***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

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

[O.city]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Tim Anderson goes to the ChiSox, 2 picks before us.

It's a weird feeling to not actually care who the team I love drafts, because I know it will likely be the right guy and they'll get him to work out great.

Weird right?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's a weird feeling to not actually care who the team I love drafts, because I know it will likely be the right guy and they'll get him to work out great.

Weird right?

I'm assuming they'll go with an arm now, or they go back to the Austin Wilson well.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Stanek? Would be awesome

[Marcellus]

Complete destruction.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Marco Gonzales, LHP, Gonzaga.

1st LHP we've drafted since 1994, according to MLBN.

[Pepe Silvia]

Miller doing it all tonight. HR for Shelby.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Another Johan Santana would be great!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I'm not saying I'd suck Matt Carpenter's dick, but I'm also not saying I wouldn't.

New sig!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Complete destruction.

They seem determined to not blow this game. One hit on Tuesday night by the team that leads ML in two out hitting and we don't lose that game and blow our bullpen causing the last nights loss.

Miller is at 92 pitches. Bet he is through. Thanks to the home run barrage we have a fresh Rosenthal and Mujica for the Reds series.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Marco Gonzales, LHP, Gonzaga.

1st LHP we've drafted since 1994, according to MLBN.

Just a year or two away from helping the pitching farm system continue to feed the major league club.

Saying on the broadcast was effective on the USA team. Has good curve and change.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Just a year or two away from helping the pitching farm system continue to feed the major league club.

Saying on the broadcast was effective on the USA team. Has good curve and change.

Apparently can hit a little, too.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Stanek & Manea still on the board.

[VAChief]

Good start for Siegrist. 2ks hit 95 on the gun. I thought he might get a chance this year. Scrabble may never get back up here.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Good start for Siegrist. 2ks hit 95 on the gun. I thought he might get a chance this year. Scrabble may never get back up here.

Make that 4ks out 6 batters faced. Keep this guy around for a longer look. 6'5 lefties with live arms that throw strikes, we could use.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Make that 4ks out 6 batters faced. Keep this guy around for a longer look. 6'5 lefties with live arms that throw strikes, we could use.

No shit. He looks like a keeper.