Is Pujols Really Done In St. Louis...???

The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement has passed with no announcement from either side on any kind of success or lack thereof.

The Cardinals scheduled a news conference for 12:30 p.m. at their spring training complex in Florida.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons - all coming with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

The 31-year-old ((as best we know)) will now be the topic of any and all free agent discussions between now and November. The Cardinals could trade him for prospects and ready starters by the trade deadline...

Let the speculation begin in earnest...

There is no doubt in his abilities, as he's compared to Hank Aaron in OPS through his earlier 30's. But the issue may be the years and not necessarily the dollars. The Cards, according to Sports Illustrated, were looking at 8 years and US$25-million per, but the Pujols camp is looking for 10 years at $30-million each.

And no one really wants to pay a 40-year-old $30-million...

The question posed by our friends at KSDK-TV in town...
Is Pujols worth the money...???

BREAKING NEWS: McGwire Admits Steroid Use

CBS Sports is reporting Mark McGwire has admitted he used steroids off and on for nearly a decade, including when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998.

The HQ is of the opinion that McGwire saw his hall of fame voting numbers dwindling and is doing this as a bit of damage control...

McGwire says in a statement: "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch continues:

"I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again," McGwire said in his statement. "I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season."

Until his statement and interview, this was McGwire's only association with the whole steroid saga...
((HT: C-SPAN))


McGwire says he, now, just wants to help his team- eventhough he, apparently, screwed up Matt Holliday's swing... but will this help his Hall Of Fame quest...???

Read McGwire's Statement here...
The Cardinals response is here...

Here's Big Mac with Bob Costas on the MLB Network...
((HT: MLB Network/ESPN))


The only issue with this that the HQ has is that McGwire says he's sorry that he "has to" apologize. "Have to" is far different than "want to..."

Cardinals "Very Serious" About Smoltz

((HT: St Louis Post-Dispatch/Strauss))

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the agent for free agent pitcher John Smoltz ((pictured, thanks Boston Globe file)) on Monday to convey what one official described as "very serious" interest in the 42-year-old righthander.

The Boston Red Sox released Smoltz, making the likely future Hall of Famer available to any club willing to play him a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum $410,000 salary. The Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Florida Marlins are thought to be the leading contenders, with the Cardinals eyeing Smoltz as a possible answer for a nagging eighth-inning question.

"I can confirm that a call was made today," Mozeliak said. "We're looking at a number of options for our bullpen right now. It's fair to say he is someone we have legitimate interest in."

Widespread support exists within the Cardinals' clubhouse for bringing Smoltz on board. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright and third baseman Mark DeRosa previously played in the same organization while with the Atlanta Braves. Wainwright, traded over Smoltz's dissent to the Cardinals in December 2003, considers Smoltz something of a mentor.

Manager Tony La Russa acknowledged the club's interest before Monday's series opener against the Dodgers and said he would be open to contacting Smoltz or his agent, Lonnie Cooper, should Mozeliak think it beneficial.

"I know he's one of the guys we've been looking into. When he's healthy, he's a weapon," La Russa commented, adding, "I'll do whatever I'm asked to do. I think it's enough to say we have interest. We have since the day he was designated."

Flashback to Smoltz's last days in Boston, where he talks about what he isn't...
Thanks to our friends at NECN...