Angry Pujols Club

Why are we angry?  If you are asking that question – surely you did not see last night’s MLB All-Star Game.  Tony LaRussa decided to NOT play our man, Albert Pujols.  Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal.  But the NL lost and TLR had several spots that it just MADE sense to use El Hombre.

• How about in the 6th inning during a key NL rally against Justin Verlander (who AP dominates!).
• Or how about in the 9th inning, down 5-4, 1 out, men on 1st and 2nd, Orlando Hudson (who had already batted) coming to the plate.
• Or how about the bases loaded, 2 outs in the 9th, a career .280 hitter Aaron Rowand at the plate, a career .330 hitter Albert Pujols the ONLY guy left on the bench, a hit wins the game for the NL which hasn’t been done in 9 years.

Nah, Larussa decided against all of these.  So our first thought was – ok – this is fine.  I’m sure Larussa and Pujols had an agreement that he wouldn’t play unless extra innings came.  But no…

“Ask the manager,” Pujols said when asked about not playing. “He’s the one that you need to ask. I have no idea.”

“If I wasn’t expecting myself to play, I wouldn’t come up here,” he said. “Believe me, if I couldn’t play, I wouldn’t show up here. I’d rather stay home with my family. But that’s the way it is.”

So great work Tony.  Not only did the NL lose the game.  But now the best player in baseball is mad at his manager.  Imagine life without Albert Pujols?!?!?  Don’t make him mad.  So now Tony needs to explain himself and maybe explain the bad decision he made…. nope….

“Was I going to pinch-hit him for Rowand? Rowand is a good choice,” La Russa said. “He gave us a great at-bat. It’s not that tough. And if [Pujols] doesn’t understand, I’m disappointed. But I’m more disappointed we lost. He’ll figure it out sooner or later.”

“If he wants to get upset, he can get upset,” La Russa said. “Whatever he wants to do, he can do. It’s America. That wasn’t the most important thing tonight.”

YES… YES you were going to pinch hit him for Rowand… He is the most clutch player in the game.  Everyone, even Cub fans, wanted to see Albert Pujols come to the plate. Hudson already batted so hit Pujols and play him at 3rd if then move Sanchez to 2nd. It’s Easy. Or hit him for Rowand, stick him in LF and move Soriano to CF. How hard is that? Saving him for extra innings? You have to get there first.  Great work Larussa.  It could have been one of those momentum shifting moments for Albert and the Cardinals.  Instead – it turns into drama that was not needed.  If Tony was purely focused on winning that game – Albert would have been in the game!  He obviously was just looking out for his ego and not stepping on anyones feet.  But believe me – it has backfired.

Comments please?!?!  Are we wrong?  Was TLR right?