St. Louis Cardinals - Cardinal Country

Albert Pujols was amazing in his 20's, right there with Lou Gehrig as the greatest first baseman of all time. His severe decline starting at age 31 is just puzzling to me. For years there were rumors that he was perhaps 3-5 years older than he claimed to be. I never paid much attention to those rumors but now I am not so sure. All time greats don't usually decline that fast at such a young age.
St. Louis was right to not mortgage the future by not signing him. Even so, they did offer him 200 million but that wasn't enough for Albert.
 

Simon Baker

BANNED
Banned
St. Louis was right to not mortgage the future by not signing him. Even so, they did offer him 200 million but that wasn't enough for Albert.

I heard the rumors too. how can we "know" when a person is not born here and documented ? whatever the case may be, Pujols never tested positive for "steroids" and commands that salary by the NUMBERS. He left primarily because his wife has family in California, rumor. Regardless, he left a city that gave him the opportunity, he will not enter the hall as a Cardinal, unless he "decides", and that's a shame.
 

The Berean

Well-known member
Pujols' decline is startling. Here are his seasonal averages. A 51 point drop in batting average, an 85 point drop in on-base percentage, and a 130 point drop is slugging percentage. Wow.

Albert Pujols
2001-10: 156 G, .331/.426/.624, 172 OPS+, 41 HR, 123 RBI, 119 R, 43 doubles, 91 BB, 65 K, 358 TB
2011-15: 140 G, .280/.341/.494, 133 OPS+, 28 HR, 93 RBI, 82 R, 35 doubles, 50 BB, 65 K, 273 TB
 
Pujols' decline is startling. Here are his seasonal averages. A 51 point drop in batting average, an 85 point drop in on-base percentage, and a 130 point drop is slugging percentage. Wow.

Albert Pujols
2001-10: 156 G, .331/.426/.624, 172 OPS+, 41 HR, 123 RBI, 119 R, 43 doubles, 91 BB, 65 K, 358 TB
2011-15: 140 G, .280/.341/.494, 133 OPS+, 28 HR, 93 RBI, 82 R, 35 doubles, 50 BB, 65 K, 273 TB
The bottom set of numbers wouldn't get him in the HoF, in my opinion. The top set of numbers would. Very interesting comparison.
 

SaulToPaul 2

Well-known member
I remember when there were just a handful of pitchers in the league who could throw 95+.

Now it seems that every staff has at least 10 pitchers who do that regularly.

Wonder what causes that?
 

john w

New member
Hall of Fame
I remember when there were just a handful of pitchers in the league who could throw 95+.

Now it seems that every staff has at least 10 pitchers who do that regularly.

Wonder what causes that?

"Miracle Salve." It also cures the mange.
 

john w

New member
Hall of Fame
I've also heard that avoiding witchhazel can add a few mph to the fastball.

And you go by the Morrison sisters(floozies) crib, and pick up some "flower makin'" water, for that pitchin' "special ocassion," and watch your heater go up by 5 mph, to 95. But, knowing you, Mayor, if you have a 5 mph increase, you'll want 10. If you get 10, you'll want 15..............................

Am I getting through to you, fella? Excellentamundo.
 

john w

New member
Hall of Fame
You're the type of fella that would call his own son out at home plate, aren't ya?

You're real funny. Why don't you, and Mr. Schwump, go on down to the "Mayberry Hotel," and try to pawn off them nickels, that have the Buffalo head pointing the wrong way?
 

tetelestai

LIFETIME MEMBER
LIFETIME MEMBER
Wonder what causes that?

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The Berean

Well-known member
The bottom set of numbers wouldn't get him in the HoF, in my opinion. The top set of numbers would. Very interesting comparison.

The top numbers if sustained for 18-20 years would make that first baseman arguably the greatest first baseman who ever lived. For his career (17 seasons) Lou Gehrig, generally considered the #1 first baseman, averaged:

.340/.447/.632, 179 OPS+, 37 HR, 149 RBI, 141 RBI, 40 doubles, 119 BB, 379 TB.

Now, granted Lou did this in the 1920's-30's when the game may not have been as competitive as later eras but those are insane numbers nevertheless.

The bottom numbers are those of a good player who probably makes a few all-Star teams in his best seasons but is not seen as a superstar. A player like that could be a Hall of Famer if he plays like 20 years and reaches career milestones like 500 HRs or 3,000 hits. Willie McCovey for his career averaged:

.270/.374/.515, 147 OPS+, 33 HR, 97 RBI, 77 R, 22 doubles, 84 BB, 264 TB.

But Willie played in a pitcher's era so his raw numbers were somewhat supressed so they don't tell the entire story as to how dominant he really was.
 

The Berean

Well-known member
I remember when there were just a handful of pitchers in the league who could throw 95+.

Now it seems that every staff has at least 10 pitchers who do that regularly.

Wonder what causes that?

In previous eras relievers were failed starters who became relievers in the majors. Now teams that have pitchers that throw hard but have poor control are made into relievers in the minors. Team also draft pitchers as relievers. That didn't really happen in previous eras, either. Team now scout for hard throwers they think can be converted to relievers.
 

john w

New member
Hall of Fame
For his career (17 seasons) Lou Gehrig, generally considered the #1 first baseman, averaged:

.340/.447/.632, 179 OPS+, 37 HR, 149 RBI, 141 RBI, 40 doubles, 119 BB, 379 TB.

For my career (17 seasons, ages 6-22, including "Frat" years), the great saint John W, generally considered the #1 "Whiffle Ball" player of all time, averaged:




.540/.947/.832, 479 OPS+, 137 HR, 549 RBI, 641 RBI, 740 doubles, 0 BB, 1379 TB.
 

patrick jane

BANNED
Banned
For my career (17 seasons, ages 6-22, including "Frat" years), the great saint John W, generally considered the #1 "Whiffle Ball" player of all time, averaged:




.540/.947/.832, 479 OPS+, 137 HR, 549 RBI, 641 RBI, 740 doubles, 0 BB, 1379 TB.

very impressive. i was undefeated in one on one wiffle ball (at home). fuzzball too. but, i was the umpire -
 

tetelestai

LIFETIME MEMBER
LIFETIME MEMBER
For his career (17 seasons) Lou Gehrig, generally considered the #1 first baseman, averaged:

.340/.447/.632, 179 OPS+, 37 HR, 149 RBI, 141 RBI, 40 doubles, 119 BB, 379 TB.

Now, granted Lou did this in the 1920's-30's when the game may not have been as competitive as later eras but those are insane numbers nevertheless.

Had Gehrig been able to play a few more years, he no doubt would have amassed 3,000 hits (he finished with 2,721)

It's hard to believe that with all the great Yankee players over the years, Derek Jeter was the first and only Yankee to get 3,000 hits.
 
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