Wouldn’t mind Albert coming back again as a bench player. The guy can still clearly hit lefties. WTF did that shitty ass Angels franchise do to him for 10 years. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldandslow:
Was at today's game. Great atmosphere. Great game. That second Pujols' drive was enough to make one think of Brad Lidge. Don't think he can do it, but would love him to pass A-Fraud on the HR list.
I was afraid his signing would be a PR stunt. I was wrong. The man can still absolutely crush lefty's.
Which begs the question, what the heck was Craig Counsell doing? Having Rogers face Goldschmidt, Arenado and Pujols is Mike Matheny level thinking.
Wonder if the Brewers miss Hader yet?
He only needs 8 more to pass ARod. It's definitely possible. About 50 games left in the season. [Reply]
Albert Pujols was my favorite player since Bob Gibson. We could all see the decline starting. I was okay with him leaving to the DH league. I just didn’t want him to come back and embarrass himself flaying around at the plate striking out.
It makes me so happy to have watched him this last week. Reminds me when he was the best hitter in the game on his way to being the best RH hitter in the history of the game. The Pujols we saw in his prime is for at least a week, was the Pujols we saw have the best 11 years of baseball ever.
HOME RUN NO. 690 FOR ALBERT PUJOLS IS OH SO GRAND!!!
Pujols had to leave St. Louis - his body couldn't hold up at 1b anymore.
But you do wonder if he would've made a few choices differently, could he be chasing Aaron right now? Bonds?
As recently as 2016 he was still a dangerous hitter. He was among the league leaders in quality of contact that season - the stats just didn't reflect it because the AL West has 3 pretty awful environments to hit in, including his home park. [Reply]
And he'll do well in STL. The Yankees park and bad defense were a pretty bad match for him. And he was still largely effective. With the Cardinals he'll get an easier division, better home park and much better defense. If he can stay at 93-94 mph with his fastball and 91-92 with the sinker, that big curve and decent enough changeup will all play nicely off each other. Probably the kind of guy you should approach with a 3 year, $51 million sort of extension in the off-season. Then again, Marcus !#@$ing Stroman got 3 years $71 million so he may just laugh that figure off. You might have to get nearer to what Roriguez got from the Tigers and offer 5 years. Maybe you can get out of that for 5/$90 million?
Edmonds made a good point about guys freezing on his sinker last night - he throws the 4-seamer down and it looks like a sinker that will dive out of the zone (because he was heavy sinker in NY). Now he's throwing the 4-seamer down, they expect it to dart out of the zone but then it stays up a bit and catches the bottom of the zone for a called strike.
I don't understand how anyone doesn't like Edmonds on the call. That guy teaches me something every damn day. And I guarantee that the people that dislike him know less about the game than I do. They would benefit a great deal by absorbing what Edmonds has to say.
But you have to bring Montgomery back - this staff is in ROUGH shape come 2024. Mikolas, Flahery and Wainwright are all UFAs on/before then. You're looking at Matz, Hudson and...uh...natch. Liberatore don't look like he's the guy. Maybe Thompson? You'd need Graceffo and McGreevy to fly through the system. Hence probably won't be ready. at this rate Pallante would be pencilled in as your 3rd starter. [Reply]
And he'll do well in STL. The Yankees park and bad defense were a pretty bad match for him. And he was still largely effective. With the Cardinals he'll get an easier division, better home park and much better defense. If he can stay at 93-94 mph with his fastball and 91-92 with the sinker, that big curve and decent enough changeup will all play nicely off each other. Probably the kind of guy you should approach with a 3 year, $51 million sort of extension in the off-season. Then again, Marcus !#@$ing Stroman got 3 years $71 million so he may just laugh that figure off. You might have to get nearer to what Roriguez got from the Tigers and offer 5 years. Maybe you can get out of that for 5/$90 million?
Edmonds made a good point about guys freezing on his sinker last night - he throws the 4-seamer down and it looks like a sinker that will dive out of the zone (because he was heavy sinker in NY). Now he's throwing the 4-seamer down, they expect it to dart out of the zone but then it stays up a bit and catches the bottom of the zone for a called strike.
I don't understand how anyone doesn't like Edmonds on the call. That guy teaches me something every damn day. And I guarantee that the people that dislike him know less about the game than I do. They would benefit a great deal by absorbing what Edmonds has to say.
But you have to bring Montgomery back - this staff is in ROUGH shape come 2024. Mikolas, Flahery and Wainwright are all UFAs on/before then. You're looking at Matz, Hudson and...uh...natch. Liberatore don't look like he's the guy. Maybe Thompson? You'd need Graceffo and McGreevy to fly through the system. Hence probably won't be ready. at this rate Pallante would be pencilled in as your 3rd starter.
2 things:
I absolutely love Edmonds in the booth. People that don't like him can't separate his personal bullshit from his job
No matter what the upside there is no scenario where they should even entertain making Flaherty a long term offer. Injured cancer is all that kid is. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Pujols had to leave St. Louis - his body couldn't hold up at 1b anymore.
But you do wonder if he would've made a few choices differently, could he be chasing Aaron right now? Bonds?
As recently as 2016 he was still a dangerous hitter. He was among the league leaders in quality of contact that season - the stats just didn't reflect it because the AL West has 3 pretty awful environments to hit in, including his home park.
He still played first regularly through 2015.
The issue is he started dealing with plantar fasciitis in 2013.
And no, I don't think he'd be chasing Bonds or Aaron now. Maybe Ruth if 2020 wasn't a shortened season. [Reply]
