A Quick Word: Albert Pujols in the A.S. Game one last time is too cool to pass up
Some Cards fans will complain though.
In 2017, something great happened.
The most awful MLB rule was overturned. The winner of the midsummer classic, The Major League Baseball All Star Game would no longer determine home field advantage in the World Series. A horrendous idea undone at last. Since then, it’s returned to the comfortably safe pastures of fan appreciation and cool sights.
This month, one of those cool sights will include St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. Along with Detroit Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera, Pujols will be the legacy selections for the game. They weren’t voted in, but chosen by a committee instead. They will be there and get at least an at-bat or two to shine in front of an All Star crowd one last time.
Total All Star Game Appearances for Pujols and Cabrera combined: 21.
These two guys are solid picks to represent each league’s legacy talent. Pujols put on a display of raw yet demolition-like talent from 2001-2011, before losing a little of his magic in Los Angeles. Cabrera was an elite talent from 2004-16. Elite meaning he had a .900 or better OPS (OBP + SLUG), won a couple MVP awards, and finished in the top 10 voting in seven other seasons.
Cards fans should universally adore this sight, right? The All Star Game isn’t about “deserving” or “worthy” of a roster addition. The fans are the voters here. This isn’t a division game or a big September matchup. It’s a night to celebrate the best in the game, and see what you can’t see any other night of the year. Pujols’s 2022 season is one he’d rather forget so far, but he’s still capable of rocking baseballs--especially if a southpaw is throwing.
Some fans on Twitter are against it, or at least shaking their head at it. They seem to think this game still determines playoff home field or that people actually pay attention to the score. These are most likely the fantasy baseball dwellers who connect every possible performance to a metric or statistic, lest it lose them money possibly.
Turn that shit off for one night, ladies and gentlemen. Pujols is done after this. Like his cohort, Yadier Molina, this is the final ride. A betting man would have Adam Wainwright back in 2023 unless injury strikes, but the other two pieces of the nostalgic exit tour tripod are hanging it up.
So, what if Pujols gets a chance to make a dent in that game and create one more sweet Cardinal Red ASG moment? If he strikes out or grounds out, then the loud ovation that should shower his exit from the field will still make it worth the time. That sounds pretty cool to me.
Have a nice weekend.