***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]

Now I'll turn on the TV.

[VAChief]

The new Saturday home unis look nice. Wainright dealing, both on the mound and at the plate.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by VAChief

The new Saturday home unis look nice. Wainright dealing, both on the mound and at the plate.

Is that some sort of throwback, or just designed to look like one?

Like the big 6 in the outfield, too.

[Frazod]

Nice Web Gem by Descalso to end the inning, too.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Douchemaster General

Is that some sort of throwback, or just designed to look like one?

Like the big 6 in the outfield, too.

It's a combo, the piping down the side is from their 50's uniforms and St Louis across the front is from the 40's I think. The cream color is also a throwback.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by VAChief

It's a combo, the piping down the side is from their 50's uniforms and St Louis across the front is from the 40's I think. The cream color is also a throwback.

They've never had St. Louis with the Birds on the bat. I don't like the new uniforms, but it appears I'm in the minority.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

They've never had St. Louis with the Birds on the bat. I don't like the new uniforms, but it appears I'm in the minority.

Nice change of pace, IMO. I wouldn't like the change on the regular uniform, but once a week it's okay.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

They've never had St. Louis with the Birds on the bat. I don't like the new uniforms, but it appears I'm in the minority.

They had St Louis on the front in the early 30's.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Once a week, I can deal with the Saturday alternates; I feel what's really important is tha Cardinal pitching has pitched 3 consecutive shutouts, and Westbrook, Miller & Wainright all completely dominant.

Oh, and Taveras had 4 hits Friday night for Memphis.

[whoman69]

Oscar Taveras for Jurickson Profar rumors persist. Does it make sense?
It seems like a day cannot go by without someone bringing up the possibility of a Oscar Taveras for Jurickson Profar trade. The latest coming from former GM Jim Bowden on ESPN Insider (subscription required), who labels it as a "challenge" trade--one that could define the GM's careers.

Of the face of it, the trade seems to make sense. Profar is generally consider the top prospect in baseball, but is blocked at the major league level by Elvis Andrus. Taveras is considered the 3rd best prospect in baseball, but is blocked by a loaded Cardinals outfield.

The Cardinals need a long-term solution at short, where shortstop Pete Kozma has done admirably in his short tenure, but there is skepticism as to whether he can keep it up. On the other hand, the Rangers need a replacement for Nelson Cruz, who will be a free agent after this season.

One concern for the Cardinals is that Carlos Beltran will be a free agent after this season and Taveras is seen as the heir apparent in right field. But they have other options there as well, such as putting Matt Adams at first and shifting Allen Craig back to right field.

For Texas, the Rangers could move Profar to second and shift Ian Kinsler to first to make room for their talented prospect. But that would still leave a hole in the outfield should Cruz walk.

So, a trade of Profar for Taveras makes perfect sense. Except there's one problem: Bowden thinks that Taveras is the better prospect and that the trade would be a win for the Rangers.

By all appearances, the Rangers are setting up Profar as trade bait. They just signed Andrus to a 8-year, $120 million extension and despite this, they keep playing Profar at short. Why would they do this if they do not intend to play him there at the major league level? Simple answer, to make him more attractive to other teams.

In addition, many people, including Bowden, project Taveras to be a consistent .300 hitter with 20-30 HR power in the majors. He has a career minor league line of .323/.382/.525. While some scouts feel that Profar can develop into a .300 hitter with 30 HR power, he has yet to show it in the minors, with a career line of .276/.368/.447 in the minors and a season high of just 14 homers.

So, if I was Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and Rangers GM Jon Daniels called to offer me Profar for Taveras. I politely tell him no and go about my business.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/ar...sense/13393024

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Although the author ignores the surplus value of a good hitting shortstop vs. a good hitting outfielder, I do agree with his conclusion.

I'd rather have Oscar.

[Marco Polo]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colum...TocMAE.twitter

"the Cardinals aren’t going to trade outfield prospect Oscar Taveras to Texas for shortstop prospect Jurickson Profar, so let’s all settle down."

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Although the author ignores the surplus value of a good hitting shortstop vs. a good hitting outfielder, I do agree with his conclusion.

I'd rather have Oscar.

Agreed

[Frazod]

Scoreless inning streak comes to an end. Roidboy Braun breaks it up with a 2 run homer in the 8th.

[Frazod]

And Boggs promptly pisses down his leg in the 9th, now a tie game, no outs, winning run in scoring position.

And Yadi gambles and loses and misplays a bunt.

****.