll...

Cardinals Make Offer To Holliday

"The Cardinals have tweaked their standing offer for the outfielder, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While the newspaper reported the Cardinals' proposal is worth around $16 million a season, the team is hoping to sweeten the deal with a longer-term contract. The guaranteed years could be for as many as eight seasons, according to the newspaper. While Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak would not go into detail about what was said, he did tell the Post-Dispatch that the renewed talks with agent Scott Boras were a good sign.

"He's still a player we like very much and hope to retain," Mozeliak said (ESPN).

I think Holliday will stay in St. Louis. The market for him is drying up a bit. The Sox seem to be out after signing Lackey and Cameron yesterday. The Mets seemed focused on Bay, and the Angels have said they have other priorities. The only other team I can see really jumping in here would be Seattle, but I don't know how much they have left to spend after the moves they have made...

Pujols Wins NL MVP

Albert Pujols' third National League MVP award put him in select company. Only Barry Bonds has more.

"I'm just humbled," Pujols said.

Pujols won unanimously Tuesday, becoming the first player to repeat since Bonds won four in a row from 2001-04. Pujols, who also won in 2005, received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He became the first unanimous MVP since Bonds in 2002. ESPN

Albert Pujols is going to finish as the best baseball player to have ever played the game when he is all done. I have never seen a guy dominate a game so much since the fore mentioned Barry Bonds. The only thing I won't like is that an american player won't be the best player of all time. The Cardinals will need to sign Holliday back if they want to have Albert have a little protection in the lineup.

Cardinals Interested In Jason Bay

"The St. Louis Cardinals are prepping a list of alternatives to Matt Holliday, and the top guy on that list may be Jason Bay, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Holliday, a Boras client, is expected to seek a contract that betters the 8-year, $136 million the Chicago Cubs gave Alfonos Soriano, which may be too rich for the Cardinals. Bay is a year older than Holliday and is believed to be an inferior defender, which may suppress his free-agent value enough for St. Louis to stay involved (ESPN)."

Jason Bay is a better player then Holliday, and I really hope he stays with the Sox. My fear is that the Yankees might try to steal him away, but in the end I really don't think the Sox have any option, but to resign this guy. He can't carry an offense by himself, but I would much rather see him in left field then Matt "I can't hit in the AL" Holliday.

Mark McGwire To Coach St. Louis

Mark McGwire, the former Cardinals slugger, will replace Hal McRae, who has been fired as hitting coach, a source told ESPN. McGwire has decided to come back from an 8 year hiatus to help the Cardinals out. What is going to agrivate me the most about this whole thing is that when McGwire comes back, he is going to get a standing ovation and be received as a hero, when in reality he should be booed and ridiculed. Even though he never fully admitted to steroids it was pretty obvious when he was giving his testimony that he was juicing. I like Tony La Russa but to give this cheater a position under you is classless and unnecessary, and you should also get a hitting coach that wasn't a .263 career batting average and a face of the steroid era.

Why St. Louis Lost

Matt Holliday's nuts thought they could make the catch instead of his glove. And now the Dodgers are up 2-0.

John Smoltz Is A Cocksucker, and The NL Is A Minors League

It is pretty absurd that John Smoltz can go from the Boston Red Sox and get lit up constantly, get dropped, then go to the St. Louis Cardinals and pitch 5 innings of shutout ball with 9 ks, including 7 in a row. I don't know what makes me more furious the fact that any pitcher that goes from the AL to the NL looks like a Cy Young winner, or the fact John Smoltz could be very successful in the the NL. Like many Red Sox fans, I believed that Smoltz was going to be the man in a Red Sox uniform. I thought he was going to be a beast, however, he turned out to be a dud, said he didn't want to resign and ran back to the NL, which is a pitchers security blanket. Maybe I'm just pissed because of the Yankee series, but for that John Smoltz you get a big, Child Please.

Smoltz To St. Louis (UPDATE - It's Official)

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that, barring an unforeseen waiver claim, the 42-year-old right-hander accept the Cardinals' offer to join the club as its fifth starter.

The Cardinals would be liable for only a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum, about $100,000. The Post Dispatch reports that Smoltz also can be a set-up man to closer Ryan Franklin. ESPN

I love how the NL has become a safe haven for pitchers. If you can't make it in the AL, you always have the NL you can beat up. I don't know if it's just the DH rule, or just the hitters aren't as good, but either way I don't know if Smoltz has "it" anymore. I personally think he is all done, and AL, NL, or slow pitch soft ball league Smoltz will still suck.


***UPDATE***

"Determined to prove he's not finished, veteran pitcher John Smoltz has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after being released by Boston. The deal was finalized Wednesday afternoon (Sportsline)."

I am fine with this as long as he doesn't come out of the bullpen for them. If he does then I fucking hate John Smoltz, since there is no reason why he couldn't have just stayed with the Sox.

Smoltz Refuses Minor League Assignment

Guess I was wrong about Smoltz having too much pride, and wanting to stay in Boston...

"John Smoltz, who struggled mightily in eight starts with the Red Sox before he was designated for assignment last Friday, has cleared waivers and refused an assignment to Triple A Pawtucket, according to a report by FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The Red Sox must now either release or trade the 42-year-old righthander, who was 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA this season (Boston.com)."

Oh well, I was wrong. Now it looks like either the Dodgers or the Cardinals (if he wants to keep playing). Both teams have expressed interest and who knows maybe in the NL Smoltz will be good enough to start...

Matt Holliday To Cardinals?

It has been very quiet on the matt Holliday trade front. Well, until today...

"The St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics have been talking about a possible swap of All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday and top prospect Brett Wallace, according to sources, and one person familiar with the talks places the odds of a deal at 50-50 (ESPN)."

The A's need to trade Holliday as he s eligible for free agency after this season, but he is not helping them out with a very average season hitting .287 with 11 homers and 54 RBI. The good news is that he is hitting much better of late and the Cardinals really need another bat in their lineup. I think this deal will get done, because both sides are very motivated. This Wallace kid makes a lot of sense for the A's since they are loaded with young pitching, but don't really have a lot of bats comign up. Wallace, 22, is a former first-round pick who is hitting .292 in the minors this year, with a .372 on-base percentage.