***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread

[BigRedChief]

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]

Braves lose! Perfect day for us.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Do people really worry bout the Cards

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by frazod

Unless they changed it, you can't get a wildcard from your own division in the first round.

They changed it. The WC game is considered the first round, so once that is over the winner goes to the team w/ HFA.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

They changed it. The WC game is considered the first round, so once that is over, the winner goes to the team w/ HFA.

Cool.

[O.city]

I'd rather get the winner if that we game, as we won't have to see Latos or the lefty we can't hit

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'd rather get the winner if that we game, as we won't have to see Latos or the lefty we can't hit

I see Pitt and the reds as the most beatable teams in the playoffs.

I'd much rather see them than Kershaw and Grienke twice in a 5 game series.

[Frazod]

Dodgers down 3-0 to the Giants, BTW.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

SP:

Waino
Miller
Wacha
Lynn

Kelly comes in at the first sign of trouble for Lynn or Wacha.

BP:

Kelly
Martinez
Freeman
Choate
Mujica
Axford
Siegrist
Rosenthal

Swap Maness for Mujica if you desire

Lineup:

Carpenter
Beltran
Holliday
Adams
Molina
Freese
Jay
Descalso
Pitcher

Bench:
Kozma
Craig (health dependent)
Robinson
Cruz
Wong

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I wasn't saying who they would take, but who they should take.

Maness isn't a very good pitcher. I know we like him because he's come in and gotten some ground balls in good spots, but he has 10th percentile stuff. We lose that Milwaukee game because of him and Mujica if Beltran doesn't hose Aoki.

He's way, way too hittable. He only has value in a one out, runner on first situation, and that's not enough value to warrant a roster spot.

Axford can come in the middle stages of the game and get a strikeout in a must-K situation. Freeman can devastate lefties and his stuff is good enough to play on both sides. Scroate is the LOOGY. Siegrist has been the best pitcher on the team since June, and Rosenthal is not far behind.

Maness has the stuff of a White Salas.

I would have to agree with that. You can't leave room for a situational pitcher in the playoffs, especially if Matheny is forced to burn through pitchers like LaRussa did in 2011.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Here's a question:

Assume the Cardinals win the first game of the series against the Cubs: Do they just start Westbrook two games in a row? I would.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Here's a question:

Assume the Cardinals win the first game of the series against the Cubs: Do they just start Westbrook two games in a row? I would.

Home field advantage is still in play. Depends on what happens to L.A. and Atlanta.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by frazod

Home field advantage is still in play. Depends on what happens to L.A. and Atlanta.

I forgot that Kelly was pitching the Saturday game.

Just stick with your normal rotation and give the Sunday game to Carlos if you absolutely need it, and throw Westbrook to the wolves if you don't.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I forgot that Kelly was pitching the Saturday game.

Just stick with your normal rotation and give the Sunday game to Carlos if you absolutely need it, and throw Westbrook to the wolves if you don't.

L.A.'s pretty much out of it at this point - they did lose to the Giants last night. Hopefully the Phillies will take a chunk out of Atlanta. It sure would be nice to secure HFA and not have to worry about the last couple of games.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I forgot that Kelly was pitching the Saturday game.

Just stick with your normal rotation and give the Sunday game to Carlos if you absolutely need it, and throw Westbrook to the wolves if you don't.

We need one win and one Atl loss for HFA. Or two wins no matter what Atl does correct?

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We need one win and one Atl loss for HFA. Or two wins no matter what Atl does correct?

No. Atlanta is half a game behind us, and they have four to play - they play tonight while we're off. If they win tonight, we're tied going into the last series.

They host Philly at home, which should be a taller order than us hosting the Cubs.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by frazod

No. Atlanta is half a game behind us, and they have four to play - they play tonight while we're off. If they win tonight, we're tied going into the last series.

They host Philly at home, which should be a taller order than us hosting the Cubs.

They lose tonight and one more my scenario above becomes a reality?