Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 286

**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

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-28-2013, 06:39 PM

Hard not to expect that after Matheny had him throw nearly 130 pitches last outing. That was an all-around awful first inning. Wainwright would have had two outs and no one on if Carpenter, Descalso, or Freese had a lick of range, then Carpenter's boneheaded non-cover of second was the piece de resistance.

You probably won't see the Cardinals play a worse inning this year.

Honestly, Matheny should have had kept Martinez up to start this game, even if it was a brief outing. Pitchers who go 120+ probably need 5-6 days of rest. Having a rested Wainwright start the road trip would have been a big bonus. Instead, Matheny is always playing checkers.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-28-2013, 06:39 PM

Glad I passed on tickets tonight. Nothing like your ace getting curbstomped at home.

**BigRedChief** · 08-28-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

6 runs. Perhaps we overused him a bit last time out, eh?

Even a joe shmo like me could see that he had no feel for his release point. Missing location, almost throwing a wild pitch 10 feet outside the strike zone. That was an ugly inning.

**BigRedChief** · 08-28-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Glad I passed on tickets tonight. Nothing like your ace getting curbstomped at home.

They have been embarrassed the last two days. Votto got into it with some Cincy newspaper guy this afternoon. We have owned them this year. They are a good team. We can't expect to beat a good team 10 games to 4 and not have a bad inning.

I like the way this team has been playing the last 10 games. I'm hopeful we have turned a corner.

Frazod · 08-28-2013, 06:56 PM

Yeesh. I'm not even turning the ****ing TV on. 9-0 after 2 innings?

Pasta Little Brioni · 08-28-2013, 07:04 PM

May as well trot the turd out and pitch him till his arm falls off.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-28-2013, 07:04 PM

I just hope Matheny learns from this experience. That's the only positive that can come from this shitstorm.

**BigRedChief** · 08-28-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

May as well trot the turd out and pitch him till his arm falls off.

Dont pitch Wacha more than 3 innings. Don't want to blow him for the whole series against Pitt. Let Salas throw 3-4 innings of this turd.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-28-2013, 07:35 PM

Freese's defense is just ****ing terrible.

**BigRedChief** · 08-28-2013, 07:43 PM

And get Beltrans knees out of there. Give Adams some at bats. Get wong in there.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-28-2013, 07:46 PM

As I predicted, Locke has regressed, getting his teeth kicked in to the point where he was sent down to AA. Too bad. I wish we would have seen him in Pittsburgh.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-28-2013, 08:17 PM

Dan and Al busted out laughing about Tiny Tim and Al's first marriage, then went silent for about five solid minutes. Some of the most bizarre television I've seen.

**BigRedChief** · 08-28-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Dan and Al busted out laughing about Tiny Tim and Al's first marriage, then went silent for about five solid minutes. Some of the most bizarre television I've seen.

Tiny Tim
Glen Campbell
Santana

Thats a very weird bill for a concert. What was their demographic audience they were going for?

O.city · 08-28-2013, 08:50 PM

Need to go win 2 of 3 in Pitt now.

Win the next 3 series and were in great shape.

Simply Red · 08-28-2013, 08:50 PM

Braves staying focused.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3169627 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: 78,987

08-28-2013, 06:39 PM	#4276
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Hard not to expect that after Matheny had him throw nearly 130 pitches last outing. That was an all-around awful first inning. Wainwright would have had two outs and no one on if Carpenter, Descalso, or Freese had a lick of range, then Carpenter's boneheaded non-cover of second was the piece de resistance. You probably won't see the Cardinals play a worse inning this year. Honestly, Matheny should have had kept Martinez up to start this game, even if it was a brief outing. Pitchers who go 120+ probably need 5-6 days of rest. Having a rested Wainwright start the road trip would have been a big bonus. Instead, Matheny is always playing checkers. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

08-28-2013, 06:39 PM	#4277
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $4931115	Glad I passed on tickets tonight. Nothing like your ace getting curbstomped at home.
Posts: 60,167

08-28-2013, 06:56 PM	#4280
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3155085	Yeesh. I'm not even turning the ****ing TV on. 9-0 after 2 innings?
Posts: 119,484

08-28-2013, 07:04 PM	#4281
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $4008880	May as well trot the turd out and pitch him till his arm falls off. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,436

08-28-2013, 07:04 PM	#4282
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	I just hope Matheny learns from this experience. That's the only positive that can come from this shitstorm. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

08-28-2013, 07:35 PM	#4284
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Freese's defense is just ****ing terrible. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

08-28-2013, 07:43 PM	#4285
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3169627 VARSITY	And get Beltrans knees out of there. Give Adams some at bats. Get wong in there. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,987

08-28-2013, 07:46 PM	#4286
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	As I predicted, Locke has regressed, getting his teeth kicked in to the point where he was sent down to AA. Too bad. I wish we would have seen him in Pittsburgh. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

08-28-2013, 08:17 PM	#4287
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Dan and Al busted out laughing about Tiny Tim and Al's first marriage, then went silent for about five solid minutes. Some of the most bizarre television I've seen. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

08-28-2013, 08:50 PM	#4289
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2774064	Need to go win 2 of 3 in Pitt now. Win the next 3 series and were in great shape.
Posts: 81,219

08-28-2013, 08:50 PM	#4290
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	Braves staying focused.
Posts: 71,691