Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 316

**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

whoman69 · 09-25-2013, 02:54 PM

Looks like the magic number could be down to one by the end of the day. With a Cardinals win and Reds loss, the Reds are now officially eliminated from the division crown. Pirates losing to the Cubs right now despite having their ace start the game against a very poor pitcher. Cubs looking to add more runs to a 4-1 lead.

Frazod · 09-25-2013, 03:25 PM

Cubs being the Cubs. Just gave up a run-scoring triple in the top of the 9th, now up 4-2, runner on 3rd, one out.

Frazod · 09-25-2013, 03:28 PM

Cubs hold on to win. Suck it, Buttpirates.

Mi_chief_fan · 09-25-2013, 03:29 PM

Thank you, cubbies. You may go away now.

whoman69 · 09-25-2013, 03:33 PM

I can't believe I'm about to say this. "Cubs Win!"

Frazod · 09-25-2013, 03:41 PM

Now we need the Braves to lose and it will be a perfect day.

Pepe Silvia · 09-25-2013, 03:59 PM

I seriously think the DReds will demolish the buttpirates in that play-in game.

VAChief · 09-25-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

SP:

Waino
Miller
Wacha
Lynn

Kelly comes in at the first sign of trouble for Lynn or Wacha.

BP:

Kelly
Martinez
Freeman
Choate
Mujica
Axford
Siegrist
Rosenthal

Swap Maness for Mujica if you desire

Lineup:

Carpenter
Beltran
Holliday
Adams
Molina
Freese
Jay
Descalso
Pitcher

Bench:
Kozma
Craig (health dependent)
Robinson
Cruz
Wong

I think it will be Wacha instead of Kelly as the long man. I could also see him taking Lyons instead of Freeman.

whoman69 · 09-25-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

SP:

Waino
Miller
Wacha
Lynn

Kelly comes in at the first sign of trouble for Lynn or Wacha.

BP:

Kelly
Martinez
Freeman
Choate
Mujica
Axford
Siegrist
Rosenthal

Swap Maness for Mujica if you desire

Lineup:

Carpenter
Beltran
Holliday
Adams
Molina
Freese
Jay
Descalso
Pitcher

Bench:
Kozma
Craig (health dependent)
Robinson
Cruz
Wong

Much rather see Lynn coming out of the pen. Lynn has pretty much hit his limit. He's had a 2.66 ERA in 4 starts in September, but has hit a wall at the 6th inning. Lynn had lost five straight decisions before winning on the 21st. We'll have a better idea when we see who they put out there on hopefully meaningless games on Saturday and Sunday.

Jewish Rabbi · 09-25-2013, 04:33 PM

I don't see them taking Freeman over Maness in the bullpen.

VAChief · 09-25-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

Much rather see Lynn coming out of the pen. Lynn has pretty much hit his limit. He's had a 2.66 ERA in 4 starts in September, but has hit a wall at the 6th inning. Lynn had lost five straight decisions before winning on the 21st. We'll have a better idea when we see who they put out there on hopefully meaningless games on Saturday and Sunday.

It's a close call, all of them project well out of the pen, but no one beyond Waino has consistently shown they project more than 6 innings.

VAChief · 09-25-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I don't see them taking Freeman over Maness in the bullpen.

Didn't notice Maness missing. I can't see that either. I could see Freeman or Lyons if they get to the WS being added with hopefully Craig available as a DH.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-25-2013, 06:08 PM

I wasn't saying who they would take, but who they should take.

Maness isn't a very good pitcher. I know we like him because he's come in and gotten some ground balls in good spots, but he has 10th percentile stuff. We lose that Milwaukee game because of him and Mujica if Beltran doesn't hose Aoki.

He's way, way too hittable. He only has value in a one out, runner on first situation, and that's not enough value to warrant a roster spot.

Axford can come in the middle stages of the game and get a strikeout in a must-K situation. Freeman can devastate lefties and his stuff is good enough to play on both sides. Scroate is the LOOGY. Siegrist has been the best pitcher on the team since June, and Rosenthal is not far behind.

Maness has the stuff of a White Salas.

**BigRedChief** · 09-25-2013, 07:29 PM

We win Friday night its all over.

If we get home field advantage, do we get to play the Red/Pirates winner?

Frazod · 09-25-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We win Friday night its all over.

If we get home field advantage, do we get to play the Red/Pirates winner?

Unless they changed it, you can't get a wildcard from your own division in the first round.

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

09-25-2013, 03:25 PM	#4727
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Cubs being the Cubs. Just gave up a run-scoring triple in the top of the 9th, now up 4-2, runner on 3rd, one out.
Posts: 119,482

09-25-2013, 03:28 PM	#4728
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Cubs hold on to win. Suck it, Buttpirates.
Posts: 119,482

09-25-2013, 03:29 PM	#4729
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	Thank you, cubbies. You may go away now. __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517

09-25-2013, 03:41 PM	#4731
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Now we need the Braves to lose and it will be a perfect day.
Posts: 119,482

09-25-2013, 03:59 PM	#4732
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	I seriously think the DReds will demolish the buttpirates in that play-in game.
Posts: 16,532

09-25-2013, 04:33 PM	#4735
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2208320	I don't see them taking Freeman over Maness in the bullpen.
Posts: 15,531

09-25-2013, 06:08 PM	#4738
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	I wasn't saying who they would take, but who they should take. Maness isn't a very good pitcher. I know we like him because he's come in and gotten some ground balls in good spots, but he has 10th percentile stuff. We lose that Milwaukee game because of him and Mujica if Beltran doesn't hose Aoki. He's way, way too hittable. He only has value in a one out, runner on first situation, and that's not enough value to warrant a roster spot. Axford can come in the middle stages of the game and get a strikeout in a must-K situation. Freeman can devastate lefties and his stuff is good enough to play on both sides. Scroate is the LOOGY. Siegrist has been the best pitcher on the team since June, and Rosenthal is not far behind. Maness has the stuff of a White Salas. __________________ "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
Posts: 74,820

09-25-2013, 07:29 PM	#4739
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 VARSITY	We win Friday night its all over. If we get home field advantage, do we get to play the Red/Pirates winner? __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,937