***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

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Rosenthal blew his hold as well. I am concerned about Mujica as well, but not willing to switch things just yet. We need to keep Rosenthal comfortable, the ninth is a whole other animal, and I still hope they can groom him for the rotation. I wouldn't be pissed if they made the switch, but I don't think it is a must have yet. His save ratio is still quite good.

I don't give a shit if his overall save ratio is good; the sonofabitch is a human gas can whose only saving grace has been batted ball luck.

He gave up two hits last night (and that ball hit off Descalso's chest was a ****ing rocket), then hung almost every pitch to Helton before lucking out with the final fastball, which wasn't that high or that hard.

He comes in tonight and serves up a gopher ball to blow the save.

Here is his September:

1.0 IP 2H, 1 ER
1.0 IP 2H, 1 ER, BS
0.1 IP S
1.0 IP 2H, 2 ER
1.0 IP 2H
1.0 IP 2H
1.0 IP, 2H 1 ER BS

I'm ****ing tired of watching this idiot come in and hang changeups. He needs to be moved down the order, and the 9th needs to be given to Siegrist.

Mujica is going to cost the team the division and/or a playoff series.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I don't give a shit if his overall save ratio is good; the sonofabitch is a human gas can whose only saving grace has been batted ball luck.

He gave up two hits last night (and that ball hit off Descalso's chest was a ****ing rocket), then hung almost every pitch to Helton before lucking out with the final fastball, which wasn't that high or that hard.

He comes in tonight and serves up a gopher ball to blow the save.

Here is his September:

1.0 IP 2H, 1 ER
1.0 IP 2H, 1 ER, BS
0.1 IP S
1.0 IP 2H, 2 ER
1.0 IP 2H
1.0 IP 2H
1.0 IP, 2H 1 ER BS

I'm ****ing tired of watching this idiot come in and hang changeups. He needs to be moved down the order, and the 9th needs to be given to Siegrist.

Mujica is going to cost the team the division and/or a playoff series.

I'm not against a shorter leash, but we are basically the Nats without him stepping up early in the year. He earned a little slack.

I love Siegrist and was pimping him long before the average Card fan knew he even existed. I would be more inclined to give him some closing opportunities than Rosenthal. He rarely farts around, and throws strikes, but although he has been up for awhile now, we are still talking about limited exposure for the most part.

It wouldn't piss me off if they gave others a chance to close, I'm just not sure yet that is best for all concerned.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I'm not against a shorter leash, but we are basically the Nats without him stepping up early in the year. He earned a little slack.

I love Siegrist and was pimping him long before the average Card fan knew he even existed. I would be more inclined to give him some closing opportunities than Rosenthal. He rarely farts around, and throws strikes, but although he has been up for awhile now, we are still talking about limited exposure for the most part.

It wouldn't piss me off if they gave others a chance to close, I'm just not sure yet that is best for all concerned.

You're right that he's earned slack, but September should be pulling the rope taught enough to yank him back to the seventh. It will never happen because Matheny's a foot shuffling porter, but it should.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I'm not against a shorter leash, but we are basically the Nats without him stepping up early in the year. He earned a little slack.

I love Siegrist and was pimping him long before the average Card fan knew he even existed. I would be more inclined to give him some closing opportunities than Rosenthal. He rarely farts around, and throws strikes, but although he has been up for awhile now, we are still talking about limited exposure for the most part.

It wouldn't piss me off if they gave others a chance to close, I'm just not sure yet that is best for all concerned.

Uh.

Siegrist always farts around and rarely throws strikes.

In 36 innings, he's walked 18. By contrast, Rosenthal has walked 20 in 72 innings. Meanwhile Mujica has walked 4 all season; 16 in his last 2 seasons combined.

There are reasons to like Siegrist, don't get me wrong. His stuff is disgusting and coming from a lefty it's almost unrivaled. He's damn near impossible to hit when he puts the ball in the strike zone.

But don't go making up strengths. Siegrist nibbles a LOT and he walks entirely too many batters. "Throws strikes" is most certainly not on his scouting report. Siegrist is ultimately worse than any pitcher on our staff at throwing strikes. He's probably among the worst in the national league.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Uh.

Siegrist always farts around and rarely throws strikes.

In 36 innings, he's walked 18. By contrast, Rosenthal has walked 20 in 72 innings. Meanwhile Mujica has walked 4 all season; 16 in his last 2 seasons combined.

There are reasons to like Siegrist, don't get me wrong. His stuff is disgusting and coming from a lefty it's almost unrivaled. He's damn near impossible to hit when he puts the ball in the strike zone.

But don't go making up strengths. Siegrist nibbles a LOT and he walks entirely too many batters. "Throws strikes" is most certainly not on his scouting report. Siegrist is ultimately worse than any pitcher on our staff at throwing strikes. He's probably among the worst in the national league.

I knew his WHIP was sub 1.00 (0.87) but didn't realize it was mostly walks so I get your point.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You're right that he's earned slack, but September should be pulling the rope taught enough to yank him back to the seventh. It will never happen because Matheny's a foot shuffling porter, but it should.

STLtoday was thinking that maybe, just maybe if Mujica blows one in Milwaukee that a change may be made.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

YES, YES, ADAMS, YOU STUD!!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Bringing in Maness with a runner on second and one out may not be the worst idea ever, but it's probably bottom five.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

EAT **** PIE YOU WASABI-SUCKIN' MOTHER****ER!!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Damn. I thought that with how that ball came off the bat that Kozma could score easily. Either way, nice AB, Adron.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Runners and 1st and 3rd with one out and they can't even put a ball in play with Carpenter and Beltran. God, this team is so frustrating.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

[Jewish Rabbi]

Adams done ****ed that ball up.

[kcpasco]

Adam bomb!!!!