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| FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2011, file photo, former St. Louis Cardinals player Albert Pujols waves to fans at Busch Stadium during a parade in celebration of the Cardinals' 11th World Series victory in St. Louis. Pujols’ exit had no effect on the Cardinals, who have not missed the three-time NL MVP. |
ST. LOUIS
(AP) -- Tony La Russa was always protective of his players, so it comes
as no surprise that the former St. Louis Cardinals manager swims against
the current when it comes to Albert Pujols.
It's
been two years since the three-time NL MVP played his last game in St.
Louis, sprayed some champagne, boarded a parade vehicle, waved to
adoring fans lining the streets and then left town.
The
Cardinals have done plenty of celebrating without Pujols. It's probably
the biggest reason his potent bat and larger-than-life presence have
been largely forgotten in St. Louis.
But La
Russa, who retired after the 2011 championship season and lives in
California, said Pujols' accomplishments always come up whenever he's in
town.
"He's talked about in heroic terms,
he's honored," La Russa said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"They don't have Albert, they don't have Big Mac, either, but that
doesn't mean they don't recognize what they've done and meant to the
city."
Pujols put up 11 Hall of Fame-worthy
seasons to start his career, becoming part of a veteran core that
included Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and Chris Carpenter and made St. Louis
a perennial contender. He quickly blossomed into one of the majors'
most dangerous hitters, clearing a .300 batting average, 30 homers and
100 RBIs in each of the first 10 seasons, and just missing that standard
in his final season.
La Russa forecasts a big
comeback next season for Pujols, whose two post-St. Louis seasons with
the Angels have been the low points of his career. He was shut down this
season in mid-August with a partially torn plantar fascia on the bottom
of his left foot, an injury that had dogged him with the Cardinals.
"He's still as perfect as he's ever been," La Russa said.
There
are two Stan Musial statues outside Busch Stadium in tribute to the
greatest player in franchise history and a Hall of Famer who was one of
the best of all time.
Pujols used to be the modern-day Stan Musial.
Now, he's old news.
Catcher
Yadier Molina's mentor was and remains Pujols, and he said Friday his
close friend was "enjoying the vacation." He's hopeful Pujols will be
back to full strength for next season.
But then he's ready move on to present tense.
"Why
are you talking to me about that?" Molina said. "He's doing good, he's
happy for us, he's a great teammate, he's a great person."
Pujols
personified the Cardinals from a national standpoint and his absence
was duly noted last fall when they went to the NL championship series.
This year, his name has rarely come up.
On the field or in the sports bars.
The
Cardinals are in the Series again because they have a well-rounded
team, one perhaps they couldn't have constructed if Pujols and his $20
million-plus salary was still around.
"The
first few months, they didn't want to lose him," La Russa said. "Now
they understand, everyone understands. It's just the business and the
Cardinals have proven to be very sharp."
The
33-year-old Pujols is due $212 million over the next eight years from
the Angels, and the Cardinals have payroll flexibility. Carlos Beltran
is around because Pujols is gone, and he has superior numbers the last
two seasons.
Molina, Adam Wainwright and Allen Craig have multiyear extensions, decisions that were easier to make.
The
Albert Pujols Foundation headquarters is still in St. Louis. So is his
charity golf tournament, now helmed by former teammate Matt Holliday.
Pujols
is a respected clubhouse presence in Anaheim, but his value on the
field has plummeted. The Angels have next to nothing to show from the
additions of Pujols and Josh Hamilton and are coming off their worst
season in a decade.
The Cardinals led the
National League with 97 wins and Craig, the new first baseman, had
Pujols-like production in the clutch, leading the majors with a .454
average with runners in scoring position.
"From
an organization standpoint we're in a good spot," general manager John
Mozeliak said. "I think a lot of people are asking the what-ifs and
there are no what-ifs for us at this point.
"It didn't work out and it was just deploying resources and trying to put a good team out there."
From
thousands of miles away, Pujols helped. The compensatory first-round
pick the Cardinals got from the Angels last year is rookie sensation
Michael Wacha, who is 4-0 with a microscopic 1.00 ERA in the postseason
after beating the Red Sox to even the Series at a game apiece.
"We've been fortunate," Mozeliak said. "A lot of young players have come up and produced and we're grateful for that."
