CHICAGO • The story about a young Albert Pujols that Mike Matheny enjoys telling — heck, he told it again at least twice Sunday — begins in a weight room and ends in his wallet.
In 2001, Pujols’ first spring training with the Cardinals, Matheny and the prospect were working out when Pujols got a call to the manager’s office. He was convinced this was the notification he had been demoted. His spring fling had been fun, he turned heads, but the minors called. When Pujols returned, he told Matheny he had made the team out of spring, with a caveat.