As Albert Pujols nears 500 HRs, does anyone even care?

[5teamparlay]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...pujols-on-verge-of-500-home-run-club/7764967/

As Albert Pujols nears 500 HRs, does anyone even care?
Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports 1:58 p.m. EDT April 16, 2014


(Photo: Steven Bisig, USA TODAY Sports)


It's sure getting harder and harder to impress us these days.


Here we are, on the brink of one of the most magnificent milestones in all of sports, and it seems nobody cares.


Just 25 men in Major League Baseball history have ever hit 500 homers in their lifetime, and here's Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols ready to join them after hitting No. 496 on Monday night.


Yet it's getting all of the acclaim of an NBA triple-double.


What has happened to us?


"I don't know what has happened.'' Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson tells USA TODAY Sports. "It should be front and center. There have almost been 18,000 players who have played our game, and only 25 have hit 500 homers.


"We've had a string of power hitters achieve the mark in the past decade, but that shouldn't diminish how big of a mark it really is.''




The trouble, of course, is that the steroid era has dulled our senses and watered down the excitement.


Just four players hit 500 home runs by 1965, but in the last 15 years, 10 new members joined the 500 club.


We've seen the likes of Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro and Gary Sheffield all eclipse 500 home runs since 1999, and in some cases, 600 and 700 home runs.


We've also seen each of them test positive, or at least be strongly linked to performance-enhancing drugs.


The only players in the last seven years to eclipse 500 or more homers runs with no links to PEDs are Ken Griffey, Jr., Frank Thomas and Jim Thome.


Does anyone remember the moment Thomas hit his 500th homer? How about Griffey's 600th? Thome's?

 

[StevieRay]

he has kinda faded if you ask me, should have stayed with Cards

 

[dr.vegas]

Being from St. Louis, uh, no.

 

[5teamparlay]

4/18/2014

Albert Pujols is quietly closing in on 500 home runs.




Pujols hit No. 497 on Friday night, part of an offensive onslaught by the Los Angeles Angels in their 11-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Howie Kendrick added two homers of his own, and 10 of Los Angeles' 13 hits went for extra bases.
Afterward, Pujols demurred when asked about the milestone he's approaching.
''I don't want to talk about that. Thank you,'' Pujols said.

 

[donkeybucks]

Maybe the "Machine" just needs some new parts..

 

[5teamparlay]

Is this the end??

Albert Pujols has been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels, the team announced Thursday.

 

[azbob]

No one cares because interest in baseball is at an all time low. Like someone said, he should have stayed in STL as his wife was the instigator in getting him to the west coast where he has pretty much disappeared.

 

[Knightrofins]

What year is he in with that big contract that he signed with the angels?

I remember the marlins were in pursuit of him and i figured those back years of that contract was going to be dangerous

 

[bigbet1234]

What year is he in with that big contract that he signed with the angels?

I remember the marlins were in pursuit of him and i figured those back years of that contract was going to be dangerous

He’s still playing?

 

[5teamparlay]

What year is he in with that big contract that he signed with the angels?

I remember the marlins were in pursuit of him and i figured those back years of that contract was going to be dangerous

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)]$240 million


[/COLOR]
Albert Pujols' time with the Los Angeles Angels has come to an end. The club designated Pujols for assignment Thursday afternoon, the team announced. He is in the final season of his 10-year, $240 million contract.

 

[IMISREMEMBER]

I think Tony LaRussa will reach to Albert to join whitesox.

 

[barman]

El Hombre entered this season with career 99.9 WAR only to see that drop by 0.5

His 2001-2010 run (77.2 WAR) was actually a solid notch above what we have so far seen from Mike Trout (75)

Three World Series + 2 rings

Anaheim FO has never been inclined to make smart choices wrt long term deals....His may be one of worst 10 year contracts v performance in ML history

Though Miggy Cabrera and his three remaining years may eventually have something to say about that infamy

 

[cybersharp]

El Hombre entered this season with career 99.9 WAR only to see that drop by 0.5

His 2001-2010 run (77.2 WAR) was actually a solid notch above what we have so far seen from Mike Trout (75)

Three World Series + 2 rings

Anaheim FO has never been inclined to make smart choices wrt long term deals....His may be one of worst 10 year contracts v performance in ML history

Though Miggy Cabrera and his three remaining years may eventually have something to say about that infamy

Miggy is batting .105 this year in 57 at-bats. Mike Ilitch must have been smoking
dope when he decided to pay this lug until he's 41.

Formerly fantastic player and a good guy. But a cautionary tale, to be sure...

 

[Knightrofins]

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)]$240 million


[/COLOR]
Albert Pujols' time with the Los Angeles Angels has come to an end. The club designated Pujols for assignment Thursday afternoon, the team announced. He is in the final season of his 10-year, $240 million contract.

wow. It’s already been 10 years.

now we wonder if he was worth the 10 for 240

 

[barman]

wow. It’s already been 10 years.

now we wonder if he was worth the 10 for 240

He delivered just under 20 WAR in 10 yrs with Anaheim

A player entering free agency today with 12 WAR in his first six seasons *might* score a four year $20-25m (total) deal

 

[Ladeda]

Has a slightly negative total war for the last 5 years. Was over 100 career WAR over 5 years ago, will now finish under 100.

 

[Knightrofins]

He delivered just under 20 WAR in 10 yrs with Anaheim

A player entering free agency today with 12 WAR in his first six seasons *might* score a four year $20-25m (total) deal

did he perform well in years 1-5? Just curious. I remember that Marlins were in the running for him and thought those last few years of that contract (at his age) was dangerous

 

[Serbone]

He should retire, he has been a burden for the Angels, OPS mid 600's to mid 700's the last 5 years, and before that, not so hot, either, for $24M a year, and terrible for a 1B/DH.

They were stuck, hurting the team, how do you push him out? He got mad he was not in the lineup, argued, threw a fit, gave them a reason to unload him, finally.

NOBODY will take a player like him now with the poor hitting for a starting 1B or DH, to watch him pad his stats, and he will not want to go somewhere to be a pinch hitter. He wants his 700 HRs, he is 33 short.

Show some class and move on, Albert, you are a first ballot HOF inductee, let's face it, it is time to go.

 

[5teamparlay]

Time to roid up one more time

 

[carlitosway]

Another very bad long term lucrative guaranteed MLB contract. When are teams going to learn? All these type of deals are a huge advantage for the player and hoses the organization/fans. The max years on a contract/extension should be 5-7 years. So many teams are fine with eating the last 2 or 3 years of these ridiculous salaries.