***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread ***

[BigRedChief]

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

[whoman69]

This could be the type comeback that fuels a big run. Cardinals only 2 games out despite going 15-24 after getting to a season high watermark of 20-11. They have now won 4 in a row which they hadn't done since May 9, the same date they went 20-11.

[Mi_chief_fan]

BUMP FOR 5TH STRAIGHT WIN!!!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PGM

Always nice to beat those fairweather undeserving of 2 title SOBs

GEEEZZZ 3 World Series in 7 years and 2 World Championships aint enough for ya? We cant win it every year.

[O.city]

So, do we pursue any trade deadline pitching?


Make a big splash or just patchwork?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

So, do we pursue any trade deadline pitching?


Make a big splash or just patchwork?

yeah, they will make a trade. I hope its not for Miller/Martinez/Jackson. We need that young pitching Taveras is off the board too.

Its going to have to be Craig or Adams. But, who wants to trade those two?

Now, that leaves Wong? Who plays 2B in the future?

I say forget emptying the minors for a run. No need to mortgage the future the year after a World Championship.

[kcpasco]

Trading Craig would suck so bad I don't even want to consider it.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Trading Craig would suck so bad I don't even want to consider it.

And young left handed first basemen who are power hitters don't grow on trees either.

I'd rather stay put.

[DJ's left nut]

I'd trade Zack Cox and Joe Kelly for Ryan Dempster.

Or just shop Cox around for a reliever.

Cox is a season away from getting jumped by Piscotti in the same way he's been blown past by Wong (and watched Carpenter pull away). He has absolutely no potential in this organization and will only atrophy.

Rather than have him be the next Bryan Anderson (another guy we should've traded 5 years ago when he was a plus average hitter and young developmental catcher that hit lefty), lets go ahead and get him moved before his value completely wastes away.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

GEEEZZZ 3 World Series in 7 years and 2 World Championships aint enough for ya? We cant win it every year.

That wasn't my point though.

[Marco Polo]

I think Cox is the natural person to be traded. If the price for SP is too steep, wouldn't be surprised if they go for RP instead.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

I saw on the scroll last night that some team was calling up Kip Wells

WTF is with MLB and all these retreads?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

I think Cox is the natural person to be traded. If the price for SP is too steep, wouldn't be surprised if they go for RP instead.

There are actually quite a few decent arms that may hit the market.

Garza and Dempster being the obvious ones, but Liriano could be available and I think he'd be a great fill-in for Garcia. With his pending FA and erratic history, Cox would probably be enough to get him. The Nats are supposedly also interested, meaning that they really have no use for Lannan at all these days. Lannan could probably be had for salary relief and a C prospect like Tommy Pham.

Or go all-in on Hamels or Grienke. To be honest, both players are young enough (and our stable of arms deep enough) that I'd give Miller to get either guy.

Randy Wells got DFA'd today by the Cubs. He kinda sucks...but he throws lefthanded. Surely playing for a better team than the Cubs can help him recapture some of his form. He'll never be an ace, but we need arms and especially lefthanded ones. We could do worse than having him on hand as a #5.

[rico]

Speaking of Miller. My dad told me that he was given the "no shake" rule. Meaning he can't shake his catcher off. Evidently the reason for this is because the coaching staff believes that he has struggled this season because he hasn't been utilizing his secondary pitches to his full capabilities.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

There are actually quite a few decent arms that may hit the market.

Garza and Dempster being the obvious ones, but Liriano could be available and I think he'd be a great fill-in for Garcia. With his pending FA and erratic history, Cox would probably be enough to get him. The Nats are supposedly also interested, meaning that they really have no use for Lannan at all these days. Lannan could probably be had for salary relief and a C prospect like Tommy Pham.

Or go all-in on Hamels or Grienke. To be honest, both players are young enough (and our stable of arms deep enough) that I'd give Miller to get either guy.

Randy Wells got DFA'd today by the Cubs. He kinda sucks...but he throws lefthanded. Surely playing for a better team than the Cubs can help him recapture some of his form. He'll never be an ace, but we need arms and especially lefthanded ones. We could do worse than having him on hand as a #5.

I'd trade Cox for Liriano in a second. He is going nowhere here and although there is a low floor for Liriano there is a very high ceiling if he can get straightened out.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ricoswaff

Speaking of Miller. My dad told me that he was given the "no shake" rule. Meaning he can't shake his catcher off. Evidently the reason for this is because the coaching staff believes that he has struggled this season because he hasn't been utilizing his secondary pitches to his full capabilities.

Yup.

But they also shut him down last time through the rotation to get him working on his mechanics. Additionally, his velocity has come down a MPH or 2.

He's a pitcher; they have bumps like this unless they're Strasburg. I'm not worried just yet - but I also have an irrational love of Tyrell Jenkins as a pitching prospect and think he'll be the true ace from our minor league system. If we can trade Miller for a young 'co-ace' that can hold down the fort for the next 5 years, I'd do it in a second. A guy like Lance Lynn preventing us from needing to spend $10 million on Jake Westbrook is incredibly useful here in that it allows us to really go hard after a top-shelf starter. Allen Craig does the same thing w/ his contributions over Lance Berkman as does Jay's wildly underrated performance in CF.

We should have the financial flexibility to both extend Waino and sign Hamels/Greinke (I'd prefer Greinke). With the baseball pendulum swinging back away from maulers, I think we should attack front-end starting pitching aggressively.