***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]

This team played over its head for a while but it's back to the norm

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Oh yay, another injured pitcher.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

This team played over its head for a while but it's back to the norm

This team is several games under its Pythagorean W-L. If you want to talk about a team playing over its head look at Pittsburgh.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

The curse of the soft-tossing lefty continues.

[kcxiv]

wow, freese dropped the easiest pop up you will ever see. lol

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Four and eleven in the last 15.

[Pepe Silvia]

Even if they did miraculously make the playoffs they aren't doing shit, especially if its just the wild card.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Jack Clark-seco making a massive ass of himself:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...171518294.html

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Even if they did miraculously make the playoffs they aren't doing shit, especially if its just the wild card.

They have a 99.5% chance of making the playoffs. They have an 8.5 game lead. They would have to lose 75% of their games to miss out on the playoffs.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Idea for next year (provided you don't trade Wong)

1) MCarp gets about 40 starts at 3rd, 40 in right, 40 at second, 20 in left (140 total)
2) Craig gets 100 starts in right 10 in left, and 30 at first (140 total)
3) Adams gets 130 starts at first, and 10ish as DH (140 total)
4) Taveras is your everyday CF (140-50 total)
5) Holliday gets 140 starts in left
6) Wong gets 120 starts at second
7) Freese gets 120 starts at third
8) Molina gets 135 starts at catcher, with an occasional 1B start sprinkled in.

Jay and Descalso play your utlity roles in the IF and OF respectively

Isn't that your best option for winning while also putting forward the most balanced lineup that can absorb an injury?

Make Beltran a qualifying offer and take the pick at the end of the first.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Idea for next year (provided you don't trade Wong)

1) MCarp gets about 40 starts at 3rd, 40 in right, 40 at second, 20 in left (140 total)
2) Craig gets 100 starts in right 10 in left, and 30 at first (140 total)
3) Adams gets 130 starts at first, and 10ish as DH (140 total)
4) Taveras is your everyday CF (140-50 total)
5) Holliday gets 140 starts in left
6) Wong gets 120 starts at second
7) Freese gets 120 starts at third
8) Molina gets 135 starts at catcher, with an occasional 1B start sprinkled in.

Jay and Descalso play your utlity roles in the IF and OF respectively

Isn't that your best option for winning while also putting forward the most balanced lineup that can absorb an injury?

Make Beltran a qualifying offer and take the pick at the end of the first.

If Wong is not traded, why do you think Freese stays?

I think carpenter could play any position but SS/1B/C. But, he needs to go to 3B and Wong to 2B.

Taveras definitely needs to be our everyday CF.

I like Martinez as a reliever or trade bait for a SS. But who is worth a trade of our top guys?

Move Rosenthal to the starting lineup. But I think they let Mujica walk and he becomes the closer.

I like this pool for starting pitching. It's young, but WTH. Someone falls off a cliff, we got guys to call off the bench.

Waino
Miller
Wacha
Rosenthal
Lynn
Kelly/Garcia/Lyons/Gast/

[O.city]

Maybe with piug coming on the dodgers would be willing to trade kemp?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

Maybe with piug coming on the dodgers would be willing to trade kemp?

Kemp plays center, Puig plays right, and the Dodgers have unlimited money. That would never, ever happen. Furthermore, you want to pay Matt Kemp $20 million per year until he's 35, because that's what the dumbass Dodgers are doing.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

If Wong is not traded, why do you think Freese stays?

I think carpenter could play any position but SS/1B/C. But, he needs to go to 3B and Wong to 2B.

Taveras definitely needs to be our everyday CF.

I like Martinez as a reliever or trade bait for a SS. But who is worth a trade of our top guys?

Move Rosenthal to the starting lineup. But I think they let Mujica walk and he becomes the closer.

I like this pool for starting pitching. It's young, but WTH. Someone falls off a cliff, we got guys to call off the bench.

Waino
Miller
Wacha
Rosenthal
Lynn
Kelly/Garcia/Lyons/Gast/

Here is what you're proposing:

Wong+Carpenter+RH Bench bat > Wong, Freese, Carpenter

That's poor value. My idea allows the Cardinals to rest Holliday, Craig, and Freese, none of whom are pictures of health, while never sabotaging the lineup with a Shane Robinson or Ty Wigginton to do so. Furthermore, you aren't Profaring Wong in this example.

I'm 100% down with trading Wong. I get it. But it's nice to have seven above average-great ML hitters for six spots than six, especially when you can parcel out ABs like that.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Kemp plays center, Puig plays right, and the Dodgers have unlimited money. That would never, ever happen. Furthermore, you want to pay Matt Kemp $20 million per year until he's 35, because that's what the dumbass Dodgers are doing.

Yeah, no, I was actually joking though.


No way I'd do that