My dearest Albert*,
I realize I’ve been tip-toeing around the subject for the past year, pretending nothing’s wrong, but I think this needs to be said since, well, I hate the unknown. I need commitment, Albert. For real commitment. I know you keep saying how much you love St. Louis, and how you don’t plan to leave us. And up until now, I’ve always believed you. Why wouldn’t I? You’ve always been there for me (see also: 2005 NLCS, Game 5), always reassuring me that the team would always be great as long as you are there. Well, I’m starting to have doubts that maybe you aren’t as committed as you say you are. Are you looking at other teams thinking maybe it would be better with someone else? I keep ignoring the reporters that say the Cardinals are nowhere close to a deal with you; changing the channel when they talk about it on ESPN. It’s almost Wednesday. You’re about to report to Spring Training, and we all know you don’t talk contracts once baseball starts. So, for Valentine’s Day, I don’t want flowers or candy, I just need a signature on the dotted line, confirming that as long as you are playing baseball, you’ll be wearing the Birds on the Bat.
Forever yours,
L
*Albert Pujols is arguably the best baseball player on the planet. He has been with the St. Louis Cardinals for his entire career (since 2001). At the end of this season, his contract is up, and unless he and the Cardinals agree to new terms, he will become a free agent, making the Cardinals have to compete with the NY Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the LA Dodgers for his services for the remainder of his career. Needless to say, the Cardinals would like to work out a new contract before he hits the free agent market in October. Pujols and his agent have set a deadline of Wednesday at noon ET for any contract talks between him and the Cardinals.
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Laura Schulte, a native of Little Rock, loves baseball (Rangers, Cardinals. Andrus, Pujols). And books. And movies. And did I mention baseball? Her feature: Pitching & Moaning might just end up a bit baseball heavy. Fair warning. |
