Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 77

**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

**BigRedChief** · 05-31-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Matheny built up a lot of good will from me. He squandered a lot of it last night. He put Boggs over the rest of the team.

But it's not just that.

I guess that Rosenthal was unavailable because he'd warmed up five straight days.

Matheny has to get better control on his bullpen management, lest he turn into the Grim Reaper of arms, like Dusty Baker and Joe Torre.

Me too. Last night was so disappointing to see my team put an individual before the team. just pisses me off thinking about it.

I didn't know about warming up every day. WTF is he thinking? You can't warm up a pitcher every day. Pick your times. They can't pitch in 90 games this year.

And this been there before comment pisses me off. He has had zero consistent success in the 9th inning. He had pitched in the 9th sure, and blew it time after time.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-31-2013, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yeah, I'd have preferred he say "Rosenthal wasn't available because **** You, that's why."

Being used twice but being warmed up 5 straight !@#$ing days is just as stupid as using Boggs in his stead. Then later on he doubled down on stupid by trying to say "We held Boggs in reserve because the 9th is tough if you haven't done it before"...AS THOUGH BOGGS HAS ANY KIND OF TRACK RECORD OF ACTUALLY 'DOING IT' BEFORE.

Yeah, Matheny's never really been my favorite and I really rode his ass for his bullpen management last year. He's done nothing to win me over in that regard.

His players may love playing for him, but that only lasts for as long as you're winning. If this team starts to lose, Mike Matheny's buddy/buddy shit and inept bullpen management starts to look Ned Yost in a godddamn hurry.

I still can't believe how last night went down and his justifications for same just makes things worse.

Agreed completely.

On a side note, I'm always terrified that losses like last night end up as 4-5 game skids. I especially hate the fact that the pesky-as-**** Giants are coming into town to face Shelby tonight. They're the kind of hitters that will have him at 70 pitches through three innings.

**BigRedChief** · 05-31-2013, 05:25 PM

They going to be able to get the game in tonight?

**Mav** · 05-31-2013, 06:58 PM

I really hate playing you guys. As a giants fan, you guys always seem to destroy us during the regular season. And we are playing terrible baseball right now.

Frazod · 05-31-2013, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

I really hate playing you guys. As a giants fan, you guys always seem to destroy us during the regular season. And we are playing terrible baseball right now.

You always seem to destroy us in the post season. I'd rather win then.

Rams Fan · 05-31-2013, 07:46 PM

Double header tomorrow.

Frazod · 05-31-2013, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Double header tomorrow.

After last night's debacle, I'm glad they didn't have to play tonight. Give them a chance to regroup and get a full night's sleep.

**Mav** · 05-31-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

You always seem to destroy us in the post season. I'd rather win then.

I guess that makes sense. Although when you came to SF earlier this year, that ass whipping was no fun....

Frazod · 05-31-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

I guess that makes sense. Although when you came to SF earlier this year, that ass whipping was no fun....

Oh yes it was

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-31-2013, 07:58 PM

Marco Scutaro is the new Craig Counsell, and Torres might be the biggest douche this side of Ryan Braun.

I ****ing hate the Giants

**BigRedChief** · 05-31-2013, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Marco Scutaro is the new Craig Counsell, and Torres might be the biggest douche this side of Ryan Braun.

I ****ing hate the Giants

We ran out of gas last year as a team. We should have loaded up on the Red Bull. Those ****ers got to profit off our failure. But, I agree the Giants suck.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-31-2013, 11:42 PM

Gets going at about :45. Just because:

Pepe Silvia · 06-01-2013, 01:07 AM

**** the Giants and Sergio Romo.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-01-2013, 01:22 PM

Big start by Shelby today. Going seven with that run support allows us to use all our bullets in the second game if necessary, and if not, gives Mujica and Rosenthal three days rest.

Give the n00b a shot at the 8th and 9th.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-01-2013, 01:26 PM

Wow. They're warming up Sharte.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 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: 78,979

05-31-2013, 05:25 PM	#1143
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 VARSITY	They going to be able to get the game in tonight? __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,979

05-31-2013, 06:58 PM	#1144
Mav XBOX GT MAVS ACE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Casino cash: $10019303	I really hate playing you guys. As a giants fan, you guys always seem to destroy us during the regular season. And we are playing terrible baseball right now. __________________ Resident Browns fan I’m not here to argue about Alex Smith. Fastest Ignore user on CP
Posts: 18,683

05-31-2013, 07:46 PM	#1146
Rams Fan Greatest QB Duo of 2015 Join Date: Mar 2010 Casino cash: $2611133	Double header tomorrow.
Posts: 17,070

05-31-2013, 07:58 PM	#1150
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Marco Scutaro is the new Craig Counsell, and Torres might be the biggest douche this side of Ryan Braun. I ****ing hate the Giants __________________ "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: 74,825

05-31-2013, 11:42 PM	#1152
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Gets going at about :45. Just because: __________________ "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: 74,825

06-01-2013, 01:07 AM	#1153
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1944664	**** the Giants and Sergio Romo.
Posts: 16,555

06-01-2013, 01:22 PM	#1154
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Big start by Shelby today. Going seven with that run support allows us to use all our bullets in the second game if necessary, and if not, gives Mujica and Rosenthal three days rest. Give the n00b a shot at the 8th and 9th. __________________ "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: 74,825

06-01-2013, 01:26 PM	#1155
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Wow. They're warming up Sharte. __________________ "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: 74,825