Pujols: The Gift That Keeps Giving

Oct 7, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Wacha throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in game four of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

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I wonder what Albert Pujols is doing today. Was he in St. Louis where he says he lives during the season watching the rookie phenom the Cardinals got when the Angels signed Pujols to that massively overrated contract in 2011? Or was he in Los Angeles trying to ignore what happened in St. Louis and move on?

Unfortunately, we probably will never know what he was doing when Michael Wacha was having the performance of a lifetime, but I doubt Albert was happy about it.

For those that don’t know, because Pujols was a Type A free agent in the 2011 offseason, whoever were to sign Pujols would have to give up their first round pick to the Cardinals. The Angels ultimately signed Pujols and the Cardinals received the 19th overall which belonged to the Angels in the 2012 MLB Draft. The Cardinals selected Michael Wacha 19th overall out of Texas A&M.

I doubt anyone would have predicted this for Albert Pujols. Pujols was able to bounce back after a really slow start in 2012 to finish with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much luck in 2013 when a partially torn plantar fascia ended his season.

I’m not trying to “pile on” Albert Pujols. He gave the Cardinals the best offensive decade in its storied history, but it does feel like he is the gift that keeps on giving for the St. Louis Cardinals.

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