***Official 2015 STL Cardinals Thread***

[BigRedChief]

2011 World Series Championship
2012 NLCS. One win from another WS appearance.
2013 World Series. Two wins from another World Series Championship
2014 NLCS. Three wins from another WS appearance

• Made the postseason 10 times in the last 14 seasons.
• Only 1 losing season since 2000.
• Reached the World Series 4 times since 2004 and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.
• Made the NLCS 9 times including the last 4 years 2011-2014
• Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.
• 65 post season wins since 2004. 22+ wins more than any other team.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Bourjos
Wong
Holliday
Carpenter
Peralta
Reynolds/Adams
Heyward
Pitcher
Molina

That's how I would roll if I was the Cardinals.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

A lot of new saber research suggests that your best hitter should hit second, so keeping Carpenter there actually makes sense.

Also, given Bourjos' reticence to take walks (career rate of 6%), I'm leery of him hitting first. I think a free swinger is better suited to hit eighth, where he's far more likely to see strikes because the pitcher doesn't want to walk someone for the pitcher to sacrifice over.

Also, Molina should not hit 9th, or 8th for that matter. A guy with his bat control is a good candidate to hit 7th, where he can drive in runs with singles, since his power has seemingly totally evaporated. You don't want him hitting what amounts to second leadoff, where he would clog the basepaths in front of Wong and Carpenter.

Against RHP:

1) Wong
2) Carpenter
3) Holliday
4) Peralta
5) Adams
6) Heyward
7) Molina
8) Bourjos/Jay

Against LHP:

1) Wong
2) Carpenter
3) Holliday
4) Peralta
5) Reynolds
6) Molina
7) Bourjos
8) Grichuk

Okay time to explain my lineup. First of all like I was saying to O City the Cardinals are one weird ass team when it comes to lineup. They don't really fit sabermetric, stat, and common sense wise.

Reasoning behind Carpenter at 4. Right now he is the Cardinals leader in SLG, HRs, RBIs. General rule is the 4 is highest SLG percentage.

You place Carpenter at 4, who do you place at 2? Holiday is probably the most logical choice, with his high OBP and SLG. But he is cemented into the 3 hole. Peralta or Wong is your next bet. Decided Wong is the best bet at 2. Mainly because it sets up L-R-L-R - 2-5.

In true sabermetric style, the 8th hitter is your pitcher. Yadi gets slotted into 9th mainly because his OBP and SLG isn't that good this year. Adams/Reynolds fits the 6th hole. Heyward or Bourjos in the 7th/leadoff. I look at this for a lead off, you take OBP - ISO. This basically takes OBP with who hits singles, which is perfect for lead off. Jay statistically fits this perfect as he leads the team in this. Heyward and Bourjos are basically neck and neck, but small stat size decreases this as we know that Heyward is better in the ISO category. Also the Bourjos lineup is essentially the Jay lineup.

Now that Grichuk is added to the lineup that changes things. Especially if you want the pitcher to bat 9 and Carpenter in the 2 hole. Here would be my lineup:

Heyward
Carpenter
Holliday
Peralta
Wong
Adams/Reynolds
Molina
Grichuck
Pitcher

Grichuck is horrible at OBP, but kills it SLG wise. On this lineup you could potentially switch Heyward and Wong as well.

[George Liquor]

I love this time of year. 610 radio goes full Prison Bitch/Bambi troll mode over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jealousy isn't a good look Bob Fescoe.

[George Liquor]

Another shit show on offense

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BDj23

Another shit show on offense

Outscore the Mets 20-9 in a four game series, win twice.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Outscore the Mets 20-9 in a four game series, win twice.

Getaway game. Lets see how they stack up against the Royals this weekend.

[BigRedChief]

How does Matheny justify replacing Grichuk with Jay when he comes off the DL?

[BigRedChief]

Article on Harris in USA Today.

NEW YORK - The fan, sitting above the visiting bullpen at Progressive Field in Cleveland, was relentless, taunting the rookie St. Louis Cardinals reliever.


He mocked Mitch Harris. Teased him. Booed him.


Then, there was silence.


The fan stared into his phone for several minutes, didn't say a word, and then spoke again, this time almost in reverence, as Cardinals reliever Randy Choate tells the story.


"Hey Harris,'' the fan said. "Uh, I just Googled you. Thank you for your service. I'm sorry for getting on you so much.''


Several minutes later, another fan started yelling at Harris, Choate says, only to be stopped by the googling fan.


"He said, 'No man, stop it,'' Choate said. "'He served. He's good. He's cool. He's cool.'


"It was absolutely hilarious.''


Says Harris: "It's the first time anyone has ever apologized to me for booing me.''


This is what happens when folks find out that Harris happens to be Lt. Mitchell Harris, who graduated from the United States Naval Academy, and served five years for his country. He is the first Naval Academy graduate to play in the big leagues since Nemo Gaines in 1921.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I don't know if I'll be here much tonight, but if I feel like ranting, this is where it will happen.

[DJ's left nut]

Jason Heyward is almost certainly a bust.

I've never been more disappointed by a player.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Jason Heyward is almost certainly a bust.

I've never been more disappointed by a player.

Someone posted his recent numbers the other day, it's better, but still meh

[George Liquor]

I'm glad Holliday has those big, huge arms so he can pound the ball into home plate.

[BigRedChief]

WTH is going on, I tune in and its 5-0in the 4th and Lynn is still pitching?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

WTH is going on, I tune in and its 5-0in the 4th and Lynn is still pitching?

Is old bugaboo re-surfaced; no plan against the lefty.

Morales is all over him because he doesn't have a good enough breaking ball to keep him honest.

I still don't understand how he hasn't developed even a show-me curve.

Oh well; Lynn's the kind of guy that's going to get blown apart from time to time because a team will end up timing his fastball and he doesn't really have a plan B.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BDj23

I'm glad Holliday has those big, huge arms so he can pound the ball into home plate.

That dog won't hunt, sport.

Holliday and Carpenter have been easily the most consistent hitters on the team. Sure, Holliday could be like Pujols and go out there selling out for HRs, but he's simply changed who he is as a hitter as he's aged and can't let balls get as deep into his kitchen anymore.

He's evolved into a damn nice contact 'professional' hitter. He can give us quality ABs against just about any time of pitcher out there.

Holliday's about the last guy on the squad that anyone should be complaining about right now.

[O.city]

Seemed to have quite a few chances early, just couldn't get the hit.