Albert Pujols News: Pro Sports Daily

Cards rescued by ... what else? Pujols power

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July 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Mark DeRosa has been with the Cardinals less than a week, but he already knows he's seen it all. "He's from another planet," said DeRosa, limited to watching and not playing right now because of injury. The "he" in question is Albert Pujols and, as they say, maybe he really can do it all. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season (Pujols has four) and for a career (Pujols has 10). It was Pujols' sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead in the eighth, Pujols turned instructor with the ..."

Pujols slams Reds

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July 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Maybe, as they say, Albert Pujols really can do it all. We know what he can accomplish with the bases loaded. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke two of Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season and for a career. It was his sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, four of them grand slams, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after the Cincinnati Reds had tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the eighth after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead, Pujols turned instructor. With rookie Jarrett Hoffpauir, who had walked on four pitches in his major league debut ahead of Pujols' slam, at bat himself ..."

Pujols' numbers should shut up doubters

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June 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols stepped in against Johan Santana Thursday afternoon in the top of the second inning. The bases were loaded and two outs. The Cardinals led 1-0. Pujols had the opportunity to blast Santana and provide staff ace Chris Carpenter a nice lead to work with. Instead, he flied out to left field to end the inning and strand three runners. Albert is human after all. This frustrating 3-2 loss proved it really IS possible to retire him in a critical game situation. At least Thursday's failure eased the suspicions of Los Angeles Times sportswriter Jerry Crowe, who recently wrote this: "Thanks to (Manny) Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, etc., fans outside ..."

Pujols, Cardinals pulverize Royals, sweep series

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June 22

Kansas City Star

"There are people who will tell you there isn't much difference between the Royals' lineup and the Cardinals' lineup, save for Albert Pujols. That may be true. There are 33,805 who watched the Royals lose 12-5 to the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday who will tell you that's a big difference. Pujols hit two homers on Sunday, including a grand slam on a down-the-middle changeup that turned an already bad day for Royals starter Gil Meche into a nightmare. The ball crashed off a window of the Hall of Fame building in left field, 423 feet away, part of an eight-run fourth inning that effectively ruined the Royals' chances. "Pretty much everything that could've happened wrong today did," ..."

Grand slam is a KO as Pujols calls the shot

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June 22

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Maps show Kauffman Stadium sits at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Blue Ridge Cutoff. Sunday afternoon, before an audience of 33,805, Albert Pujols moved "The K" to the juncture of Unbelievable and Absurd. Given the day off at first base, Pujols as designated hitter became a force of nature as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 12-5 drubbing. El Hombre didn't just provide the difference with four hits, including two home runs, his ninth career grand slam and six RBIs; he quite literally called his four-run shot. After opening the third inning with a fly out, Pujols returned to the Cardinals clubhouse to review video. There he predicted to ..."

Pujols shoulders load of questions

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June 21

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols has an opinion. Actually, the Cardinals first baseman has plenty of them. But nine seasons into what appears destined to be a Hall of Fame career, the two-time NL Most Valuable Player still believes it best to keep them under a basket - or at least off the table - difficult as that might be. "They pay me to play the game," Pujols says. "That's what they want me to do." El Hombre has opinions about the direction of the organization, about this team's chances of reaching the postseason for the first time in three years, about his contract status. "If they want to talk to me about something, I'll talk. But no one has talked to me. So my job is to shut up and play," he says. ..."

Pujols scores 1,000th career run

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June 20

MLB.com

"Albert Pujols reached another milestone on Friday night, scoring his 1,000th career run against the Kansas City Royals during a 10-5 Cardinals victory at Kauffman Stadium. The landmark run came in the top of the third. With runners on second and third, the Royals elected to intentionally walk Pujols, who had already driven in two runs with a single in the top of the first. Right fielder Ryan Ludwick followed Pujols with a grand slam to left, and Pujols trotted around the bases and crossed the plate for the 1,000th time in his illustrious career. Pujols finished the game 1-for-3, having left in the fifth inning with the Cards up big. He was replaced by Chris Duncan at first base. Cardinals ..."

Pujols' two homers hurt Tribe

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June 14

Akron Beacon Journal

"It wasn't difficult to sum up the reasons for the Indians' 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday at Progressive Field: too much Albert Pujols and not enough of anything else. • Not enough hitting. • Not enough professional base running. • Not enough pitches reaching the glove of catcher Victor Martinez. The only thing the Tribe did not lack was productive starting pitching, and that might have been the biggest surprise of all. Toma Ohka was making his first start of the season after two successful long relief outings, and it's doubtful many Northeast Ohio fans would have been willing to bet any portion of their paychecks on him holding St. Louis to two runs in seven innings. ''Ohka ..."

Pujols, Hamilton remain atop Derby poll

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June 12

MLB.com

"Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols continued to lead their respective leagues in the State Farm Home Run Derby Fan Poll, according to a Major League Baseball press release Friday. The poll, designed to garner fan participation for the 80th All-Star Game held July 14 in St. Louis, allows fans to vote for the top three players in both the American and National Leagues who they would like to see participate in the event. Pujols leads the NL, while Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard moved into the No. 2 spot, with Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder dropping to third."

Carpenter, Pujols sink Cincinnati

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June 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Chris Carpenter dealt and Albert Pujols cranked Thursday night at Busch Stadium. Suffice to say it was a very good night for the Cardinals. Hours after manager Tony La Russa subtly advanced a push for a move to help the Redbirds' laboring offense and its signature hitter, Carpenter (4-0) gave a command performance and Pujols accounted for every RBI in a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in front of 39,249 at Busch Stadium. "That's two superstars," La Russa said. For the fifth time in 10 games the Cardinals won while scoring three runs or fewer. For the fifth time in six starts, Carpenter allowed one or no runs, as his only blemish occurred on Laynce Nix's eighth-inning home run. Carpenter ..."

Reds can't stop Pujols

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June 5

Dayton Daily News

"The Gateway Arch is still standing, looming on the west bank of the Mississippi River high over Busch Stadium, but it isn't because Albert Pujols didn't try to knock it down. For some masochistic reason, the Cincinnati Reds prefer to challenge Pujols rather than pitch around him and on Thursday night it cost them a 3-1 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals. Oh, and pitcher Chris Carpenter had a smidge to do with it, too - a complete-game three-hitter, enabling the Cardinals to split the four-game series and send the Reds home with a 2-5 trip. Amazingly, the Reds left home 1 ½ games out of first place and return 2 ½ out, to which manager Dusty Baker said, "Fortunate, very fortunate. Now we have ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols bounces back

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June 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two members of the 2008 National League All-Star squad suffered injuries in the first inning of Monday's game at Busch Stadium. One, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, was back in Tuesday's lineup after rolling over his right ankle on an awkward slide at second base. The other, Reds righthander Edinson Volquez, is back on the disabled list one day after being pulled off of it. Volquez, who had been on the DL with back spasms, left Monday's 5-3 Cincinnati win after the first inning, reporting numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand. Later, he said he had felt a tingling in his right elbow while throwing a fastball to Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' second hitter. On ..."

Pujols way out front in early All-Star voting

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May 27

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals slugger and reigning MVP Albert Pujols leads all National League players -- by a lot -- in the first All-Star Game balloting update. Pujols has received more than 842,000 votes -- roughly 166,000 more than the next closest vote-getter, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. Among first basemen, Pujols has almost double the votes of Milwaukee's Prince Fielder and nearly triple the number for Ryan Howard of the Phillies. Cardinals teammate Yadier Molina has the early lead among catchers with more than 451,000 votes, to about 384,000 for Milwaukee's Jason Kendall. Pujols is a seven-time All-Star. Molina has never been selected. Other Cardinals voting results: * Skip Schumaker is ..."

Albert Pujols, bullpen lead St. Louis Cardinals past Pirates

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May 7

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The advantage of having 13 pitchers on his roster, many of them rested, enabled Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to pull off something Wednesday night that even he rarely does. La Russa employed three pitchers in the fifth inning of a game the Cardinals already led by two runs. Righthander Kyle McClellan, the third pitcher used in that inning, escaped trouble in the fifth. Then McClellan, Dennys Reyes, Jason Motte and Ryan Franklin protected the lead as the Cardinals snapped a losing streak at three games with a 4-2 win at Busch Stadium over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost their fourth in a row. Asked how many times he might have done what he did Wednesday, La Russa said, "I'm sure Elias ..."

Pujols is NL player of month; Barden top rookie

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May 6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"In April, Albert Pujols batted .337 with eight homers and 28 RBIs. Not bad for a guy who had elbow surgery in the offseason. On Tuesday, the Cardinals' MVP first baseman was named the National League Player of the Month for April. He beat out two other first basemen -- San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez (.333, 9 HRs) and Florida's Jorge Cantu (.365, 7 HRs) -- and Manny Ramirez (.372) of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the award. Cardinals infielder Brian Barden was named the NL's Rookie of the Month after hitting .385 with 3 homers and 7 RBIs. Pujols, 29, ended the month as the NL leader in RBIs and runs scored (22), and was second in homers and total bases. He also walked 18 times and was 4 for 4 ..."

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May 3

Detroit News

"There's little dispute around the league that Cardinals first-baseman Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball right now. He's batting .356 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 24 games. Tigers manager Jim Leyland got to know Pujols real well as a Pittsburgh-based scout for St. Louis from 2000-04 and has no quandary proclaiming Pujols the best. "He is the best player in the game right now. That's just the way it is," Leyland said. "I think the thing I remember the most about him and watching over the years is that I've never seen Albert Pujols give a bat away. I don't care what the score of the game is, behind 10 up 10, I've never seen him give an at-bat away. That's saying something. ..."

Cardinals' Albert Pujols has time on his side

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April 28

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols could show off a new watch and a lower back bruise Monday. He was proud of the first and understanding of the second. Pujols earned his ninth NL Player of the Week Award of a nine-year career Monday. He received the timepiece in return for hitting .450 (nine for 20) with three home runs, 11 RBIs, seven runs scored and three stolen bases. Pujols, still impressed by such recognition, will receive a specially engraved watch as part of the award. It will go into a trophy case next to his eight other timepieces. "I think the same of each one," Pujols said of the awards. "I want to win one this week again." Manager Tony La Russa said Pujols deserves more watches than he already ..."

Cardinals, Pujols come under fire from Cubs' Harden

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April 27

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"With his team having lost four straight games, Chicago Cubs righthander Rich Harden did what good, veteran big-league starters do. He stopped the losing streak, pitching six strong innings and striking out nine Sunday as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 10-3 at Busch Stadium. And when one of his teammates, Alfonso Soriano, was hit in the back of the helmet by an errant pitch from Todd Wellemeyer, Harden responded by throwing close, but not at the head, of the other team's star. Harden tossed two near the legs of Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols on one at-bat and hit him, but in the lower back, on the next one. Cubs manager Lou Piniella, asked if he thought Harden had handled the situation ..."

Ozzie Smith says Albert Pujols will win All-Star Game for National League

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April 23

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith hasn't played major league baseball since 1996, but he still has played on one more winning All-Star team than current Cardinals star Albert Pujols. And Pujols is in his ninth season. "It'll be different this year," Smith said Wednesday. "Albert will hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth to win the game." Smith and Pujols were the on-field faces of the Cardinals at an All-Star Game news conference Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Smith's last of 15 All-Star Games, in which he pinch hit as part of his retirement tour in 1996, was the last time the National League beat the American League. Since then, the National League has lost 11 and tied ..."

Pujols' blast fuel Cardinals' romp over Astros

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April 12

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Standing on-deck within Busch Stadium's creeping shadows, Cardinals left fielder Chris Duncan never saw Albert Pujols more clearly than on Saturday afternoon. After starting the Cardinals first baseman with consecutive strikes, Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt needed six pitches to get rid of Pujols on a first-inning line drive to third base. Three innings later the Cardinals first baseman popped out. Pujols returned in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, one out and the Cardinals ahead 2-0. With neither Oswalt nor El Hombre having anywhere to hide, Duncan could almost guess the rest. "I'm watching and it's almost amazing," Duncan said. "He's tried almost everything to get him already. ..."

Miguel Cabrera in company with Dick McAuliffe, Albert Pujols

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April 12

Detroit Free Press

"We're still trying to put Miguel Cabrera's performance Friday in perspective. Homer historian David Vincent has helped by checking in with some of his typically wonderful information. According to Vincent, Cabrera became the second Tiger to hit a grand slam on Opening Day in Detroit. The first was Dick McAuliffe in 1966. Now we turn to that tremendous invention of Dave Smith, retrosheet.org. By doing so, we learn that McAuliffe's Opening Day slam in '66 came in the fourth inning against Washington Senators right-hander Jim Duckworth. McAuliffe, who was hitting leadoff, wiped out a one-run deficit and put the Tigers ahead for good in an 8-3 win. The homer was the first of 23 that McAuliffe ..."

Slowey passes test, strikes out two-time MVP Albert Pujols

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March 30

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"With only one start left in training camp, Kevin Slowey and the Twins wanted to learn Sunday where he stands, whether he is ready. And no better way than by facing Albert Pujols with the bases loaded, right? "Well, I wouldn't press your luck with that," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's not an MVP just about every year for nothing." No, but it's a terrific test, and Slowey passed. He struck out the two-time National League most valuable player in the third inning and then got cleanup hitter Ryan Ludwick to line out, stranding all three runners. From there, Slowey completed six innings with only one mishap, pitching the Twins to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Hammond ..."

St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols declares himself ready

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March 23

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The rest of the National League trembles. Albert Pujols on Sunday declared himself ready for the approaching season. The Cardinals' first baseman and reigning NL MVP followed a 0-for-three day against the Baltimore Orioles by voicing satisfaction over his steadily improving at-bats. "Right now, I feel like every year: good about myself with two weeks to go," he said. "If the season started tomorrow I would be ready. But I'm also glad there's another couple weeks left where I can pace myself and be there for (opening day) April 6." Pujols' Sunday included an opposite-field line drive that was caught. The at-bat carried far more significance than any flared single or wind-blown double. "Two ..."

Pujols homers; Wellemeyer hit hard

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March 17

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"In his fourth and final at-bat of Monday's game, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols drilled his first home run of spring training. Pujols roped a hanging breaking ball from Detroit lefty Bobby Seay for a solo shot - his second hit and second RBI of the game. Pujols has said he felt off-balance with his swing at times this spring and he had difficulty seeing the ball Sunday at Philadelphia's home ballpark. Pujols felt better about his timing at the plate Monday. "I care about swinging and getting my at-bats and feeling good for the season," he said. "When the numbers start counting in spring training, that's when I worry about my numbers. But I don't think on our baseball card we see ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Pujols is OK after being kicked in head By Joe Strauss

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March 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"At least no one got seriously hurt. Needing eight pitchers to cover 33 outs in nine innings, the Cardinals and second baseman Skip Schumaker endured their roughest defensive day of camp Sunday in a 9-8 loss to Florida. There was a barrage of six errors in the first five innings, including one in the first inning in which first baseman Albert Pujols nearly got trampled in a mishap that required Marlins third baseman Wes Helms to vault El Hombre to avoid full contact. Pujols still took a foot near his left ear that dropped him to his knees. He required attention from the training staff before getting to his feet and staying in the game for five innings. Manager Tony La Russa called the play ..."

Pujols will not play in exhibition against Team Dominicana

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March 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"As his gifted fellow countrymen report to Roger Dean Stadium today, reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols pledges he won't play in the Cardinals' Thursday exhibition against Team Dominicana as a show of respect. "It's all about respect. I don't want to play against them. I don't feel comfortable with it, and that's it," Pujols said Sunday afternoon. Pujols had planned to play for his native Dominican Republic's team in the World Baseball Classic until derailed by insurance complications. Since Pujols required nerve transposition near his right elbow in October, the organizing corporation found it impossible to obtain insurance. Pujols also has a "high-grade" ligament sprain in the area that has ..."

Pujols will not play in exhibition against Team Dominicana

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March 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"As his gifted fellow countrymen report to Roger Dean Stadium today, reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols pledges he won't play in the Cardinals' Thursday exhibition against Team Dominicana as a show of respect. "It's all about respect. I don't want to play against them. I don't feel comfortable with it, and that's it," Pujols said Sunday afternoon. Pujols had planned to play for his native Dominican Republic's team in the World Baseball Classic until derailed by insurance complications. Since Pujols required nerve transposition near his right elbow in October, the organizing corporation found it impossible to obtain insurance. Pujols also has a "high-grade" ligament sprain in the area that has ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols will not play in WBC

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February 17

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols officially notified the Cardinals and Dominican Republic baseball officials Monday that he will not participate in the World Baseball Classic this season because of insurance issues stemming from his surgically repaired right elbow. "It's not because my elbow hurts," he said. "I can do everything with the elbow. It's because of the insurance." After working out with other Cardinals position players at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Pujols participated in a conference call with Dominican reporters to explain his decision. The National League's MVP last season played for the Dominican team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and was set to be the team's starting first baseman ..."

Pujols: Winning team top priority

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February 16

Palm Beach Post

"Albert Pujols has put the Cardinals on notice. Pujols has two years remaining on his contract and although the numbers now pale compared to some of the richest in the game, the first baseman said Sunday that money would not dictate where he's playing in three years. "They're putting (together) a team right now to try to win," Pujols said. "If they change their strategy, then I'm going to have to change mine, too." Right now, that strategy is to re-sign with the Cardinals when his seven-year, $100 million contract expires after the 2010 season. That contract has been dwarfed by those signed by Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million a year), Mark Teixeira ($22.5 million a year) and others. "When I ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Pujols says winning is his top priority

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February 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Hopeful about the team's immediate future while voicing satisfaction with a contract he signed five years ago, Cardinals first baseman and National League MVP Albert Pujols entered camp Sunday saying the organization's commitment to winning will determine his future in St. Louis. "I'm not going to lie to you: It's not about the money all the time," Pujols said after a brief round of hitting and a round of hugs with teammates. "It's about being in a place to win and being in a position to win. If the Cardinals are willing to do that and put a team together every year like they have, I'm going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. "But if they're not on the same page of ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols looks doubtful for WBC

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February 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Team Dominicana will have to get by without El Hombre. The Cardinals and MVP first baseman Albert Pujols conceded Sunday afternoon that surgery in the offseason and difficulty insuring the slugger's fragile right elbow probably pose insurmountable obstacles to his participation in next month's World Baseball Classic. "If they can't get insurance, I'm definitely not going to play," Pujols said during a wide-ranging interview shortly after he arrived in camp. "I think they're still talking about it." Teams' standard disability insurance does not cover players during exhibitions such as the WBC. A governing corporation jointly owned by Major League Baseball and the Players Association ..."

St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols is itching to play in World Baseball Classic

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January 20

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"He has been swinging a bat with purpose since Christmas week and resumed throwing shortly after New Year's Day. Three months after requiring surgery to move a nerve near his right elbow, Cardinals first baseman and reigning NL Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols insisted Monday he is again physically sound. He just wants to go play. If only it was that easy. Hours before being presented his second MVP award at the annual Baseball Writers Association of America dinner at the Millennium Hotel, Pujols said he intends to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in March, if allowed. Pujols has long been excited by the notion of representing his native country. Ideally, ..."

St. Louis Cardinals warm-up takes pulse of fans

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January 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"A red-tinged rite of spring blows into town this weekend with the first gust of the baseball season, the Cardinals' 13th annual Winter Warm-up. During a three-day fest and fundraiser that starts Saturday and includes autographs, auctions and All-Star Game themes, the club will thaw its fanbase from the chilly indicators of an unfinished offseason. "We see this as the unofficial beginning of the baseball season, an entire weekend designed to generate excitement and get people thinking about this year's team and the new season," said Cardinals vice president Michael Hall, who is organizing and directing the Warm-up for the first time. "It always seems to end up being the coldest week of the ..."

Albert Pujols joins MLS team-investing bid

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November 19

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"One day after winning his second National League Most Valuable Player Award, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols went after another prize: a Major League Soccer expansion team. Pujols was identified on Tuesday by Jeff Cooper as one of the new investors in his bid to bring an MLS team to St. Louis. The addition of Pujols adds some flash (and cash) to the St. Louis bid, which in the past has been seen as not as financially strong as the bids in other cities. "First of all, Albert is making a meaningful investment, not just putting his name out there," said Cooper, who is spearheading the effort to bring a team to a proposed stadium in Collinsville. "Adding Albert to the group is a big step ..."

Albert Pujols claims second National League MVP title

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November 18

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"At any given moment on any given summer day, Albert Pujols can relate the numbers of most opponents, position players and pitcher alike, as well as his own. Monday afternoon, El Hombre's mania for statistics simplified itself to a single number: Two. Further validating a season spent helping a transitional team overreach for 86 wins, the Cardinals' first baseman joined rare company when the Baseball Writers Association of America announced him as its 2008 National League Most Valuable Player. Pujols, 28, joined the legendary Stan Musial as the only men to win more than one MVP in a Cardinals uniform. The 2005 National League MVP also became the first Dominican-born talent to win more than ..."

Ryan Howard congratulates St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols on MVP

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November 18

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard had a tight but telling take on the hitter who won the National League MVP ahead of him this season. "Albert is Albert," Howard said. Albert is Albert Pujols, and Pujols is the NL MVP for the second time in his career after beating out Howard, 369 points to 308, in a vote of the baseball writers announced Monday. Pujols received 18 first-place votes to Howard's 12, and Pujols was the only name mentioned on all 32 ballots. Howard, who led the majors with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs, was voted 10th on one ballot and did not appear at all on another. The Philadelphia slugger, a Lafayette High alum, had plenty of power to support his candidacy for ..."

Pujols Wins Second N.L. M.V.P. Award

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November 18

New York Times

"Two primary contenders for the National League's most valuable player began July in the other league, and another one did not truly surge until September. Their late impact and gaudy statistics, however, could not measure up to the overwhelming consistency delivered by the St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who compiled one of his perennially sublime seasons to beat out Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and win his second M.V.P. award. Pujols, who played most of the season with a sore right elbow, received 18 of 32 first-place votes and finished with 369 points, 61 ahead of Howard, according to results announced Monday. He was also the only player to appear on every ballot submitted by voters from ..."

Albert Pujols powers way to second National League MVP award

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November 18

New York Daily News

"St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP award, powering past Philadelphia star Ryan Howard by a comfortable margin Monday. Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow. He was rewarded despite the Cardinals' fourth-place finish in the NL Central. Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee pitcher C.C. Sabathia also drew strong support after being traded by AL teams in July. Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and had 369 points. The first baseman added to the MVP award he won in 2005. Howard, who led the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBIs for the World ..."

MVP honor for more than Pujols' 2008 season

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November 17

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"Was Albert Pujols really the Most Valuable Player in the National League this season? Not really, if you define "most valuable" as "biggest difference maker." With Albert hitting third, the Cardinals finished fourth in the National League Central, 11½ games behind the Chicago Cubs. Without Albert's machine-like production, the Cards would probably have finished fifth instead, allowing the Cincinnati Reds to move up a spot. But Baseball Writers Association of America voters decided to give Pujols this MVP trophy as a Lifetime Achievement Award. The voters voted to recognize his massive presence in the sport. The writers acknowledged what he brings to his team every time he digs into the ..."

Albert Pujols wins 2008 National League MVP award

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November 18

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Increasingly perceived as a transcendent player, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols overcame his team's fourth-place finish and a Bunyanesque second half by Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard to earn election as the 2008 National League Most Valuable Player. Pujols, who also won the award in 2005, becomes the first Dominican-born player to earn multiple MVP titles. Pujols, 28, amassed 37 home runs and 116 RBI in a season hampered by a strained calf that forced him to the disabled list and a nerve condition that caused him to undergo surgery last month. Universally perceived as an overachieving team in transition, the Cardinals stayed in contention for more than five months ..."

Pujols beats the field for NL MVP

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November 17

MLB.com

"The National League's best player has also been named its most valuable. Albert Pujols' magnificent season earned him his second NL Most Valuable Player Award. Pujols finished ahead of Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, who beat him out by a narrow margin to win the 2006 MVP. Pujols has finished in the top 10 in the voting in every one of his eight Major League seasons, and has been fourth or better seven times. He is the 11th player to win two NL MVP awards. As baseball waited to hear the results of the ballot, the discussion centered on the definition of "most valuable." Some argued that because Pujols' Cardinals did not make the postseason, he could not be the most valuable player in the ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Pujols films ESPN commercial

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November 8

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Dan Caesar

"Albert Pujols had a long day in Connecticut to show ESPN types that he's not a machine. Pujols, the Cardinals slugger, traveled to the network's compound to film one of those humorous promotional ads in which the network uses high-profile athletes to tout its "SportsCenter'' programs. The subject of the piece is whether Pujols is a man or a machine, but he had travel troubles getting to the remote area of Bristol, Conn., to tape the commercial. He arrived about 2 1/2 hours late and didn't wrap things up until about 8:30 p.m. local time. But he was a hit, ESPN senior director of sports marketing Seth Ader said. "It was incredible, it's going to be a great spot,'' Ader said. "He did very, ..."