There's only a select few that say money is their #1 priority.

Then the FA season starts and damn near everyone takes the highest offer, especially in baseball.

C'mon - you don't really buy the agent-speak do you? Mike Hampton went to the Rockies because of the school districts? Neil O'Donnel left the Steelers for the Jets because he wanted to win a championship? Albert Pujols left a World Series team that was getting it's CY caliber ace starter back in 2012 to go to a Marlins team that finished 30 games out because he wanted to win?

Give me a break - it's about the money. I don't begrudge them for it, never have. But I also don't care to hear them lie about it either.

They did well for those 10 years because in one of them they overpaid like crazy for guys like Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield. After 2 seasons of being unable to sustain their payroll, they dumped them off and got some damn nice arms in return.

Those arms then fueled their 2nd run of sustained success over that 10-year period.

They're a slash/burn franchise. They'll make a massive FA splash, fan interest will wane after a year or two then they'll operate with a skeleton crew for a long time thereafter. They aren't going out there and getting underpaid marquis FAs knocking down their doors to play there.

Look at the history of FA movement in MLB. There are really only 2 kinds of contracts that make up 95% of all signings - 1) Hometown discount contracts and 2) Best $$ available. Now sometimes a player will take highest AAV instead of highest overall $$ (like Cliff Lee last season), but it still came down to money in some capacity.

he may get one, but what about all the other guys they are signing? Does he want to be left standing in the ashes after the rest of the team is dealt away?

You mean the ashes from the $100 bills he uses to light his cigars as he laughs his way into retirement?

Do you want to sit outside in 95 degree humid heat? I don't. That has to be why their attendance is so bad.

Exactly, when he starts feeling down he can go for a swim in his money bin.

Doesn't sound like Albert has many friends in STL as it is or they'd have some sort of hope to retain him.

That is a big thing as well. That is why they are building the rectractable dome stadium.

Cardinals fans all want to retain him, but few of them value Albert Pujols over the long-term success of the St. Louis Cardinals.

If Albert needs a 10 year deal for $230 million to fee respected; more power to him. That will cripple the Cardinals and they shouldn't offer it.

The Cardinals existed before him, they'll exist after him. I would prefer that he become my generation's Musial, but he doesn't appear interested in doing so. As such, I'll go back to hoping for success from the team I rooted for long before Albert Pujols donned the Birds on the Bat.

You sound exactly like my dad on this issue. Respect for AP but doesn't think the Cards should love him any more than he loves them.
Next man up.

2nd
not pissed at either side...it is what it is.
sec

Its because he is gifted with a skill very few people in the world posses and hes better at that skill than those few people. By comparison, almost anyone can teach. Dont flame......

Many people can say that. The difference is that his particular niche skill happens to be one that is extremely marketable.
Your statement that anyone can teach is ignorant at best and maliciously untrue at worst.

Anyone can teach....doesnt mean they are good at it. : )

Oh, yes. My bad. Could have used a good teacher to help me with my reading comprehension there.

You forgot the free "Sams Club" membership for life.