Around the horn
Buster on Albert
Buster Olney comments on Albert’s future with the media:
I’m curious to see how Pujols’s relationship with the media evolves over the next few years, because there were a lot of problems early in the postseason last fall: he mostly refused to give interviews, and complained out loud about the hordes of reporters gathered in the clubhouse. Near the end of the Houston series, however — after the controversial Game 5, in particular– he spoke with reporters and he was terrific, in his patience and his insight. Pujols is an extraordinary player who has built an incredible resume in the early part of his career, and he will have reporters asking him for time for the rest of his life. What you hope is that he ascertains, sooner rather than later, that it’s easier to compartmentalize media requests and do some every day — 10 to 15 minutes, on most days — rather than spending 24 hours of every day resenting the intrusion and doing almost no interviews. This is what seems to have happened with Barry Bonds.
Olney may have a point, but by citing a single isolated incident — that itself requires some contextualization (it’s the playoffs, man) — he seems to be making a mountain out of a molehill. Albert, though his feats weren’t nationally recognized as quickly as they should’ve been, is hardly a greenhorn when it comes to dealing with media pressure. With five stellar seasons and four playoff appearances (including a World Series), Albert has had, for lack of a better way to put it, a big-enough sample of media interaction to project from. After the out-of-this-world statistics, the comparison with Barry Bonds ends. Barry started out as a surly person, and combined with a contraversial career (not the least of which is his use of steroids), has continued in the manner of what one might’ve figured his media-personality tragectory to be. Albert has shown himself to be truly team-oriented and well-grounded, infusing his remarks with modesty and humility that we have every reason to believe are sincere (Tony LaRussa certainly thinks so). The Bonds name-drop was a cheap shot, Buster.
Albert on Albert
If you haven’t already, click over to the P-D’s coverage of Albert at the Writers’ Dinner, and then pinch yourself. He’s still too good to be true, only the story really is true. Enjoy him, Cardinal fans.
Speaking of the Real Deal
Fan Graphs has a sweet analysis of Albert’s PitchZone, a display of a batter’s coverage of the strike zone. It finds that:
The only area that it looks like he’s not able to cover is down and inside (the pink area in the bottom right corner of the strike zone). Throw the ball right over the center of the plate and there’s a near 50% chance Pujols is going to get a hit.
Most players don’t stand that high a chance of getting a hit in batting practice.
Bloggers for Sidney
Check out the AP’s dispatch on the possibility that Sir Sidney has turned a corner. I’m not sure why writer RB Fallstrom (or his editor) feels the need to sugarcoat Ponson’s wrongdoings — “Ponson had a $7.5 million salary last year before legal troubles sidelined him.” Legal troubles? With multiple drunk-driving arrests, he may as well say Ponson had “car troubles.” Let’s call it like it is: Ponson had real, personal, moral problems. Besides, what’s the point of the article — that Ponson may have actually changed, which is super news — if the only things plaguing the player were some sticky legal troubles?
Olney, for his part, is warming to the idea of Ponson under TLR:
In many respects, I think St. Louis might be the best place for Ponson to land. Tony La Russa is demanding and intense, the first manager you’d think of if you wanted to pick a drill sergeant among the 30 big league skippers, and this is the kind of help Ponson needs at this stage in his career. If Ponson comes in and fails to apply himself while toiling under La Russa’s scrutiny — if he fails to get in shape and address the drinking problem that has landed him in jail in the past — then his career will probably be almost finished. If he does clean up, the Cardinals will have themselves a heck of a pitcher.
That would be good news for both the Cardinals as well as Sidney Ponson. Hope springs eternal, and Spring’s just around the corner.
Yo, Nellie
Jeff Nelson has indeed signed (a minor-league deal) with the Cardinals for $800K-$1 mil.