Cardinal Nation in mourning

[jdrock24]

How will the Cardinals get by without Albert Pujols in the lineup for the foreseeable future?

I mean, the guy already has 25 HRs and close to 70 RBIs. That is a whole season for most guys and he did it in two months!

I'm so bummed that he is out. And with such a freak injury also. A strained oblique? Who would have thought?

Anyway, hopefully the rest of the team can weather the storm and get by. I guess we'll see...

[dmavsfan41]

ya, I saw this today.. total bummer. they're good enough that they won't be like the cubs sans derrek lee, hopefully he doesn't end up missing too much time. I think this kind of ends any chance he had at bonds HR record though (single season)

[pholmeskc31]

Sucks for you but not for me. I like Pujols but not the Cards. I would like to see some new teams make the playoffs instead of the same 'ol ones. Cardinals should of won a World Series by now and i think they blew their chances. I dont wanna see anyone else break the home run record anyways. Its been broken too many times in the last few years since the late 90's.

[LCAWC]

In related news: Goooooooo Cubs!

[MichaelJordan]

Yea, very much good for the Cubs muahahhaa. Sucks hes hurt, but the millions of dollars he is making from playing the game he loves will ease his pain. :)

[jjkmk1]

The Cardinals are a good enough team to play .500 ball while he's out.
They'll still make the playoffs.

[jdrock24]

Sucks for you but not for me. I like Pujols but not the Cards. I would like to see some new teams make the playoffs instead of the same 'ol ones. Cardinals should of won a World Series by now and i think they blew their chances. I dont wanna see anyone else break the home run record anyways. Its been broken too many times in the last few years since the late 90's.

I really don't think that Pujols would have broken the HR record anyway. He is more of a line drive hitter than a HR hitter. However, in the past few weeks, it did look like he started to try and hit home runs instead of line drives. Hopefully, this injury will get his head right and he'll return with a more balanced approach.

As for the Cubs profiting from the Cards' misfortune: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024:

[pholmeskc31]

I really don't think that Pujols would have broken the HR record anyway. He is more of a line drive hitter than a HR hitter. However, in the past few weeks, it did look like he started to try and hit home runs instead of line drives. Hopefully, this injury will get his head right and he'll return with a more balanced approach.

As for the Cubs profiting from the Cards' misfortune: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024: :024:
I heard him say that shit before and hes still jacking em out of the park. Hes both.

[jdrock24]

I heard him say that shit before and hes still jacking em out of the park. Hes both.

All I know is that he struck out a lot more in the past few weeks than he had in the first month and a half of the season. Does this mean that he was trying to hit homeruns? Maybe, maybe not.

Through his career so far, we could always count on Albert to hit the ball hard somewhere, sometimes a homerun, sometimes not. But he has never struck out on a regular basis.

All I'm saying is that when he gets back from his injury, he needs to concentrate on just hitting the ball hard. The homeruns will come with that approach, just maybe not in as great as numbers.

[pholmeskc31]

Pujols is an amazing player he'll have no problem once he gets back. Everybody has slumps here and there.

[adude00724]

The cardinals will be fine, but it would have been fun to watch Pujols all season to see if he could keep up this pace.

[zbeast78]

Pujos is another 'Roider. Now that this Grimsley story has surfaced, and it becoming plainly obvious that players are taking full advantage of the fact that baseball doesn't test for HGH, I don't believe any numbers to be genuine. Especially a player who is managed by the biggest steriod pusher in the industry, a guy that canseco alleges knew about and even encouraged steroid use. Isn't it funny that when the whole steriod scandal really broke two years ago, the numbers shrank? and now they've all of the sudden re-appeared? hmmmmm...

[pholmeskc31]

Pujos is another 'Roider. Now that this Grimsley story has surfaced, and it becoming plainly obvious that players are taking full advantage of the fact that baseball doesn't test for HGH, I don't believe any numbers to be genuine. Especially a player who is managed by the biggest steriod pusher in the industry, a guy that canseco alleges knew about and even encouraged steroid use. Isn't it funny that when the whole steriod scandal really broke two years ago, the numbers shrank? and now they've all of the sudden re-appeared? hmmmmm...
u dont know shit. u dont know if pujols did steroids or not. people need to SHUT THE FUCK UP 'bout steroids its getting fucking old. u know what i dont even care if players are taking roids or not anymore. if they wanna take a drug that fucks your body up and shrinks your balls go right ahead. roids dont make u a better player anyways. the only thing they do is give ya more power. they dont help you hit the ball. all it does is help ya maybe jack more homers. tell ya the truth i dont know why america is getting so pissed about these players cheating with steroids when everybody love the home run more than anything in baseball. i dont like players taking this shit but fuck it anymore i dont care. we care and it still happens and we cant do anything about it. only the MLB can help stop it and players themselves stop taking it.

[pholmeskc31]

everytime i watch SportsCenter or ESPNEWS and they start talkin bout steroids i change the channel. im just getting sick of it taking over the whole show everytime its brought up.

[jdrock24]

Pujos is another 'Roider. Now that this Grimsley story has surfaced, and it becoming plainly obvious that players are taking full advantage of the fact that baseball doesn't test for HGH, I don't believe any numbers to be genuine. Especially a player who is managed by the biggest steriod pusher in the industry, a guy that canseco alleges knew about and even encouraged steroid use. Isn't it funny that when the whole steriod scandal really broke two years ago, the numbers shrank? and now they've all of the sudden re-appeared? hmmmmm...

As a Cardinal fan, I felt like a fool when it came to light that McGwire was a roid user. I mean, I rooted for him all the way through that "magical" year of 1998.

However, I can't believe that Pujols is a user. He's been too consistent over his whole career. This year was an aberration. Like I said, I don't think he would have broken the HR record even if he stayed healthy. His HRs would have tailed off when his average started to come back. On the other hand, I did ask myself the same question when he got off to such a hot start this year. Maybe all of us baseball fans will be asking that question about any player who starts to hit an abnormal amount of HRs.

As for LaRussa, I don't know about him and his alleged "pushing" of the roids. Could be true, could not be true. I don't know.

By the way, it looks like the Cardinals are about to be swept by the Reds and fall into a first place tie with them. So much for the rest of the team stepping up in Albert's absence.

[dmavsfan41]

roids dont make u a better player anyways. the only thing they do is give ya more power.

that's pretty contradictory right there. if it adds, say, 15 ft to your long fly ball and turns it into a homer, that's making you a better player.

there's also the fact that steroid users are able to recuperate from tough workouts more quickly, letting them work out harder, longer, and more frequently, giving them another competitive advantage over legit players

I don't even watch sportscenter period, I like baseball tonight alright, but when they show something about bonds I turn the channel. the sad thing is, selig is not going to do a thing about the whole steroid era. i've read about how he doesn't want such a tarnishing of his legacy, and he's clearly not the most likely person to take a stand on an issue (see: tie all star game :( )...

[jdrock24]

that's pretty contradictory right there. if it adds, say, 15 ft to your long fly ball and turns it into a homer, that's making you a better player.

That is so true. I remember in 1998, several of McGwires home runs which I thought were pop ups that would be caught by the left fielder, amazingly carried into the stands for a homerun. To me, McGwires numbers will always be questionable because, if he wasn't on the juice, would these balls have gone out? And if not, how many home runs are we talking about?

I hope to god that Pujols is not juicing. I don't want to be dissappointed again...

[pholmeskc31]

Just cause u got more power doesnt mean your good. Ya gotta be able to hit the fuckin ball. Steroids dont help u hit the ball they just help u hit the ball harder but that doesnt mean if your on the juice you'll be good or it will help u connect with the ball. Yea it might make ya a little better but all these players that are getting busted lately it doesnt seem to help them. The players that are getting busted lately are people no ones ever heard of except a few like McGwire, Canseco and Palmeiro.

[jdrock24]

Just cause u got more power doesnt mean your good. Ya gotta be able to hit the fuckin ball. Steroids dont help u hit the ball they just help u hit the ball harder but that doesnt mean if your on the juice you'll be good or it will help u connect with the ball. Yea it might make ya a little better but all these players that are getting busted lately it doesnt seem to help them. The players that are getting busted lately are people no ones ever heard of except a few like McGwire, Canseco and Palmeiro.

Did you not read the posts? Yes, you still have to hit the ball. But if the difference between a pop up and a homerun is just a little extra strength from the roids, then the numbers are skewed. How many homeruns should McGwire have had? Would Barry Bonds be challenging Aaron right now without "the clear"? Would Palmeiro have reached 500 homeruns and 3000 hits? No one knows. That is why the whole steroids era is so tainted.

[vorader]

They should just make everyone take steroids and be done with it. I have to side with pholmeskc31 on the steroid issue. I believe the numbers were inflated due to a lack of quality pitchers, a smaller strike zone, smaller ball parks, expansion teams, and smarter hitters. If the feds want to get involved they should be targeting the commisioner, baseball owners, and the baseball union and leave the players alone. I don't blame the players for trying to obtain some kind of edge. Their contracts and livelihood depend on them excelling and they're going to do whatever it takes. Forget the stats. Baseball is more of a business then a sport now.

I wouldn't worry too much if you're a Cards fan. All they have to do is play around .500 ball until Pujols gets back. Griffey will get hurt again and the Reds will start losing games. The Astros need more than Clemens to take the Central. The Cards have to win their division to make the playoffs though because I have a feeling that the wild card is coming out of the West this year.

[dmavsfan41]

If the feds want to get involved they should be targeting the commisioner, baseball owners, and the baseball union and leave the players alone.

right, because they were the ones breaking the law by obtaining and taking steroids and other illegal substances ... ?

[vorader]

right, because they were the ones breaking the law by obtaining and taking steroids and other illegal substances ... ?
Breaking the law??? I don't think any baseball player has ever been indicted of steroid use.

A steroid policy should have been in effect years ago. The commisioner, owners, and union have known that players use controlled substances. If they would have done baseball right, this whole steroid mess wouldn't have been an issue. Even now the union is against blood testing. If Selig had some cojones he wouldn't leave the players that made him rich out to dry.

Btw, Pujols wouldn't have broken the home record even if he played a whole season without injury.

[dmavsfan41]

Breaking the law??? I don't think any baseball player has ever been indicted of steroid use.

well, just because they haven't been caught doesn't mean they're not breaking the law...


A steroid policy should have been in effect years ago. The commisioner, owners, and union have known that players use controlled substances. If they would have done baseball right, this whole steroid mess wouldn't have been an issue. Even now the union is against blood testing. If Selig had some cojones he wouldn't leave the players that made him rich out to dry.


I completely agree. Baseball has done a terrible job of everything related to the steroid situation until the last year or so (only because Congress was going to get involved, finally our government does something worthwhile :p).

I can kind of, honestly, understand not wanting to do blood testing. I mean, the urine tests are one thing, but to have people taking your blood isn't fun at all. i've read that the blood tests aren't even completely reliable, though freezing the samples would allow future, closer-to-100% reliable tests to test the saved samples


Btw, Pujols wouldn't have broken the home record even if he played a whole season without injury.

well that's hard to say either way. the pace he was on, he sure was going to. who knows if he would have kept up the pace. I think the number he's chasing is 61 anyway...

[vorader]

well, just because they haven't been caught doesn't mean they're not breaking the law...
Sorry, I meant that these players are obtaining steroids through legal means. They're not going to the local gyms looking for the local muscle head that can supply them.

I never really thought that Pujols would be given a chance to break the record. Edmonds gets hurt a lot and the Cards don't have anyone else to back him up. Besides, opposing teams were going to start walking him sooner or later.

[pholmeskc31]

Did you not read the posts? Yes, you still have to hit the ball. But if the difference between a pop up and a homerun is just a little extra strength from the roids, then the numbers are skewed. How many homeruns should McGwire have had? Would Barry Bonds be challenging Aaron right now without "the clear"? Would Palmeiro have reached 500 homeruns and 3000 hits? No one knows. That is why the whole steroids era is so tainted.
no shit i get what your saying i never questioned that. did u not read my post. thats my point only the players that were already good benefited from the use of steroids.

[pholmeskc31]

Btw, Pujols wouldn't have broken the home record even if he played a whole season without injury.
that what im saying its hard to tell if he would of done that or not. but now we will never know.

[jdrock24]

no shit i get what your saying i never questioned that. did u not read my post. thats my point only the players that were already good benefited from the use of steroids.

I'm glad to see that we finally agree.

[zbeast78]

i shouldn't have said that pujos is a roider. there has never been any links between him and roids, so he should be presumed innocent. but to say that steriods do not help you hit a baseball is just plain ignorant. you went on to state that it helps you hit the ball further, which contradicted yourself right off the bat. also, the best hitters are the ones that have such quick bat speed, they can be fooled by a pitch and still move the bat fast enough to make up for it. you can't tell me steroids couldn't make a small but significant impact on pretty much every facet of the game (pitching, running, hitting, healing, ext).

we are in total agreement on one thing, I am also sick to death of hearing about steriods. i'm so tired of the topic that i also turn the channel as soon as the name Bonds is mentioned. but baseball asked for this, so they deserve all the backlash. there's evidence that the FBI was onto the rampant steriod use in MLB in the late '90s and warned Bud Selig and other top baseball officials about it. predictably, they totally ignored all the warnings until it came back and bit 'em. now guys like Pujos may actually be having totally natural amazing seasons, but that cloud of doubt that baseball helped create will taint their accomplishments.

[pholmeskc31]

i shouldn't have said that pujos is a roider. there has never been any links between him and roids, so he should be presumed innocent. but to say that steriods do not help you hit a baseball is just plain ignorant. you went on to state that it helps you hit the ball further, which contradicted yourself right off the bat. also, the best hitters are the ones that have such quick bat speed, they can be fooled by a pitch and still move the bat fast enough to make up for it. you can't tell me steroids couldn't make a small but significant impact on pretty much every facet of the game (pitching, running, hitting, healing, ext).

we are in total agreement on one thing, I am also sick to death of hearing about steriods. i'm so tired of the topic that i also turn the channel as soon as the name Bonds is mentioned. but baseball asked for this, so they deserve all the backlash. there's evidence that the FBI was onto the rampant steriod use in MLB in the late '90s and warned Bud Selig and other top baseball officials about it. predictably, they totally ignored all the warnings until it came back and bit 'em. now guys like Pujos may actually be having totally natural amazing seasons, but that cloud of doubt that baseball helped create will taint their accomplishments.
i dont think your getting what i meant by hitting the ball i am talking about batting average sense. yea they help u hit the ball harder and farther but doesnt help your batting average. a good example is McGwire. He was supposedly on the roids but that didnt help his batting average and he swung the bat fast as hell.. He struck out more times than anything. And i didnt say they dont help ya they just dont seem to help certain players. Not everybody that takes steroids is gonna benefit from the use. Look at some of the players that been busted, minor league players. If the juice was helping them play better it certainly did not work out for them. It doesnt make everybody better that takes it.

[zbeast78]

the reason mcguire struck out all the time is because he was not a very intelligent hitter. unless they invented a type of steroids to strengthen your brain muscle, he was never going to hit for average.

[babyblues]

i shouldn't have said that pujos is a roider. there has never been any links between him and roids, so he should be presumed innocent. but to say that steriods do not help you hit a baseball is just plain ignorant. you went on to state that it helps you hit the ball further, which contradicted yourself right off the bat. also, the best hitters are the ones that have such quick bat speed, they can be fooled by a pitch and still move the bat fast enough to make up for it. you can't tell me steroids couldn't make a small but significant impact on pretty much every facet of the game (pitching, running, hitting, healing, ext).
The only problem I have with this reasoning is if steroids made you THAT much better, why can't the average joe just take steroids and play professional baseball? The reality is that yes, steroids enhance, but natural talent takes you 99.9% of the way. At that level steroids isn't going to make as much of a difference as you might think. That's just my opinion.

[vorader]

the reason mcguire struck out all the time is because he was not a very intelligent hitter. unless they invented a type of steroids to strengthen your brain muscle, he was never going to hit for average.
:013: :013: :013:
The reason he struck out a lot was because he was geting paid to hit homeruns, not bat for average. Sure he could have shortened his stroke and decrease his strikeout tally but everyone wanted to see him hit bombs. Not very many homerun hitters choke up on the bat after 2 strikes. They're swinging for the fences because that's their job. I would have taken McGwire and his strikeouts as long as he would have been able to hit dingers and drive in runs.

[zbeast78]

:013: :013: :013:
The reason he struck out a lot was because he was geting paid to hit homeruns, not bat for average. Sure he could have shortened his stroke and decrease his strikeout tally but everyone wanted to see him hit bombs. Not very many homerun hitters choke up on the bat after 2 strikes. They're swinging for the fences because that's their job. I would have taken McGwire and his strikeouts as long as he would have been able to hit dingers and drive in runs.

that is true. he was payed to hit home runs, and thats why he took steriods since they can turn 15 of those would-be fly outs into home runs. its just a shame that he totally destroyed any credibility he ever had with his sad display in front of congress. i am glad he got payed, because he's definitely never getting into the hall of fame.

[vorader]

First ballot Hall of Famer, no doubt in my mind. I don't think McGwire ever tested positive...wait, I don't think there was a steroid policy when he was active! Just because Canseco says it's true doesn't mean it is. If I were in McGwire's shoes I'd keep my mouth shut in front of congress too. WTF does congress have to do with baseball anyway???

[pholmeskc31]

First ballot Hall of Famer, no doubt in my mind. I don't think McGwire ever tested positive...wait, I don't think there was a steroid policy when he was active! Just because Canseco says it's true doesn't mean it is. If I were in McGwire's shoes I'd keep my mouth shut in front of congress too. WTF does congress have to do with baseball anyway???
I dont like the fact that congress is involved either. MLB just needs to handle it. But thats why congress got involved cause MLB wasnt doing nothin bout it but they just need to fuck off. Let the MLB handle its own situation. If steroids are a problem in baseball let baseball handle it and ruin themselves if they want. Congress needs to fuck off and worry about more important things than steroids in baseball. I'd have McGwire in the HOF also but i dont know bout a first ballot.

[jdrock24]

Ummmm....Cardinal Nation is no longer in mourning.

[johndevon]

pujols is a future hall a famer he will beat barry bonds for most home runs