If The Astros were playoff contenders every year and Calos Lee was our DH I don't think fans would hate Carlos as much as we do.
That's the issue right there. He is overpaid, but I don't blame him or hate him because of it. It's a bad deal that he's getting so much money. But he isn't a horrible player or a bad guy. He's just getting paid too much for what he does.
I don't think anyone is hating on the guy for that reason. Most people here "hate" him because of what he's done to the Astros over his career. By all accounts, the guy is total class off the field. Visiting sick children at hospitals after games (even on the road) while insisting that the media stays away. That kind of thing is the norm for him from what I understand. Hard to "hate" a guy like that, even if you're an Astros fan.
That's just it, I don't think he's played too badly for the Astros. He had a bad month last season, but he was doing pretty well. He wasn't doing as well as he was paid to do, but it isn't like he's been a horrible player, just overpaid. I don't blame him for being overpaid. I blame the management, and of course would rather we didn't have such a huge salary on our payroll, but I don't hate Lee for that reason.
As a fan who pays attention to the economics of their team, being trapped in a contract as a players skills are steadily diminishing leads to resentment.
Pujols is a fraud. Not age 31/32, he is probably 36. He bounced from St Louis after he got spoon fed by David Eckstein and Freese for WS rings, and now he left them for LA. He is Mr. Fake Nice Guy
I don't hate Carlos Lee. I do call him "El Fat Ass," but I like Carlos Lee the person, and even as a player now that he is at 1st. Carlos Lee had a bad 2010, started 2011 terrible, played on a terrible team, and could have just mailed it in. Instead, he really picked up the production, started playing a new position, and never complained. I respect that. From May 1st forward he posted: .294/.364/.474 16HR 34 2B and 79RBI The power was down slightly from his prime, but his OBP was up. It wasn't long ago there were people complaining about how overpaid Bagwell was due to his backloaded deal. People were actually happy he couldn't play anymore because that allowed insurance to cover the final year of his deal. And he is arguably the greatest Astros player of all-time.
Freaking A (ngels) Astros are moving into the Angels division away from the Cards. And Pujols is still following along to terrorize them? *edit* Yes, this
From Twitter: darrenrovell darren rovell Pujols will make $4,762 per pitch based on 750 plate appearances & 7 pitches per at-bat
Apparently it was an underwhelming offer. Not underwhelming to you or to me or to the normal fan but to him and his agent because they knew what his value was and well, he got offers this off-season that attest to his value. The Cardinals later upped the years on the offer but it might have been to their advantage to do that BEFORE the season not after they got wind of the Marlins offer.
its really a win-win for everyone in the nl central. either the cards basically pay him, and take up most of their payroll, hamstringing them, or he walks. the worst scenario would have been the cubs getting him. then again, i'm not an astros fan, and with him in the AL west, not looking good for the astros.
So Eckstein led the Cards on the march into the playoffs and Pujols was nothing but a bit part player? Yeah ok. The age thing is hilarious. Some folks need to get a grip. If it makes one feel better to assume he's older than he is then so be it. Now as to the Mr Fake Nice Guy part, UTTER RUBBISH. Have you ever met or held a convo with Albert? I can tell you on my end, he is one of the nicest athletes out there and most in STL will attest to that. Talk to the special needs kids around the Missouri area that he hosts during the season. Talk to the media and fans in St. Louis about if he's as big a douche as certain baseball players that I know are douches and currently wear pin-stripes and have similar contracts.
Actually 9 years $200 million was very close to his value. That is a better per year than what the Marlins offered him, and isn't that far off of what he ultimately signed for. The problem is before the season they were talking 10 years, $300 million. They overestimated his value, and in the end it was really all about the money. The Cards made the right decision not offering the world for him.
[rQUOTEr]Albert Pujols was on the receiving end of one of the most lucrative contracts in professional sports history when he agreed with the Los Angeles Angels on a 10-year deal for about $250 million earlier this month. But he also made some accommodations to help his new club land another prize catch this winter. Pujols agreed to a backloaded deal -- taking significantly less money in the first two years -- to aid the Angels in their pursuit of free agent pitcher C.J. Wilson, baseball sources told ESPN.com. Pujols will make a base salary of $12 million in 2012 and $16 million in 2013, said a source. His salary will gradually increase until it surpasses $30 million annually near the end of the deal. By agreeing to take less money up front, Pujols helped the Angels sign Wilson, who reached agreement on a five-year, $77.5 million deal three weeks ago. Wilson, who went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award balloting, will combine with Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana to give Los Angeles one of baseball's most formidable starting rotations. Sources said Pujols' deal could peak at about $265 million if he attains some reachable award bonuses and milestone incentives. A source confirmed a recent Yahoo! Sports report that Pujols will receive $3 million from the Angels for his 3,000th hit and $7 million if he breaks Barry Bonds' career record of 762 home runs. Pujols, a nine-time All-Star and three-time MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals, will enter this season with 2,073 career hits and 445 home runs. The language in Pujols' contract has taken longer than usual to finalize, according to a source, because the deal includes a personal services contract with the Angels once his playing days are done.[/rQUOTEr]
