With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to spring training in less than a month, the Cardinals and Albert Pujols continue to steal the headlines from our other sports teams.
The Blues with their injuries and suspect play on the part of the so-called future are beginning to frustrate even the most passionate fans.
Saint Louis University basketball is in a free fall thanks to the kangaroo court that found its way to suspend two of its better players for the first half of the season and, for all practical purposes, for the season.
While Mizzou is down the road and nationally ranked, the following behind another well-coached Mike Anderson team does not pick up until they play Illinois or Kansas or when the NCAA tournament rolls around.
The Rams have delighted us with personnel changes that had nothing to do with wins and losses, although they lost their offensive coordinator Pat Shumur to the Cleveland Browns.
With all that said, the question remains: what’s up with Albert?
I have always been amazed that, when it comes to millionaires negotiating with millionaires, we – as fans, callers to talk shows, experts in the barbershop and, yes, real know-nothings – can’t get enough of it. What do you and I really have in common with Bill DeWitt and Albert Pujols, aside from supporting their venture of trying to win a world championship
Nothing, but wait. We are all interested in who gets paid and how much. Why?
I wonder if any of us would be that enamored to have our financial status published, talked about or debated as if it is the cure to cancer? Yet, we slice and dice it, and when Albert gets paid some will say it’s too much.
Too much? It’s what his industry commands when it comes to salary. Sorry, to all the factory workers, letter carriers, teachers, nurses and others who have a meaningful role in the development of the real world. No one thinks we are worth that much. Did I mention newspaper columnists?
As for Albert and the Cardinals, I hope they get it done. While most of us like to spend someone else’s money, it seems that when it comes to an athlete or entertainer we could care less as long as we are satisfied with their performance. Albert could go 0-5 one night and Denzel could come out with a lousy movie, and we will still pay and they will continue to profit.
If the Cardinals pay Albert the boatload that some think he deserves, will the Cardinals be in a financial position to acquire other good players needed to win? After all, that what this clambake is all about in the first place … winning, not seeing how much one guy can make.
A creative structure of the deal is needed here. The $25-plus million a year won’t get it. There will have to be measures in place to insure the Cardinals can compete. To have Albert counting his money at first base with the Cardinals 10 games out because they could not afford key players down the road will not go over well.
Under the DeWitt regime (the most successful in the history of the Cardinals when it comes to post-season and attendance), the game has changed and they have been creative enough to keep up. This challenge will require some give and take on both sides of the deal table.
Albert has expressed on more than one occasion that he would like to remain here. He has also said that he will no longer negotiate if a deal is not in place by spring training. Both sides know what is at stake, and whoever can find middle ground and convince the other side will be the real winner.
I do know that Albert helps the Cardinals compete more for the chance to win than any other single player at this time, and that should never be taken for granted.
As for ownership, they have been successful for several reasons: putting people in the right positions to do their jobs, being fiscally responsible to their ownership group and fans, and reinvesting in the ball club by paying salaries commensurate to today’s demands.
Remember, the Cardinals have already paid Albert $100 million, so it’s not as if he has missed a car payment in the last 10 years. In this case, middle ground should be the solution. It’s there, and there is plenty of it. Now is the time to work toward it.
As for media coverage, I would be very content to never hear another word about it until we have a deal.
