The St. Louis Cardinals recently mailed postcards to fans who purchased tickets last season, offering them first choice at Tony La Russa or Albert Pujols packages.
The SportsEye wonders if the Pujols package comes with the insult of your choice?
Pujols’ unexplained anger was directed at National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard this week.
Pujols said during an Associated Press interview that he did not think a player whose team did not make the playoffs deserved to be MVP.
The interview was conducted in Spanish and the Pujols apologists immediately began making that an issue. They said Pujols’ original remarks were not as strong as they were after they were translated into English. Yeah, right. How “he’s not deserving” translates into anything but a slap in the face to Howard and his fine season is hard to understand.
Pujols then tried the old “I didn’t say that” ploy. Of course, the interview was probably recorded, and several reporters wrote about the remarks. That ploy could have blown up in his face if the writer had pushed the issue of his credibility being attacked.
So that left Pujols only one recourse – he apologized. He backtracked. The question is why did he say it in the first place? It’s obvious some MVP voters didn’t vote for him because they don’t like him. He just lost a few more votes if there is a close race next year for MVP.
If the Cardinals do not make the playoffs next year and Pujols prevails in the MVP balloting, he should not accept the trophy. He should give it to the highest vote-getter on a playoff team.
Also, all the media members who instantly rushed to defend Pujols’ asinine statement also owe Howard an apology. Many of them already owe Howard an “I’m sorry” for trashing his season for the benefit the surly, unappreciative Pujols.
The man gets more like Barry Bonds every day.
755 in St. Louis?
Speaking of Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants will be in St. Louis July 6-8.
The Giants, barring rainouts, will be playing their 86th game when the series opens on a Friday night at Busch Stadium.
Bonds has 734 home runs, 22 from breaking Henry Aaron’s mark of 755. Last season, Bonds hit .270 with 26 home runs and 77 RBI. But he missed many games with knee pain and batted just 367 times.
If Bonds is healthier, still a Giant and his bat is productive, he could easily be on target to reach 755 right about the time the Giants get to town.
It’s the SportsEye’s guess that Bonds will be booed during his introduction, then cheered wildly if he should smack 755 or 756 here. The ball will also not be thrown back on the field. Fans are fickle. Even those in Cardinal Nation.
Sign Preston Wilson
While he did strike out frequently, Preston Wilson was all and more than the Cardinals could have expected when they signed him late in the season. The Houston Astros had thrown him on the scrap heap, but the Cardinals picked up Wilson and he helped the team win its first World Championship in 24 years.
He had crucial hits in the National League Championship Series and World Series after finishing the season with 17 home runs, 72 RBI and 12 stolen bases.
While he would have to sign for less, the Cardinals should offer Wilson a contract. It would also be wise for Wilson to accept the offer, if it is not ridiculously low. Manager Tony La Russa liked his professionalism and enthusiasm, and he quickly became somewhat of a fan favorite.
And the Sportseye won’t even mention that he is team’s only black player.