End of an ERA

It still has not sunk in, the news is hours old from Dallas, Albert Pujols has agreed to a 10 year $250 million deal. Somewhere Prince Fielder is smiling.

Lucky the Cardinals got their 2nd World Series win in 5 years, otherwise, they would be hard pressed to return.


This was topped seconds later by the report of CJ Wilson signing as well with the Angels.  Uh, I thought the Marlins were spendthrifts, but the Angels in one morning have just over shadowed the Fish with these bold moves.

Albert is the real prize, Wilson, adds depth to a deep rotation at the expense of the rival Rangers.  Addition and subtraction should make the Angels odds on to take the division.

Albert will still wear a red and white jersey, but the bird is gone, and the halo replaces it, as Albert's pay day will be heavenly.  My buddy the Ricster always moans of the lost talent to the National League, and as we both play a fantasy brand, we are a AL only league, and if lost talent is not replenished, the rich stay rich, and the poor pick up the scraps.

Now 2 major pieces have landed, and we will have to watch the Fielder situation play out, the Mariners say they are in, so do the Marlins, and Brewers, but Prince wants to be paid like a king, and the bidding starts at $250 million, thanks to Pujols.  Prince is younger than Albert, but his body might not remind anyone of Charles Atlas, so there might be some generous 7 year offers, but not sure I would go 10 years. No one finishes these 10 year deals anymore, the retire and walk away, or get bought out when they are 38-39, so won't expect Albert to be bopping when he hits 40.

Meanwhile the fans in Boston, unaccustomed to a post season of no awards, rings, and accolades they do a slow burn.  Bobby Big Britches talks glowingly about super touted prospectYu Darvish, who will get posted ( meaning some team has to bid countless millions and hope to win his rights, to pay him....countless millions ).
Despite Bobby's remarks about his abilities, this is a pitcher that has pitched an average of once a week, and a 130 game schedule, and throws 8 to 9 pitches, some slop balls, some hard stuff.  I like this player NOT.  He reeks of impending arm problems, his pitch counts are monitored like NASA watches satellites, looking for orbit decay.

The Red Sox were spitting nails 2 days ago as they were not even in on the Sergy Santos sweepstakes, and hell, why not us argument. In Boston remember they have enough issues to take to the pysch ward, so being dissed by Kenny Williams doesn't improve their ego.


So Albert goes to Anaheim, and Wilson signs there too, and for keeners like Boston, and the Yankees, they must be saying "what the hell", first these upstart Fishes, now the Orange County squad, I mean what's next ...the Blue Jays ??... Okay stand down folks...give the big boys time to regroup, this was not a year for either superpower to add Pujols or Fielder, both teams are chock full of 1st basemen, and DH's, and maybe some free agents just want an easier place to play in than NY or Boston.

It would be worse if the Mets started adding players ( what you say Frank Fransisco and Jon Rauch signed with M-E-T-S, Mets Mets Mets ) Cannot imagine what the New York Post is saying about another quiet Cashman winter. And in Massachusetts, newly anointed GM Cherington will be asked who is replacing departed Johnny Papelbon ? 


End of an era in Saint Lou, no Larussa, and now no Albert, they will regroup, and spend their savings elsewhere, and they still have Carpenter and Wainright, so they are cupboard bare, just wounded today.

Christmas coming early in Anaheim, deck the halls with boughs of Pujols, fa la la la la