Can the Cardinals Win Without Albert?

Albert Pujols is the starting first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club. Arguably, he is the most feared hitter in major league baseball. Albert is a one man ulcer-factor and blood pressure-raiser for pitchers and opposing managers. At the end of the 2008 major league season Albert led all active hitters with a .334 batting average. He's the only player in major league history to hit over 30 home runs in each of his first nine seasons as a player. Albert is currently tied for the all-time National League record for number of grand slam home runs (home runs with the bases loaded), and we who are Cardinal fans hope he'll break that record before this season is over.

For those of you who are Cardinal fans or just baseball fans in general, do you think the Cardinals could win without Albert? If for some unforeseen reason he was no longer in the line-up, could the Cardinals win the National League Central Division, the National League Pennant, or even the world series without him? Do they need Albert Pujols? Is he indispensable?

How do you feel about indispensability? Are there some people without whom we cannot get along? Are you indispensable to your team...to your family...to your place of work...to your community...to your church, if you have one...to God?

As to the latter, if you have a Bible, read Mark 4:26-29. What does that say about who needs who?

I'll have my answer about Albert Pujols in my Friday post. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.