"Official" 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

This is so unreal. We were dead. No hope. A season over. Somehow, someway we find some team chemistry and squeak into the playoffs on the last day of the season.

Only to find us facing one of the best pitching staffs assembled in years with home field advantage. We somehow, someway find a way to beat the best pitcher in baseball on the road in an elimination game.

We have to go on the road and beat the team with the best home record in baseball. A team who mortgaged their future to make this run .We somehow, someway find a way to beat them on the road and make our 18th World series trip.

We take game 1, we give away game 2 and home field advantage. Albert goes off for probably the best performance in World Series history and we take game 3 easily. Games 4 & 5 our bats fall asleep, Phone gate happens and its not looking too good.

Game 6, one of the best baseball games of all time and it takes place in a season ending go home game. Cardinals are down 2 runs in their final chance on the season, twice. They are down to their final strike of the season, twice. They give up a 2 run homer in extra innings. In the bottom of the inning their final 3 batters are a combined 3-26 in the Playoffs and a pitcher because the bench is empty. Somehow, someway they get some runners on and the comeback player of the year drives in the tying run. Mr. Freese hits the walk off home run. We will see you tommorrow night.

Game 7, With our bulldog on the mound pitching on 3 days rest he is able to give us 6 good innings and get us to within 9 outs of our 11 World series title. Texas meltsdown, probably left over from last nights game and its over.

The underdog, come back team who had no business even being in the playoffs wins a World championship. They make movies about events like this in life. Events that you remember even if your not a fan of the sport or team for the rest of your life.

When it is your team.......Priceless


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[Chiefaholic]

The sale of Pujols/Cardinal merchandise alone will more than make up for his contract. PAY THE MAN ALREADY!!!

[Rams Fan]

Is it time to panic yet?

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Is it time to panic yet?

There's no way this doesn't get done.

But if it doesn't, we just became the Royals East. And as poorly as this team has been run over the past couple of years, we may be there whether we keep Albert or not.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by frazod

There's no way this doesn't get done.

But if it doesn't, we just became the Royals East. And as poorly as this team has been run over the past couple of years, we may be there whether we keep Albert or not.

Okay, now I'm even more worried a deal doesn't get done. I just don't see any team out there(Red Sox and Yankees included) who could make an offer to Pujols while making sense for the team.

[Jerm]

Would the Cubs dare make an offer?

It is hard to see anyone offering him the type of money he wants in FA.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Jerm

Would the Cubs dare make an offer?

It is hard to see anyone offering him the type of money he wants in FA.

I highly doubt it. If Pena hits at all(and can stay healthy), they can resign him for less than they would Pujols.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

FML.

Just give him whatever he wants. How could Mozeliak be that ****ing bad at his job? How could anyone be that bad at any job?

Don't you think it's Dewitt that makes the decision on how much to give Pujols?

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Jerm

Would the Cubs dare make an offer?

It is hard to see anyone offering him the type of money he wants in FA.

I've heard that the Cubs are the most likely landing spot for him. Don't remember where I heard that, but **** that would be a disaster of Ruthian proportions if it happened.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Don't you think it's Dewitt that makes the decision on how much to give Pujols?

Who is the one doing the negotiating?

Mozeliak's job is to run the baseball operation. I don't know how he could go to his boss and honestly say that letting Pujols walk in free agency is worth it, or that there is a price too high to pay.

Look at what losing LeBron did to the value of the Cavs. It reduced that franchise's value by 24%. That's well over $100 million.

When you factor in the merchandise, the fact that you can recoup some of the cost through tickets, and the additional attendance you'll get for fielding a better club, not to mention keeping him as a St. Louis icon, there is no reason why this shouldn't be done.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by frazod

I've heard that the Cubs are the most likely landing spot for him. Don't remember where I heard that, but **** that would be a disaster of Ruthian proportions if it happened.

A friggin Armaggedon disaster.

[Rams Fan]

For all we know, the negotiating deadline could be pure BS. Also, I don't see any teams out there that would make sense for them to sign Albert(except maybe the Cubs).

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

For all we know, the negotiating deadline could be pure BS. Also, I don't see any teams out there that would make sense for them to sign Albert(except maybe the Cubs).

The Angels would ship Morales out of there so fast his ****ing head would spin.

The Sox or Yankees could sign him and have him platoon at first and DH with Gonzalez and Texeira.

The White Sox could potentially add him as a power bat.

The Mets would open up the floodgates.

The Cubs would do anything to stick it to the Cardinals like that.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Who is the one doing the negotiating?

Mozeliak's job is to run the baseball operation. I don't know how he could go to his boss and honestly say that letting Pujols walk in free agency is worth it, or that there is a price too high to pay.

Look at what losing LeBron did to the value of the Cavs. It reduced that franchise's value by 24%. That's well over $100 million.

When you factor in the merchandise, the fact that you can recoup some of the cost through tickets, and the additional attendance you'll get for fielding a better club, not to mention keeping him as a St. Louis icon, there is no reason why this shouldn't be done.

hey your preaching to the choir. I say give him $300 million for 10 years if thats what it takes. The Cardinals will make that money back easily. To see him in a Cubs uniform....I'll give Dewiit some money if that is what it takes.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The Angels would ship Morales out of there so fast his ****ing head would spin.

The Sox or Yankees could sign him and have him platoon at first and DH with Gonzalez and Texeira.

The White Sox could potentially add him as a power bat.

The Mets would open up the floodgates.

The Cubs would do anything to stick it to the Cardinals like that.

It doesn't make sense for the Yankees to sign Albert, he's said repeatedly he does not like playing DH. Red Sox could make sense if they don't resign Gonzalez, which IMO, would be a bad decision. Haven't thought about the White Sox as a landing spot, but they can just keep Dunn at 1B and sign someone to DH. The Mets owner is looking to sell 25% of the franchise and has lost a lot of money in recent years. The Cubs could make sense, but they are still paying that awful contract to Soriano.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

It doesn't make sense for the Yankees to sign Albert, he's said repeatedly he does not like playing DH. Red Sox could make sense if they don't resign Gonzalez, which IMO, would be a bad decision. Haven't thought about the White Sox as a landing spot, but they can just keep Dunn at 1B and sign someone to DH. The Mets owner is looking to sell 25% of the franchise and has lost a lot of money in recent years. The Cubs could make sense, but they are still paying that awful contract to Soriano.

You can't just dismiss the marketing aspect of this. He's the big dog in baseball. He will start breaking records in the next couple of years. Thats some serious marketing appeal.