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After the
weekend Albert Pujols had single-handedly destroying the Cubs,
there seems to be little concern about whether he is back to being
the Albert we know. I guess that means all is right with the world
again.
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With his
performance, some would run out and say his price just went up and
the Cardinals have to sign him now. I guess that same contingent
forgot about the previous two months when Albert looked like a mere
mortal.
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One weekend
against the Cubs does not make a contract. Whatever decision is
made about Albert will not be based on this weekend. While most of
us would like for the Cardinals to continue to have his services,
Pujols will have something to say about it too.
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As for those
who think that the Cubs are going to be in the hunt, look at their
team. While they may want to throw around money, Albert would still
like to be on a team that will be a serious contender and that will
not happen in the Windy City for the foreseeable
future.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Redbird rookies “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Â
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With the
Cardinals being in first place without Wainwright, the real Albert,
Matt Holliday or Lance Berkman, you have to ask yourself: how is
this?
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While the
minor league system had been maligned for not having enough talent,
if you look at the lineup, much of it is homegrown and they have
all contributed nicely.
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Jon Jay is
currently the best outfielder on the team, while Allan Craig and
Daniel Descalso have played out of position most of the year with
positive results.
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As for the
bullpen, once Ryan Franklin had a flat tire the pitching heroics of
Edwardo Sanchez and Fernando Salas are a major reason the Cardinals
find themselves in first place.
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The question
is will they now get overexposed, as teams make adjustments, or
will these kids prove that they are major leaguers and not just a
flash in the pan.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>So long, Shaq “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Â
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Late last
week, Shaquille O’Neal announced his retirement form the NBA after
19 seasons – a career that saw him play for Orlando, Los Angeles,
Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston. In each location he made them
better, on and off the court.
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O’Neal will
be remembered for being the most physically powerful player to ever
play the game. Yet he found the open man and would yield to another
star player if that meant them winning more games (see Kobe, Lebron
and the Big Three in Boston).
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O’Neal had
more fun playing the game than anyone since Magic Johnson. His
antics on and off the court are memorable as well as his media
chats, where he either had them guessing or laughing. There is no
new Shaq anywhere in sight, as today’s player has yet to have
fun.
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What stands
out more than any accomplishment Shaq on the court is there was
never a mention of any legal trouble. No, he wasn’t pulled over for
possession or a DUI, nor did he beat his wife. He acted with
conscience on most occasions, and he had no problem sharing his
wealth with the less fortunate.
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When your
stack them up, the five most impactful players ever in the NBA
would include O’Neal. The other four would be Chamberlain, Magic,
Michael and Dr. J. These players had the most impact on the game as
we watch it today.
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Thanks,
Shaq.
