***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

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I realize nothing is for certain, but I just don't see anyone out there that is a possible SP trade target that would cost a value like Martinez. Lee would, but his contract isn't something we normally take on, it is something we for the most part avoid.

Why would we let Pujols walk to avoid a contract that size to turn around a year and a half later and take one on?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I just don't have a good feeling about things. This reminds me of when LaRussa's teams would spend months trying to get over the 10 games over .500 hump and played mediocre baseball almost endlessly.

It's not the same thing. Larussa would not have pulled Boggs so quickly. We would have played down to the crappy teams level earlier in the year. Would not have gave Carpenter a chance, especially to bat lead off. would not have moved Holliday out of the #3 hole, called up the AA/AAA starters to give them a chance. However, he is from the Larussa coaching tree.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Jackson should be given a shot, and I have no idea why he's not.

It's just mind boggling. Wonder who's cherrios he pissed in?

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

We have no viable lefty starters.

We cannot hit LHP.

Since when have we been able to beat leftys? Beating Lee in the playoffs in 2011 is the last one I remember.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

This team will continue to struggle as its RISP avg. regresses to a sustainable clip unless it can improve some of these areas.

Regressing to the mean was inevitable. It's okay as long as Holliday, Jay, Freese play to their normal level. Kozma can hit .250. A lot of if's, I know.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

It's not the same thing. Larussa would not have pulled Boggs so quickly. We would have played down to the crappy teams level earlier in the year. Would not have gave Carpenter a chance, especially to bat lead off. would not have moved Holliday out of the #3 hole, called up the AA/AAA starters to give them a chance. However, he is from the Larussa coaching tree.
It's just mind boggling. Wonder who's cherrios he pissed in?
Since when have we been able to beat leftys? Beating Lee in the playoffs in 2011 is the last one I remember.
Regressing to the mean was inevitable. It's okay as long as Holliday, Jay, Freese play to their normal level. Kozma can hit .250. A lot of if's, I know.

We actually hit lefties really well in 2011.

Craig and Freese hit LHP better. Yadi is just as good Carpenter is fine against LHP. Beltran isn't as good, but he's still really good (800+ OPS).

It's Holliday. He actually should not start against LHP

Here's his slash line against them this year:

.203/.333/.288

Yes, Matt Holliday's slugging is 50 points worse than his OBP against LHP.

And get this: his OPS was 100 points HIGHER against LHP than RHP from 2010-2012. In fact. Holliday hits righties the same as he always has, but he now has a complete inability to hit lefties.

Jay should also be included in this as well. He really should platoon at this point, as he has a sub .500 OPS against LHP.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Why would we let Pujols walk to avoid a contract that size to turn around a year and a half later and take one on?

That was my point, I don't think we have to worry about trading Martinez and probably not Wacha either when the only one that dictates that value is Lee but his contract is prohibitive.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

That was my point, I don't think we have to worry about trading Martinez and probably not Wacha either when the only one that dictates that value is Lee but his contract is prohibitive.

The only fly in the ointment is the new CBA. Maybe they decide to blow their new money on Lee.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The only fly in the ointment is the new CBA. Maybe they decide to blow their new money on Lee.

Agreed. Right now we have the big stack on the table. We need to continue to build that stack.

Maness, Blazek, Lyons, Butler, etc. used to be the only kind of prospects we had to work trade deals. If the thinking is we need some veteran support at SP as insurance (possibly a replacement next year for Westbrook) see what those type of prospects can bring.

My untouchables right now in this order are Miler, Taveras, Rosenthal, Martinez, Adams, Wacha and Seigrist. Before Carpenter took off this year I would have added Wong.

I would love to find a way to get Adams at first and Craig in the OF. That is in my opinion one of our biggest dilemmas. Barring something unforeseen, Holliday isn't going anywhere and that is likely Craig's best position (it pains me to watch him at first).

[Mi_chief_fan]

Anyone else having fun watching the Reds implode? Cueto leaves with an injury, Cingrani has walked in 2 runs; Rangers lead 3-0.

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Anyone else having fun watching the Reds implode? Cueto leaves with an injury, Cingrani has walked in 2 runs; Rangers lead 3-0.

I would be if the Cards weren't imploding themselves.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Anyone else having fun watching the Reds implode? Cueto leaves with an injury, Cingrani has walked in 2 runs; Rangers lead 3-0.

There is at least that.

[O.city]

3 balls hit hard that inning, nothing to show.


We've been unlucky for 2 weeks it seems. Everything we hit hard is right at people

[O.city]

Absolutely unlucky

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

3 balls hit hard that inning, nothing to show.


We've been unlucky for 2 weeks it seems. Everything we hit hard is right at people

Jay and Kozma are dead spots in the lineup that is struggling.

[O.city]

I didnt know it, but Kozma leads the league in hits from the 8 hole. He's not good but I found that interesting if true

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Jon Jay is a worthless piece of shit. He and Kozma have buried both of the potential rallies tonight.

[O.city]

Jay is just bad. His defense isn't good enough to cover the lack of hitting. Taveras isn't a cfer so we are either stuck with jay, or you're going to have to make a move for a cfer cause he just isn't good enough