Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 124

**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

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-10-2013, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

the problem is

the pitching has gotten SO MUCH BETTER the past 10 years and the hitters just can't keep up...and they can't cheat anymore

One of the reasons why it got better is because so many resources were poured into cultivating and developing pitching, as it was seen as an absolute dire necessity given the way that roid monsters were ****stomping ML record books.

Pepe Silvia · 06-10-2013, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Trevor Rosenthal is better than either. Damn sure wouldn't trade him for either of those 2.

Agreed.

Pepe Silvia · 06-10-2013, 11:57 PM

I think thats one of the reasons Clemens started using steroids even though he really didn't need them until towards the end of his career when he was losing velocity. He probably figured **** it, all these hitters are juicing and I gotta do something. lol

**BigRedChief** · 06-11-2013, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

every team has 5 guys who can pump it up to 98 MPH

it's just ridiculous

Even on the Cubs?

**BigRedChief** · 06-11-2013, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

that was embarrassing

I was wrong about a lot of players back then too. Thought Rasmus would be a All-Star. Garcia would throw a no-hitter etc.

Evaluating and projecting baseball players success at the MLB level is damn hard. So many things could go wrong.

Pepe Silvia · 06-11-2013, 05:21 PM

Damn it, Wacha gives up a dinger and the first out was hard hit too, hope he settles down.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-11-2013, 05:29 PM

He's a two pitch pitcher who can't stay down in the zone. He's gonna get his ass kicked and kicked hard. He should have gotten destroyed against the Royals in the last few innings, too.

duncan_idaho · 06-11-2013, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Damn it, Wacha gives up a dinger and the first out was hard hit too, hope he settles down.

It was going to be tough for him to live up to the hype. I think a lot of people lost sight of his real/ultimate upside as a major leaguer.

He's good. But probably more middle-rotation good than top-rotation good, unless he improves his curveball quite a bit. Have they experimented with a slider for him at all? His height and arm slot would seem to fit that nicely.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-11-2013, 05:31 PM

This needs to be his last view of the big leagues until September 1. If the Cardinals keep him up over Lyons they are ****ing moronic.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-11-2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It was going to be tough for him to live up to the hype. I think a lot of people lost sight of his real/ultimate upside as a major leaguer.

He's good. But probably more middle-rotation good than top-rotation good, unless he improves his curveball quite a bit. Have they experimented with a slider for him at all? His height and arm slot would seem to fit that nicely.

I have no desire for the organization to teach any pitcher a slider, ever.

duncan_idaho · 06-11-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I have no desire for the organization to teach any pitcher a slider, ever.

Protecting arms?

For guys that have difficulty with the "Feel" of a curveball, sliders can be a nice alternative.

Wainwright throws a ton of them, according to PitchFX

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-11-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Protecting arms?

For guys that have difficulty with the "Feel" of a curveball, sliders can be a nice alternative.

Wainwright throws a ton of them, according to PitchFX

1. Yes. I hate that pitch.
2. He doesn't throw one at all anymore. He throws a cutter.
3. Wacha's upside without a breaking pitch isn't a middle of the rotation starter, it's Anthony Reyes.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-11-2013, 05:43 PM

Adams and Freese set the stage for a nice inning only for Jay and Kozma to come up hacking on the first pitch. Two swings, two outs.

O.city · 06-11-2013, 05:44 PM

Wacha is gonna have to develop a breaking pitch. While his change up is good, very good, it's not near enough for him at this level.

He doesn't need to be with the big club yet at all. For Christ sake, he's 21 years old. While he is polished, he's not that far along yet

O.city · 06-11-2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Adams and Freese set the stage for a nice inning only for Jay and Kozma to come up hacking on the first pitch. Two swings, two outs.

With the way descalso is hitting it, kozma needs to be on the bench

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 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: 78,937

06-10-2013, 11:57 PM	#1848
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	I think thats one of the reasons Clemens started using steroids even though he really didn't need them until towards the end of his career when he was losing velocity. He probably figured **** it, all these hitters are juicing and I gotta do something. lol
Posts: 16,532

06-11-2013, 05:21 PM	#1851
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	Damn it, Wacha gives up a dinger and the first out was hard hit too, hope he settles down.
Posts: 16,532

06-11-2013, 05:29 PM	#1852
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	He's a two pitch pitcher who can't stay down in the zone. He's gonna get his ass kicked and kicked hard. He should have gotten destroyed against the Royals in the last few innings, too. __________________ "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: 74,820

06-11-2013, 05:31 PM	#1854
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	This needs to be his last view of the big leagues until September 1. If the Cardinals keep him up over Lyons they are ****ing moronic. __________________ "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: 74,820

06-11-2013, 05:43 PM	#1858
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Adams and Freese set the stage for a nice inning only for Jay and Kozma to come up hacking on the first pitch. Two swings, two outs. __________________ "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: 74,820

06-11-2013, 05:44 PM	#1859
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Wacha is gonna have to develop a breaking pitch. While his change up is good, very good, it's not near enough for him at this level. He doesn't need to be with the big club yet at all. For Christ sake, he's 21 years old. While he is polished, he's not that far along yet
Posts: 81,176