In a move very much expected today, the Cardinals announced Albert Pujols has been placed on the disabled list. Taking his spot on the roster will be Mark Hamilton, who had been sent back to Memphis just days before in hopes of building up his consistency with more playing time.
Yes, I am back. This time I am taking Albert Pujols with me and leaving you with Mark Hamilton!
Turns out, Hamilton will get playing time and then some just staying in St. Louis. This move almost suggests that either Lance Berkman, Tony La Russa or John Mozeliak aren’t necessarily comfortable with Berkman taking over at first for a while — despite being quite adept at the position during his time in Houston. But, whatever. Mo was asked directly about Berkman at a press conference.
Here’s Derrick Goold’s account:
In the short term, Lance Berkman is expected to take over at first base for the Cardinals.
But when general manager John Mozeliak was asked Monday afternoon if Berkman will replace Pujols, he replied: “I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion yet. The question is: How do we want to inject the new bat? As the six weeks come and go, there would be a chance to get Allen Craig some work (at first base). And this creates opportunity for Jon Jay.”
Mozeliak continued: “One of the things we wanted to do is score more runs this year. Losing our No. 3 hitter makes that more difficult. Does that change how we look at things going forward (approaching the trade deadline)? In the last 48 hours, it has.”
Here is Cardinals.com’s story about the Hamilton call up.
And here, Cardinals.com Matthew Leach writes about the team’s life without Albert.
On the good news front, David Freese is getting some play time tonight while he rehabs with the AAA Memphis Redbirds as they play the Iowa Cubs.
Here’s some advice as well: avoid places where you will hear the talk about how the team is doomed!
Also, avoid places where you will hear talk about Albert needing to go ahead and talk contract while he heals. Why? If Albert and the Cardinals are smart, they wait until the end of the season … as per Albert’s request … and see how he is after this injury. I am sure he will return to his Albert ways … but going ahead and doing the contract NOW isn’t smart for either party.
OK quit panicking … right now!
We are going to survive!
Miranda Remaklus is lead St. Louis Cardinals contributor to Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @missmiranda
The key attribute of the 2011 Cardinals has been resiliency. That isn’t going to change now — look at the quote from LB that I used in the post this morning. He’s not panicking.
I am worried a bit about this particular series, with Halladay and Lee going. But no game was every won or lost based on how things looked based on the pitching match-ups. That’s why they play the games.
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Well, I am definitely concerned about the bullpen now. More than anything else really. That was AWFUL. I wonder why they didn’t pitch Mitchell Boggs? He may have actually closed it down. Jason Motte and The Poet … Oh man!
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