"Watching a nervous and clearly conflicted Albert Pujols on the stage in Anaheim, I kept thinking: Why wasn't he happy? Pujols already had a dream of a life, a fantasy, and it just got a whole lot better. Now he'll be enjoying the enhanced prosperity of his new $254 million contract from the Angels.

And he seemed sad in a way. Was Pujols trying to get the great fans of St. Louis to feel sorry for him? Tough sale, there. He leads an existence that no working man or woman can relate to. His problems are not our problems. No one moored to reality can possibly feel sympathy for Pujols. Having empathy for Pujols would be an egregious example of misplaced principles.

Why wasn't Albert thrilled by his good fortune? This was his big payday, his big payback, and you'd think he'd be walking on clouds, singing with those Angels. But Pujols was oddly detached. He didn't appear to be of the mind to celebrate his victory."