Albert Pujols donning his new Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim uniform at a press conference to announce his joining the team on December 10, 2011 in Anaheim.

[image: MLB Twitter]

St. Louis Cardinals free agent first baseman Albert Pujols has signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a record 10 years at $250-$260 million dollars according to reports.

The Cardinals had planned to talk with Pujols’ agent one more time Thursday before heading home. But sources told Olney that the Cardinals’ latest offer was for nine years and a little less than $200 million. That would have made him the fourth-highest paid first baseman. With the Angels deal, he is tops.

On Tuesday, many pundits believed that Pujols was close to signing with the Miami Marlins who had already signed all-star Jose Reyes and others.

Pujols was NL Rookie of the Year in 2001 and a 9x All-Star in his 11-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He won two World Series Championships while in St. Louis.

He will be 41-years old at the end of the contract which includes a full no-trade clause.

Legendary St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa shocked the baseball world moments ago by announcing his retirement from the game.

Perhaps his best managerial job was this year with the Cardinals coming from 10.5 games back in August to win the Wild Card, NL Pennant, and World Series upsetting the Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers along the way.

La Russa, who is 67-years old, just said it was time:

“There isn’t one [factor] that dominates [my decision],” La Russa said. “They all just come together telling you your time is over.

La Russa won six pennants, three world series, and the third (just 35 behind John McGraw for second) most games by any manger in his Hall-of-Fame career.

He is the Cardinals most winningest manager.

Best of luck to Tony and thanks for all of the memories!

[La Russa will be on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight.]

On Friday night, they could not have been more alive as they shocked the Texas Rangers 6-2 in a clinching 7th game of the World Series.

The World Series victory is the 11th in franchise history for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals were led by a gutty starting pitching performance by ace Chris Carpenter who was pitching on just 3 days rest.  He gave up 2 runs in the first inning to the Rangers and looked very shaky.  The damage would have been a lot worse if catcher Yadier Molina had not picked off Ian Kinsler on first base.

World Series MVP David Freese, the hero from the night before in Game 6, doubled in Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman in the bottom of the 1st inning to tie the game at 2-2.

The Cardinals increased the lead 6-2 before Carpenter was pulled in the 7th inning after giving up a lead-off double to David Murphy.  The Cards bullpen was perfect in retiring the last 9 outs.

The Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers before topping the Rangers in the Series.

Game 7 Cardinals-Rangers Box Score

NLCS and World Series MVP David Freese will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday night (October 31, 2011).

Berkman has rejuvenated his career in St. Louis and to-date is batting .300 with 31 home runs and 91 RBI’s.

If the Cardinals can’t resign Albert Pujols in the off-season then Berkman will replace him at first.  If Pujols is back then Berkman will be back in right field.

Read More on Berkman’s Contract Extension

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina finally had enough of home umpire Rob Drake’s widely inconsistent strike zone on Tuesday night when he exploded in a fit of anger in the 10th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Molina struck out looking at a pitch about 7 inches inside according to the Fox Trax.  Molina turned around and cussed out Drake in about 7 languages as he was extremely hot. The two bumped and during Yadier’s pitbull explosion Drake acted like he got spit on in the face.

As you can tell by the video it appears that Molina didn’t intentionally spit on Drake. It looks like Molina’s pitbull on crack explosion created a bit of foam that might have hit the ump as he was yelling at him.  Drake did a Danny Ainge worthy flop job of selling the spit to the face.

Molina after the game, “I would never spit on any face or man. That’s not me.”

Drake’s strike zone was inconsistent towards the teams throughout the night and it only got worse as the game reached extra innings. Drake also missed a call at 1st base the night before that cost the Cardinals.

Molina’s reaction was misguided and will cost the catcher several games due to suspension. It could be very costly for the Cardinals who are in a tight pennant race with the Brewers.

The game was one of the more entertaining games of the year as the Cardinals scored the winning run on a bloop single by Lance Berkman in the 11th inning to win the game 8-7 over the Brewers.  The win moves the Cardinals to just 2 1/2 games back.

Rasmus has been a clubhouse distraction since he came to the big leagues. His father, Tony Rasmus, has also head-butted with LaRussa and intermingled within the organization in a very troubling way over the years.

St. Louis Post Dispatch beat writer Bernie Miklasz tweeted the following two quotes from LaRussa:

La Russa on the opinion that he can’t work with young players: “Paying attention to nonsense is counter-productive.”

La Russa on Rasmus and young players: “it can be tough for them to take coaching. They’ve been spoiled.”

In answering my question it was obvious that La Russa has been bothered by the perceived interference of Colby’s father, Tony Rasmus.

La Russa denied that he forced the trade to get rid of Ramus. “Absolutely not.”

It seems Tony held his tongue long enough. Will Colby ever mature and turn into the superstar that many believe he is talented enough to become? Time will tell!

However, I believe Rasmus is the second coming of J.D. Boo (Drew)!!!

The Cardinals get SP Edwin Jackson, RP’s Marc Rzepczynski, Octavio Dotel, and OF Corey Patterson in the deal.

In exchange the Blue Jays get the once highly touted Rasmus, RP’s Brian Tallet, Trever Miller, and SP PJ Walters.

The deal will for sure play big dividends for the Cardinals in the short run.  If Rasmus ever reaches his full potential he will be a super star.

Rasmus has an on-off switch. Sometimes he plays hard, while at other times he loafs.  His father, Tony, has also been known to cause problems with the Cardinals and manager Tony LaRussa (LaRussa’s Post Trade Rant Against Rasmus).

Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has to love getting Edwin Jackson, Rzepczynski, and Dotel.  Dotel is a proven veteran out of the pen, while Jackson is a solid starter.  Rzepczynski is just 25-years old and has been dynamite in relief this season for the Blue Jays. Patterson is not spectacular but will be a solid glove and 4th outfielder for the Cardinals as John Jay will take over for Rasmus in centerfield.

Rasmus Can Now Play in Country Where Obama Isn’t President

Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday hammers 2-run homer against KC

Normally, I’m more than happy to watch the St. Louis Cardinals lose their way into baseball oblivion.  It wouldn’t bother me in the least to see the Red Birds go on a 20+ loss bender.  Their fans can be just that insufferable.  But the truth is these guys are still too talented to lose for long, and tonight was a prime example.  A Matt Holliday homer helped secure a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.

The outfielder, with high socks and a new pair of pants, hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning that helped the Cardinals snap a season-high seven-game skid with a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

Holliday and three others starters—Ryan Theriot, Skip Schumaker and Yadier Molina—wore their socks up near the knees in an effort to shake the bad luck. Holliday even changed uniform pants, wearing a tighter pair belonging to special assistant Red Schoendienst, a Hall Of Famer.

Now, Holliday is ready to move forward with the new look. “You can’t change after a win,” he said.

Holliday drilled an 0-1 pitch from reliever Greg Holland to erase a 4-3 deficit. Holliday is 5 for 9 with two homers and four RBIs since coming back from a quadriceps injury June 16.

Maybe next time, the Cardinals can just wear bras on their heads.  That’s got to me lucky for something.  The Cardinals are still just one game back of first place in the NL Central even after the 7-game skid.  So all you neurotic StL fans out there who base your entire self-concept on how well your baseball team is doing can continue to breathe easy.  The Cardinals will likely still be in the race at playoff time.

[PhotoSource: The Kansas City Star]

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse put on his best Tony LaRussa impersonation in a game earlier this week against the Chicago Cubs to deliver the lineup card to the umpires before the start of the game.

LaRussa has missed the last several Cardinals games for treatment of his eye at the Mayo Clinic. LaRussa’s eye has a viral infection, perhaps shingles, that has caused discoloration and almost complete swelling of the eye.

Get well TLR!