***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

[SAUTO]

Father in law is sitting in the announcers box tonight for the game
Posted via Mobile Device

[Frazod]

Nice beatdown. Hope they saved some runs for Game 2.

[Pepe Silvia]

Miller ****ing rocked it today. If I were a Giants fan i'd be worried about Matt Cain, hes been getting lit up like a christmas tree this year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Miller ****ing rocked it today. If I were a Giants fan i'd be worried about Matt Cain, hes been getting lit up like a christmas tree this year.

If everyone stays healthy the trio of Waino/Miller/Lynn will be as good as any 3 starters we will see in the playoffs.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

If everyone stays healthy the trio of Waino/Miller/Lynn will be as good as any 3 starters we will see in the playoffs.

Absolutely. Waino looking good in game 2 through 5. Lets take 2.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

5-1. Waino's given 7 strong. Starting pitching has carried the day again.

Just looked up the advanced stats to confirm a suspicion. Descalso has been horrific defensively this year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just looked up the advanced stats to confirm a suspicion. Descalso has been horrific defensively this year.

He has no place on this team next year except to spot start Kozma or whoever is the SS. Wong and Carpenter should get every start at 2nd. Carpenter can play many positions. I'm sure the team loves Descalso, a good clubhouse guy but if you are hitting <.225 you had better not make errors.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

5-1. Waino's given 7 strong. Starting pitching has carried the day again.

We have a rested bullpen tomorrow in case Lyons blows up. Also no day off this week before the Reds series. We need to sweep. Take control of the division.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

He has no place on this team next year except to spot start Kozma or whoever is the SS. Wong and Carpenter should get every start at 2nd. Carpenter can play many positions. I'm sure the team loves Descalso, a good clubhouse guy but if you are hitting <.225 you had better not make errors.
We have a rested bullpen tomorrow in case Lyons blows up. Also no day off this week before the Reds series. We need to sweep. Take control of the division.

Carpenter has been the best offensive player not named Molina this year. If he keeps playing like this and playing the defensive 2B that he has, Wong may have to simmer in the minors for another year, or make way for a bullpen arm. BTW the Marlins DFA'd Zack Cox this week. I'd say we won that trade.

Jackson should get his fair shot sooner rather than later, but Carpenter does everything that Descalso does and does it far better.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

BTW the Marlins DFA'd Zack Cox this week. I'd say we won that trade.

I can't remember a trade that we didn't get the best of the deal since Haren.

Mid-seasons almost always burn the contending team after the season is finished. They traded to get that push for that year. Trade future for now. But, we seem to even get the best of those deals. You have to give credit to Mo.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I can't remember a trade that we didn't get the best of the deal since Haren.

Mid-seasons almost always burn the contending team after the season is finished. They traded to get that push for that year. Trade future for now. But, we seem to even get the best of those deals. You have to give credit to Mo.

DeRosa for Perez and Todd.

Trading for Pedro Feliz. Giving up an AIDS tainted needle for Feliz was overpaying.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

DeRosa for Perez and Todd.

Trading for Pedro Feliz. Giving up an AIDS tainted needle for Feliz was overpaying.

Dammit I had forgot about the Perez trade.

In fairness, Derosa did get injured and was never the same that year. And I was pissed that they chose Motte over Perez at the time. Motte did eventually work out. We don't win the WS in 2011 without Motte being lights out in the 9th.

[DJ's left nut]

Gregerson for Khalil Greene.

Descalso was always a guy that you hoped got pushed into a Util IFer role.

He's a really nice defensive 3b and last year played a solid 2b and SS as well. With his defensive versatility and 'grit', I like him settling in as a long-term swiss army knife.

But he does seem to be fighting it with the leather this year, without question.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Gregerson for Khalil Greene.

Did Gregerson do anything?

[Frazod]

I wish I could have seen the second game. 15-1 asswhipping doubleheader of the defending champs. That's awesome.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Gregerson for Khalil Greene.

Descalso was always a guy that you hoped got pushed into a Util IFer role.

He's a really nice defensive 3b and last year played a solid 2b and SS as well. With his defensive versatility and 'grit', I like him settling in as a long-term swiss army knife.

But he does seem to be fighting it with the leather this year, without question.

Descalso is an ideal 25th man. I don't mind him being on the roster. In many ways he's the anti-Skip, someone who seems to come through, and who usually has good at bats in key situations. A sabermetrician's nightmare.