St Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals' front office has many questions that need to be answered this year.  Building for a successful 2010 season is not the only goal.  The moves made this offseason will likely dictate much of the franchise's success over the next decade.

Did Mark McGwire cheat? Did he use steroids to build his massive home run hitting frame? Is he little more than a liar when it comes to admitting what we all know is the truth?

The collective answer is obvious to anyone taking a step back from the emotional brink.

We don’t know.

Whenever performance-enhancing drugs rear their head, you often see the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" thrown around the discussion. It's a fine idea and one that deserves respect, but there's a significant snag to borrowing legal phrases for generic debate—it sounds very authoritative and conclusive, but the reality is much messier.

There are very few universals in law. Like many legal rules, the aforementioned presumption of innocence is defined by its context.

Okay, let's live outside the box and in the realm of great possibility.

Josh Johnson is an emerging ace. In his first true full season, Johnson dominated the competition with a 3.23 earned run average and a 15-5 record. He has two full years before he hits free agency, and then he could demand A.J. Burnett type money.

Yes, he truly is that good.

Take what you just read and add these five words: Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. Think about the true dominance of a pitching staff led by those three pitchers.

In terms of baseball and its history defining the greatest hitter of all-time is an extremely difficult task. The reason for this is that there are two types of hitters: One is a contact hitter and the other is a power hitter.

For a contact hitter there goal is to get on base anyway possible whether it's taking a walk, using their speed to get on with a bunt, splitting the gaps for a double or triple, and occasionally a home run.

There are some prospects who possesses a bat so good that an organization will try them anywhere across the diamond in order to find a spot. 

The St. Louis Cardinals have such a prospect in Allen Craig, who has played all over the infield as well as being tested in the outfield.

He’s seen minimal time at SS and 2B, and there is no chance that a hole opens up at 1B courtesy of Albert Pujols.  He has spent the majority of his time at 3B, though his long-term potential there is minimal despite the team’s potential need.  As Baseball America recently said:

As you know, Albert Pujols won his second consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Award. He didn't just win it, he won it unanimously. Every single voter had him as their No. 1 pick.

Pujols' exploits have been well chronicled. I think he is the best baseball player who is currently playing baseball on Planet Earth. Some would disagree, but that is the prerogative of baseball fans everywhere.

While we shower Prince Albert with praise that he is absolutely deserving of, I would like to ask a question. Is he the best player to ever play for the St. Louis Cardinals?  

Today, José Alberto Pujols Alcántara, was named the unanimous choice for his third National League Most Valuable Player award. It wouldn't surprise me if he is soon named captain of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols has clearly exemplified what it means to be a Cardinal. He is a hard working, honest, good man. It is hard to find a time in Pujols' day when he is not at the ballpark taking swings or donating his time to a local charity.

Albert Pujols has officially been named the National League’s most valuable player for 2009.

This is Mr. Pujols’ third MVP honor, previously being named NL MVP in 2008 and 2005.  Earlier this award season the St. Louis Cardinal first baseman collected his fifth Silver Slugger award and his second Hank Aaron award.  2009 also brought his eighth All-Star selection via the most votes of any player in either league and depending on your definition of “decade”; he was named the ‘Player Of’ this past one by The Sporting News.