****Official 2014 STL Cardinals thread ****

[BigRedChief]

2011 WS Championship
2012 one win from another WS
2013 two wins from another WS title
2014?

• This is a franchise that has made the postseason 10 times in the last 14 seasons.
• Reached three World Series in the last decade, and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.
• Our new Manager has more post season experience than any other manager in baseball, except the Giants manager.
• Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.
• 60 post season wins since 2004. 20+ wins more than any other team.
• Only one of the last 14 seasons has been a losing one.

[BigRedChief]

You guys ever see this clip of Matheny taking a fastball to the face and not even going down?

[kcpasco]

Let's just activate Matheny as a player/coach.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You guys ever see this clip of Matheny taking a fastball to the face and not even going down?

Yeah, it's one of the explanations for his piss-poor decisions.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yeah, it's one of the explanations for his piss-poor decisions.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Lyons, thanks for playing. See your ass in Memphis tomorrow.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by O.city

@Ken_Rosenthal: #STLCards GM Mozeliak tells reporters that Molina has torn thumb ligament and will be out 8 to 12 weeks.

Terrible news

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You guys ever see this clip of Matheny taking a fastball to the face and not even going down?

County Stadium was so ****ing shitty.

[Swanman]

In hindsight, perhaps the Cards should have sold high on Shelby Miller. He has been straight ass lately. I just don't see top or even middle of the rotation stuff for him at this point.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Swanman

In hindsight, perhaps the Cards should have sold high on Shelby Miller. He has been straight ass lately. I just don't see top or even middle of the rotation stuff for him at this point.

I fear you are correct. Flashes are fewer and farther between now as the book on him is seemingly out and he fails to make (or refuses to) adjustments. If we could send him and Craig to the Rays for Price I would do it in a heartbeat even without an extension for Price in place. I doubt that is enough, but it is worth a shot. Throw in Descalso and offer to PAY his salary.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I fear you are correct. Flashes are fewer and farther between now as the book on him is seemingly out and he fails to make (or refuses to) adjustments. If we could send him and Craig to the Rays for Price I would do it in a heartbeat even without an extension for Price in place. I doubt that is enough, but it is worth a shot. Throw in Descalso and offer to PAY his salary.

He really only has one plus pitch which is his fastball, and he doesn't even have command of it right now. All his other offerings are mediocre to flat out bad. Also, he has to lead the world in three-ball counts, which just kill your bullpen in the end and I imagine fielders hate playing behind him. And all this is not even counting his numerous reported attitude issues, present and past.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Swanman

He really only has one plus pitch which is his fastball, and he doesn't even have command of it right now. All his other offerings are mediocre to flat out bad. Also, he has to lead the world in three-ball counts, which just kill your bullpen in the end and I imagine fielders hate playing behind him. And all this is not even counting his numerous reported attitude issues, present and past.

It's location issues with his fastball. If he is locating, he is a #1/#2 pitcher on any teams staff.

He hasn't been the same since they let him go long and get the shut out in Toronto. Coincidence or not.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I don't know or pretend to know anything about pitching mechanics, but seemingly every start he makes the coaching staff bitches about how he's falling off or getting lazy in his delivery. That would account for the inconsistency in balls and strikes, and make his mediocre secondary pitches less enticing for batters to swing at.

Truth is he might just be a back of the rotation starter. Still, he's young, but he might just have too much goddamned Rasmus in him.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I don't know or pretend to know anything about pitching mechanics, but seemingly every start he makes the coaching staff bitches about how he's falling off or getting lazy in his delivery. That would account for the inconsistency in balls and strikes, and make his mediocre secondary pitches less enticing for batters to swing at.

Truth is he might just be a back of the rotation starter. Still, he's young, but he might just have too much goddamned Rasmus in him.

I was thinking of that comparison earlier. It may be too strong right now, but he at times seems to have a bit of that stubborn "do it my way" mentality. His four seamer has lasting velocity, but it has no movement. He has to "really be on" with his location to be successful. A sinking two seamer would offer a great contrast for him if he would just put a little work into getting comfortable.

He likely will see a drop in velocity down to 90 or even 89, but it would make his four seamer harder to catch up to when he needed a punch out. It also takes a lot of pressure off his breaking pitches out of the zone. Use the two seamer to get ahead (or induce a quick out) then something just out of the zone or a four seamer to punch someone out.

I suspect all of these things cost him appearances in the post season last year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I was thinking of that comparison earlier. It may be too strong right now, but he at times seems to have a bit of that stubborn "do it my way" mentality. His four seamer has lasting velocity, but it has no movement. He has to "really be on" with his location to be successful. A sinking two seamer would offer a great contrast for him if he would just put a little work into getting comfortable.

He likely will see a drop in velocity down to 90 or even 89, but it would make his four seamer harder to catch up to when he needed a punch out. It also takes a lot of pressure off his breaking pitches out of the zone. Use the two seamer to get ahead (or induce a quick out) then something just out of the zone or a four seamer to punch someone out.

Yep, he would seem to be a good candidate for a 2 seamer. The hitter thinks its a 4 seamer and swings. Either he misses it or can't center the pitch. Or how about a quality change up? Wacha can show you how its done.

MLB hitters are getting use to seeing 95+ mph fastballs. He needs some other quality pitch if he is going to be a front of the rotation starter.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yep, he would seem to be a good candidate for a 2 seamer. The hitter thinks its a 4 seamer and swings. Either he misses it or can't center the pitch. Or how about a quality change up? Wacha can show you how its done.

MLB hitters are getting use to seeing 95+ mph fastballs. He needs some other quality pitch if he is going to be a front of the rotation starter.

Heck, Lynn throws more fastballs than about anybody in the league, but the movement he gets on his sinker makes it possible. He has seemingly adjusted to using that sinker more and more. If he continues, he won't have that dreadful 2nd half we all fear is coming. Hopefully Shelby will see the light too.