Albert Pujols could be the greatest player ever

[Valen]

[quote:19e52ce580]I really don't think I'm overreacting about his 3-homer game tonight amidst his monster postseason.
[/quote:19e52ce580]
If your ranking Albert #1 is based on that game or his overall postseason then you are on weak ground. Do we rank Beltre #2 because he had a 3 HR game against Tampa. Or perhaps Beltre is #3 and Cruz #2 for the record setting series he had against Detroit.

Naming anyone #1 based on a single game or month of play is definitely overreacting.

When his career is over he may considered as the best first baseman ever. But the best ever at any position may be a tougher claim to defend.

[Valen]

[quote:d70e23c3ae]Pick a record and he may wind up in the top 1-5 in it.[/quote:d70e23c3ae]
Stolen bases. :lol:

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

[Valen]

[quote:c4ca8fee85]where will he play next year?[/quote:c4ca8fee85]
Most likely still in St. Louis. I just do not see how they can allow him to walk.

If not staying put then you have to look at who can afford him cross referenced with who could use him.

yankees: I cannot see them paying him what he wants to be a DH. First and third are locked up with high cost players.

Boston: They too have a pair of outstanding players sitting at both corner infield slots.

Cubs: Maybe, but my gut tells me if the Cubs are the only other team in the running Cardinals will be able to match their offer.

[MtheB]

If Mark Cuban buys the Dodgers, then look for Albert to head west.....but it probably won't even get settled by the time he signs....

[Palanion]

My sleeper prediction for the team that swoops in and signs Albert is Washington, though I think they'll go hard for Fielder first.
With Strasburg back full-time next year to anchor a staff with Lannan and Zimmermann, and wanting to build from a 80-81 season, I see the Nats signing a big middle-of-the-order bat to go with Werth, Morse, and Espinosa.
Honestly, Fielder would be the better choice because they could use a big lefty bat more than a righty bat (since they have Werth).
They would move Morse to LF, use Nix, Ankiel, Bernadina, or whoever's hot in CF.

Certainly, St. Louis will make all the overtures and public perceptions that they want Pujols to stay. And maybe that's their preference, but I'm not sure they spend that money. They could go after Fielder if it appears he'll be cheaper - Cards could use a lefty too.
Still, I would not be surprised if the Cards see Berkman as their insurance policy for 1b with Allen Craig as the favorite for RF. Again, I'm not saying the Cards don't want Pujols (or Fielder), but if they can fill up the roster without spending $150m to $200m, I think they take that seriously.

I think the Cubs would love to land Pujols, but I think the plethora of dead money hurts their chances.

Texas has done so well NOT spending on big-time FAs (see Teixiera, Lee leaving), I don't see them going after Pujols or Fielder. No point.

[PotKettleBlack]

Teams that Spend but are reasonably set at 1B/DH
Boston (Gonzales at first, Youk/Papi to DH)
Yankees (Tex at first, Montero, ARod, Jeter at DH)
Phils (Howard at First, NL - NO DH)
Nats ($8M in LaRoche + no DH)
San Francisco (Huff is signed through next year... for $11M... yeccchh)

Teams that could use a 1B upgrade and spend money
Texas
Anaheim
Cubs
Seattle (odd, but Smoak at 1B, but could DH him or Albert)
Detroit (Could let Ordonez walk and install Pujols at first and Cabrera at DH)


Teams that have historically had money and could upgrade 1B/DH
Dodgers (Loney could walk, Dodgers could be tired of him)
Mets (Ike Davis is a nice player, but not the future)

Okay, Assume Albert would like to play relevant ball in a neutral to hitter friendly park.
That lets out:
Cubs (relevance)
Mets (park, and relevance)
Seattle (both, but especially the park... Beltre is a cautionary tale)

So, relevance + park
Dodgers (Neutral park)
Texas (Bombs away)
Anaheim (interesting)
Detroit (not great for HR, but the hits will pile up here)

I didn't include the Cardinals. I believe he will sign with the Cards. I am pretty sure the Cards will overpay, and like it.

I am also in the camp that believes, when the counting is done, he will look a lot like Musial and then some. When you look at Musial's career totals, he's top 30 in just about everything; counting, rate, advanced.

I think it's somehow right that El Hombre should spend his career where The Man did.

[geekor]

I"m going to throw out the Angels. Whomever their new GM is will spend big to show they want to win. And they have a bad history of paying a lot for fast aging guys who have to move to DH soon :roll:

[MtheB]

If the Dodgers get a real owner in time, they will make a serious move for Pujols.
Cards will be in the running, but won't overpay.
Angels maybe in the running, but the history so far with that owner is to not spend big dollars on players in their prime....
Texas would love to have him, but dont have to have him as much as the Angels and Dodgers need him....

[PotKettleBlack]

The Reason the Cards will overpay.
Albert has more value to the Cards than elsewhere.

Consider: If the Cards do not sign Albert, or at least make an extraordinary attempt to do so, what will that mean for the Cards and their relationship with their fans?

If the Angels fail to sign Albert, there is Prince, or some other set of players, life will go on. Ditto Rangers, Nats (business as usual), etc.

Cardinals have the most to lose in terms of promotions and community relations by not signing him. I think their move, however, is to let him explore free agency, to allow the market to set the price, then pay the premium.

[lanier64]

Many of you will call me an old fashioned curmudgeon but I think old time ball players were immensely talented just to be able to play the game at the highest level under horrible conditions. Just to name a few things: unmanicured fields with rocks the size of baseballs, so forget about getting a good bounce to catch the ball with a glove only slightly larger than your hand. No grass in the infield, exposed sprinklers and drains in the outfield like the one Mickey stepped in and wrecked his leg. Balls used until they were brown/black smudges barely recognizeable as baseballs. In the early days if you used three or four baseballs, that was a lot. And playing in the daytime only? Well thats ok until you play game after game in the "gloaming" to get the game in so you are playing in the dark because there are no lights to turn on. The travel was a lot worse than just "uncomfortable" as someone described earlier. The travel conditions (trains, buses, and hotels with no air conditioning) were absolutely Dickensian. Small cramped un-air conditioned club houses without free spreads and other amenities. Uncomfortable, heavy scratchy, wool uniforms. I can't over emphasize the importance of air conditioning. Think about how hot and humid it gets in the Midwest an East coast in August and you had no relief, ever because there was no airconditioning. Players would often drag their mattresses up to the roofs of hotels to sleep because it was unbearable in the rooms. Managers who didn't believe in letting you drink water to hydrate yourself because they thought you would get cramps. Unruly drunken fans who would routinely throw real glass bottles onto the field. I could go on an on but long story short I agree with people who say it is difficult to compare eras. I also think Pujols is among the three best position players ever. Time will tell if he is the best.