• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Muddy River Sports
  • Podcasts
    • State of Play with David Adam
    • Muddy River Podcasts
  • Muddy River TV+
  • Support Muddy River News
  • Newsletter

Muddy River News

Our Home. Our News.

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Politics
  • Muddy River Vibe
  • Blotter
  • Business
  • Local Matters
  • Markets & Ag
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Shop
Home » News » Daily Dirt: Albert Pujols returning to the Cardinals is a no-brainer, right?
The Opinion section is sponsored by:

Daily Dirt: Albert Pujols returning to the Cardinals is a no-brainer, right?

February 15, 2022 — by Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022

Sooner or later this month or early next, the MLB labor fiasco should be resolved, and when that occurs there will be dozens of free agents signing contracts. One of those is Albert Pujols, who SHOULD wind up back in a Cardinals uniform … Welcome to today’s three thoughts and Vol. 213 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Once this ridiculous MLB labor mess is finally resolved, I am expecting one of the early free-agent signings to be Albert Pujols reuniting with the Cardinals.It simply makes too much sense not to happen.

Pujols could conclude his Hall of Fame career with the team he started with, and at a position — designated hitter — that is realistically the only spot he can now occupy in a major-league lineup. Pujols turned 42 in January and long gone are the days of him being an everyday defender. But the man can still hit enough to DH 120 or so games this season, enabling him to hopefully reach 700 career home runs.Pujols needs 21 longballs to get to 700, and should be able to do that in the coming season, the ride off into the sunset and wait five years for Cooperstown to call.

Let’s make this happen, Cardinals. It could be one of the best stories of the 2022 season.

(PUBLISHER’S NOTE: If it happens, fine. If it doesn’t happen, fine. As a die-hard Cardinals fan, I would prefer a couple of arms and a lefty bat at DH. JRG)

2. My son, Geoff, is visiting this week from Ohio and one of our favorite things to do in the evenings when he is here is watch replays of old NASCAR and IndyCar races.

We have watched two dandies the past couple of nights: The 1988 NASCAR Bristol spring race and the 1981 Indianapolis 500.

Longtime NASCAR followers may recall that Bristol race when Geoff Bodine spun out Bill Elliott with five laps remaining, but Awesome Bill from Dawsonville regrouped, caught Bodine a couple of laps into the restart and earned the checkered flag. That was back when Bodine carried the Levi Garrett sponsorship and Coors Light was paying the bills for Elliott. That particular IndyCar race was memorable because the official winner was not named until weeks afterward due to a protest. Bobby Unser “won” the event on race day, but had illegally passed about 10 cars on a yellow flag to a late restart. Runner-up Mario Andretti was initially declared the “new” winner the following day, and even went through all the pomp and circumstance surrounding such a reversal — including a staged trophy presentation at the start-finish line and drinking the gallon of milk that goes to the winner.

The decision wound up in a court of law and Unser was eventually named the race winner a second time because Andretti, too, had passed cars under the yellow flag and no official protest had actually been filed in time.

In addition, that particular Indy 500 saw one of the most horrific crashes in the modern era of the race. Danny Ongais, a.k.a. “The Flyin’ Hawaiian,” smashed into the wall near turn three, destroying his car and leaving him with fractures in both legs, a broken arm, six-inch tear in his diaphragm and other internal injuries. A bone from one of Ongais’ legs emerged through his racing suit. Ongais eventually recovered to race again.

3. The Winter Olympics are winding down in Beijing, but the Summer Olympics of 2024 in Paris are not that far away.

Among the new sports to be showcased in at Paris are breakdancing, skateboarding and surfing. Sadly, sports that will not be included in 2024 are baseball and softball — but both are expected to return to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Pujols wants to play another year. The Cardinals will need a DH. This simply has to happen, doesn’t it?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Was Geoff Eighinger named after Geoff Bodine?

Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?

Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.

Purchase Story
close

Do you want to receive the Muddy River News newsletter in your inbox every morning? Send us your email address, click "Subscribe" and don't forget to check your email to confirm your FREE subscription.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Albert Pujols, Baseball, Geoff, NASCAR, Steve Eighinger

Primary Sidebar

Daily Muddy: Crazy times in a river town

https://youtu.be/drKpha8hPE8
View Complete Forecast

Trending Posts This Week

  • ‘Everything’s going to stay status quo’: New owner of Hess Auto Agency has no plans for change
    QUINCY — The new owner of Hess Auto Agency says he has no plans to change what’s going on at...
  • Illinois Attorney General’s Office: “Adams County has acknowledged that its closed session discussions…were improper” 
    QUINCY — The Illinois Attorney General's office has received the recordings of the closed sessions of the Adams County Board...
  • City to spend $4.43 million to elevate, repair barge dock wall; Mayor ‘doesn’t understand rationale’ for Park District’s intention to close the marina in 2024
    QUINCY — The Quincy City Council voted Monday night to accept the low bid of $4.43 million from County Contractors...
  • Ulmus Academy has a home
    The Academy agreed to a three-year lease with Rupp Enterprises LLC for the northeast wing of the former Adams Elementary...
  • Real estate transfers in Adams County from July 25-29, 2022
    Muddy River News transaction information is obtained from Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration forms accompanying recorded documents. Dates provided may...

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Our Most Recent Podcasts

  • DAILY MUDDY PODCAST: Crazy times in a river town August 9, 2022
  • DAILY MUDDY PODCAST: Have gun, will travel August 8, 2022
  • CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Elephants and asses in the room August 8, 2022
  • Adams County Board Finance Committee meeting closed session from May 9, 2022 August 2, 2022
  • Adams County Board closed session recording from May 10, 2022 August 2, 2022
  • DAILY MUDDY PODCAST: Quincy YMCA helping with housing August 2, 2022
  • CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Garbage Human? July 28, 2022
  • DAILY MUDDY PODCAST: The return of the Freefall Convention? July 26, 2022
  • DAILY MUDDY PODCAST: Back to school and high school sports coverage July 22, 2022
  • CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Brushes with fame July 21, 2022

More Top Stories

Ulmus Academy has a home

by Ron Kinscherf, Muddy River News Correspondent

New school will begin teaching students at the former Adams Elementary on September 6 QUINCY — The leadership of the Ulmus Academy has signed a three-year lease to open at a site where thousands of children spent their formative years in elementary school. The Academy agreed to a three-year … ...Read Full Article about Ulmus Academy has a home

County Board…in open session…votes to give Circuit Clerk a raise; Board to undergo more Open Meetings Act training

by J. Robert Gough, Publisher

QUINCY — The Adams County Board narrowly voted to give the Circuit Clerk a more than $6,000 raise on a split vote. The discussion on the vote centered around giving the raise during middle of Circuit Clerk Lori Geschwandner's term. By statute, most raises for officeholders are allowed to be … ...Read Full Article about County Board…in open session…votes to give Circuit Clerk a raise; Board to undergo more Open Meetings Act training

Minnesota man pleads not guilty to four sexual assault felonies with children under age 13

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — A gymnastics coach from West Virginia pled not guilty Tuesday morning to four charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 in Adams County. Leonard Johnson, 63, of Rochester, Minn., was arraigned in Adams County Circuit Court by Judge Amy Lannerd. He … ...Read Full Article about Minnesota man pleads not guilty to four sexual assault felonies with children under age 13

City to spend $4.43 million to elevate, repair barge dock wall; Mayor ‘doesn’t understand rationale’ for Park District’s intention to close the marina in 2024

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — The Quincy City Council voted Monday night to accept the low bid of $4.43 million from County Contractors of Quincy to elevate and repair the city’s barge dock wall and grade the land adjacent to the dock. The barge dock, located on the Mississippi River at Mile 326 in Lock & Dam … ...Read Full Article about City to spend $4.43 million to elevate, repair barge dock wall; Mayor ‘doesn’t understand rationale’ for Park District’s intention to close the marina in 2024

Rather than risk losing airline service, City Council opts for single-engine aircraft from Southern Airways Express

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup didn’t want to see the city lose having twin-engine airplanes provide service to Quincy Regional Airport. However, he thought it was better than the alternative. “If we reject both (airline proposals) and go out for more bids, it's a slim likelihood that you're … ...Read Full Article about Rather than risk losing airline service, City Council opts for single-engine aircraft from Southern Airways Express

Footer

Coverage Area

Muddy River News LLC
535 Maine, Suite 4A
Quincy, IL 62301

Have a Story or News Tips? Contact Us!

Phone: (217) 577-8044
Email: news@muddyrivernews.com

Copyright © 2022 • Muddy River News LLC • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy