Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 45

**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** · 05-10-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus the True

Its completely obscene to see they still owe him $218MM after this season.

AP will be laughing all the way to the bank, over and over again. His great,great,great grand kids will be living off the Angel's ignorance.

Its making the Zito contract look reasonable.

We were going to give him 10 years/$200 Million. It was a really stupid decision. $40 million is sure a helluva a lot of money but giving up $4 million a year would have got you "Stan the Man" status in St. Louis. 40 years after you quit playing they cheer your name. Seems to me, if it was my decision, I would have stayed no matter how much I was insulted at an offer of $200 million.

**BigRedChief** · 05-10-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You have to admit, it's a wonderful feeling being the fan of an organization that you believe will do the right thing rather than hope.

I expected a bounce back year from Pujols. Instead, it looks like he's firmly settled into his decline years, and that is going to go down as one of the worst contracts in baseball history.

And they gave the reins of one of the best teams in baseball to a guy who never coached a game above little league. That was pretty ballsy.

Missed another World Series by one game in his first year. In his 2nd year on 5/10 the sophomore manager's team has the best record in baseball.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-10-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I always wanted to believe it wasn't true, but you hafta wonder if he really is older than he says.

My college roommate played HS baseball against him and he said it was generally known that he was at least 2-3 years older than his stated age.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-10-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiL stumppy

I assume it would be a breach of contract, so that could be possible..

AP will pick it up, he will be pushing .300 by the end of the year.

Possibly, but when your lower body starts to go there isn't much you can do as a hitter. He's battling a surgically repaired knee and chronic plantar fasciitis. He went from the best defensive 1B in baseball to a guy that spends over half his time as a DH

**BigRedChief** · 05-10-2013, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Possibly, but when your lower body starts to go there isn't much you can do as a hitter. He's battling a surgically repaired knee and chronic plantar fasciitis. He went from the best defensive 1B in baseball to a guy that spends over half his time as a DH

The Cardinals haven't and shouldn't collapse because Pujols left combined with Pujols obvious decline, I think will open the door to him coming back to the Cardinals and being welcomed by the fans. This isn't a "Lebron" situation.

According to the article he still makes his home in St. Louis, still is doing all the charity work in St. Louis.

For crissakes, Jimmy played for the Brewers, Reds, Astros and San Diego after he left the Cardinals. Fans still cheer him.

O.city · 05-10-2013, 08:21 PM

Shelby throwing it well tonight.

Pretty hard pressed not to throw him at the top of the Rookie of the Year list so far this early year.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-10-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The Cardinals haven't and shouldn't collapse because Pujols left combined with Pujols obvious decline, I think will open the door to him coming back to the Cardinals and being welcomed by the fans. This isn't a "Lebron" situation.

According to the article he still makes his home in St. Louis, still is doing all the charity work in St. Louis.

For crissakes, Jimmy played for the Brewers, Reds, Astros and San Diego after he left the Cardinals. Fans still cheer him.

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.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-10-2013, 08:54 PM

Ninety-five on the ****ing black to end it. Don't know if I've ever seen a better start from a Cardinal pitcher in terms of raw dominance. That was far more impressive than a number of perfect games. I bet his game score is out of this world.

Miles · 05-10-2013, 08:54 PM

Miller just threw a complete game one hitter with no walks. Not bad.

O.city · 05-10-2013, 08:55 PM

Dude just overpowered guys all night. Quite impressive.

Marcellus · 05-10-2013, 08:57 PM

Broken bat single to start then 27 in a row. That is dominant.

VAChief · 05-10-2013, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

Miller just threw a complete game one hitter with no walks. Not bad.

27 in a row. 13ks...About as good as it gets. The one hit was a sawed off blooper to right.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-10-2013, 09:09 PM

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

O.city · 05-10-2013, 09:13 PM

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 10m
Shelby Miller, 22, on the season: 45.2 IP, 29 H, 11 BB, 51 K, 3 HR, 1.58 ERA. Matt Harvey, 24: 49.1 IP, 22 H, 12 BB, 58 K, 2 HR, 1.28 ERA.

Both have been really impressive.

**BigRedChief** · 05-10-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

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.

A broken bat blooper away from a perfect game as a rookie. Very cool. I'll say it again............I love watching him pitch.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3259627 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: 78,917

05-10-2013, 08:21 PM	#666
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2864064	Shelby throwing it well tonight. Pretty hard pressed not to throw him at the top of the Rookie of the Year list so far this early year.
Posts: 81,149

05-10-2013, 08:54 PM	#668
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8039572	Ninety-five on the ****ing black to end it. Don't know if I've ever seen a better start from a Cardinal pitcher in terms of raw dominance. That was far more impressive than a number of perfect games. I bet his game score is out of this world. __________________ "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: 74,813

05-10-2013, 08:54 PM	#669
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $1782400	Miller just threw a complete game one hitter with no walks. Not bad.
Posts: 14,520

05-10-2013, 08:55 PM	#670
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2864064	Dude just overpowered guys all night. Quite impressive.
Posts: 81,149

05-10-2013, 08:57 PM	#671
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3202662	Broken bat single to start then 27 in a row. That is dominant.
Posts: 69,116

05-10-2013, 09:09 PM	#673
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8039572	Miller's game score was 98. Better than Harvey's start earlier this week, and the best in baseball this year. __________________ "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: 74,813

05-10-2013, 09:13 PM	#674
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2864064	Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 10m Shelby Miller, 22, on the season: 45.2 IP, 29 H, 11 BB, 51 K, 3 HR, 1.58 ERA. Matt Harvey, 24: 49.1 IP, 22 H, 12 BB, 58 K, 2 HR, 1.28 ERA. Both have been really impressive.
Posts: 81,149

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