More on Cardinals, Pujols issues by Mark Patrick

Mark is on with Dibs and Kevin and seems to have some specifics about events relating to Pujols. He says Larry Walker, Matt Morris, and Reggie Sanders were leaders, without them Pujols is the de facto leader.

• Peter Gammons with Mike and Chris on WFAN spoke highly of Pujols, but said he prefers to remain in a 'cocoon' rather than having to deal with a lot of media. (Which doesn't make him a bad guy). Also, Pujols' alleged personality problems were alluded to in last year's series v Houston. Mike, Chris, & Gammons all agree this is a big story in St. Louis, but not in NY.

Dibs and Kevin haven't read the St. Louis writer's article that recently drew attention, but they are anxious to cut off anything negative about Albert. (Everyone agrees Pujols has done many great things off the field). Mark Patrick, however, knows a lot about the writer and the team, even says some players were on Pujols' case for not running out ground balls toward the end of the regular season. (That's a little crazy, as might easily be due to his injuries, which are already known). And that there were more than a few upset players in the clubhouse mainly due to special treatment of Pujols by LaRussa. (That sounds too vague).

• The upshot to me is teams like having a clubhouse leader, but a reluctant or unwilling leader leaves you with no leader. Maybe someone will step up.

• Also, Gammons says he noticed years ago that St. Louis people were apt to blame a situation like this on New York writers, New York people, etc., when that's not the case. Says it doesn't help them to keep thinking this way, a St. Louis writer wrote the recent offending article.

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