Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 79

**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

DJ's left nut · 06-01-2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Did Gregerson do anything?

Gregerson's been one of the best setup men in the NL for the last 5 years. He could easily have ended up our closer but one way or the other, he'd have been an outstanding bullpen arm.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-01-2013, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Did Gregerson do anything?

Did, does, and will. He'd be a perfect 8th inning guy. ERA under three, strikes out a batter an inning and doesn't give up many HRs.

**BigRedChief** · 06-01-2013, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Gregerson's been one of the best setup men in the NL for the last 5 years. He could easily have ended up our closer but one way or the other, he'd have been an outstanding bullpen arm.

A set up guy? meh

Getting maximum value and selling at the high point for Zack Cox, Brett Wallace and Colby Rasmus seems to me to tip the scales that we have done better than most clubs with trades. Am I right here?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-01-2013, 09:50 PM

Meh? If we had a setup guy Rosenthal is likely starting in place of Wacha, who is working on perfecting his curveball in AAA.

**BigRedChief** · 06-01-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Meh? If we had a setup guy Rosenthal is likely starting in place of Wacha, who is working on perfecting his curveball in AAA.

Just a bad trade. Not a disaster like a Haren trade or a massive success like Cox for Muijica.

You know the answer? How does Mo's trades stack up against other teams GM trades?

Simply Red · 06-01-2013, 10:30 PM

cards in beast mode

Jewish Rabbi · 06-02-2013, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Just a bad trade. Not a disaster like a Haren trade or a massive success like Cox for Muijica.

You know the answer? How does Mo's trades stack up against other teams GM trades?

Exactly. Bad trade, but not a disaster.

**BigRedChief** · 06-02-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

cards in beast mode

you just ain't a whistling Dixie

Marcellus · 06-02-2013, 09:08 AM

Beasting yet we cant gain any damn ground in the Central. Crazy.

**BigRedChief** · 06-02-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Beasting yet we cant gain any damn ground in the Central. Crazy.

Recent history tells us that home field advantage and winning your division doesn't give you an edge in the playoffs.

These days its who is hot matters more than home field. We know that better than most teams. 2004 & 2005 we had a powerful team. If you were to tell us that you thought we would win the WS in 2006 & 2011, you are lying. Those teams over performed. We almost pulled it off in 2012 also.

Lessons learned from last year must be heeded. We need our players to be rested enough to not wilt before clinching another WS title.

DJ's left nut · 06-02-2013, 12:53 PM

Who said anything about a 'disaster'? You asked for a bad trade - the Gregerson trade was clearly a bad trade. And Hamas is right, it's a bad trade that's forcing Rosenthal into the 8th instead of the starting rotation where he should be. And over those last 5 years we've lost a hell of a lot of games because of guys like Miguel Batista. 2009 and 2010 could've been a hell of a lot different with Gregerson locking down the 8th and even taking over the 9th.

Even in 2011, a leaky bullpen forced us to make moves for Dotel where we could've been focusing on getting someone like Cobb instead in the Rasmus trade.

The Gregerson trade hurt and hurt quite a bit. In fact, 6 years of Gregerson is worth a hell of a lot more than 2 years of Mujica.

If Cox for Mujica is a massive success, then Greene for Gregerson is a monumental failure.

**TrebMaxx** · 06-02-2013, 01:16 PM

Wow! A Molina meltdown.

Frazod · 06-02-2013, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

Wow! A Molina meltdown.

Just saw the replay. Wow, that umpire is a real piece of shit.

Frazod · 06-02-2013, 01:26 PM

Tie game!

O.city · 06-02-2013, 01:29 PM

Yeah I would have melted down too. Guy was obviously looking for something like that. Iirc he's a rookie ump at this level, so yeah he's probably a bit cocky.

Good to see freese start centering the ball a bit, IMO, he was a little pull happy early and was spinning out a lot not staying on balls. Seems to be now though.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3189627 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: 78,962

06-01-2013, 09:50 PM	#1174
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Meh? If we had a setup guy Rosenthal is likely starting in place of Wacha, who is working on perfecting his curveball in AAA. __________________ "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

06-01-2013, 10:30 PM	#1176
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	cards in beast mode
Posts: 71,691

06-02-2013, 09:08 AM	#1179
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3132662	Beasting yet we cant gain any damn ground in the Central. Crazy.
Posts: 69,162

06-02-2013, 12:53 PM	#1181
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $3049099	Who said anything about a 'disaster'? You asked for a bad trade - the Gregerson trade was clearly a bad trade. And Hamas is right, it's a bad trade that's forcing Rosenthal into the 8th instead of the starting rotation where he should be. And over those last 5 years we've lost a hell of a lot of games because of guys like Miguel Batista. 2009 and 2010 could've been a hell of a lot different with Gregerson locking down the 8th and even taking over the 9th. Even in 2011, a leaky bullpen forced us to make moves for Dotel where we could've been focusing on getting someone like Cobb instead in the Rasmus trade. The Gregerson trade hurt and hurt quite a bit. In fact, 6 years of Gregerson is worth a hell of a lot more than 2 years of Mujica. If Cox for Mujica is a massive success, then Greene for Gregerson is a monumental failure. __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 60,144

06-02-2013, 01:16 PM	#1182
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $1527252	Wow! A Molina meltdown. __________________
Posts: 4,321

06-02-2013, 01:26 PM	#1184
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3175085	Tie game!
Posts: 119,483

06-02-2013, 01:29 PM	#1185
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2794064	Yeah I would have melted down too. Guy was obviously looking for something like that. Iirc he's a rookie ump at this level, so yeah he's probably a bit cocky. Good to see freese start centering the ball a bit, IMO, he was a little pull happy early and was spinning out a lot not staying on balls. Seems to be now though.
Posts: 81,180