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[rubedugans]

It is official: The St. Louis Cardinals and their slugger Albert Pujols failed to reach a contract agreement by the first baseman's self-declared deadline on Wednesday, leaving open the chance he will become a free agent after this season.

This opens us up to a discussion of what you all think about this issue. He (and his management) wanted 10 yrs $300 MILLION, The cardinals offered 8 yrs and more than $200 Million. (for reference A-Rod makes $275 million over 10 years). What would you do if you were the St. Louis Cardinals (I know we would take it and run if we were Albert!)

[okiebluegrass]

As a Royals fan, all I can say is that payrolls are beyond out of control. It should not be 2 or three teams competeing for the crown every year. Every team should have a legit opportunity like in football. I'm just saying

[Swoosh]

Royals cut off their nose to spite their face.

I would say that if Holliday had actually been producing last year like he was supposed to and not forced Pujols to should almost all of the weight of the team then I would have said "wait a minute..." but considering he IS the best player in MLB he deserves it - ON ONE CONDITION.  He MUST runout EVERY (fair ball) hit to first base FULL SPEED EVERY TIME - none of this barely troting down the line crap he likes to pull.

[Zephon]

Talk about hustling down to first...Yadi is the worst I've ever seen, pro or amateur.  My rule is always run out those ground balls...you never know what can happen with some kind of misplay.

About Albert, I heard today that they were at odds on dollars rather than length of contract.  Albert's agent said their offer wouldn't put him in the top 10 for yearly average, which would put it between 19 & 21 mil a year.    If that's the case, it's down-right disrespectful toward Albert on the part of the Cardinals, IMO.  Sure, I understand trying to negotiate the best deal for the club, but come on...at least make a serious offer.   

[jmc75]

First I am a huge cardinals fan. I do agree that he is right now the best player in baseball without question. With that if these guys can get what they want great for them, but if you you offer someone 200 million for 8 years how do you not take this. The news station say his goal is he should be the highest played player well people do not remember you for how much you get paid though they do remember if you get paid to much.
Also did any one see or hear Stan Musial at the White House. The fact that he was willing to take a pay cut because he was not playing well what does that say for the standards these guys that in the future may be considered the "greatest ever played". To be a legend is more then just having skill

[thelarsonsix]

Talk about hustling down to first...Yadi is the worst I've ever seen, pro or amateur.

Agreed, he's about the speed of a turtle. However, if you need your catcher (who is probably the best in MLB IMHO) to score for you, you've got serious issues.

[rubedugans]

I have trouble walking after sitting on the floor for too long, imagine how it feels to run after squatting for the whole previous inning!

[Zephon]

Hey, I ain't talkin' bout his speed.  No, he's not very fast, one might even call him slow... but he did have 8 SB last season, tying for 5th on the team.  Pujols led the team with 14.  Rasmus, our supposed speedster, had 12.  It sure is weird how we've gotten away from small ball or Whitey ball.  Last season, if we didn't hit a few HR's, we had trouble scoring at all.

But back to Yadi, what upsets me about him is the fact that if he hits a ground ball, he takes off for 1st at a mere leisurely jog, giving himself up way too easy, and often turning toward the dugout before he's halfway there.  Yes, he'll most likely be out anyway, but shoot, there's 20 different things that could happen on the play that might result in his being safe...if he hustled down the basepath.  I love him, but good grief...play the game right.