Carp over Pujols?
Buster Olney wrote today in his blog on ESPN about players that are indispensible to their teams. In writing about the Cardinals he suggested that Carpenter was indispensible over Albert Pujols. ESPN must be working Mr. Olney pretty hard because he isn't thinking right.
Just for the record, in 2005:
Chris Carpenter: 33G, 2.83 ERA, 21-5, 240+ IP
Albert Pujols: 161 G, 129R, 41HR, 117 RBI, .330 AVG, .430 OBP
Without Pujols, the Cardinals lineup last year would not have had any players with 100 RBI, a .300 AVG, 100 runs, more than 30 HR or an OBP over .400. Additionally, those that would take Pujols' spot would get pitched around in dangerous situations like Albert does now. Albert makes everybody in the lineup better more than anyone this side of Barry Bonds. And, with 161 games played last year, he makes the lineup and thus, the team better almost every single game. The Cardinals would not have had one of the best offenses in the National League without Albert Pujols.
If Carpenter went down, it seems that the Cardinals actually have some depth in the rotation that could fill in. Admittedly, Sidney Ponson, Adam Wainright, and Anthony Reyes, don't look like they would put up Carpenter's 2004 numbers - not even close. But, they could be serviceable holding a lead with Pujols in the lineup.
Buster Olney's suggestion that ANYONE is more valuable to the 2006 Cardinals than Albert Pujols is an absolute joke. The offense would not be anywhere near as good on a daily basis and Carpenter would have to have his 2005 stats to win 15 games let alone 21.
2 Comments:
He's on crack.
I saw a drunk redneck yelling at Olney for picking Houston over the Cards at Game 2 of the LCS last year. It was funny at the time.
Jeff's friend Chris here...
Couldn't agree with you more. The only thing that Buster Olney knows about the Cardinals is that they are in the National League. All those ESPN types are worthless unless talking about the Yankees or "Sawks" (Not the White kind). Without Pujols, the Cardinals would not be in the position they are today. With Edmonds' off year and Rolen's injuries, the Cardinals wouldn't have had s shot, let alone made the playoffs. When I disagree with ESPNers I send them an e-mail. It is often. Occasionally I'll get an automatically generated response, but not often. Another thing about ESPN that chaps me is the lack of airplay that Pujols and other deserving Cardinal stars get on programs like PTI and Around the Horn. Everyone in the country should be hearing about Pujols on a daily basis. Why is there such a focus on the Yanks and Sawks, Bonds and Steroids, when Baseball could be promoting the positive image and commerciability of players like Pujols and Carpenter rather than only approaching the topic in Blogs like the one mentioned which really attempt to discredit the very stars that should be promoted. It makes me sick, but until another network comes along to scratch this mid 20's sport crazed freak, I guess I'll have to deal with the inadequacies and vent my frustrations like this. Go Daubach!
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