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St. Louis Cardinals: Mix excitement with reality when it comes to Pujols

By Kevin Henry

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Frist baseman Luis Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals in th e field against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 18, 2009 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 7-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Frist baseman Luis Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals in th e field against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 18, 2009 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 7-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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There are plenty of reasons why St. Louis Cardinals fans should be excited about the return of Albert Pujols to the team where he started his legendary path to Cooperstown. There are also plenty of reasons why Cardinals fans should be realistic about what to expect with Pujols in this decade versus the last one.

The return of Albert Pujols makes a great story for the St. Louis Cardinals, but Father Time makes this a reunion that should meet realistic expectations

Pujols, set to sign a one-year deal to return to the St. Louis Cardinals this season, last put on a Cardinals uniform in 2011. That year, in his age-31 season, Pujols smashed 37 home runs, drove in 99 runs, and eventually finished fifth in the voting for National League MVP, marking the fourth consecutive season where he had finished in the top five.

That was then, however. This is now.

In 2022, Pujols comes to the Cardinals for a reunion and proper sendoff for his career almost as much as any kind of production he could bring as a designated hitter in St. Louis. The 11 seasons he spent with the Cardinals saw Pujols not only earn personal accolades (back-to-back MVP honors in 2008 and 2009, as well as nine All-Star Game trips) but also team accomplishments as well (a pair of World Series wins).

Those are the moments that Cardinals fans will likely have to cheer this season as Pujols returns as a 42-year-old hitter who can still show some power, but won’t see any Gold Glove nominations at first base as he did during his previous time under the Gateway Arch.

Last season with the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers combined, Pujols saw action in the field in just 76 combined games. Expect that number to be less in St. Louis as Pujols will slot in as the designated hitter most nights when he gets the call.

When he is at DH, expect it to be against left-handed pitchers as his slash line against southpaws last season (.294/.336/.603) was infinitely better than against right-handers (.180/.233/.266).

Pujols will be used in situations in 2022, and he may not succeed in those situations (there is a reason why the Angels designated him for assignment in May last year after batting just .198 in his first 86 at-bats of the season). This is where the nostalgia will likely have to kick in for Cardinals fans, who can’t expect Pujols to come back to St. Louis and suddenly discover the fountain of youth again somewhere near the mighty Mississippi.

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Enjoy the moment. Give Pujols an ovation when he comes to the plate for everything he has meant for the franchise. Be glad to see him, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina making one last run at glory. Just don’t be surprised if, despite all of the good feelings and nostalgia, the Pujols of a decade ago doesn’t show up again.

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