Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 28

**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 · 04-10-2013, 06:29 PM

Damn - as of close of business yesterday, Brett Wallace was 1-21 with 17 strikeouts.

Seventeen!. The guy could have a BABIP of 1.000 and his batting average would still be below the Mendoza line.

That's gotta be close to the worst start in history, doesn't it?

Jewish Rabbi · 04-10-2013, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Damn - as of close of business yesterday, Brett Wallace was 1-21 with 17 strikeouts.

Seventeen!. The guy could have a BABIP of 1.000 and his batting average would still be below the Mendoza line.

That's gotta be close to the worst start in history, doesn't it?

I bet frazod probably wishes we had him instead of Holliday, though

DJ's left nut · 04-10-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I bet frazod probably wishes we had him instead of Holliday, though

Yeah, we pretty much crushed that trade.

It didn't balance the scales on Haren/Mulder or anything, but we gave up absolutely nothing to get Holliday after the A's gave up Carlos Gonzalez and Houston Street to get him.

Those that worship at the altar of Billy Beane often forget the times that he gives up Andre Ethier for Milton Bradly, Aaron Harang for Jose Guillien and Tim Hudson for scrap.

Beane effectively undid all gains he made in the Haren trade by taking the 2 best players he got when he re-traded Haren, flipped them for Holliday and then lost Holliday for nada.

Beane's cosmic scorecard on the Mulder for Haren deal is little more than a couple of nice seasons by a starting pitcher on a losing team. He hurt the Cardinals far more than he helped the A's.

**BigRedChief** · 04-11-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yeah, we pretty much crushed that trade.

It didn't balance the scales on Haren/Mulder or anything.

The Rasmus trade also got us a World Series Championship. Regardless of how Rasmus turns out, that is a helluva deal.

**BigRedChief** · 04-12-2013, 08:12 PM

Damn Shelby Miller looked like an All-Star, Cy Young candidate pitcher in the making. He was in control. He kept all the hitters off balance. Not a single hitter centered the ball and hit it hard. 1 lousy hit that they just stuck out their bat and kind of guided the ball.

Problem is that he strikes out a lot of hitters and because they can't center the ball get a lot of fouls balls. Even though he was cruising he threw 113 pitches in 7 innings, almost 80% were strikes. What can they do about that style so he can make it deeper into games?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-12-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Damn Shelby Miller looked like an All-Star, Cy Young candidate pitcher in the making. He was in control. He kept all the hitters off balance. Not a single hitter centered the ball and hit it hard. 1 lousy hit that they just stuck out their bat and kind of guided the ball.

Problem is that he strikes out a lot of hitters and because they can't center the ball get a lot of fouls balls. Even though he was cruising he threw 113 pitches in 7 innings, almost 80% were strikes. What can they do about that style so he can make it deeper into games?

Improve his secondary pitches, especially the change. If he has two swing and miss off-speed pitches he'll be nearly unhittable.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-12-2013, 08:24 PM

Welp, here comes Semtex Boggs.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-12-2013, 08:31 PM

Apparently Boggs' control with a beard trimmer is as adroit as his control on the mound.

Frazod · 04-12-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Apparently Boggs' control with a beard trimmer is as adroit as his control on the mound.

I'm afraid to even turn the TV on.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-12-2013, 08:32 PM

Right down the ****ing middle. Jesus, this guy is straight ass.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-12-2013, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douchemaster General

I'm afraid to even turn the TV on.

Cliffs Notes: 20 straight retired. Boggs gets the first guy out, then walks the next hitter on five pitches all over the world, gets the next guy 1-2, then putts a meatball right down the middle for another hit. Now Braun is up as the go-ahead run.

Boggs just threw a belt high slider on 1-2 that Braun mistimed and fouled off.

Spikes the 1-2 pitch in the dirt.

We escape. Thank ****.

Frazod · 04-12-2013, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Cliffs Notes: 20 straight retired. Boggs gets the first guy out, then walks the next hitter on five pitches all over the world, gets the next guy 1-2, then putts a meatball right down the middle for another hit. Now Braun is up as the go-ahead run.

Definitely not turning the TV on.

Marcellus · 04-12-2013, 08:35 PM

****ing Braun is so far off the plate he may as well be in the dugout.

Jewish Rabbi · 04-12-2013, 08:35 PM

Braun gifted him a K

Marcellus · 04-12-2013, 08:37 PM

Whew. Good game. 1 run in the last 3 starts by the starters.

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

04-10-2013, 06:29 PM	#406
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $3089099	Damn - as of close of business yesterday, Brett Wallace was 1-21 with 17 strikeouts. Seventeen!. The guy could have a BABIP of 1.000 and his batting average would still be below the Mendoza line. That's gotta be close to the worst start in history, doesn't it? __________________ "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: 60,087

04-12-2013, 08:12 PM	#410
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 VARSITY	Damn Shelby Miller looked like an All-Star, Cy Young candidate pitcher in the making. He was in control. He kept all the hitters off balance. Not a single hitter centered the ball and hit it hard. 1 lousy hit that they just stuck out their bat and kind of guided the ball. Problem is that he strikes out a lot of hitters and because they can't center the ball get a lot of fouls balls. Even though he was cruising he threw 113 pitches in 7 innings, almost 80% were strikes. What can they do about that style so he can make it deeper into games? __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,934

04-12-2013, 08:24 PM	#412
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Welp, here comes Semtex Boggs. __________________ "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

04-12-2013, 08:31 PM	#413
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Apparently Boggs' control with a beard trimmer is as adroit as his control on the mound. __________________ "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

04-12-2013, 08:32 PM	#415
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Right down the ****ing middle. Jesus, this guy is straight ass. __________________ "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

04-12-2013, 08:35 PM	#418
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3172662	****ing Braun is so far off the plate he may as well be in the dugout.
Posts: 69,134

04-12-2013, 08:35 PM	#419
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2208320	Braun gifted him a K
Posts: 15,531

04-12-2013, 08:37 PM	#420
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3172662	Whew. Good game. 1 run in the last 3 starts by the starters.
Posts: 69,134