***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

[LiL stumppy]

what a freaking play but escobar

[Rams Fan]

So in the GDT, Hamas brought up 2007 after I mentioned Kip Wells.

It's ****ing astounding how different the rotation is from then. I still don't understand how Walt thought Wells could be a capable #2 when he had done nothing in his career previously to prove that. And there was nothing in the minors.

[Jewish Rabbi]

It's absolutely un-****ing-real that we have four starting pitchers on the DL (Carp, Garcia, Westbrook, Gast) and haven't skipped a beat. I can't even remember the last time we've had a starter blow up, each and every starter gives us a chance to win the game.

[Jewish Rabbi]

We've only lost by 3+ runs twice in May.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

It's absolutely un-****ing-real that we have four starting pitchers on the DL (Carp, Garcia, Westbrook, Gast) and haven't skipped a beat. I can't even remember the last time we've had a starter blow up, each and every starter gives us a chance to win the game.

It's an improvement over P.J. Suppsworth from 2010.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

It's absolutely un-****ing-real that we have four starting pitchers on the DL (Carp, Garcia, Westbrook, Gast) and haven't skipped a beat. I can't even remember the last time we've had a starter blow up, each and every starter gives us a chance to win the game.

I know, I'm completely stunned.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

It's an improvement over P.J. Suppsworth from 2010.

Or hoping Walters can pitch?

[O.city]

What's the word on Westbrook?

[Frazod]

And we FINALLY picked up a game on the goddamn Reds. Now up 2.5 games on both them and the Pirates.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by frazod

And we FINALLY picked up a game on the goddamn Reds. Now up 2.5 games on both them and the Pirates.

They need to learn their role and lose, both of them. I'm more worried about the Dreads than the pirates obviously although I do think Pittsburgh will hang around a little longer than last year.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Pittsburgh would be leading any other division in baseball and they're in third. Crazy.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Pittsburgh would be leading any other division in baseball and they're in third. Crazy.

I look forward to the upcoming Reds/Pirates series. They need to start beating the shit out of each other.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by frazod

I look forward to the upcoming Reds/Pirates series. They need to start beating the shit out of each other.

Any near-Earth asteroids crossing our orbit soon?

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Any near-Earth asteroids crossing our orbit soon?

That works.

Although if I only get one asteroid, I'd still prefer it hit at a Broncos/Raiders game in Oakland.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by frazod

That works.

Although if I only get one asteroid, I'd still prefer it hit at a Broncos/Raiders game in Oakland.

Can I have a little asteroid for the ESPN studios if Dickhead V and Stu Scott are in the building?