Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 262

**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

Frazod · 08-13-2013, 09:48 PM

**BigRedChief** · 08-13-2013, 09:48 PM

Should have let Jay bat, He was hot tonight.

O.city · 08-13-2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Should have let Jay bat, He was hot tonight.

Nah, actually played that part right. Pinch running fr Holliday when your going to bunt was the dumb thing

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Should have let Jay bat, He was hot tonight.

Matheny lives to give up outs.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Nah, actually played that part right. Pinch running fr Holliday when your going to bunt was the dumb thing

Bunting is never the right choice in those situations, because they'll just walk the bases full to keep the DP in order. It also allows you to move further down the order, facing more inept hitters.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 09:55 PM

Kozma is down to 54 wRC+, which is the third worst batting performance in franchise history, and the worst since 1937.

He is, literally, the worst Cardinal hitter any of us have ever seen.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 10:00 PM

Not a big fan of going to Maness here. In a tie game with two outs and runners on base you don't want a pitcher who induces contact, you want a strikeout pitcher.

O.city · 08-13-2013, 10:16 PM

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 10:17 PM

These games make me hate sabermetrics. The Pirates do every ****ing imaginable thing wrong. They keep giving up baserunners and giving us extra outs and the Cardinals just can't ****ing take advantage.

kcpasco · 08-13-2013, 10:21 PM

All I can do is laugh at the manager now. What a clown.

Mi_chief_fan · 08-13-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

What game are you watching? Seems to me this game that they are the Cardinals that we saw in the first of the year. They are playing hard and with passion.

And losing.

Frazod · 08-13-2013, 10:32 PM

Two changes I'd like to see:

1. Sacrifice bunts should be outlawed on penalty of death.
2. After 11 innings, both teams should get losses. Certainly neither of them deserve to win this sticking turd.

I'm going to bed. **** these clowns.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 10:44 PM

This team just cannot ****ing hit.

Miles · 08-13-2013, 10:46 PM

They finally were not in the perfect position for once.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-13-2013, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

They finally were not in the perfect position for once.

They were. Carpenter taking that base ****s us because it ensures that our two best power hitters won't bat.

A just God would have Maness take a walk or a wild pitch.

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: 78,934

08-13-2013, 09:48 PM	#3916
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085
Posts: 119,482

08-13-2013, 09:48 PM	#3917
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 VARSITY	Should have let Jay bat, He was hot tonight. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,934

08-13-2013, 09:55 PM	#3921
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Kozma is down to 54 wRC+, which is the third worst batting performance in franchise history, and the worst since 1937. He is, literally, the worst Cardinal hitter any of us have ever 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: 74,820

08-13-2013, 10:00 PM	#3922
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Not a big fan of going to Maness here. In a tie game with two outs and runners on base you don't want a pitcher who induces contact, you want a strikeout pitcher. __________________ "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: 74,820

08-13-2013, 10:16 PM	#3923
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Damn
Posts: 81,172

08-13-2013, 10:17 PM	#3924
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	These games make me hate sabermetrics. The Pirates do every **ing imaginable thing wrong. They keep giving up baserunners and giving us extra outs and the Cardinals just can't **ing take advantage. __________________ "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: 74,820

08-13-2013, 10:21 PM	#3925
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7743463	All I can do is laugh at the manager now. What a clown.
Posts: 15,476

08-13-2013, 10:32 PM	#3927
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Two changes I'd like to see: 1. Sacrifice bunts should be outlawed on penalty of death. 2. After 11 innings, both teams should get losses. Certainly neither of them deserve to win this sticking turd. I'm going to bed. **** these clowns.
Posts: 119,482

08-13-2013, 10:44 PM	#3928
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	This team just cannot ****ing hit. __________________ "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: 74,820

08-13-2013, 10:46 PM	#3929
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $1752400	They finally were not in the perfect position for once.
Posts: 14,520