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Old 01-04-2012, 10:08 PM  
BigRedChief BigRedChief is offline
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***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread ***

St. Louis Cardinals: 7 reasons fans should feel good about 2012

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:26 PM

St. Louis Cardinals fans are likely feeling deflated after the collapse that put an end to the team's dreams of a World Series repeat, but there is good reason to be excited.

With all of the odds against them, the Cardinals managed to push their 2012 season beyond any anticipated boundary.

Given all of the season's changes and the adversity the team had to fight through, the fact that they played in October at all was an anomaly in itself. On paper, it made sense for the Cardinals to be in the playoffs, but few saw them as a true threat.
As the season continued, even fans began to doubt as they watched the team seemingly crumble in June and July. When the Cardinals finally came to life in September they went 11-5 in the last 16 games of the season to lock up the second Wild Card position in its inaugural year.

That run, despite it's crushing end in Cincinnati in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, lots of good came from the Cardinals' season and playoff run.
Following in no particular order are 10 reasons Cardinals fans have to be excited about the 2013 season.

Trevor Rosenthal
When rookie fireballer Trevor Rosenthal made his first trip to St. Louis, it was obvious almost instantly that he was something special.
Between his 100 mph fastball and the general inability for almost anyone to hit off of him, he became a huge part of the Cardinals playoff run.

He pitched in a total of 19 regular season games before the 22-year-old rookie from Lee's Summit, Mo. got his first taste of postseason baseball and he put on quite a show.
In 8.2 IP over seven postseason appearances, Rosenthal held opponents to only two hits and no runs.
It's possible that down the stretch he may have already earned his spot in the rotation for 2013.

Shelby Miller
The long-coveted fastball pitching prospect Shelby Miller also made his first trip to St. Louis in 2012 and put on a good show.
In 13.2 IP over six regular season games, Miller surrendered only two runs on nine hits. His postseason performance was more of the same with two runs on four hits in 3.2 IP.

Despite a dismal first half of the season in Memphis, Miller got himself together and still managed to make one major league start before the end of the season -- a very impressive start at that.
Against the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of the regular season, Miller posted 5.2 hitless innings. He gave up no runs and collected his first major league win.

Expect to see a lot more of Miller in St. Louis early in 2013.

Joe Kelly
When Joe Kelly made his major league debut on June 10, few could have guessed the importance he would play throughout the remainder of the 2012 season.
Kelly started 16 games for the Cardinals this season filling in for Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn, but it was the postseason when he really came through for his teammates.

When starting pitchers struggled time and again in October, it was Kelly who came to their rescue.
In seven postseason appearances, Kelly threw 7.2 innings and surrendered only two runs on six hits. Kelly came through for the Cardinals from the bullpen.
There's a good chance that could be his home in the future.

Mike Matheny
When the Cardinals hired Mike Matheny to take over for Tony LaRussa, many question bringing in a manager with no experience to such a storied franchise.

He had a few hiccups and growing pains along the way, but for a rookie manager to get his team where Matheny did this year speaks volumes.
His players have a strong respect for Matheny and credit his positive style with being a driving force behind their 2012 success.
True, he didn't get them through the NLCS, but the team made it to an all or nothing Game 7. That's good experience for the players obviously, but also for Matheny. Not only did he learn a lot about managing in the media pressure cooker that is postseason baseball, he also got a taste of what it felt like to win as a manager.

NLCS loss means more drive to win
While the NLCS loss was a good lesson for a young manager, it's an even more important lesson for a young player.
The 2011 championship lit a fire under young players like Lance Lynn and Jon Jay. That fire helped drive them to extremely successful sophomore seasons.

What happened in 2012 will likely do the same for Rosenthal, Miller and Kelly. Their 2013 season may not be like Jay or Lynn's 2012, but now they've gotten a little taste of what it feels like to be a winner.

Both the excitement and the public humbling can be a great experience for any young player.

The run was without several key components
In a season riddled with injuries, none were as crucial as those late in the season.
The loss of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal significantly weakened the team's bench. Instead of having Pete Kozma, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter to pinch hit, the team wound up having to use them in the lineup.

The loss of Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook also rocked the Cardinals. Instead of having Lynn and Westbrook also available from the bullpen, Lynn was pushed back into the rotation after a very successful NLDS bullpen stint.

Having gotten as deep into the playoffs as the Cardinals did in spite of the injuries is quite the accomplishment.

They did it without Pujols, LaRussa and Duncan
Few in the world of sports gave the Cardinals a fighting chance when Albert Pujols left the team to play on the west coast. Surely this team couldn't be as good as they were?

Few gave them a chance after longtime manager Tony LaRussa decided it was time to retire.
Few gave them a chance after pitching coach Dave Duncan left the team.
The Cardinals did it despite all of that. That's something any fan should be proud of.

No, they didn't hoist a trophy. There will be no parade or tickertape.
What there is, though, is hope for next year and that will come sooner than you may think.
After all, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just four short months.

From a blog I was sent on twitter: http://www.dailystatesman.com/blogs/...es/entry/50051

Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-24-2012 at 08:57 PM..
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:06 PM   #346
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I work in Chicago, and couldn't agree more. Stomp the life out of them, early and often.
My best friend is a huge Cardinals fan as well, and he worked in Chicago for a couple of years and sported his Cardinals apparrel with pride. He said they were absolutely obnoxious. I can't imagine. Where I'm from, it's about 50/50 Cards and Cubs fans, but where I went to college, about 60% of who you'd run into were Cubs fans, while about 30% were Sox fans and 10% were fans of various other teams. Bunch of Chica-burbians. Cubs fans are HORRIBLE. One of my best memories of college was after the Bartman game. There was a mob of Cubs fans outside the dorms throwing tantrums about the game. My friends and I all went outside and joined the Sox and few Cardinals fans who thought it was funny and we were taunting them. The Cubs fans would talk so much $hit, but generally never backed it up...just ran their mouths. Now, if I hated the Sox and there were a bunch of Sox fans outside the dorms throwing a tantrum after a game like that, I probably would have just stayed in my dorm because the Sox fans had a tendency to be a bit more loco than the Cubs fans...they would be more inclined to do more than simply run their mouths.

My senior year was great. 4 of us were Cardinals fans (only ones on campus) and the other one was a Sox fan. It was nice when "watching the game" meant "watching the Cardinals game while the Sox fan listens to the Sox on the radio." In the dorms or in other campus houses, "watching the game" usually meant watching the pathetic Scrubs.
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:15 PM   #347
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Slow down now, turbo.

He does not have the batspeed to be who you think he can be.

He can be a very nice player that steps into his share of HRs, but he's limited defensively and while he isn't immune to taking walks, he's not exactly fond of them either. His upside is probably Adam LaRoche in his early years.

Now that's a damn nice player to have, but did you ever have LaRoche on your list of 'best players in the league'?
we will see......
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:24 PM   #348
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My best friend is a huge Cardinals fan as well, and he worked in Chicago for a couple of years and sported his Cardinals apparrel with pride. He said they were absolutely obnoxious. I can't imagine. Where I'm from, it's about 50/50 Cards and Cubs fans, but where I went to college, about 60% of who you'd run into were Cubs fans, while about 30% were Sox fans and 10% were fans of various other teams. Bunch of Chica-burbians. Cubs fans are HORRIBLE. One of my best memories of college was after the Bartman game. There was a mob of Cubs fans outside the dorms throwing tantrums about the game. My friends and I all went outside and joined the Sox and few Cardinals fans who thought it was funny and we were taunting them. The Cubs fans would talk so much $hit, but generally never backed it up...just ran their mouths. Now, if I hated the Sox and there were a bunch of Sox fans outside the dorms throwing a tantrum after a game like that, I probably would have just stayed in my dorm because the Sox fans had a tendency to be a bit more loco than the Cubs fans...they would be more inclined to do more than simply run their mouths.

My senior year was great. 4 of us were Cardinals fans (only ones on campus) and the other one was a Sox fan. It was nice when "watching the game" meant "watching the Cardinals game while the Sox fan listens to the Sox on the radio." In the dorms or in other campus houses, "watching the game" usually meant watching the pathetic Scrubs.
I've learned that wearing anything that says "World Champions" on it will shut them up rather quickly.

In their good years they can be rather insufferable, but it always ends the same. I'll never forget the day after the Bartman game - before that, it seemed everybody in the city was wearing Cubs stuff. The day after? I think I saw maybe 10 pieces of Cubs apparel during my walk from the train station to my office. It was like walking through a crypt. They were doomed and they knew it.

It was wonderful.
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:33 PM   #349
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I've learned that wearing anything that says "World Champions" on it will shut them up rather quickly.

In their good years they can be rather insufferable, but it always ends the same. I'll never forget the day after the Bartman game - before that, it seemed everybody in the city was wearing Cubs stuff. The day after? I think I saw maybe 10 pieces of Cubs apparel during my walk from the train station to my office. It was like walking through a crypt. They were doomed and they knew it.

It was wonderful.
The updated "Got Rings" shirt.

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Old 04-15-2012, 03:36 PM   #350
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Originally Posted by frazod View Post
I've learned that wearing anything that says "World Champions" on it will shut them up rather quickly.

In their good years they can be rather insufferable, but it always ends the same. I'll never forget the day after the Bartman game - before that, it seemed everybody in the city was wearing Cubs stuff. The day after? I think I saw maybe 10 pieces of Cubs apparel during my walk from the train station to my office. It was like walking through a crypt. They were doomed and they knew it.

It was wonderful.
Lol, awesome.
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:39 PM   #351
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The updated "Got Rings" shirt.

That doesn't show the pathitic 2 rings by the Cubs.
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When the boobs are a bouncin, the Chiefs will be trouncin
What the Raiders fan has said is true, our customs are different. What Al Davis has said is unimportant, and we do not hear his words.
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Old 04-15-2012, 03:46 PM   #352
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Originally Posted by ricoswaff View Post
My best friend is a huge Cardinals fan as well, and he worked in Chicago for a couple of years and sported his Cardinals apparrel with pride. He said they were absolutely obnoxious. I can't imagine. Where I'm from, it's about 50/50 Cards and Cubs fans, but where I went to college, about 60% of who you'd run into were Cubs fans, while about 30% were Sox fans and 10% were fans of various other teams. Bunch of Chica-burbians. Cubs fans are HORRIBLE. One of my best memories of college was after the Bartman game. There was a mob of Cubs fans outside the dorms throwing tantrums about the game. My friends and I all went outside and joined the Sox and few Cardinals fans who thought it was funny and we were taunting them. The Cubs fans would talk so much $hit, but generally never backed it up...just ran their mouths. Now, if I hated the Sox and there were a bunch of Sox fans outside the dorms throwing a tantrum after a game like that, I probably would have just stayed in my dorm because the Sox fans had a tendency to be a bit more loco than the Cubs fans...they would be more inclined to do more than simply run their mouths.

My senior year was great. 4 of us were Cardinals fans (only ones on campus) and the other one was a Sox fan. It was nice when "watching the game" meant "watching the Cardinals game while the Sox fan listens to the Sox on the radio." In the dorms or in other campus houses, "watching the game" usually meant watching the pathetic Scrubs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by frazod View Post
I've learned that wearing anything that says "World Champions" on it will shut them up rather quickly.

In their good years they can be rather insufferable, but it always ends the same. I'll never forget the day after the Bartman game - before that, it seemed everybody in the city was wearing Cubs stuff. The day after? I think I saw maybe 10 pieces of Cubs apparel during my walk from the train station to my office. It was like walking through a crypt. They were doomed and they knew it.

It was wonderful.
Things to shut up Cubs fans:

Ask them if they heard the Cubs website was taken down. When they say no, tell them it was because they couldn't put 3 w's together.

Point out that the last time the Cubs won the series Teddy Roosevelt was President. At the start of season in their last world series trip in 1945 Franklin Roosevelt was President. Then ask if someone named Roosevelt is running for President.

Tell them the Cubs motto is: "Wait 'til next year."

Have them google Cubs world series rings.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Logical
When the boobs are a bouncin, the Chiefs will be trouncin
What the Raiders fan has said is true, our customs are different. What Al Davis has said is unimportant, and we do not hear his words.
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Old 04-15-2012, 04:36 PM   #353
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Old 04-15-2012, 05:20 PM   #354
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My personal favorite - since the Cubs won their last playoff game, the Cardinals have won three pennants and two World Series.
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Old 04-15-2012, 05:34 PM   #355
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My personal favorite - since the Cubs won their last playoff game, the Cardinals have won three pennants and two World Series.
Since they last won the world series, we've won 11 times. Since they last won the pennant we've won 9 pennants and five world series.
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Quote:
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When the boobs are a bouncin, the Chiefs will be trouncin
What the Raiders fan has said is true, our customs are different. What Al Davis has said is unimportant, and we do not hear his words.
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Old 04-15-2012, 05:51 PM   #356
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Old 04-15-2012, 05:51 PM   #357
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1908, the last time the Cubs won the World Series:

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid killed in Bolivia
The Boy Scouts were founded.
The first airplane fatality takes place.
The 4th modern Olympiad was held in London.
The Tunguska event takes place in Siberia, Russia.
Robert Peary sets sail for the North Pole.
Ford produces the first Model T.
The first Dr. Who, William Hartnell, was born. He has been dead since 1975.
Louis L'amour was born, has been dead since '88.
Famous sci-fi producer George Pal was born. He has been dead since 1980.
Bugs Bunny cartoonist Tex Avery was born. He has been dead since 1980.
Jimmy Stewart was born. He has been dead since 1997.
Comedian Milton Berle was born. He has been dead since 2002.
36th President Lyndon Johnson was born. He has been dead since 1973.
22nd/24th President Grover Cleveland died.
Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov died.
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Quote:
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Old 04-15-2012, 06:19 PM   #358
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That's great except for one thing:

Butch and Sundance lived...I will not allow anyone to suggest otherwise.
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Old 04-16-2012, 06:48 PM   #359
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From bernies column

Please put this in the category of "Why I Love Baseball."

* The Cardinals lose Albert Pujols, have limping 1B Lance Berkman in the lineup for only five of the first 10 games and have played without 3B David Freese for the last two games. Allen Craig and Skip Schumaker are on the DL, Matt Holliday is hitting .200 (he'll be fine) and their second basemen are batting .189 collectively. Pitching ace Chris Carpenter is on the disabled list, and ace-designate Adam Wainwright has an 11.42 ERA after two starts. This is a team with a rookie manager, Mike Matheny, and a pitching coach (Derek Lilliquist) who is in his first big-league season as the full-time PC. Seven of their first 10 games have been played on the road, and the Cardinals have faced a collection of aces including JoshJohnson, Zack Greinke and Johnny Cueto.

* If you didn't know any better, and looked at those factors and tried to guess what the Cardinals' record would be after 10 games, I'm thinking you'd come up with 2-8, maybe 3-7 — or if you are really a homer, 4-6. But no ... as we know, the Cardinals are off to a 7-3 start.

* The Cardinals are off to a 7-3 start in part because rookie Matt Carpenter is batting 166 points higher (.409) than Pujols (.243), and has six more RBIs (10-4) than Pujols.

* The Cardinals are off to a 7-3 start, in part, because young Lance Lynn moved from the bullpen to the rotation to take Carp's spot and has turned in two terrific, winning starts. They're winning because CF Jon Jay is batting .344 with a couple of homers, and catching everything that he can possibly get to. They're winning because Mitchell Boggs, Jason Motte, Marc Rzepczynski and bullpen mates are, for the most part, getting the big outs. They're winning because young backup outfielders Shane Robinson and Eric Komatsu have gone a combined 8 for 22 when asked to contribute.

* The Cardinals are winning because Matheny doesn't act or look like a rookie manager — and even if he did, it would be OK for a while, because the players love playing for Matheny and have his back. They're winning because the capable Lilliquist has made a seamless transition, which isn't easy to do when you're asked to succeed Dave Duncan. They're winning because Mark McGwire works so well with young hitters.

* The Cardinals are winning because Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook and Lynn are more than making up for Carp's absence and Wainwright's early struggles. The rotation has a 3.22 ERA so far.

* The Cardinals are winning because Freese (3 homers, 11 RBIs, .406) is a lot more than just 15 minutes of fame.

* The Cardinals are winning because catcher Yadier Molina is one of the best players in baseball. The industry knows about his gold-plated defense; it's the basis for his strong rep. But Molina has developed into a legitimately good hitter, and his offense is no fluke. Molina has 3 homers, 4 doubles, 10 RBIs and is batting .358. This is a continuation of what he started last season.

* One of the comical things I continue to hear — and it came up on the Fox Network broadcast Saturday, during the Pujols Slobberfest — is that the Cardinals reacted to losing Pujols by overpaying Molina. The Cardinals supposedly needed to save face with the fans and did so by lavishing riches on Molina. Right. This, of course, is insulting to Molina because it implies that he didn't deserve the new five-year, $75 million deal that kicks in next season. This implies that he got the money because the Cardinals had to do something to score points with the fans — as if Molina is Jason Bay and the Cardinals were the Mets. It's laughable. The Cardinals paid Molina the big money because — as Tony La Russa and John Mozeliak have said — he's their one irreplaceable player. He is a lot more than just a catcher, and the people who still don't get it need to talk to the pitchers, to Molina's teammates.
* Baseball, of course, tests a team over 162 games. The schedule finds a team's weaknesses and exposes them over the long haul. No, Matt Carpenter won't continue to outhit Pujols. Lynn will have to show that he can still dominate hitters after they've seen him a few times, and make the adjustments. That's the thing about baseball; you have to prove yourself over six months — not two weeks. The Cardinals, as everyone knows, have age in key places and are vulnerable to injury. So the biggest challenges await them.

* That said, this 7-3 start shouldn't surprise anyone, really. The underlying lesson is that this is a resilient organization that usually finds solutions for short-term, and long-term, problems. The 2011 Cardinals overcame injuries and adversity to win the 11th World Series title in franchise history. And the 2012 Cardinals are already showing that they can fight through the early troubles. This mental toughness is ingrained in the veterans that have been around here for a while. It doesn't go away just because La Russa retired.
* It's an organization that has a plan, and knows how to establish a core nucleus of veterans that are supplemented by an improved and increasingly productive farm system. This is an organization that's been winning consistently since Bill DeWitt took over as owner/chairman in 1996. It's an organization that has the fourth-highest win total in the majors since '96, and more postseason wins than any franchise except the NY Yankees. It's an organization that made the playoffs twice (1996, 2000) before Pujols arrived as a rookie in 2001, and it's an organization that seemingly has the pieces to make it to postseason again, in the first year without Pujols.

* It's The Cardinal Way. And it's built to last, to survive, to endure.
Long season.
Nice start.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colum...#ixzz1sFmOuuxu
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Old 04-17-2012, 08:57 PM   #360
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