Pujols Stands Up for STL
Good evening from Busch Stadium. What a comeback. What a ballgame. The Cardinals take it, 5-3, from the Brewers to keep hope alive in their desperate quest for the Wild Card playoff spot.
The Cardinals’ four-run rally in the eighth to erase a 3-1 deficit was the story of the night. And the crucial win put them to 3.5 games behind the Brewers, which is a lot better place to be than 5.5 games with 28 contests remaining.
But almost as compelling was the drama on the field after Milwaukee reliever Carlos Villanueva got Joe Mather to pop up to hush a bases-loaded threat and end the seventh inning.
The Cardinals say Villanueva pumped his fists, flexed, and pointed into their dugout.
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was deeply offended and confronted Villanueva as the teams were leaving the field at the end of the 7th.
For those who missed any of the post-game sound on FSN Midwest, I’ll try to provide an unoffocial transcript of Pujols’ comments. I did some editing and left out some of the loose ends that weren’t important. I also wrote in some questions here in an attempt to give Pujols’ comments the proper context:
Q: What happened there with you and Villanueva?
Pujols: “When they start pointing into the dugout, and doing and saying all the things that he was saying, a guy that respects the game like myself, I don’t appreciate that. And I had to let him know. And I guess he did us a favor because he woke up a sleeping giant. We came back and responded with four runs in the eighth inning. They have a young ballclub. They’re pretty good. I respect the way they play the game. And when you see a guy disrespecting the game – obviously they pretty much beat us all year long. You don’t have to do a stupid thing like that to disrespect this game. I let him know I didn’t appreciate it. He was still yelling and talking crap and running away. I wanted him to stop and face me. I respect this game. And I didn’t appreciate the way he disrespected us. I didn’t care if he yelled, but when you start pointing into the dugout, that;s not professional right there.”
Q: Was this something that Pujols felt he had to do as the leader of the ballclub?
Pujols: ”If I see anybody on our ballclub doing stupid stuff like that, I’m going to pull them to the side, and I’m going to (get) into their face. You don’t do that on this level.”
Q: Does Pujols really believe that Villanueva ‘woke a sleeping giant?’
Pujols: “He did us a favor. We came back and we pulled it the through. And I’m glad he did that. So I congratulate him for doing that to us.”
Q: What did Pujols say to Villanueva?
Pujols: “I told him to shut up and go to the dugout, he doesn’t have to do that. That’s when he said something in Spanish that I don’t want to say to you guys. But that’s when I got fired up. I told him to stop and come and say that to my face, but he was running away. That’s allright. I’m going to see him later.”
Q: Did Villanueva curse Pujols?
Pujols: “Yeah, very much. But I didn’t care about the things he said to me. It was more that he disrespected my team by pointing into the dugout. He can curse me out and say whatever he wants. I don’t care. But when he disrespects my teammates I need to stand up for my teammates. I don’t appreciate that.”
Note from Bernie: I was wondering about Pujols’ tendency to stare at his home runs at times … which has drawn criticism from some media and fans. Isn’t that showing up the pitcher? Isn’t that disrespectful? Seems that Albert goes too far at times. But before anyone could ask that, specifically, Pujols addressed the difference — at least as he sees it:
Pujols: ”I don’t care, I don’t care about (Villanueva) getting excited. It’s the same as hitting a ball out of the ballpark and showing off to the pitcher. But when you start pointing and doing a bunch of crap and doing it to the other dugout … I don’t care if he would have pointed to their dugout and gotten fired up. It’s a big series. It was a big out he got with the bases loaded. He could have done whatever he wanted by pointing to their dugout and getting fired up. But he pointed to the wrong way, to our dugout. I didn’t like that. I had to stand up for my teammates.”
Pujols’ gesture wasn’t overlooked by teammates.
Catcher Yadier Molina heard what Villanueva said to Pujols, and began to bark at the Brewers pitcher.
And Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus said: “Albert is the leader of this team and he stood up for his teammates. It was nice to see.”
OK, a few comments from this here scribe on the episode:
* While Pujols’ actions were admirable — very much so — I think it’s a real stretch to believe the 8th inning rally was a direct result of what happened at the end of the 7th when Villanueva made a fool of himself. I think the Cardinals were pretty desperate at that point; they just had to win that game. While Glaus conceded that “a little (motivational) fire doesn’t hurt,” he politely contested the notion that Villanueva caused the Cardinals to raise their agression and their game.
“Lookit, we’re going to play hard no matter what,” Glaus said. “We’re not going to put out any more effort just because something like that happened. That’s not who we are or how we go about playing the game.”I know that goes against an attractive storyline, but I think Glaus is right …* No, the 8th inning comeback wasn’t ignited by Villanueva. It was ignited by Pujols, who had a great AB against tough RH Milwaukee reliever David Riske, drilling one to right-center for an opposite field double. Pujols’ leadership in confronting Villanueva wouldn’t have meant much unless Pujols, the great hitter, stood up to stroke that double to get something positive underway in the 8th. Ryan Ludwick - who absolutely should be the full-time cleanup hitter — followed with his own double to make it 3-2. Glaus singled in Luddy to tie it at 3-3. And Glaus made a heads-up baserunning move, taking second base on CF Mike Cameron’s throw home. Then Molina chipped in with an unselfish and smart AB, pushing the ball to the right side for a 4-3 ground out that moved Glaus to third. Next, manager Tony La Russa won the manager’s duel against Milwaukee’s Ned Yost. With LH hitting Skip Schumaker up, Yost brought in lefty reliever Brian Shouse. Skip doesn’t hit lefties well, so La Russa countered with someone who does: infielder Aaron Miles, a .311 hitter against LHP. And Miles was 2 for 4 against Shouse. Miles didn’t have a great AB, but he chopped a ground ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who hurried his throw home to nab Glaus. The throw short-hopped catcher Jason Kendall, and Glaus scored for a 4-3 STL lead. Bottom line: Miles got it done. And after a nifty SAC bunt by pinch-hitter Braden Looper, Felipe Lopez singled to in Miles to make it 5-3. The Cardinals played intelligent, opportunistic, sharply executed baseball in that home half of the 8th. La Russa used his personnel the right way. A pitcher, Looper, came off the bench to execute a SAC bunt. Glaus ran the bases perfectly. The thumpers (Pujols and Ludwick) got the ball flying. Miles put the ball in play. Lopez did what he had to do. Molina gave himself up to move Glaus over. I’m probably forgetting something; just about everyone who stepped on the field for the Cardinals in the 8th put in their piece.
Did the chucklehead Villanueva incite the Cardinals? Maybe.
But I’d like to think that Pujols got ‘em going, and the Cardinals kicked in and played an excellent inning of baseball.
* One more thing: I don’t understand the Brewers. I just don’t. Really, I admire that team and its talent. Doug Melvin is one of the best guys in the game and an excellent GM. There are so many good players on that roster. But why do the Brewers always have to pull stunts? Why do they have to go knucklehead on us so often? What’s up with yanking their shirts out of their pants on the field as soon as they win a game, which, despite what they claim, really is an insult to the other team? What’s up with some of the showboat HR trots? What’s up with a journeyman like Villanueva gesturing wildly and cursing in the direction of the STL dugout? I don’t understand why this talented team feels that it needs to act up like NBA bad boy Ron Artest, or something. I don’t understand why this Milwaukee team feels the need to be controversial. I don’t understand the arrogance, considering that the Brewers have won NOTHING since 1982. And I don’t understand how Yost continues to allow it to happen. The Brewers will probably make the playoffs. They are that good. But we must ask: can you fellas at least hold off on the showboating until you actually win something?
Oh, and one more thing before I go.
Two words: Chris Perez.
Thanks for reading, and sorry I broke my vow to write shorter blogs… but I guessed you might want to see all of Pujols’ comnents.
-B
Wow, here’s a concept. I’m a Cards fan, let’s rip on Milwaukee for being a small market team and then say they are Bush League and they’re acting arrogant and cocky but then give no reputable reasons why we think they’re cocky.
They always pull out their shirts after games! We already know that they do that in honor of Mike Cameron’s father.
They’re cocky and Ryan Braun watched a homerun go over one time! And Pujols does it every single time.
They get excited and high five each other after someone has a big hit or a late inning homerun! Don’t you want to be on a team that gets excited about that instead of one that sits there like they don’t care?
drelboc, I’ve stated this about three or four times but I guess I have to state it again. If you knew next season the Cards would win 60 games and the season after that they would win 65 and the season after that they would win 65 and then a season after that they would finally be over .500 and have a shot at the playoffs, which season would you attend more games? Don’t lie and say an equal amount over that span because you wouldn’t.
Were in one of the smallest markets and we know we won’t be competitive on a regular basis so some years there is less excitement than others. If baseball did the right thing and got a salary cap then I guarantee you what you see from Brewer fans this season would continue like it does for the Packers. But if you as Cards fans knew you wouldn’t make the playoffs for years I guarantee you the empty seats would become more abundant. That isn’t being a fair weather fan, it’s just how everyone is made.
In STL you have fanatic awesome Card fans, in Milwaukee we have the same. In STL you have fair weather fans, in Milwaukee we have the same. Were all pretty similar coming from the midwest, we just cheer for different teams. If Milwaukee and STL switched places there wouldn’t be much of a difference. Now if either of us switched with LA then your talking about fair weather, fake, bandwagon fans.
Hmm, just came across this on youtube. I suggest all the cards fans check out times at 2:00 (It will look eerily familiar to when all you whiners were complaining about Braun hitting the home run last series to win it in the ninth), 2:41, 3:17, 2:26, 1:31 and 1:11. Then if you could explain to me what the difference is from what the cards do compared to the Brewers when they are winning, because the only difference I see is the team that is winning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXK6KDFLxP8
Bernie, why don’t you take a look to? I will be looking forward to your next blog detailing what exactly the Brewers are doing above and beyond what the cards have done for years and years. Again, let another team have the spotlight and save what little respect I have left for cards fans, who I always thought were respectable. I guess a lot of cubs fans must have converted over the 100 years.
I love how Pujols basically contradicts himself in the first answer, in back to back sentences…
“I wanted him to stop and face me. I respect this game.”
I don’t see how fighting someone on the field shows any signs of respecting the game.
I’m a brewer fan from Milwaukee and I got a kick reading about all the stuff you’re whining about down there in St. Louis. Villanueva is a young guy that hopefully learned his lesson after this, but come on guys, get over it already, its not like he threw a pitch at Pujols and hit him in the ribs right after returning from a rib injury. And then Molina talking crap to him after his last at bat… it seems like everyone in St. Louis only watched 1 inning.
Get over it, Good luck in the race, and we’ll see ya next year.
It really does no good for me to argue anymore.
You can’t reason someone out of a position they didn’t reason themselves into.
I’ll just give my predictions on how I think the season will end and good luck to everybody the rest of the way, except the Cubs.
Chicago Wins Division: 101-61
Brewers Win Wild Card: 96-66
Cardinals Third Best
In National League: 90-72
44TAF,
Are you sure you didn’t read my post(s) with blinders on? I never said that “Card fans should be able to rip on Brewer fans for things other than baseball because that was a direct insult to you?” Cards fans should be able to rip CV for insulting our team and our fanbase. However, you Brewer fans puffed up like a giant golfish at us Cards fans when we started ripping him and insulting us because we were voicing our OPINIONS and THOUGHTS about CV and your team. But since the Brewer fans’ got carried away and literally tried to demoralize the memories of Jack Buck, Josh Hancock and Darryl Kile that that is where we should be able to draw the line. But I guess that’s too much for you bunch of clowns to understand. For whomever wrote those retarded comments deserves to be ripped by us Cards fans.
Us Cards fans take our baseball seriously which is why we have 10 WS titles to boast and brag about. Not as many as the Yankees, no. But we have the most of any NL team. You Brewer fans haven’t won squat since 1982 but yet when you have a winning season, you clowns act like you’ve won more than anyone else. You Brewer fans need to come back to Earth and get real.
You also wrote:”Should I take it that serious that last year and in the game last night, your manager started to play bean ball again or that Pujols struts as much as any player in baseball?” Why don’t you at least try to prove to us Cards fans that TLR ORDERED the beaning? The real truth is you can’t. And Sir Albert has every right to strut after hitting a HR. He’s an elite player and rightfully deserves the luxury of admiring his Hr’s. PLEASE answer me this. Do you see any other Cardinal player strut after hitting a HR just like Albert does? I don’t. And I don’t think you do either. That’s the difference between Sir Albert and Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun (Fielder and Braun are NOT elite players). Nuff said.
Go Cards!
Louie Bird 17
Copied from THs blog
So, the St. Louis Cardinals are taking offense to all sorts of the things the Brewers are doing that they consider a breach of etiquette.
Yes, reliever Carlos Villanueva got too excited and demonstrative after getting out of a bases-loaded jam Wednesday night. And Albert Pujols took offense to it, in essence challenging Villanueva to a fight on the field.
Pujols might have been right about that incident. Brewers manager Ned Yost said Villanueva let his emotions get away from him, which happens at times with young players. But Pujols doesn’t mind posing and watching his majestic home runs when he crushes one against a pitcher, which isn’t exactly a sign of respect.
And supposedly the Cards took offense to the Brewers’ players pulling out their jerseys after winning the game Tuesday night. They insisted that’s a way of trying to show up the opponent.
The Brewers have been pulling their jerseys out after victories all season, in essence out of respect and solidarity with centerfielder Mike Cameron. Cameron started doing it a long time ago as a tribute to his working class father, who would come home after a long day at work and untuck his shirt and sit down and relax.
Early in the year, it was just the outfielders who did that with Cameron after victories. Then the infielders wanted in on the act. This is really a close, hard-playing, fun-loving bunch and it is more a bit of camaraderie than anything. God forbid big leaguers be allowed to have any fun.
Here’s what the Cards really hate about the Brewers: The fact that the Brewers now beat them more often than not. St. Louis was accustomed to having its way with Milwaukee over the years but the Brewers went 10-5 this year against the Cards and they didn’t like that much. They liked the Brewers a lot more when they kicked their butts.
Ryan Braun wore out St. Louis pitching all year, batting .459 with seven homers and 13 RBI. So, in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Cards right-hander Adam Wainwright buried a fastball in Braun’s ribs. That’ll show him to beat up our pitching.
Wainwright had pinpoint control all night, not walking a batter in six innings. I guess that particular pitch, with that particular batter, just got away from him. But Braun didn’t say boo. He just took his base.
The Cards like to take the first shot in beanball wars because if the other team retaliates, they lose their pitcher. The first shot is always the free one.
So, Pujols says last night’s antics won’t be forgotten. The teams don’t play again this season, so we’ll see how long memories are next year.
What the Brewers really did wrong Wednesday night was not untucking shirts or being demonstrative on the mound. What they did wrong was let the chance slip away to throw dirt on the Cardinals. Had they not rallied for four runs in the eighth to win, 5-3, the Cards would be 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the wild card race, not 3 1/2 games.
That’s what the Brewers really did wrong. Still, they went 10-5 against St. Louis this year. That’s what really upset the Cardinals, who are used to ruling the roost.
Can’t imagine why you would want to come to a site for the Cardinals faithful and even try, 44TAF. I wouldn’t punish myself by going to a Brewers site, so I have trouble understanding your need to come here. To be completely honest, I liked the Brewers until this year. If the Cards couldn’t go to the postseason, I was rooting for Milwaukee to go. Figured they deserved it after all the years of losing. I would have much preferred that over the Cubs. But, now I don’t think I can root for Milwaukee either. There’s a right way to go about things, otherwise you’re testing the baseball gods. And that right way is to keep your heads down, play the game hard, and keep some humility, realizing that there is a long way to go in the season and anything can happen, even when you’ve gone out and given the earth to rent a player like C.C. Sabathia. So sorry, but now I’m wanting the Phillies to win the wild card if the Cards don’t. At least they know how to keep it real.
Idomino - you, like this ‘journalist’ and the rest of the carDUInal faithful commenting here, are complete hypocrites. When Puljos showboats what do you have to say about that? How about the classless move of drilling a guy in his injured ribs? Instead of Villanueva retaliting by drilling a carDUInal he just got them out. Big deal that he was pumped about it. You talk about class and humility but yet I dont see alot of that being demonstrated by the carDUInals or their fans. Prior to yesterday I respected the St. Louis franchise and their fans - but you have all clearly demonstrated that the carDUInals and their fans are nothing but a bunch of crybabies like the cubs and their fans.
GoBrewers and 44TAF
Since you have decided to come into the Red Bird neighborhood, you are most welcome, but please do not get so upset at the Red Bird family as we do our daily family chat chirp amongst one another. It’s one thing for family to chew out family, but when a stranger comes along and chews us out it can only lead to a Red Bird uprising. It’s kind of like an invader in a bee hive.
With that said, I do appreciate your ferver for your team. Us Cards fans can appreciate that. Go in peace, have a hot dog and a Millier Hi-Life on the way home and enjoy your Brew crew. By the way, Pennants and Championships are hard to come by. But then I am not telling you nothing you don’t already know.
As a Brewers fan, I have to say that I am getting sick of the home run watching that I have seen by Braun, Fielder, and Hall. Especially Hall since he sucks, but I digress. Going into this series I knew that Braun was going to get drilled, and I had no problem with it. Its the way baseball works. I didn’t see the incident with Carlos as I went to bed early, but if what is said is true, he was out of line. As for the shirt untucking, its meant to honor Mike Cameron’s father, but we probably should wait til the dugout for clubhouse to do it. The Cardinals are a good team, even if it is a rebuilding year for them. I’m just excited that the Brewers are good this year. I’ve been a fan since I was born in 1980, and I’ve gone to as many games as I can since then. I actually liked it better when the Brewers sucked because it was easier to get seats and getting in and out of the parking lots were a hell of a lot easier lol. But it is what it is, and I’m just enjoying the ride while it lasts. We won’t be good forever, so we just gotta enjoy it while we can. Sorry for such a long post on a Cardinals blog. Good luck the rest of the season and we’ll see what happens. Just please beat the crap out of the Cubs, I can’t stand them.