***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

[Third Eye]

Originally Posted by Swanman

Can I have a little asteroid for the ESPN studios if Dickhead V and Stu Scott are in the building?

Dick Vitale is one of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever met.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

So in the GDT, Hamas brought up 2007 after I mentioned Kip Wells.

It's ****ing astounding how different the rotation is from then. I still don't understand how Walt thought Wells could be a capable #2 when he had done nothing in his career previously to prove that. And there was nothing in the minors.

Walt was desperate. As the game wisened up, his ability to extract sick value in trades lessened, which made him a less valuable GM. If you look at his success, his firing would be a major red flag for most organizations, but the Cardinals made the right choice.

I don't even want to think about some of the bloated contracts we'd carry if Jocketty was still here.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Walt was desperate. As the game wisened up, his ability to extract sick value in trades lessened, which made him a less valuable GM. If you look at his success, his firing would be a major red flag for most organizations, but the Cardinals made the right choice.

I don't even want to think about some of the bloated contracts we'd carry if Jocketty was still here.

I think there red flags everywhere before the season started. Losing what? 3/5 of the rotation wasn't good. And replacing the starters with Looper and Wells wasn't a great idea. I don't blame them for giving Reyes a shot and Mulder imploding.

What do you think has been the change in his performance in Cincy?

The talent there before he was hired or his ability to develop a minor league system?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I think there red flags everywhere before the season started. Losing what? 3/5 of the rotation wasn't good. And replacing the starters with Looper and Wells wasn't a great idea. I don't blame them for giving Reyes a shot and Mulder imploding.

What do you think has been the change in his performance in Cincy?

The talent there before he was hired or his ability to develop a minor league system?

Votto, Phillips, Bailey, Bruce, and Cueto were already there. He paid a king's ransom for Chapman, and as good as he is, he's overpaid as a closer. Using Chapman as a closer is as bad as us keeping Rosenthal in the pen in perpetuity, and probably worse given that he's a lefty.

Jocketty did what he usually does. He made mostly good trades and scoured the bargain bin. Trading Hamilton for Volquez was a massive blunder, but he eventually turned Volquez and Alonso (his first draft pick) into Latos.

Cincy was an excellent job to step into, but who has he really added to that team through the draft? Cingrani? He hasn't changed anything about his approach.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Any near-Earth asteroids crossing our orbit soon?

you asked.........
9X bigger than the QE2 due tomorrow
http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2...on-online?lite

[Pepe Silvia]

Wacha! Wacha! Wacha! Lets do this.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Wacha! Wacha! Wacha! Lets do this.

Does he go 6-7 innings. 3 hits, 1 run allowed?

Whats the over/under?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Does he go 6-7 innings. 3 hits, 1 run allowed?

Whats the over/under?

They're gonna try and cap him at 150 innings this year. Even if he does well I'd be surprised if he goes into the 7th.

That said, don't expect him to be Shelby Miller. He hasn't missed a ton of bats in AAA, and there's no reason to expect him to do so here. That's why DJ wanted him to stay in Memphis. Until he learns to make a breaking ball an out pitch he may scuffle a bit with big league hitters, as he's not a sinkerballer or a flame thrower. He needs a third pitch, and right now he doesn't have one.

Hopefully the Royals' BABIP luck dries up today.

I'd be content with 6 IP 6H, 1BB, 4K and 2-3 ER.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

They're gonna try and cap him at 150 innings this year. Even if he does well I'd be surprised if he goes into the 7th.

That said, don't expect him to be Shelby Miller. He hasn't missed a ton of bats in AAA, and there's no reason to expect him to do so here. That's why DJ wanted him to stay in Memphis. Until he learns to make a breaking ball an out pitch he may scuffle a bit with big league hitters, as he's not a sinkerballer or a flame thrower. He needs a third pitch, and right now he doesn't have one.

Hopefully the Royals' BABIP luck dries up today.

I'd be content with 6 IP 6H, 1BB, 4K and 2-3 ER.

yeah I read or saw where Mo was talking averaging 5 innings per start the rest of the year.

We don't need him to be a #3 or higher this year. Just learn and get that damn breaking ball to the major league level. Ask that guy in the locker next to you for some tips.

[Pepe Silvia]

I think he goes 6, with 5 hits and 2 maybe 3 ER's. This is the perfect line up for him to start his first game against to ease him in the majors. Have to agree with hamas though I wouldn't expect him to be on Millers level.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

I think he goes 6, with 5 hits and 2 maybe 3 ER's. This is the perfect line up for him to start his first game against to ease him in the majors. Have to agree with hamas though I wouldn't expect him to be on Millers level.

You guys see the video from this afternoon......... about 25 press people standing around Wacha in the dugout asking him how special is he?

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You guys see the video from this afternoon......... about 25 press people standing around Wacha in the dugout asking him how special is he?

No, where did you see that?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

No, where did you see that?

Fox sports midwest website and STLtoday website.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Fox sports midwest website and STLtoday website.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

yeah I read or saw where Mo was talking averaging 5 innings per start the rest of the year.

We don't need him to be a #3 or higher this year. Just learn and get that damn breaking ball to the major league level. Ask that guy in the locker next to you for some tips.

If he's only throwing 5 per start he's essentially worthless to us. A better plan would be for us to get him about 15 starts, hoping for about 6 IP per start. From there, transition him to a bullpen role once rosters expand. He probably ends up at 165 or so that way, but that isn't egregious.