Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 256

**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

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-09-2013, 09:44 PM

I'd like to know what Matheny does in daily life. Does he wait until 16,000 miles to change the oil in his car? When he pulls up to the gas station does he use diesel because it's the only open pump? Does he keep going to the same McDonald's even though their Coke is always flat? Does he ignore recall information on children's toys? Has he hoarded real estate near Pripyat?

seaofred · 08-09-2013, 09:45 PM

All this from "The best fans" in baseball....

kcpasco · 08-09-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaofred

All this from "The best fans" in baseball....

well when your used to winning the losing feels wierd

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-09-2013, 09:47 PM

That pitch to Descalso was perfect. He had no right to bitch about that.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-09-2013, 09:58 PM

Lynn just admitted to pitching around Darwin Barney with a runner one second and one out.

I have no words.

kcpasco · 08-09-2013, 10:01 PM

This team is still +137 in run diff. Thats piss poor managing to be losing at this rate with that stat.

**BigRedChief** · 08-09-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Lynn just admitted to pitching around Darwin Barney with a runner one second and one out.

I have no words.

WTF? You pitch around the 8th place hitter thats hitting .211? GTFO the mound if you are scared of that type of hitter.

I bet Molina wouldn't have allowed that.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-09-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

WTF? You pitch around the 8th place hitter thats hitting .211? GTFO the mound if you are scared of that type of hitter.

I bet Molina wouldn't have allowed that.

And by pitching around him, unless you force a DP you guarantee that their hottest hitter will face you with at least two men on or runs already on the board.

I blame Matheny just as much. You could tell that he was losing it, just like you could tell that Kelly was losing it against the Dodgers. In both cases he left the starter in too long and jeopardized the game. He's just lucky that Maness saved his ass with a double play ball in the Dodger game.

Swanman · 08-10-2013, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

And by pitching around him, unless you force a DP you guarantee that their hottest hitter will face you with at least two men on or runs already on the board.

I blame Matheny just as much. You could tell that he was losing it, just like you could tell that Kelly was losing it against the Dodgers. In both cases he left the starter in too long and jeopardized the game. He's just lucky that Maness saved his ass with a double play ball in the Dodger game.

Once Lynn got near the 100 pitch count and his control started to go bad again, his ass should have been yanked for Maness. The camera shot into the dugout was perfect around then. Matheny and Fatass just sitting in there staring into space like reeruns.

I guess this is what happens when you hire a guy that has approximately 1,952 concussions in his past.

Mi_chief_fan · 08-10-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Lynn just admitted to pitching around Darwin Barney with a runner one second and one out.

I have no words.

Fireable offense. Like your 3 hitter sacrificing with 2 on, no out, and down 2 runs. I....have no words either.

Mi_chief_fan · 08-10-2013, 08:23 AM

And yes, Matheny continues to downgrade a University of Michigan education.

Jewish Rabbi · 08-10-2013, 06:28 PM

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-10-2013, 07:20 PM

Siegrist missing spots and elevating. Getting lucky.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-10-2013, 07:29 PM

Oh my God. Johnson, you ****ing clown.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-10-2013, 07:44 PM

Twenty-eight straight fastballs from Rosenthal. This is idiotic.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3159627 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: 79,001

08-09-2013, 09:44 PM	#3826
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	I'd like to know what Matheny does in daily life. Does he wait until 16,000 miles to change the oil in his car? When he pulls up to the gas station does he use diesel because it's the only open pump? Does he keep going to the same McDonald's even though their Coke is always flat? Does he ignore recall information on children's toys? Has he hoarded real estate near Pripyat? __________________ "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: 74,825

08-09-2013, 09:45 PM	#3827
seaofred Wish I had something clever... Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Trout fishing capital USA Casino cash: $4825333	All this from "The best fans" in baseball.... __________________
Posts: 1,656

08-09-2013, 09:47 PM	#3829
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	That pitch to Descalso was perfect. He had no right to bitch about that. __________________ "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: 74,825

08-09-2013, 09:58 PM	#3830
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Lynn just admitted to pitching around Darwin Barney with a runner one second and one out. I have no words. __________________ "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: 74,825

08-09-2013, 10:01 PM	#3831
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	This team is still +137 in run diff. Thats piss poor managing to be losing at this rate with that stat.
Posts: 15,477

08-10-2013, 08:23 AM	#3836
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	And yes, Matheny continues to downgrade a University of Michigan education. __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517

08-10-2013, 06:28 PM	#3837
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2138320
Posts: 15,553

08-10-2013, 07:20 PM	#3838
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Siegrist missing spots and elevating. Getting lucky. __________________ "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: 74,825

08-10-2013, 07:29 PM	#3839
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Oh my God. Johnson, you ****ing clown. __________________ "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: 74,825

08-10-2013, 07:44 PM	#3840
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Twenty-eight straight fastballs from Rosenthal. This is idiotic. __________________ "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: 74,825