Cardinals ***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread *** - Page 31

**BigRedChief** · 08:57 PM

St. Louis Cardinals: 7 reasons fans should feel good about 2012

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:26 PM

St. Louis Cardinals fans are likely feeling deflated after the collapse that put an end to the team's dreams of a World Series repeat, but there is good reason to be excited.

With all of the odds against them, the Cardinals managed to push their 2012 season beyond any anticipated boundary.

Given all of the season's changes and the adversity the team had to fight through, the fact that they played in October at all was an anomaly in itself. On paper, it made sense for the Cardinals to be in the playoffs, but few saw them as a true threat.
As the season continued, even fans began to doubt as they watched the team seemingly crumble in June and July. When the Cardinals finally came to life in September they went 11-5 in the last 16 games of the season to lock up the second Wild Card position in its inaugural year.

That run, despite it's crushing end in Cincinnati in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, lots of good came from the Cardinals' season and playoff run.
Following in no particular order are 10 reasons Cardinals fans have to be excited about the 2013 season.

Trevor Rosenthal
When rookie fireballer Trevor Rosenthal made his first trip to St. Louis, it was obvious almost instantly that he was something special.
Between his 100 mph fastball and the general inability for almost anyone to hit off of him, he became a huge part of the Cardinals playoff run.

He pitched in a total of 19 regular season games before the 22-year-old rookie from Lee's Summit, Mo. got his first taste of postseason baseball and he put on quite a show.
In 8.2 IP over seven postseason appearances, Rosenthal held opponents to only two hits and no runs.
It's possible that down the stretch he may have already earned his spot in the rotation for 2013.

Shelby Miller
The long-coveted fastball pitching prospect Shelby Miller also made his first trip to St. Louis in 2012 and put on a good show.
In 13.2 IP over six regular season games, Miller surrendered only two runs on nine hits. His postseason performance was more of the same with two runs on four hits in 3.2 IP.

Despite a dismal first half of the season in Memphis, Miller got himself together and still managed to make one major league start before the end of the season -- a very impressive start at that.
Against the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of the regular season, Miller posted 5.2 hitless innings. He gave up no runs and collected his first major league win.

Expect to see a lot more of Miller in St. Louis early in 2013.

Joe Kelly
When Joe Kelly made his major league debut on June 10, few could have guessed the importance he would play throughout the remainder of the 2012 season.
Kelly started 16 games for the Cardinals this season filling in for Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn, but it was the postseason when he really came through for his teammates.

When starting pitchers struggled time and again in October, it was Kelly who came to their rescue.
In seven postseason appearances, Kelly threw 7.2 innings and surrendered only two runs on six hits. Kelly came through for the Cardinals from the bullpen.
There's a good chance that could be his home in the future.

Mike Matheny
When the Cardinals hired Mike Matheny to take over for Tony LaRussa, many question bringing in a manager with no experience to such a storied franchise.

He had a few hiccups and growing pains along the way, but for a rookie manager to get his team where Matheny did this year speaks volumes.
His players have a strong respect for Matheny and credit his positive style with being a driving force behind their 2012 success.
True, he didn't get them through the NLCS, but the team made it to an all or nothing Game 7. That's good experience for the players obviously, but also for Matheny. Not only did he learn a lot about managing in the media pressure cooker that is postseason baseball, he also got a taste of what it felt like to win as a manager.

NLCS loss means more drive to win
While the NLCS loss was a good lesson for a young manager, it's an even more important lesson for a young player.
The 2011 championship lit a fire under young players like Lance Lynn and Jon Jay. That fire helped drive them to extremely successful sophomore seasons.

What happened in 2012 will likely do the same for Rosenthal, Miller and Kelly. Their 2013 season may not be like Jay or Lynn's 2012, but now they've gotten a little taste of what it feels like to be a winner.

Both the excitement and the public humbling can be a great experience for any young player.

The run was without several key components
In a season riddled with injuries, none were as crucial as those late in the season.
The loss of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal significantly weakened the team's bench. Instead of having Pete Kozma, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter to pinch hit, the team wound up having to use them in the lineup.

The loss of Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook also rocked the Cardinals. Instead of having Lynn and Westbrook also available from the bullpen, Lynn was pushed back into the rotation after a very successful NLDS bullpen stint.

Having gotten as deep into the playoffs as the Cardinals did in spite of the injuries is quite the accomplishment.

They did it without Pujols, LaRussa and Duncan
Few in the world of sports gave the Cardinals a fighting chance when Albert Pujols left the team to play on the west coast. Surely this team couldn't be as good as they were?

Few gave them a chance after longtime manager Tony LaRussa decided it was time to retire.
Few gave them a chance after pitching coach Dave Duncan left the team.
The Cardinals did it despite all of that. That's something any fan should be proud of.

No, they didn't hoist a trophy. There will be no parade or tickertape.
What there is, though, is hope for next year and that will come sooner than you may think.
After all, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just four short months.

From a blog I was sent on twitter: http://www.dailystatesman.com/blogs/...es/entry/50051

**TrebMaxx** · 04-24-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpasco

WOW 2 really bad calls by the umps tonight.

REALLY BAD calls.

kcpasco · 04-24-2012, 09:30 PM

Damn Greene WTF

Frazod · 04-24-2012, 09:31 PM

Yeah, we got hosed, but frankly if you can't score more than two runs against the goddamn Cubs you deserve to lose.

**TrebMaxx** · 04-24-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Yeah, we got hosed, but frankly if you can't score more than two runs against the goddamn Cubs you deserve to lose.

I agree. They really have been playing down to the competition this series.

kcpasco · 04-24-2012, 09:39 PM

I'm so ****ing pissed at that blown callin the 10th. Matheny should have ripped that umps heart from his chest.

DJ's left nut · 04-24-2012, 09:39 PM

The umps suck.

Tyler Greene sucks worse. He may be the least reliable infielder I've ever seen, up to and including Ryan Theriot. And if it's an important AB you can bet your ass he's going to strike out hacking.

He serves absolutely no purpose on this roster.

kcpasco · 04-24-2012, 10:00 PM

I did get a good laugh at Garza and Samardzija celebrating Matheny getting tossed though. It was the kind of class you can expect from Cubs.

veist · 04-24-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpasco

I did get a good laugh at Garza and Samardzija celebrating Matheny getting tossed though. It was the kind of class you can expect from Cubs.

They gotta get their laughs in somewhere, not gonna be a lot of smiles if they don't get moved and the Cubs are staring down 90 losses.

kcpasco · 04-24-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veist

They gotta get their laughs in somewhere, not gonna be a lot of smiles if they don't get moved and the Cubs are staring down 90 losses.

Yep I hope they lose 100 this year.

On a positive note, Waino looked good and Holliday came through in a clutch situation.

veist · 04-24-2012, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Yep I hope they lose 100 this year.

On a positive note, Waino looked good and Holliday came through in a clutch situation.

Yeah, what's the deal with Waino still not getting a single run in run support? Should even out just like there's no way that HR rate he had in his first couple starts was sustainable but annoying nonetheless.

Swanman · 04-25-2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

The umps suck.

Tyler Greene sucks worse. He may be the least reliable infielder I've ever seen, up to and including Ryan Theriot. And if it's an important AB you can bet your ass he's going to strike out hacking.

He serves absolutely no purpose on this roster.

At least Theriot puts the bat on the ball. The Birds just need to admit the Tyler Greene experiment was a failure and move on.

Pasta Little Brioni · 04-25-2012, 12:47 PM

Local News was making fun of the Cubs for celebrating like they just won the World Series

jd1020 · 04-25-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpasco

WOW 2 really bad calls by the umps tonight.

Meh.

I didn't get to watch the game, too much shit recording, but I saw a clip of the home plate call.

It was a bad call, but Yadier never tagged him either. DeJesus knew he didn't touch the plate and while Yadier was flipping out DeJesus touched the plate, so...

Frazod · 04-25-2012, 01:31 PM

Runners on 2nd and 3rd, two outs, Holliday..... grounds out to the pitcher.

Holliday being Holliday. I'm starting to hate this **** the way I hated Elway.

Mi_chief_fan · 04-25-2012, 02:20 PM

FREESEN!!!

01-04-2012, 10:08 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 VARSITY	*Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread * St. Louis Cardinals: 7 reasons fans should feel good about 2012 Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:26 PM St. Louis Cardinals fans are likely feeling deflated after the collapse that put an end to the team's dreams of a World Series repeat, but there is good reason to be excited. With all of the odds against them, the Cardinals managed to push their 2012 season beyond any anticipated boundary. Given all of the season's changes and the adversity the team had to fight through, the fact that they played in October at all was an anomaly in itself. On paper, it made sense for the Cardinals to be in the playoffs, but few saw them as a true threat. As the season continued, even fans began to doubt as they watched the team seemingly crumble in June and July. When the Cardinals finally came to life in September they went 11-5 in the last 16 games of the season to lock up the second Wild Card position in its inaugural year. That run, despite it's crushing end in Cincinnati in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, lots of good came from the Cardinals' season and playoff run. Following in no particular order are 10 reasons Cardinals fans have to be excited about the 2013 season. Trevor Rosenthal When rookie fireballer Trevor Rosenthal made his first trip to St. Louis, it was obvious almost instantly that he was something special. Between his 100 mph fastball and the general inability for almost anyone to hit off of him, he became a huge part of the Cardinals playoff run. He pitched in a total of 19 regular season games before the 22-year-old rookie from Lee's Summit, Mo. got his first taste of postseason baseball and he put on quite a show. In 8.2 IP over seven postseason appearances, Rosenthal held opponents to only two hits and no runs. It's possible that down the stretch he may have already earned his spot in the rotation for 2013. Shelby Miller The long-coveted fastball pitching prospect Shelby Miller also made his first trip to St. Louis in 2012 and put on a good show. In 13.2 IP over six regular season games, Miller surrendered only two runs on nine hits. His postseason performance was more of the same with two runs on four hits in 3.2 IP. Despite a dismal first half of the season in Memphis, Miller got himself together and still managed to make one major league start before the end of the season -- a very impressive start at that. Against the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of the regular season, Miller posted 5.2 hitless innings. He gave up no runs and collected his first major league win. Expect to see a lot more of Miller in St. Louis early in 2013. Joe Kelly When Joe Kelly made his major league debut on June 10, few could have guessed the importance he would play throughout the remainder of the 2012 season. Kelly started 16 games for the Cardinals this season filling in for Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn, but it was the postseason when he really came through for his teammates. When starting pitchers struggled time and again in October, it was Kelly who came to their rescue. In seven postseason appearances, Kelly threw 7.2 innings and surrendered only two runs on six hits. Kelly came through for the Cardinals from the bullpen. There's a good chance that could be his home in the future. Mike Matheny When the Cardinals hired Mike Matheny to take over for Tony LaRussa, many question bringing in a manager with no experience to such a storied franchise. He had a few hiccups and growing pains along the way, but for a rookie manager to get his team where Matheny did this year speaks volumes. His players have a strong respect for Matheny and credit his positive style with being a driving force behind their 2012 success. True, he didn't get them through the NLCS, but the team made it to an all or nothing Game 7. That's good experience for the players obviously, but also for Matheny. Not only did he learn a lot about managing in the media pressure cooker that is postseason baseball, he also got a taste of what it felt like to win as a manager. NLCS loss means more drive to win While the NLCS loss was a good lesson for a young manager, it's an even more important lesson for a young player. The 2011 championship lit a fire under young players like Lance Lynn and Jon Jay. That fire helped drive them to extremely successful sophomore seasons. What happened in 2012 will likely do the same for Rosenthal, Miller and Kelly. Their 2013 season may not be like Jay or Lynn's 2012, but now they've gotten a little taste of what it feels like to be a winner. Both the excitement and the public humbling can be a great experience for any young player. The run was without several key components In a season riddled with injuries, none were as crucial as those late in the season. The loss of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal significantly weakened the team's bench. Instead of having Pete Kozma, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter to pinch hit, the team wound up having to use them in the lineup. The loss of Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook also rocked the Cardinals. Instead of having Lynn and Westbrook also available from the bullpen, Lynn was pushed back into the rotation after a very successful NLDS bullpen stint. Having gotten as deep into the playoffs as the Cardinals did in spite of the injuries is quite the accomplishment. They did it without Pujols, LaRussa and Duncan Few in the world of sports gave the Cardinals a fighting chance when Albert Pujols left the team to play on the west coast. Surely this team couldn't be as good as they were? Few gave them a chance after longtime manager Tony LaRussa decided it was time to retire. Few gave them a chance after pitching coach Dave Duncan left the team. The Cardinals did it despite all of that. That's something any fan should be proud of. No, they didn't hoist a trophy. There will be no parade or tickertape. What there is, though, is hope for next year and that will come sooner than you may think. After all, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just four short months. From a blog I was sent on twitter: http://www.dailystatesman.com/blogs/...es/entry/50051 Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-24-2012 at 08:57 PM..
Posts: 78,975

04-24-2012, 09:30 PM	#452
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	Damn Greene WTF
Posts: 15,477

04-24-2012, 09:31 PM	#453
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	Yeah, we got hosed, but frankly if you can't score more than two runs against the goddamn Cubs you deserve to lose.
Posts: 119,484

04-24-2012, 09:39 PM	#455
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	I'm so ****ing pissed at that blown callin the 10th. Matheny should have ripped that umps heart from his chest.
Posts: 15,477

04-24-2012, 09:39 PM	#456
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $3039099	The umps suck. Tyler Greene sucks worse. He may be the least reliable infielder I've ever seen, up to and including Ryan Theriot. And if it's an important AB you can bet your ass he's going to strike out hacking. He serves absolutely no purpose on this roster. __________________ "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: 60,184

04-24-2012, 10:00 PM	#457
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	I did get a good laugh at Garza and Samardzija celebrating Matheny getting tossed though. It was the kind of class you can expect from Cubs.
Posts: 15,477

04-25-2012, 12:47 PM	#462
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $4018880	Local News was making fun of the Cubs for celebrating like they just won the World Series
Posts: 68,393

04-25-2012, 01:31 PM	#464
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	Runners on 2nd and 3rd, two outs, Holliday..... grounds out to the pitcher. Holliday being Holliday. I'm starting to hate this **** the way I hated Elway.
Posts: 119,484

04-25-2012, 02:20 PM	#465
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	FREESEN!!! __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517