Cardinals showing there is life after Albert

**nWo** · Apr 10, 12, 03:16 AM

CINCINNATI -- The snarky and short-sighted among us will say, "Albert who?" Because that's just how good these St. Louis Cardinals have looked without Albert Pujols early on.
Obviously, though, it won't always be this way. There will almost assuredly be a night when the Cards will be shut down by some soft-tossing lefty and Pujols, a world away on the West Coast, will hit a titanic blast that harkens back to his St. Louis heyday.
Hey, it's bound to happen over the course of 162 games. And over the course of 162 times 10, it will probably happen quite a few times.

Anthony Castrovince: Cardinals showing there is life after Albert Pujols | cardinals.com: News

**Bluto** · Apr 10, 12, 10:25 AM

Waaayyyyy too early for pronouncements like this.

(But this was funny! "I really hope they're peaking now," Brewers starter Randy Wolf said over the weekend, "because they look really good.")

**LRCW** · Apr 10, 12, 10:36 AM

I can remember early last year when LaRussa went off on reporters when the Cardinals couldn't get a hit to save their life's. It's a season of peaks and valleys. You just have to hope the peaks are longer and more often than the valleys.

**westsider** · Apr 10, 12, 10:59 AM

Really, is anyone surprised? Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols, and the Cardinals' lineup is as good or better than it was for most of last season.

**sweet16** · Apr 10, 12, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by westsider

Really, is anyone surprised? Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols, and the Cardinals' lineup is as good or better than it was for most of last season.

If Freese stays healthy for the whole year he will add to that.

**UKMustangFan** · Apr 10, 12, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by westsider

Really, is anyone surprised? Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols, and the Cardinals' lineup is as good or better than it was for most of last season.

Surely you aren't suggesting that Beltran is on the same level as Pujols?

**HammerTime** · Apr 10, 12, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by sweet16

If Freese stays healthy for the whole year he will add to that.

I would be more worried about Berkman and Beltran staying healthy.

**sweet16** · Apr 10, 12, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by HammerTime

I would be more worried about Berkman and Beltran staying healthy.

Yes on both of them. Freese has not played a full season because of injuries.

Berkman and Beltran were healthy last year but have injuries in their past.

**westsider** · Apr 10, 12, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

Surely you aren't suggesting that Beltran is on the same level as Pujols?

I didn't say that at all ...

**UKMustangFan** · Apr 10, 12, 05:36 PM

"More than a capable replacement" suggests you think he's more than capable of replacing what they lose with Pujols. Beltran is a good player, but he's not even close to capable of holding Pujols' jock on Beltran's best day.

**westsider** · Apr 11, 12, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

"More than a capable replacement" suggests you think he's more than capable of replacing what they lose with Pujols. Beltran is a good player, but he's not even close to capable of holding Pujols' jock on Beltran's best day.

If you want to put words in my mouth, go right ahead ... Beltran is a fine player when healthy, and a heck of a lot cheaper. And the Cardinals are certainly better in at least one spot (Furcal over Theriot) than they were at this time a year ago.

That is all I said.

**Capernicus41** · Apr 11, 12, 08:17 AM

If these guys (Beltran, Berkman, Furcal) can stay healthy then the production should be plenty. They are proven MLB players who know how to hit. Like I said the big IF is IF they can stay healthy. Add in a healthy year from Freese and Holliday, get Craig back and hope Molina continues to improve his hitting and I don't think you'll see much of a drop off from last year. Now a few years from now it may be a different story w/out having the stability Albert has in the middle of the order.

What is going to be huge is if they get Carp back in late May or June. It's like making a huge trade without giving up anyone. Something just doesn't feel right with that whole situation though. Hope I'm wrong, but I am preparing for the worst.

**UKMustangFan** · Apr 11, 12, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by westsider

If you want to put words in my mouth, go right ahead ... Beltran is a fine player when healthy, and a heck of a lot cheaper. And the Cardinals are certainly better in at least one spot (Furcal over Theriot) than they were at this time a year ago.

That is all I said.

I'm not putting words in your mouth.

You said and I quote..."Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols". That is 100% wrong. He's no where close to Pujols and everyone knows it.

**woodsrider** · Apr 11, 12, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

I'm not putting words in your mouth.

You said and I quote..."Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols". That is 100% wrong. He's no where close to Pujols and everyone knows it.

I took it that the Cards were able to plug some of the hole left from Pujols exit. Not that every hit, RBI, HR, ect would be replaced. Beltran is a good player and puts up impressive numbers when healthy. No one is a equal replacement for Pujols but I think the Cards did as well as could be expected with Beltran.

**westsider** · Apr 11, 12, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

I'm not putting words in your mouth.

You said and I quote..."Carlos Beltran is a more than capable replacement for Pujols". That is 100% wrong. He's no where close to Pujols and everyone knows it.

Nowhere close? Beltran had a .910 OPS last year, while Pujols was at .906 ... I'm not maintaining that Beltran is a better hitter than Pujols, but if Beltran is healthy, the gap isn't as significant as some might think.