Wishing Pujols well

The letters in last Sunday's Post-Dispatch reflect a lack of understanding of both sports and the business of sports in the 21st century. Sports are about competition. The business of sports is about money.

Albert Pujols is a competitor at the highest level and obviously loves to play baseball. His performance speaks for itself. No one can legitimately complain about how much money ballplayers are paid. The owners collectively set the salaries. No one points a gun at their heads.

The fact that Albert was grossly underpaid based on his performance over the past decade seems to be completely ignored. How many fans can say with a straight face that they would walk away from $50 million? How many would walk away from an offer of $10 per hour higher wages?

The Cardinals were not willing to get close to the Angels' offer, which is understandable given that they don't have $150 million a year in television revenue. Let's celebrate that we got to watch the best player in baseball do amazing things time and again over the past decade and wish him well. I will miss him.

By the way, we still have a pretty good team.

Kurt Hoener • Ballwin

 

Albert's mixed messages

Now that we have reached the he-said she-said stage of this failed relationship, I have no doubt that Albert is sincere and has convinced himself he was not given the respect he deserved from the Cardinals.

However, many times over the last two years I have heard Albert or his agent say they were determined to test free agency, this was strictly business and there was not going to be a home team discount. Now, suddenly all he was looking for was unconditional love. If only we had known!

George Bergen • Kirkwood

 

Cardinal Nation a family

First of all, I would like to thank Albert Pujols for his contributions to the Cardinals' success during his time here. But he must have been so focused on his game during his time here, he never fully realized what Cardinal Nation is all about.

Did Red Schoendienst need a personal services contract to assure him that the Redbirds would keep him around? What about Hub Kittle? Do we pay Gibby, Brock, Ozzie every time they come back?

What about all of the former Redbirds in the local media? And of course, Stan the Man. Cardinal Nation is a family, and will continue to be so.

Rick Meyer • Perryville

 

Cardinals will be fine

In a few years, as Pujols' skills continue to erode, Cardinals fans will look back on the loss of Albert with the same fondness as they look back at the team's failed pursuits of Mike Hampton, Jason Schmidt and Brian Fuentes. Great job by DeWitt and "Mo" of keeping the long-term interests of the franchise in focus. I am confident Cardinal baseball will survive (and thrive) without Albert.

Jim Bledsoe • Union

 

A Pujols curse?

We can only pray that Albert Pujols didn't put a curse on the Cardinals as he left town. Maybe Boston and Chicago can cope with a century of losing baseball, but I don't think Cardinals fans can.

Bob Sontag • St. Louis