We here at http://www.albertpujolsclub.com would love to be the exclusive one stop stop for all things Albert Pujols. We like to think our product is worth your time, and definitely a unique site dedicated to the one and only Albert Pujols. But we know, as popular as Albert Pujols is – others are going to have websites dedicated to Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals. We are big fans of many of these sites, and sometimes get valuable news from these sites. We decided to list a top ten of Websites related to the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols. We know there are many, many more, but we wanted to talk about these ten. If you know of others that we may or may not have seen, email us at webmaster@albertpujolsclub.com, and we would love to take a look at it. Enjoy:

1. http://www.vivaelbirdos.com

This site is an excellent website that seems to be full of fresh, and valuable information pertaining to our Cardinals. This is a great blog, that seems to have material that any Cardinal, and even Baseball fan would find interesting. The Webmaster of this site should be given some kind of award for his contribution to the game of baseball!

2. http://www.cardinalsgm.com

This website talks about all the things this individual, or group of individuals would do as General Manager of the Cardinals. Now, we understand some readers and writers out there haven’t a clue what goes on inside the life of a General Manager, but this site seems to be pretty accurate on all things pertaining to the Cardinals.

3. http://www.pujolsfans.com

You cannot get enough Albert Pujols. This is a great site for more information regarding Albert!

4. http://www.birdsonthebat.com

Now beware, some of the folks here at BOTB are kind of brutal. Sometimes, you wouldn’t think you were dealing with Cardinals fans when you are here. But, rest assured, they are all Cardinal fans, just some of different views on the team and the players. If you can survive the heat some of the posters put on, you will love this site!

5. http://cardinal70.com/

Another excellent St. Louis Cardinal blog. Not all Pujols, but could the Cardinals win games with only Albert? Check out this sites latest on the Cardinals Winter Warm up. Good Recap of the WW.

6-10 (in no order):

www.stlouissportsforum.com

www.pitchershiteighth.com

www.redbirdblog.com

www.perfectknight.blogspot.com

http://509bleachers.wordpress.com

Tickets will soon be on sale for the first events leading up to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, during the annual Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up, MLB will place Tickets on sale for All-Star FanFest, as well as Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. Those Tickets may be purchased at stlcardinals.com and allstargame.com, and at the Winter Warm-Up.

The 19th annual All-Star FanFest will take place from Friday, July 10 through Tuesday, July 14 — the day of the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. The “interactive baseball theme park” will be held at the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.

Tickets for FanFest cost $30 for adults and $25 for children, with ages two and under admitted for free. Senior citizens and military personnel may also buy Tickets at the reduced price. Additionally, Family Packs of four, five, six or seven Tickets may be purchased at a $5 discount.

Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first on-field event of the All-Star festivities, set for Sunday, July 12. The XM All-Star Futures Game features rising stars of the Minor Leagues, and in past years, participants have included Josh Hamilton, Ryan Howard, Evan Longoria, Justin Morneau, Hanley Ramirez, CC Sabathia and David Wright.

Sunday also brings the Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game, including stars from various realms of pop culture as well as former greats from the diamond.

Tickets for Taco Bell All-Star Sunday cost from $50-$75.

It’s little secret that the Cardinals have considered a wide variety of options for their ninth-inning job in 2009. However, it seems that most of those options have been viewed more in a no-stone-unturned sense, rather than as serious possibilities.

General manager John Mozeliak reiterated Thursday that there’s a good chance St. Louis will turn in-house for its closer in ‘09.

“I think I’ve made it very clear that I’m comfortable with what we have [in the ninth inning],” Mozeliak said. “We did say that if we could find somebody like [Brian] Fuentes, that we thought there was value and talent in return, we would try to do it. But that didn’t happen. We’re very comfortable going with what we have in-house.”

That means that barring an acquisition, candidates for the ninth-inning job will include youngsters Chris Perez and Jason Motte, and conceivably veteran Ryan Franklin as well. Manager Tony La Russa has repeatedly expressed a reluctance to hand closing duties to Perez or Motte.

However, it’s not all that likely that he’ll have many other options. The Cardinals do have interest in some relievers on the free-agent market, including Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz, and a deal could still be had on one of them.

Another free agent drawing interest from a variety of clubs is former Nationals closer Chad Cordero. According to a Major League source, Cordero threw off flat ground for teams Wednesday and will do so again Friday.

The Cardinals were one of the teams watching Cordero, but their interest could be better classified as curiosity rather than rapt intrigue. Cordero, returning from a shoulder injury, hopes to begin throwing off a mound in February.

Still, most outside possibilities seem like long shots. Mozeliak acknowledged that, as La Russa discussed Monday, the club had discussed signing a free-agent starter and converting that pitcher to closing. The GM downplayed the likelihood of such a move, though.

“We were discussing throwing everything on the table, and if anybody had any ideas or thoughts on how we could possibly address one or the other need,” Mozeliak said, referring to the Cards’ desire to bolster their starting pitching and find a ninth-inning pitcher. “That was one idea that came up — are there any pitchers out there that we could identify that have been traditionally used as starters who we could use to close?”

But those discussions don’t mean that any such move is imminent, or even likely.

Another long-shot option that has been bandied about is the use of Chris Carpenter in the ninth inning. However, echoing La Russa’s sentiments from Monday, Mozeliak emphasized that if Carpenter is healthy enough to start, he will start. The right-hander will only pitch out of the bullpen if there is a compelling medical reason to use him there rather than in the rotation.

Likewise, he shot down a question as to whether the club has entertained any thought of moving Adam Wainwright back to relief.

“That has not come up,” he said.

Just over a month to go until two time MVP Albert Pujols and his St. Louis Cardinals report to Jupiter Florida for Spring Training 2009! We here at www.albertpujolsclub.com CANNOT wait. Not much being said about Albert’s offseason surgery, but we figure he will be JUST FINE!
Go Cardinals!

Stars from the past — in the form of Cardinals and players from other teams who have participated in baseball All-Star Games — and stars from the present, including Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the National League’s Most Valuable Player for 2008, and St. Louisan Ryan Howard, runner-up for the MVP and a star for the world champion Philadelphia Phillies, will feature the program for the 51st St. Louis Baseball Writers’ dinner on Jan. 19 at the Millennium Hotel.

Tickets, priced at $150 each, which includes admission to the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up on Jan. 17-19, can be obtained by sending check or money order to St. Louis BBWAA, P.O. Box 605, St. Louis, Mo., 63188. Tables of 10 are $1,500.

The All-Star theme for the dinner, to be emceed by Cardinals broadcaster John Rooney, is in honor of the Cardinals playing host to the All-Star Game next July for the first time in 43 years.

Among players to be honored from the 2008 Cardinals are Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina, Silver Slugger winner Ryan Ludwick, outfielder Skip Schumaker, third baseman Troy Glaus and pitchers Kyle Lohse and Kyle McClellan.

Righthander Adam Wainwright will be saluted as the winner of the Darryl Kile Award, as voted on by Cardinals players, and longtime Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan will receive the meritorious service award

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals on Friday announced two big draws for the club’s annual Winter Warm-Up. The club confirmed that two-time National League MVP Albert Pujols will attend and also released the extensive list of auction items that will be available to fans in attendance.

Passes for the 13th annual Winter Warm-Up are still available and may be purchased at stlcardinals.com. Each pass, which is good for all three days of the event, costs $40 for those 16 and older and $10 for ages 5-15.

Kids under 5 are admitted free. Additionally, members of the military, police and fire departments with an active ID will receive one free adult pass, which must be obtained by coming to the Cardinals offices.

The club did not divulge any autograph times for the 2009 Warm-Up, which takes place Saturday through Monday, Jan. 17-19. Proceeds from the Winter Warm-Up benefit Cardinals Care, the team’s charitable arm.

In addition to announcing Pujols’ attendance, the Cardinals also released the list of auction items, and it is lengthy. Among the items available in live auctions on stage over the course of the weekend are autographed, game-used jerseys from Pujols, Yadier Molina, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick, as well as “broadcaster for a day” and “reporter for a day” packages.

Moreover, autographed baseballs, photos and game-used items from an extremely wide range of Cardinals players will be available at silent auctions over the course of the weekend.

2+ months to go until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Albert seems to be healing well from his offseason surgery and the 2008, and two time Most Valuable Player is hungry for another playoff berth. After sitting out in October the last two seasons, you can bet the Birds on the Bat, STL Cardinals will make a run this season. The offseason is going to be interesting, as the Birds look to shore up their 2009 roster. Get all the latest here at www.albertpujolsclub.com !

YES!! Albert Pujols, is just what we thought, once again MVP! 2008 MVP, Albert Pujols edges out Ryan Howard for the award! Congrats ALBERT!!!!

ST. LOUIS — The National League’s best player has also been named its most valuable.

Albert Pujols’ magnificent season earned him his second NL Most Valuable Player Award. Pujols’ 369 points bested the 308 points garnered by Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, who beat him out by a narrow margin to win the 2006 MVP.

Pujols has finished in the top 10 in the voting in every one of his eight Major League seasons, and has been fourth or better seven times. He is the 11th player to win two NL MVP Awards, and he’s one of three active players with a pair of MVPs. Additionally, Pujols became the third player, along with Sammy Sosa in 1998 and Rod Carew in 1977, to win the MVP and the Roberto Clemente Award in the same year.

“I have to thank my teammates,” Pujols said at a news conference at Busch Stadium on Monday afternoon. “Obviously this is not an award that you win by yourself. My teammates were involved every day, day in and day out, supporting me, getting on base and driving me in. These kinds of numbers, you can’t do it by yourself.”

One of those teammates, Ryan Ludwick, even garnered some MVP consideration himself. Ludwick finished 16th in the balloting with 17 points. He was named on seven ballots out of 32.

Pujols received 18 first-place votes, 10 seconds, two thirds, a fourth and a seventh. He was the only player named on every ballot. He is the first Dominican player to be named MVP twice.

“I couldn’t believe [that],” Pujols said. “There are so many great [Dominican] players. There was one that was in the vote: Manny Ramirez. He’s just a great player, great hitter. Being the first one, I was excited. Hopefully I won’t be the last. Hopefully there will be many more players, not just from the Dominican Republic, but from Latin America.”

As baseball waited to hear the results of the ballot, the discussion centered on the definition of “most valuable.” Some argued that because Pujols’ Cardinals did not make the postseason, he could not be the most valuable player in the league. It was the only possible case against Pujols, who was indisputably his league’s best hitter and who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base.

Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days.

“You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together,” the St. Louis star said Monday after powering past Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard to win the award for the second time.

Pujols won despite the Cardinals finishing in fourth place, the lowest spot for an NL MVP winner since Andre Dawson and Chicago Cubs wound up sixth in 1987. Howard led the majors in home runs and RBIs for the World Series champs.

The result surely will renew a debate that Pujols once raised himself: What qualifies as “most valuable”?

In 2006, a month after leading the Cardinals to the World Series crown, Pujols carped when Howard—whose Phillies missed the playoffs—captured the coveted award.

“I see it this way: Someone who doesn’t take his team to the playoffs doesn’t deserve to win the MVP,” Pujols said at that time.

Shortly thereafter, Pujols clarified his remarks and said Howard certainly was worthy of the award.

“I think the writers made the right choice in 2006,” Pujols reiterated Monday. “He did deserve it.”

Just as Pujols believed he earned it this year.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” he said.

Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow that required surgery. Howard hit 48 homers with 146 RBIs for the Phillies.

Voting was completed before the playoffs began.

“I’m happy I didn’t have to make that decision,” Pujols said on a conference call from his St. Louis home. “What you do for your team. The players who take their teams to the playoffs should have some consideration.”

Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee pitcher CC Sabathia, who both led postseason pushes after being traded by AL teams in July, also drew strong support.

Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and had 369 points. Howard drew 12 first-place votes and 308 points.

Pujols added to the MVP award he won in 2005, and was the only player listed on every ballot. The All-Star first baseman became the 25th multiple MVP winner in either league.

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, with Ramirez fourth at 138. Houston’s Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.

Brad Lidge, perfect on 41 save chances for the Phillies during the regular season, drew the other two first-place votes and came in eighth.

Pujols was remarkably consistent all year—a trait he’s demonstrated throughout his career. He is the only big leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in his first eight seasons in the majors, and has finished in the top 10 of the NL MVP voting each year.

Pujols led the league in slugging percentage and intentional walks. He drew 104 walks while striking out only 54 times, and was second in the NL with a .462 on-base percentage.

Almost single-handedly, when the Cardinals’ rotation was depleted by injuries, he kept St. Louis in contention while batting .398 in the month of August. The Cardinals finished 86-76, 11 1/2 games behind the Central champion Cubs.

In mid-October, Pujols had surgery for nerve irritation in his right elbow, an ailment that caused numbness, tingling in his ring finger and pinkie, a weak grip and pain inside his forearm. He hopes to resume weight training after Thanksgiving and is expected to be ready for spring training.

“I had some pain,” he said. “The worst part was the last two months.”

Pujols said there was still a slight chance he might need Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.

“I’m crossing my fingers,” he said.

Howard was hitting under .200 toward the end of May. His slow starts have cost him—this year, he was the first player since Cincinnati’s Hank Sauer in 1948 to be left off the All-Star team despite leading his league in homers and RBIs at the break.

Howard’s best month came in September, when he set a team record with 32 RBIs and helped the Phillies rally to the NL East title. He hit .251 overall.

Ramirez had 138 points. He hit .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs after the Dodgers got him from Boston on July 31, and led Los Angeles’ push to the NL West title.

Sabathia got 121 points. He was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after Milwaukee acquired him from Cleveland on July 6, and helped the Brewers win the wild-card spot.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who won the NL MVP last season, did not receive a single vote this year.

Pujols earned a $200,000 bonus for winning the award. Ramirez got $75,000 and Braun got $50,000.

The AL MVP will be announced Tuesday. A close vote is anticipated, with Minnesota’s Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau among the top contenders along with Boston’s Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.