It's what the money represented. I feel that he viewed that contract as an MVP award of such. He wanted a statement that he was without doubt the most "valuable" player in the game. That contract is the trophy for his mantel. I can't understand the butt hurt because I don't think I've ever had something like this happen to a team I root for, but he just wanted a statement of approval the Cards wouldn't give. I guess nobody is really at fault in the long run. From an outside looking in perspective I understand why he did what he did and it wasn't love of money.

When runaway narcissism allows one to believe that money is how you determine respect, then how you label it is immaterial.

If it wasn't love of money, it was love of self.

Both of them are shitty reasons to piss on the fans that worshiped you for a decade.

Now I think you are much closer to finding a legitamate reason to dislike the guy if you are a Cards fan then just saying it was love of $$$$$$$$$$$.

I still understand it though. Most of these guys have egos and they like them to be stroked. He had titles and MVP's and just needed something else until he starts assaulting the record books.

[QUOTE=DJ's left nut;8200631]
If it wasn't love of money, it was love of self.
/QUOTE]

BINGO. He valued himself more than the Cardinals did.

I just fundamentally disagree here, if he chooses to equate money with respect or love doesn't matter. If the only way he's accepting for you to fill the cup up is with $100 bills then what the hell else is it about but those $100 bills? How he personally values them doesn't fundamentally change them from being $100 bills into respect units or units of love no matter how much he tells himself that. They're still the same $100 bills they were before they were his.

But again - it's a bottom-line business, is it not?

If A=B and B=C then ultimately A=C

If Albert 'loves' respect and respect is all about money, then Albert loves money.

To say Albert left for love of money is completely fair - you just have to accept that money means something different to Albert than it does to you or I.

And what it means to Albert is actually significantly less savory to me than what it would mean for anyone else.

I understand, but I guess we can say he didn't leave because of greed. He wasn't day dreaming about how he was going to spend that extra 30 million of whatever. The contract was a symbol of respect and achievement. He isn't a guy that's probably charging kids $20 a pop for his autograph to suck up every last dollar. In fact it sounds like he quite a charitable guy.

I'd be more inclined to accept his argument if he didn't coin a contract that made him the 2nd highest paid player in baseball through his mid and into his late 30's an 'insult'.

At that point, I think it's a combination of arrogance and greed.

Perhaps the decision to ultimately flee for the Angels wasn't one of raw 'greed'. However, his initial decision to be 'insulted' by the $26 million/season contract was. At that point, I do believe he simply determined that $130 million simply wasn't enough cash; ego or no ego. So call it narcissism driven by greed if you'd like.

I'm not sure you're doing him any favors one way or the other, though.

I love the argument that 30 mil isn't shit because the Cards fans want him for a lesser contract....haha. How many people could he let live comfortably for the rest of their life just on the extra, even after taxes? I also believe the guy will be an absolute terror next year for the AL to deal with.

Not sure how to embed. This is a hilarious parody. Hilter reacts to Pujols leaving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-zgY...ature=youtu.be

:clap:

That was one of the better ones.

Bottom line is he's gone-next man up, we have a championship to defend, no time to waste on the prophet from the O.C. From a baseball perspective, Cards are still the best team in NL Central, and are probably not done making moves; even with the moves the Angels made, they're still a vastly inferior team to the Rangers, and will have to fight with 6-8 teams for the wildcard.

Well, I wouldnt say vastly inferior. We have a much better pitching staff, one of the best in the AL if not the best. If Kendrys Morales comes back, and it looks good apparently, then we will be pretty friggin close. Dont forget, The Angels were in it til the last week in 2011, without a MOTO bat. We arent vastly inferior. It will be a dogfight in the AL West.

And yes, The Cards are still the best in NL West and I think you'll be just fine defending the division and forward.

Oh, the Cards would be best in NL West, if in fact they were in the NL West. ;)

That said, Angels have an edge in the rotation, 1b and lf; Texas is WAY better at every position, if you'd like to break it down, and have a FAR superior bullpen.

LMAO Yeah, I guess you could give the Diamondbacks a run in that division.

We have an edge for sure in rotation, we are defensively a better team overall, and thats what kept us (aside from pitching) in the running last year. Again, we were only 3 games out a week-week and a half from the end of 2011. We fell apart at that point, but we were in it even though offensively we were vastly inferior to Texas. Bullpen wise, texas is way better than we were, and possibly still are. Not sure Nathan is an upgrade at closer but we will see.

The addition of Pujols address the biggest need, Wilson just make us better, and we wil see how our bullpen comes together this year. We are not vastly inferior tho.

And since our Chiefs suck a big fat one, I cant wait for baseball to get here.o:-)