Ya know, I don't hate Albert either (in fact I was excited when we signed him) but I find it increasingly hard to watch him gidp and kill innings for the $250M he's getting paid. I would much prefer the Albert that got hot last season instead of the Albert that has gone pull happy against the shift. It may not be fair but I'd find it a lot easier to take if he was making half of what he is. At his salary (given his below par performance) it's just a reminder of how bad the Angels were taken to the cleaners on his contract. Sure we didn't have to sign him, but is there really anyone that would have predicted how far Albert would fall and so fast? That he would go from being the most feared hitter in the game to a .260 hitter as an Angel and falling practically over night?
I'd just love it if Albert had a couple of big seasons because it would help my favorite team but that's not going to happen. Albert was only 32 when he arrived in Anaheim 4 years ago and it's really doubtful that he's going to improve at the age of 36. In fact he's probably had his best Angel seasons already and that is frightening to think about.
Maybe Albert will get going and have a couple of good years and I'll have to eat some crow but I'm not going to hold my breath because I think we've seen the best of Albert already.