Albert Pujols

explanation of rankings of other team previews here 2008 Record : 86-76 Offseason Additions : Khalil Greene, Trevor Miller Offseason Subtractions : Felipe Lopez, Aaron Miles, Braden Looper Ranks (MLB) : Line-Up - 9th Rotation - 19th Bullpen - 24st Defense - 3rd tier (out of 5) Baserunning - 4th tier (out of 5) KEY PLAYER : ALBERT PUJOLS Usually I reserve this spot for an unknown quantity, but in the Cardinals case, there is only one player that can go here. Since Barry Bonds “retired” there has been no player that has come even close to meaning as much to their team as ... Read Full Story

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols connects for a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in a baseball game, Saturday, April 11, 2009 in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam) ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to match a career high with seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday. It was Pujols’ 24th multihomer game and first since Aug. 16, 2008, against Cincinnati. He matched his career best for RBIs set Aug. 22, 2006, against the New York Mets. The All-Star first baseman went 2-for-4 ... Read Full Story

The St. Louis Cardinals played the field like Florida has all spring, while the Marlins finally played a game without booting a ball. Florida scored five unearned runs off six errors by St. Louis, Ricky Nolasco breezed through four innings and the Marlins beat the Cardinals 9-8 on Sunday. The Marlins had committed 20 errors coming into the game, but for once had the pleasure of watching the other team kick the ball around Roger Dean Stadium. Florida scored six runs in the fifth inning, helped by consecutive errors by Chris Duncan, Albert Pujols and Scott Schumaker, who had two errors as he continues ... Read Full Story

The question is.....Will Ryan Howard step up to the challenge? Who would be your ideal 8 participants? Howard? Hamilton? Post your answers in the comments section below. Associated Press April 16, 2009 Pujols to headline Home Run Derby in St. Louis St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols plans to participate in the Home Run Derby during All-Star week at the new Busch Stadium. The announcement was made Thursday in a statement released by Major League Baseball. Pujols will also join former Cardinals great Ozzie Smith as official spokesmen for the All-Star FanFest, to be held July 10-14 in downtown St. Louis. The Home Run ... Read Full Story

For the first time this season, the St. Louis Cardinals had their pitcher batting eighth Wednesday night. Manager Tony La Russa used that unusual strategy on an everyday basis the last 1 1/2 seasons to get more runners on base for third-place hitter Albert Pujols after the first time through the lineup. This season he said he might use the tactic more infrequently, depending on whether he has two leadoff-type players on his card to bat first and ninth. Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer was batting ahead of ninth-place hitter Brendan Ryan against the Pittsburgh Pirates' Zach Duke, but certainly not because of his .148 career ... Read Full Story