***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]

It just mystifies me how Salas keeps ending up back with the team. He's like Jason from Friday the 13th.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I just don't see a bad bodied first baseman like Adams being that valuable of an asset. I know he's a lefty who crushed pitching in the minors, and he projects to 30 HR power, but I just find it hard to believe the Rockies would be bowled over by him. They could just sign Jose Abreu in the offseason and keep Tulo.

Because Jose Abreu would cost upwards of $10 million/season.

So if you're the Rockies you could have Tulo and Abreu for about $28 million/yr (and assume substantial health/performance risks) or Adams and Josh Rutledge for less than $1 million.

Are they likely contenders either way? No, probably not. And in 2015 when Carlos Gonzalez is making $10 million/season more than he's making now, perhaps they would prefer the payroll flexibility.

It wouldn't be a purely baseball move by any stretch, but the payroll considerations involved are substantial.

[ChiefsCountry]

You need to dangle Adams to an AL team. Perfect for 1B/DH combo.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Because Jose Abreu would cost upwards of $10 million/season.

So if you're the Rockies you could have Tulo and Abreu for about $28 million/yr (and assume substantial health/performance risks) or Adams and Josh Rutledge for less than $1 million.

Are they likely contenders either way? No, probably not. And in 2015 when Carlos Gonzalez is making $10 million/season more than he's making now, perhaps they would prefer the payroll flexibility.

It wouldn't be a purely baseball move by any stretch, but the payroll considerations involved are substantial.

The raw dollars aspect is a compelling argument, but I'd bet that the difference in WAR between Tulo and Abreu and Rutledge, Adams, and Wacha might be enough to weight the trade in Colorado's favor. They could always target Kendrys Morales for $5-7 million instead.

Tulo and Morales would make $22-25 million and would likely give them somewhere between 6-12 WAR.

Rutledge, Adams, and Wacha would cost $1 million, but how many wins do you get from them?

Is Rutledge Tyler Greene? Is Adams' ceiling a 2-3 WAR 1B? You also have to figure in that the Cards will likely pay a premium because Tulo is the face of that franchise and b/c they need a SS so badly. Additionally, Tulo's contract stipulates that he can't be traded from the team acquiring him in a trade, so if his salary becomes onerous, dumping him becomes more complicated.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

You need to dangle Adams to an AL team. Perfect for 1B/DH combo.

Why?

Adams is a competent 1b at worst. He's a fat guy for sure, but he's shockingly nimble around the bag. He's made several very nice scoops this year that Craig wouldn't make. He's a good knee bender over there so he's at the right angle to save some of those throws (as opposed to Craig, who generally breaks at the waist). He's a massive target with his wingspan being what it is.

He'll be a perfectly viable defensive 1b for the next 5-6 years, IMO. I'd far prefer Adams defensively at 1b to Craig over the next 5 years. He's just much more sound defensively. And baseball teams tend to view trades through 5 year windows these days.

An NL team would be happy to bring Adams on board.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The raw dollars aspect is a compelling argument, but I'd bet that the difference in WAR between Tulo and Abreu and Rutledge, Adams, and Wacha might be enough to weight the trade in Colorado's favor. They could always target Kendrys Morales for $5-7 million instead.

Tulo and Morales would make $22-25 million and would likely give them somewhere between 6-12 WAR.

Rutledge, Adams, and Wacha would cost $1 million, but how many wins do you get from them?

Is Rutledge Tyler Greene? Is Adams' ceiling a 2-3 WAR 1B? You also have to figure in that the Cards will likely pay a premium because Tulo is the face of that franchise and b/c they need a SS so badly. Additionally, Tulo's contract stipulates that he can't be traded from the team acquiring him in a trade, so if his salary becomes onerous, dumping him becomes more complicated.

There's significant risk involved for everyone. Hell, even assuming Tulo works out, what if Taveras doesn't? Right now, Adams is your long-term fallback for O-Tav, with Craig moving to RF. Adams will be a 30+ HR, .850ish OPS first baseman for quite some time, IMO. Even from a raw productivity standpoint, trading Adams is risky - the guys a hitter.

The Cards aren't made of money either. If the Rockies offered Tulo and his contract for Adams alone it would be a spooky trade to make. For Adams and Wacha...boy you're running a risk there. But from my chair, it's a risk worth taking. A Cardinals team with Carpenter, Jay, Tulo, Craig, Holliday, Molina, Beltran/Taveras and Wong as a 1-8 is absolutely filthy.

If Beltran walks and you non-tender or trade Freese, you've cleared about $15 million in salary obligations and replaced them both with cost-controlled guys in Wong and O-Tav. In losing Wacha, perhaps you've really just made a home for Martinez, Gast or Lyons in the 5th spot.

It could backfire - but it could bring in a 3rd (and 4th) WS Championship over the last 10 years as well. That team could be incredibly good.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Axford's been pretty terrible, but he's a better option than Blazek, Butler, or Salas at this point. He's not being brought in to close or set up.

Duncan is still getting $1 million a year to fish on Table Rock. Maybe the Cards sent him some video to evaluate and see if he thinks Axford's mechanics can be fixed?

He can still wing it in there at 96 so its not a physical issue. Not a bad move. Maybe get lightening in a bottle like you did with Mujica.

[Marco Polo]

I think this was a low-risk move. At worst it can provide depth, at best it can provide insurance to 8th inning/closing duties should injuries occur.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

This is ****ing ridiculous. The Pirates just own the Cardinals. They find every imaginable hole, Cardinal hitters couldn't touch Liriano if he was throwing beach balls, and the outfielders run down everything because the hitters don't have enough power to drive the ball out of the park.

[kcpasco]

Lets just hope they get this slump over quick this time. Another 2 week slump and its wild card time.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

What's the score? I'm too down about things to turn it on lol

['Hamas' Jenkins]

5-0 and the Cardinals have two ****ing hits.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Alright, I will continue not watching.

[kcpasco]

Well it was only fitting that game ended in a dp.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

5-0 and the Cardinals have two ****ing hits.

But on the other hand our bullpen continues to be lights out.