***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

[O.city]

Miller keeps gaining confidence in his non fastball pitches, it's pretty awesome to see.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

1) Jimmy was traded away for what people thought were spare parts (Freesus Christ, nonwithstanding).

2) Lebron had a legitimate reason to leave, as that team was an absolute abomination. He handled his departure poorly, but that doesn't make the choice poor, just it's execution. Pujols left a team coming off of a world title, and one of the five-eight best-run organizations in professional sports. Lebron left the Cavs.

3) He's not retiring a Cardinal. He went out of his way to extort a personal services contract to Hoover up even more of Artie Moreno's money. The next ten years of his life post baseball belong to the Angels.
4)They served Angel Food Cake at his restaurant when he signed.

1. He chose to play for our inter-divisional rivals. He did his best to beat the Cardinals. Just because he was old, doesn't matter to me.
2. Lebron's decision was all on Lebron. The way he left, all on Lebron. Pujols didn't leave that bad.
3. That personal service contract ain't worth shit to a billionaire with lawyers. It keeps going like this a buyout will occur. He will go into the HOF as a Cardinal, if he goes now.
4. Not a biggie to me. When one person in a divorce wants to leave things can get ugly.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Miller's game score was 98. Better than Harvey's start earlier this week, and the best in baseball this year.

Was at the game tonight. Got to our seats just after Shelby gave up the leadoff single. Closest I'll ever get to seeing a perfect game in person.

Also got picked to participate in an in-game promotion, won two tickets and a suite at Lumiere Place.

Good night.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Was at the game tonight. Got to our seats just after Shelby gave up the leadoff single. Closest I'll ever get to seeing a perfect game in person.

Also got picked to participate in an in-game promotion, won two tickets and a suite at Lumiere Place.

Good night.

Good job not getting to your seats sooner, asshole!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Was at the game tonight. Got to our seats just after Shelby gave up the leadoff single. Closest I'll ever get to seeing a perfect game in person.

Also got picked to participate in an in-game promotion, won two tickets and a suite at Lumiere Place.

Good night.

so it's your fault Miller missed the perfect game.

Congrats on the suite.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

So, NOW I know why Big Red was balls deep on this guy for so many years

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PGM

So, NOW I know why Big Red was balls deep on this guy for so many years

hehhh....did a quick search. I had no idea I was such a supporter.

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Andrus will get big money in 2 years. We dont need to pay $20 million a year for a SS and lose Miller.

When Cardinal fans rejected a Miller for the Royals Meyers trade.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Oh, Shelby's a #1 starter now, is he? Looks like O's fans aren't the only ones who over-rate their prospects.

What about my next BF that I have overrated?

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You guys are going to be kicking yourself's for letting the Lee's Summit product, Rosenthal get out of the KC area.

[Mi_chief_fan]

That'll do Shelby; that'll do.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

That'll do Shelby; that'll do.

Shelby has always had the talent. His issue was maturity. Failure to take instruction. Shaking off the catcher because he knows best.

The best piece of new info that I heard was that Miller hasn't shook off a pitch call from Molina once all year or last year either.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Shelby has always had the talent. His issue was maturity. Failure to take instruction. Shaking off the catcher because he knows best.

The best piece of new info that I heard was that Miller hasn't shook off a pitch call from Molina once all year or last year either.

It's a longer story than that and goes back to organizational competence. They put in place a no-shake rule for Shelby in AAA last year, and since then he's blossomed.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's a longer story than that and goes back to organizational competence. They put in place a no-shake rule for Shelby in AAA last year, and since then he's blossomed.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Situation developing thru 6.

[O.city]

If you aren't watching the game, you might want to flip over there. You'll see why.

[Mi_chief_fan]

DON'T JINX IT!!!

[O.city]

Broken up