Did Prince Fielder untuck his jersey to cheese off Albert Pujols and the Cardinals?
Posted by: Richie Rich in Brewers, Cardinals, MLB All-Star Game, MLB Home Run Derby, THROWDOWN!, UniformsUh Oh.
We could have some bad blood between the two biggest sluggers in the NL Central. And it’s all about how you wear your uniform.
Here’s a quote from St. Louis Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols in an interview with USA Today …
“I see teams take their jerseys out when the game is over,” he says. “To me, that’s not professional. I don’t care what you do when you get off the field, but don’t do it on the field.”
“You don’t want kids to see negative things.”
Intriguingly, Pujols didn’t name any of those teams who “take their jerseys out” … or even one team … so we’ll do it for you.
It’s the Milwaukee Brewers, a team once again vying with the Cardinals for the NL Central crown. And there was bad blood from the Cardinals last year about the untucking practice, too. Last fall, Cardinals TV Announcer Rick Horton said it was the most disrespectful thing he’s ever seen (that’s from memory – I don’t have a quote).
Keeping that in mind, let’s go back to last Monday’s Home Run Derby. In Busch Stadium, home of Albert Pujols and his St. Louis Cardinals.
Who won that contest? Oh yeah … Prince Fielder of the aforementioned Brewers … and known shirt untucker after game-winning Home Runs.
OH-NO-HE-DIDN’T just untuck his jersey …
….Right in front of Pujols, who underperformed all the projections that he would run away with the Derby this season. Right in front of all those Cardinals fans who take umbrage at the untucking ritual.
Now, I’m pretty damn sure Fielder didn’t do it to mock the Cardinals.
But why do the Brewers do it? Well, it’s not done just to ruffle the feathers of the Redbirds … there’s a reason to it -
Veteran outfielder Mike Cameron has done it for years as a tribute to his father, a blue-collar worker who untucked his shirt at the end of the work day.
Brewers players adopted the practice to honor Cameron, who is held in high regard among his peers.
I wonder if Pujols knows that story.
To me, that doesn’t sound so disrespectful. I certainly don’t see it as a “negative thing” to untuck your shirt to honor your father … or do it for a teammate. Untucking your shirt – It seems kinda fun, actually.
A negative thing would be slashing one’s throat while looking at the team you just beat … or mooning their fans after you scored a touchdown or something.
Speaking of which, I wonder where Joe Buck weighs in on untucking?
Does Pujols look down his nose at professional soccer players who rip off their shirt after scoring a goal? Maybe Pujols is just a big tool that can’t have any fun. His Nickname, after all, is “The Machine.”
Prince Albert has gotten his knickers in a twist in the past. Remember when he said Ryan Howard shouldn’t have won the MVP in 2006 because his team wasn’t in the playoffs (and the Cardinals were), only to have to eat his words when the opposite happened last fall?
Come down off the high horse, Mr. Pujols. Lighten up and have some fun.
Entries (RSS)
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Pujols is a great player and a true professional, but sometimes he just needs to lighten up and enjoy himself.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I’m not supporting either party in this one. I don’t think Fielder was trying to disrespect someone and I actually like the fact that this whole thing started as a sign of respect for blue-collar workers, but it does look sloppy… especially when Fielder’s jersey is quite large and comes down to his knees. Pujols is nothing but a pro and a nice guy but I do agree with Andrew that he needs to lighten up sometimes. Did you see him during the HR Derby? He looked like the only guy who wasn’t having fun out there. He was pressing too hard (changing bats, etc) trying to put on a show for the St. Louis fans.
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I know Cameron’s been doing it at least since he signed with Seattle in 2000.