Rusty’s Rundown 6/26/15

Welcome to Rusty’s Rundown! Rusty Hendricks here from SEMO ESPN! Hope you enjoy our blogs here on semoespn.com with the goal of talking sports! I will touch on national and local sports. Plus, really anything that catches my eye. Let’s get started shall we!

News surfaced on June 16^th that the St. Louis Cardinals were under investigation by the FBI. Now that will catch your attention! Investigators believe those within the Cardinals organization to have hacked into a database of the Houston Astros. The hacking apparently focused on Houston Astros General Manger and former Cardinal’s executive Jeff Luhnow. A rush of anxiety came over me when I first heard the news. I was having thoughts such as, “What have they gotten themselves into? How could they let this happen? What will be their punishment?” As I was able to take a step back a few hours later, I realized Cardinals Nation shouldn’t rush to judgment. We should let the process play out. Have they given us any reason not to trust them? I for one needed more information. Well, more and more time has passed but we really don’t know many details.

These are the keys: It is very probably no high ranking Cardinals official was involved. It looks like at most only a handful of employees are involved and possibly only a few. The reputation of the Cardinals actually may not take much of a hit, even if there are punishments. Again, we will have to wait and see. However, I think Cardinal fans should stay positive. I don’t see fans turning away from the ballpark or deciding not to follow the Cardinals through broadcast networks. I don’t even think the Cardinal’s “brand” has or will be tarnished.

Now we might gain a few extra “haters.” There are those that are just waiting to find a reason to dislike the Cardinals. Why? We win. The more we win the more some may dislike the team. I for one would rather just win. So let’s be patient. Watch the process play out. Don’t jump to any conclusions. Let’s find all the facts. Oh, and continue to watch the Cardinals win.

I don’t want to spend much time on this because, well, it’s been a debate for so many years. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” first reported that Pete Rose bet on baseball while he was a player. For 26 years Pete Rose has denied betting on baseball as a player, only as a manager. Also, maintaining he never bet on the Reds to lose. New written documents show Rose did bet on baseball as a player.

The question has always been does Rose deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? What do you think?

I have always said that if Rose deserves to be in the Hall, so does Shoeless Joe Jackson. If Rose gets in, do guys from the steroid era deserve to get in as well? (i.e. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Alex Rodriguez etc.) It is a question we have to ask.

I don’t think this “new” information has changed many peoples’ minds on Pete Rose. I don’t see him getting into the Hall of Fame anytime soon, anyway. It certainly, though, hasn’t helped. I think Pete Rose “deserves” to get in. Why? Simply, his play. His play was not altered by steroids or some other substance. “Should” he get into the Hall of Fame is another debate. In regards to players linked to steroids, to be brief, I think if you vote one guy in, you have to vote them all. Either way it makes you respect the guys even more who go about things and play the game the right way. One of those guys I talk about below.

What is your answer? Does Pete Rose deserve to get into the Hall of Fame? Will he?

Albert Pujols is in the midst of his 4^th season with the Anaheim Angels. Pujols left the St. Cardinals after they won the World Series in 2011. I loved seeing Pujols in a Cardinals uniform. And to me he will always be a Cardinal. After he made the decision to leave for California I was sore. I knew the Cardinals couldn’t afford spending “boo-koos” of money to keep him. I wouldn’t have wanted them to. However, I hoped Pujols would take a home town discount to stay with the team and the fan base that loved him. When he decided to move on, I was disappointed. I wasn’t mad. I didn’t want to go burn his jersey. I just didn’t understand.

The last few years watching Pujols play hurt and under perform help ease the discontent. I even found myself thanking the Cardinals for not dishing out the money on him. This season has been different. It has been different because I’m rooting for Pujols again. I want him to do well. Pujols is finally healthy and playing well. He is so fun to watch, and when he is right, there is no one better. Pujols just recently finished up a 25 game stretch from May 26^th through June 23^rd. During this time he hit .357, 15 home runs, 30 RBI, and only struck out 4 times. It is the best 25 game stretch of his entire career. At age 35, Pujols is in his 15^th year in the league. He has nearly 2600 hits in his career, over 1600 RBI, and a career batting average of .316. Pujols is 16^th on the all-time home run list with 543 big flys. By year’s end he could find himself in 14^th place.

I don’t know how much longer Pujols will play. Hopefully he will play at least a few more years. Pujols woke me up with his recent play. He is so impressive. I think when it’s all said and done he will probably be the best player I will have watched in my lifetime. And to think 11 years of it was with the Cardinals! I have an enormous amount of respect for him. He has always played the game the right way. He is a stand up guy that loves the fans. He has given so much back to the community. He has set himself apart. He truly is “the machine.” Let’s not take for granted what he did for the Cardinals. Let’s not take for granted we still have the opportunity to see this guy play.

I have always wanted to do this. One…rob a home run. Two…do it like this.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v197532383/aricol-paulsen-robs-a-homer-with-outstanding-catch/?partnerId=as_mlb_20150625_48181566&adbid=614196770831122432&adbpl=tw&adbpr=18479513

Colorado Rockies outfielder Ben Paulsen robs Arizona Diamondbacks Chris Owings of a home run on June 25^th.

One great defense play to another. This might be one of the best plays I have seen. Most definitely the best play of the year so far. Watch Josh Donaldson take no regard for his body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1iSsL5-3wk

Where do you rank this play?

Oh, by the way, at this point of the ball game (8^th inning) Donaldson’s pitcher Marco Estrada had a perfect game going. Estrada gave up an infield hit on next play. Given the circumstances this was an amazing play. If you don’t know much about Donaldson, look him up. Donaldson is one of the elite players in the game. He is a no doubt all-star this year. As I write this his batting average is near .300, has blasted 17 home runs, and driven in 46 runs. He also has a WAR of 3.9. Only Todd Frazier has a higher WAR this season as a third baseman.