BIG PUMA KEEPS THE PUNISHMENT COMING

When the Astros decided to trade Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees last July for 2 minor leaguers, Lance okayed it. He could have declined the deal and stayed put in Houston, exercising his 10 and 5 rights (10 years in the league and at least 5 with the Astros). He also had a no trade clause, which he waived in order to make the deal happen.
Berkman made his Major League debut with Houston in 1999 and had been a 'Stro ever since. One had to wonder what was going through his mind when he agreed to go to New York. The Astros had tried to trade him to the White Sox earlier in the year, but he had declined the deal. When the Yankees came crawling, it seems that he couldn't resist the opportunity to wear the pinstripes.

Lance played the second half of the 2010 season in New York. He was used mainly as a DH and struggled in the role, with injuries taking a toll on his body and affecting his performance. After the Yankees failed to beat the Texas Rangers and advance to the World Series they released him.
This left Big Puma free to entertain offers for the 2011 season. The first place that he looked was back in Houston. He wanted to go home. Except the feeling wasn't mutual. The Astros GM told him that there was no room for him on the club anymore. They had younger, faster outfielders and a rising star in Brett Wallace at first base.

I for one am extremely thankful that the Astros didn't want their Puma back. Their loss is the Cardinals gain. Lance worked hard and got himself healthy in the offseason. He signed a 1-yr, $8 million deal with St Louis and hasn't looked back since. He is 35 years old and doing a pretty decent job out in right field. Sure John Jay may be a little bit quicker out there, but whose bat would you rather have in the lineup on an everyday basis?
Berkman proved that he has plenty left in the tank, and he couldnt wait to return to Minute Maid Park and make the Astros regret their decision. He has succeeded in doing just that. In 5 games so far this year against his former team, Lance has 4 home runs and 10 RBI's. He broke up opposing starter Bud Norris' no-hit bid last night by sending a shot over the right field wall.
I don't understand why the Astros would pass on re-signing a fan favorite and former face of the franchise. The only thing I can think of is that they thought his career was over. Berkman continues to shove down their throat that he is far from being finished though. It's cool, the Cardinals got Houston's sloppy seconds, except there's nothing sloppy about Berkman's .329 batting average, good enough for 3'rd best in the National League. The Cardinals and Astros have the rubber match tonight. Keep the punishment coming Big Puma.

PHAT ALBERT...HE'S BAAAACK

EL Hombre. The Machine. Winnie the Pujols?? Whatever you want to call him, if this weekend's Cards-Cubs series indicates anything, it's that #5 is back. That is, the old #5 St. Louis fans have grown accustomed to watching over the past 10 years. Albert went 3 for 4 in Saturday's game, knocking in 4 RBI's and scoring 3 of the team's 5 total runs. 2 of those 3 hits were home runs, and the last one came of the walk-off variety, in the bottom of the 12th inning no less.
Albert's batting average sits at .275 now. Granted that's nothing to jump up and down about, but it's better than going 5 for 35 and the .143 average he was sporting going into Ariziona in April. It was the first couple weeks of the reason, and Tony La Russa and company were quick to defend their star slugger: there was nothing wrong and he would be hitting like he always did soon.

How about later. Here we are on June 5 and he still hasn't broken .300. Optomists will say that in his 10 Major League seasons, Albert has never finished with a batting average under .312. Pessimists will say that there's a first time for everything.
Here's the problem, at least in my opinion. I want Albert to be the clutch hitter he always has been, and I want him and Berkman and Holliday to carry the Redbirds into the postseason and beyond. If Pujols returns to form as the Albert of Old and brings that batting average up, I am willing to bet that his price tag is going to go up with it.
No one really knows what he wants moneywise except him. There is a lot of media specualtion about a 10 year, $300 million contract that will give him about $30 million a year. Key word: speculation. The last time that he was interviewed in Spring Training on the topic, he told the reporters, "You guys are way off on your numbers". If he went to the Cubs next year and made ridiculous amounts of money, he wouldn't have a chance of winning another Word Series championship. So the question is, does he want to win, or does he want to make more money than he can ever hope to spend in his lifetime?
Everyone in Cardinal nation wants to see him in red next year (Cardinal red, not Cincinnatti) including Tony La Russa. It has been said over and over again that St. Louis has the best fans in baseball. Whether we have a winning club or guys who can't win, fans will fill Busch Stadium every year and hope for the best. If Albert succeeds in free agency and #5 is on the back of another team's jersey next year, Cardinal fans will be unhappy, bummed, even heartbroken. But they won't stop going to the games.
I'm glad to see Albert digging his way out of this slump, and I hope that he finishes the year with a .350 average and another World Series ring. Maybe if he wins another one with the Birds on the Bat he will realize that he is and always has been where he belongs...