Tagged: Albert Pujols
1/4 Hot Stove – The Left Wing
We have 90 days until Opening Day and the Matt Holliday situation is still unsettled.
St. Louis is a logical fit for him, but we are in 2010 and the deal still isn’t done. The Cardinals need to find somebody to protect Pujols and Matt Holliday is that guy. He can completely change the complexion for the Cardinals in the NL Central.
With him they are the favorites to battle the Cubs for the Division crown. Without him they are a questionable team with gaping holes in their line-up.
The Jason Bay signing is interesting. We know he will help improve an atrocious Mets offense, adding power and run production to a team starving for runs, but the Mets have so many other issues to deal with. Their starting pitching is suspect with Johan Santana’s support staff of Oliver Perez, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey.
The key for the Mets is the same with or without Bay; they need to stay healthy. If Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes can stay healthy, they look like a good team. But right now they look like a team full of what-if’s?
Something to look forward to besides the next blizzard is the Hall of Fame announcement on Wednesday at 1pm ET.
I would be surprised if Bert Blyleven and Andre Dawson aren’t voted into the HOF this year. Blyleven had nearly 300 wins to go along with 3,701 strikeouts, and Dawson was one of the best players of his generation. Deep down I’m pulling for these two to get in. – Dan Plesac
12/14 Hot Stove – Pitchers Burning on the Stove
If this three-team deal goes through with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee involved, it would make the Blue Jays big winners today. Everyone knew the Blue Jays had to make a deal, and with what we’re hearing, they made a great decision.
Instead of taking a watered down deal from one team, they get to pluck a few of the best prospects from the Phillies’ and the Mariners’ farm systems.
What this deal sets up is the Mariners becoming the favorites in the AL West. With Cliff Lee and King Felix, you have the best lefty/righty combo in the game. Beckett and Lester, Beckett and Lackey, Sabathia and Burnett, are not going to dominate like Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee.
Cliff Lee gave the Phillies everything and more they could have expected last season. The only thing I can think of is that Roy Halladay gives the Phillies the big dominant right-handed ace. With lefties J.A. Happ, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer in the rotation, Halladay can add some balance.
Like the Yankees making big moves last year, the Mariners and the Red Sox are emerging as the teams making noise this offseason.
The only noise out of Anaheim has been the star players leavening. The Angels are sitting back while Seattle is going after it. The Angels are closing in on a deal with Hideki Matsui, replacing one aging slugger for another, which means Vladimir Guerrero will be out of Anaheim.
The John Lackey signing means two things for the Red Sox. First you can all put your Jason Bay jerseys in a frame, because they’re a collectors’ items now. With all the money spent on Lackey, I don’t think Bay is coming back to Boston.
Secondly this gives the Red Sox six starters. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey will lead the way. With Daisuke Matsuzaka you hope to get a bounce-back year. This leaves the number-five spot for Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield, who was an All-Star last year. Wakefield has always been a durable, “I know what I’m getting” guy, and the best number-five starter in the game.
What this scenario does is open the door for Adrian Gonzalez to come to Fenway. The depth in pitching allows Buchholz to be the chip that can bring in Gonzalez. With Gonzalez’s power bat at first, they can platoon Jeremy Hermida with another guy – say pick up Dan Uggla – to fill the spot in left field.
In between all the dealings between the East and West, the Cardinals are waiting to hear back from Matt Holliday. They made a respectable offer, but there might be more riding on a Holliday deal.
The Cardinals need to keep Albert happy, because if he’s not happy with the direction of team, he will have options.
Just imagine if Pujols tested the free agent waters? -Greg Amsinger
12/7 Hot Stove – The Left Wing
We finally get the Winter Meetings kicked off today, and with the cold setting in, it’s time for some deals to heat things up.
I’m interested in a few key situations, and how they’ll pan out during the meeting.
First of all, the big fish, Roy Halladay. With all the rumors swirling around lately, it seems like a deal is in the air, especially if he’s not going to accept a trade once the season begins.
The Blue Jays can learn a lot from the Johan Santana deal a few years ago. The Twins waited and then had to settle for the Mets offer which looking back was not the best offer on the table. Instead of playing tug-of-war with the Yankees and Red Sox, they need to make a good quick decision. We all know Roy’s got to go, but not getting the right prospect will return cost the Blue Jays big in the future.
I’m also interested in the Matt Holliday scenario. If the Cardinals can’t sign Holliday, then who else is out there for the Cardinals to sign to protect Albert Pujols?
Holliday has already proved he’s up to the task, so the Cardinals need to have a better plan if they decide to pass on Holliday. Is there one out there? I’m not so sure there is.
Then there is John Lackey, the only true ace available as a free agent. In his career he’s proven himself as a big game pitcher, a number one-starter, and a durable arm. What team out there won’t want to sign him?
Hot Stove is going to be jam-packed tonight – Braves Manages Bobby Cox and Cubs Manager Lou Piniella will join us together from Indianapolis. The Braves have been busy in the offseason already, so we’ll have plenty to talk about with two of the greatest managers out there.
Hot Stove airs tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday live from the Winter Meetings headquarters in Indianapolis from 6-8pm ET. We’ll have interviews and team updates throughout each show. – Dan Plesac
11/24 Hot Stove – A Legend Among Us
Albert Pujols winning his third MVP is no surprise to anyone, but where Albert ranks at age 29 among the legends of this game, now that’s a story.
In seven of his nine years in the big leagues, he’s been in the top three of the MVP voting, and six of those years, in the top two! He lost out to Barry Bonds, who was on another planet, and Ryan Howard, who had a career year with 58 HR’s.
If you look at the baseball cards of the legends, you’ll see that age 29-32 is when they put up their untouchable numbers. Albert is 29. I don’t know what to expect from him next season. Maybe the best is yet to come with this guy.
I always hear Barry Larkin and Harold Reynolds say that power comes with age. As a rookie, Albert came in and banged 37 bombs and had 47 this year with a 21-game drought to finish the season.
This season wasn’t even his best year. If he didn’t hit a slump at the end of the season, he could have had a career year.
Albert is getting better and better with age, and now after nine years, his status is becoming legendary.
There are so many numbers to look at on the show today. To me, the most telling number is the number of at-bats Albert has, compared to Hank Aaron. It’s scary how much better Albert’s career numbers not just stack up, but overshadow Aaron’s numbers.
Yesterday Joe Mauer won the AL MVP, and at 26 to have that and three batting titles is a great feat. But 
Albert Pujols can’t even be compared to the best of the AL.
Forget putting him on a level with Mauer and Bonds, he’s creating his own level, which is spoiling it for the great fans who loves baseball today.
Albert no longer compares to players of the modern era – only guys like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams can be in a conversation with him.
Since day one, his offensive consistency has been astonishing. They put him at third base and in the outfield until he finally found a home at first, but his offensive potency has never wavered. Power, average, RBI’s, OBP, rarely strikes out, plus he is always on the field. There’s been no learning curve for Albert; he’s just been smarter than everyone.
He is a baseball-hitting genius, and people need to start realizing what they are seeing in the Cardinals first baseman.
Today’s show should be called MLB Hitting History Lesson: Albert Pujols and the rest of the baseball world. That’s a conversation, and we’ll have it tonight. – Greg Amsinger
11/23 Hot Stove – The Left Wing
The AL MVP winner was not much of a surprise; Joe Mauer had a terrific season, and he deserves this award.
He hit against lefties and he hit against righties while playing arguably the most demanding position on the field and winning a Gold Glove.
He had a dynamic year.
The Twins were a team decimated by injuries, and Joe was no exception, missing all of April with an injured back. He came back with a bang, blasting a home run in his first at bat, and he carried the Twins from that point on. The Twins pulled off something special in the AL Central, and Mauer was a key component in that charge to the playoffs.
Greg, Al, Mitch and I will be talking to Joe at 6pm ET, on Hot Stove.
The runners up had terrific years, but Mauer Power was just too much.
Derek Jeter silenced his critics this season, proving he his can still play the shortstop position at a high level for a World Championship team. He also hit the ball pretty well too.
Mark Teixeira was everything the Yankees hoped he would be when the opened the bank for him. He performed under the pressure of New York, had a great year at the plate and is also the best defensive first baseman out there right now.
Speaking of first baseman, there is no doubt that Albert Pujols is going to win the NL MVP tomorrow. As long as he’s breathing, in uniform, and at the ballpark, he’s the best player in the NL. No question he is the total package.
Tony La Russa called him the best player he’s ever managed He’s managed a cluster of great players, including Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire, and Jose Canseco, but Albert is a once in a lifetime kind of player.
And just in case you’re wondering, Pujols is 0-1 against my change-up. Got him to pop up. – Dan Plesac
Click here to watch the interview with Joe Mauer from Monday night.
11/19 Hot Stove – MVP Predictions
With the MVP Awards being handed out next week, I went around the MLB Network Studio to see who the favorites are in our halls.
Now Al and Victor agree that it’s going to be Albert Pujols in the NL and Joe Mauer in the AL. They seem to be strong favorites.
Harold agrees on Pujols, but he believes that Derek Jeter will take home the title in the AL. For Jeter, an MVP would really top a busy award season. He’s already won the Hank Aaron Award, Roberto Clemente Award, Silver Slugger Award, Gold Glove Award, and another one of those World Series rings.
As for my picks, I’ll have to agree with Al and Victor: Pujols and Mauer Power all the way.
Don’t forget to tune in to Hot Stove tonight at 6pm ET. Harold, Victor, and Al will be talking to now 2-time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum. – Hazel Mae
Click Here to watch the interview with Tim Lincecum from Thursday night.
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