Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 23

**BigRedChief** · 08:16 PM

From Bernie's column:

People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.”

It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year.

Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944.

A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS.

The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face.

Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88.
Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective:

* Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90.
* Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92).
* The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa.

The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160.

The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati.

The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA.

The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball.

The Cardinals really earned this.
Thanks for reading ...
— Bernie

Mi_chief_fan · 04-06-2013, 10:08 PM

Beltran produced just fine today. Once he's healthy, he'll be fine.

Marco Polo · 04-06-2013, 10:09 PM

Off to bed for a 7 am flight to St. Louis tomorrow in preparation to go to my fifth straight Opening Day! Go Cards!

Mi_chief_fan · 04-06-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

Off to bed for a 7 am flight to St. Louis tomorrow in preparation to go to my fifth straight Opening Day! Go Cards!

DJ's left nut · 04-07-2013, 03:35 PM

Keep on mauling, Matt.

You're playing for a big-league starting gig somewhere and for our new starting SS.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 04-07-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Keep on mauling, Matt.

You're playing for a big-league starting gig somewhere and for our new starting SS.

Never mind. I'm an idiot.

Pepe Silvia · 04-07-2013, 05:23 PM

Boom goes the dynamite. What an ass whipping of Cain.

O.city · 04-07-2013, 08:38 PM

Big run day. Nice to see.

Frazod · 04-07-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Big run day. Nice to see.

Nice that they pissed all over their ring ceremony, too.

O.city · 04-07-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Nice that they pissed all over their ring ceremony, too.

Yeah we could have used some of those runs about 5 months ago though

**BigRedChief** · 04-08-2013, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah we could have used some of those runs about 5 months ago though

that team over performed and just ran out of gas. Looks like we have a stronger team this year. It looks like we have a great bat(Adams) that can't even get on the field. Another potential All-Star(Taveras) to bring up if someone gets injured or tires later in the season. We have more pitching depth to take a hit if someone falters.

VAChief · 04-08-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

that team over performed and just ran out of gas. Looks like we have a stronger team this year. It looks like we have a great bat(Adams) that can't even get on the field. Another potential All-Star(Taveras) to bring up if someone gets injured or tires later in the season. We have more pitching depth to take a hit if someone falters.

Yes, we still have depth at pitching even with Kelly doing his best "Manny Aybar" impression (looks great in the pen, kerosene on the field).

DJ's left nut · 04-08-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAChief

Yes, we still have depth at pitching even with Kelly doing his best "Manny Aybar" impression (looks great in the pen, kerosene on the field).

It's actually an Armando Benitez impression.

He's just throwing 96, 96, 97, 96, 96 and wondering why people are blasting them into the gaps.

He needs to mix his pitches badly.

Marco Polo · 04-08-2013, 09:40 AM

About to start Opening Day festivities fellas for the 5th year in a row. Got tickets on right above the press boxes around home plate. Nice to be around Cardinals fans again. Go Cards and Go Michigan (so I can win a $400 bracket)!

**OnTheWarpath15** · 04-08-2013, 04:04 PM

Shin Soo Choo looks like a goddamn 3rd grader in CF today.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 04-08-2013, 04:18 PM

Choate, you lucky bastard.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $1228962 VARSITY	*OFFICIAL* 2013 STL Cardinals Thread From Bernie's column: People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.” It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year. Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944. A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS. The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face. Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88. Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective: * Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90. * Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92). * The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa. The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160. The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati. The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA. The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball. The Cardinals really earned this. Thanks for reading ... — Bernie Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-02-2013 at 08:16 PM..
Posts: 80,122

04-06-2013, 10:08 PM	#331
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	Beltran produced just fine today. Once he's healthy, he'll be fine. __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517

04-06-2013, 10:09 PM	#332
Marco Polo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 41°59.4′N 87°39.6'W Casino cash: $4888908	Off to bed for a 7 am flight to St. Louis tomorrow in preparation to go to my fifth straight Opening Day! Go Cards!
Posts: 2,530

04-07-2013, 03:35 PM	#334
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $1179099	Keep on mauling, Matt. You're playing for a big-league starting gig somewhere and for our new starting SS. __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 63,171

04-07-2013, 05:23 PM	#336
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $94664	Boom goes the dynamite. What an ass whipping of Cain.
Posts: 17,388

04-07-2013, 08:38 PM	#337
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $1184064	Big run day. Nice to see.
Posts: 82,823

04-08-2013, 09:40 AM	#343
Marco Polo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 41°59.4′N 87°39.6'W Casino cash: $4888908	About to start Opening Day festivities fellas for the 5th year in a row. Got tickets on right above the press boxes around home plate. Nice to be around Cardinals fans again. Go Cards and Go Michigan (so I can win a $400 bracket)!
Posts: 2,530

04-08-2013, 04:04 PM	#344
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $3911115	Shin Soo Choo looks like a goddamn 3rd grader in CF today.
Posts: 60,397

04-08-2013, 04:18 PM	#345
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $3911115	Choate, you lucky bastard.
Posts: 60,397