Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 120

**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

Frazod · 06-09-2013, 09:51 PM

Damn, this is beautiful. Against the Reds, in Cincinnati. Perfect, psyche-crushing disaster. And we owed them one, too.

**BigRedChief** · 06-09-2013, 09:52 PM

Feel bad for the rookie. First batter he faces in his career, he gives up a grand slam in extra innings.

Pepe Silvia · 06-09-2013, 09:52 PM

Dread tears are better than unicorn tears.

Frazod · 06-09-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Feel bad for the rookie. First batter he faces in his career, he gives up a grand slam in extra innings.

**** him.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-09-2013, 09:52 PM

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-09-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Feel bad for the rookie. First batter he faces in his career, he gives up a grand slam in extra innings.

I'm sure that he felt....parched after that at-bat.

Miles · 06-09-2013, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Feel bad for the rookie. First batter he faces in his career, he gives up a grand slam in extra innings.

And they had just finished talking about how long he had worked in the minors to get himself to the show.

O.city · 06-09-2013, 09:54 PM

That Holliday song never gets old

Miles · 06-09-2013, 09:55 PM

Finish this quickly so I can watch Game of Thrones.

Frazod · 06-09-2013, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

Finish this quickly so I can watch Game of Thrones.

Watch it tomorrow. It was fairly meh. Especially after last week.

Pepe Silvia · 06-09-2013, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

That Holliday song never gets old

This. In fact its always playing in my head when he gets a hit or big homer.

Pepe Silvia · 06-09-2013, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Watch it tomorrow. It was fairly meh. Especially after last week.

They couldn't top last week, they just set the table for season 4 basically with tonights finale.

O.city · 06-09-2013, 09:57 PM

Yes, Siegrist is gonna be the lefty we've been dreaming of in the pen.

O.city · 06-09-2013, 09:58 PM

464 ft on Holliday's shot.

O.city · 06-09-2013, 09:59 PM

Big series win there guys. The train keeps rolling.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 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: 78,937

06-09-2013, 09:51 PM	#1786
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Damn, this is beautiful. Against the Reds, in Cincinnati. Perfect, psyche-crushing disaster. And we owed them one, too.
Posts: 119,482

06-09-2013, 09:52 PM	#1787
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 VARSITY	Feel bad for the rookie. First batter he faces in his career, he gives up a grand slam in extra innings. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,937

06-09-2013, 09:52 PM	#1788
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	Dread tears are better than unicorn tears.
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06-09-2013, 09:52 PM	#1790
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	__________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
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06-09-2013, 09:54 PM	#1793
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	That Holliday song never gets old
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06-09-2013, 09:55 PM	#1794
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $1752400	Finish this quickly so I can watch Game of Thrones.
Posts: 14,520

06-09-2013, 09:57 PM	#1798
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Yes, Siegrist is gonna be the lefty we've been dreaming of in the pen.
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06-09-2013, 09:58 PM	#1799
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	464 ft on Holliday's shot.
Posts: 81,176

06-09-2013, 09:59 PM	#1800
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Big series win there guys. The train keeps rolling.
Posts: 81,176