Major League Baseball

This is no time for Cards infighting

Published Sep. 8, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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It was about a month ago, Aug. 10, that the Reds and the Cardinals got into a brawl and we all thought that this was IT. This would be the turning point in St. Louis’ season. This would be the spark to ignite the Cardinals’ run for the division title. This would launch a barrage of feel-good highlights, set to the song “Centerfield.”

It never fails, right? But, as Paul Reiser used to say, “Not so much.”

Oh, the Reds are doing great. Cincinnati still holds a semi-healthy lead in the National League Central, and at least appear to be one big happy family. It was the Reds, it seems, who got the post-brawl bounce.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals have not come together magically, eating up GBs in a feel-good musical montage. (Some movies alternately offer newspaper headlines and newsreel footage, as well as shots of the guys hot footing someone, and playing cards on the train.) No, the Cardinals trail the Reds. And time runs out. And tension mounts.

We know that last part because it bubbled to the surface Sunday, when a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report said that Cardinals centerfielder Colby Rasmus had apparently asked to be traded. And his all-timer teammate responded with a “love it or leave it” rant.

“If you don’t want to be part of this great organization man, this is one of the special organizations that you want to play for,” the great Albert Pujols said. “And if you don’t want to be a part of this, then you know what? You need to figure out a place to go and play.”

I mean, how dare anyone even think about playing anywhere but the city where they have birds on bats on their shirts?

“It is a privilege to play in this organization, just behind the Yankees with 10 World Series (championships) and to be able to be in the postseason almost every year,” Pujols would continue. “It’s pretty special. I have nothing negative to say about this organization, and for a young kid to come up and say that he wants to be somewhere else, I don’t know why. I guess he said it two months ago, but two months ago we were in first place. Who doesn’t want to be on a team that is in a first place battle for a spot in the playoffs? Like I said, he is young but he needs to learn to approach that in a different way.”

Well. It’s safe to say the Cardinals are not on the same page.

No doubt all of this would be nothing if the Cardinals were still in first place, but they are not. The Reds are. And time runs out.

And Tony La Russa confirms to the press that Rasmus had indeed asked to be traded. And Pujols is first aghast, then incensed.

And you’re trying to put together a run at the playoffs in the middle of all of this? This stuff is what they’re worried about?

So much for the brawl bringing them together. Man, what a mess.

Here is the thing about Pujols’ reaction: Of course he might see things a little differently than Rasmus does. He’s Albert Pujols. He’s headed for Cooperstown. His manager actually, you know, likes him.

(Just as an example: Did Rasmus get asked to the big Glenn Beck rally with La Russa, like Albert did? No, he did not. Also, Rasmus seems to get benched a lot. But it’s the Glenn Beck thing which would really irk me.)

It brings to mind Brett Favre and the Packers in 2005 when Javon Walker was threatening a holdout and Favre was publicly urging Walker not to be selfish, to get his butt to training camp. (Ahem.) Favre’s point was that Walker should do what was good for the team and everything would be sure to turn out fine.

Yeah, superstars don’t always get it. Don’t pro sports organizations tend to treat everyone well?

Who wouldn’t want to play for the Cardinals and their genius-yet-apolitical manager?

To be fair, Rasmus could turn into a top-flight player. But in the meantime, he’s the kind who can drive his boss nuts. And this is La Russa we’re talking about.

But good grief, guys, this is the middle of a playoff chase.

As Pujols says, you’d think the soothing thought of the franchise’s 10 world titles would be enough to get all of them – La Russa, Rasmus, Albert, everyone – through anything. It seems not. They’re looking up at the Reds with time running out. And that’s when little things can start to loom awful big.

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