Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 330

**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

rolltide2014 · 10-02-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Why keep Mujica on the roster unless you are going to use him? And if you are going to use him in anything other than a blowout, WTF are you thinking?

Yeah it makes no sense to me either. I bet is they were playing Cincy instead there's a chance they would've left him off in favor of a third lefty, either Lyons or Freeman, with their lefty-heavy lineup.

rolltide2014 · 10-02-2013, 07:43 PM

Who woulda ever thought Scrabble would be pitching in the playoffs this year?

Frazod · 10-02-2013, 07:44 PM

BRC, you should start a Cardinals specific post-season thread. I don't want to mix with the rif-raf.

**BigRedChief** · 10-02-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

BRC, you should start a Cardinals specific post-season thread. I don't want to mix with the rif-raf.

We could just keep it all in here?

Is it slow?

Frazod · 10-02-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We could just keep it all in here?

Is it slow?

That's fine, too.

**BigRedChief** · 10-02-2013, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

That's fine, too.

Changed the OP to reflect the season and going into the playoffs.

O.city · 10-02-2013, 08:42 PM

We've had a good luck season with this thread, lets keep it going.

**BigRedChief** · 10-02-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

We've had a good luck season with this thread, lets keep it going.

Yeah the 2011 thread got really slow because it was so huge but we couldn't abandon the thread due to being afraid of pissing off the karma gods.

**BigRedChief** · 10-03-2013, 03:13 PM

I don't understand the tlaking heads on TV. Because Pitt had a good night and good crowd, that means they are favored and going to beat the Cardinals in 4?

Are we not playing at Busch? Don't we also have a long standing national reputation as having a good crowd?

Bringing up the RedSox in 2004. Is there anyone on this team that was on that team? The current team has a little more playoff experience since then anyway.

rolltide2014 · 10-03-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Bringing up the RedSox in 2004. Is there anyone on this team that was on that team? The current team has a little more playoff experience since then anyway.

Craziest stat I heard really caught me by surprise: only one pitcher on this roster that was on the 2011 team...wow

Pepe Silvia · 10-03-2013, 03:42 PM

Let's do this shit. Go Cards!!!!!!

Pepe Silvia · 10-03-2013, 03:43 PM

Come on Freese.

Pepe Silvia · 10-03-2013, 03:46 PM

**chefsos** · 10-03-2013, 03:50 PM

Shit, I didn't know this was going on now. I'll be watching.

BTW, one of you guys left a window unlocked. Riff-raff is in.

**chefsos** · 10-03-2013, 04:01 PM

I understand Burnett's much improved since his MFY days, but I see he's still an idiot.

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

10-02-2013, 07:43 PM	#4937
rolltide2014 Starter Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Bloomington, IL Casino cash: $10011695	Who woulda ever thought Scrabble would be pitching in the playoffs this year?
Posts: 373

10-02-2013, 07:44 PM	#4938
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	BRC, you should start a Cardinals specific post-season thread. I don't want to mix with the rif-raf.
Posts: 119,482

10-02-2013, 08:42 PM	#4942
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	We've had a good luck season with this thread, lets keep it going.
Posts: 81,174

10-03-2013, 03:13 PM	#4944
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 VARSITY	I don't understand the tlaking heads on TV. Because Pitt had a good night and good crowd, that means they are favored and going to beat the Cardinals in 4? Are we not playing at Busch? Don't we also have a long standing national reputation as having a good crowd? Bringing up the RedSox in 2004. Is there anyone on this team that was on that team? The current team has a little more playoff experience since then anyway. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,937

10-03-2013, 03:42 PM	#4946
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	Let's do this shit. Go Cards!!!!!!
Posts: 16,532

10-03-2013, 03:43 PM	#4947
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	Come on Freese.
Posts: 16,532

10-03-2013, 03:46 PM	#4948
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	****
Posts: 16,532

10-03-2013, 03:50 PM	#4949
chefsos Fifty eight sixty two... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Felton, DE Casino cash: $8527676	Shit, I didn't know this was going on now. I'll be watching. BTW, one of you guys left a window unlocked. Riff-raff is in.
Posts: 9,449

10-03-2013, 04:01 PM	#4950
chefsos Fifty eight sixty two... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Felton, DE Casino cash: $8527676	I understand Burnett's much improved since his MFY days, but I see he's still an idiot.
Posts: 9,449