Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 226

**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** · 07-28-2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Somebody is gonna have to start driving the baseball in gaps and over the fence. This is by far the worst series we've played all year, all the way around.

Awful baseball

Thats exactly where Holliday and Freese's declines have hurt us. They are both rolling over the ball and into DP's instead of taking the ball to right field.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-28-2013, 08:45 PM

That's only part of it. Holliday flat out does not have the bat speed to turn on a fastball anymore. Craig's change in his hitting approach has him driving the ball with less authority, and Freese has something really wrong with his lower body. He runs terribly.

Holy **** that Beltran K was the worst swing of the year.

O.city · 07-28-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Thats exactly where Holliday and Freese's declines have hurt us. They are both rolling over the ball and into DP's instead of taking the ball to right field.

They're rolling over pitches on te inner half. You have to drive balls in there

Pepe Silvia · 07-28-2013, 08:51 PM

The offense is just putrid, wake the **** up guys. It won't be tonight because Kimbrel is automatic.

**BigRedChief** · 07-28-2013, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Holy **** that Beltran K was the worst swing of the year.

Bounced 6-7 feet in front of the plate and you swing at it? WTF Carlos? How many career ML AB's do you have? I don't think I've even seem my little leaguers swing at one that far in front of the plate.

O.city · 07-28-2013, 08:57 PM

Well I'm out, bring us luck guys. I'm at the hospital te wife is being induced in the morning, baby o.city should e here tomorrow.

Bring us home a win the nex few days

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-28-2013, 08:58 PM

****ing Jesus Christ.

**BigRedChief** · 07-28-2013, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Well I'm out, bring us luck guys. I'm at the hospital te wife is being induced in the morning, baby o.city should e here tomorrow.

Bring us home a win the nex few days

Hope it all goes smooth and quick and a healthy new addition to the family is welcomed tomorrow.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:10 PM

Wait, so Beltran's offer at the first pitch of the AB wasn't a strike, but Carpenter's was?

Ok.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:16 PM

Get the pen up immediately.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:20 PM

That's why you can't and should never trust Jake Westbrook. Biggest series of the year and he's given up more runs, four, than he's thrown strikes, three.

The team looks primed to roll over and die.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:23 PM

Get ****ed and die Westbrook.

**BigRedChief** · 07-29-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's why you can't and should never trust Jake Westbrook. Biggest series of the year and he's given up more runs, four, than he's thrown strikes, three.

The team looks primed to roll over and die.

No way this early in the season. we went through a rough patch before the All star break for a whole month and we still have the best record in baseball.

We only have to play .500 baseball post All Star break to get 91 wins. I think that gets us in the playoffs. Once we are there....anything can happen.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:43 PM

Sorry, but I just don't believe in these guys against good teams in big games. This is the same group that completely shit their pants when they had three straight chances to get to the World Series. It's not the 2011 team. There is no power in this lineup, it gets carved up by LHP, and it's becoming increasingly easy for any team to pitch to them by busting them inside.

Albert Pujols isn't walking through that door. Lance Berkman isn't walking through that door, and Chris Carpenter isn't walking through that door.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-29-2013, 05:47 PM

Westbrook has thrown so many ****ing meatballs this inning that the Pirates have just missed.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3239627 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: 78,934

07-28-2013, 08:45 PM	#3377
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	That's only part of it. Holliday flat out does not have the bat speed to turn on a fastball anymore. Craig's change in his hitting approach has him driving the ball with less authority, and Freese has something really wrong with his lower body. He runs terribly. Holy **** that Beltran K was the worst swing of the 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: 74,820

07-28-2013, 08:51 PM	#3379
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $2004664	The offense is just putrid, wake the **** up guys. It won't be tonight because Kimbrel is automatic.
Posts: 16,531

07-28-2013, 08:57 PM	#3381
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2844064	Well I'm out, bring us luck guys. I'm at the hospital te wife is being induced in the morning, baby o.city should e here tomorrow. Bring us home a win the nex few days
Posts: 81,172

07-28-2013, 08:58 PM	#3382
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	****ing Jesus Christ. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:10 PM	#3384
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Wait, so Beltran's offer at the first pitch of the AB wasn't a strike, but Carpenter's was? Ok. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:16 PM	#3385
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Get the pen up immediately. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:20 PM	#3386
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	That's why you can't and should never trust Jake Westbrook. Biggest series of the year and he's given up more runs, four, than he's thrown strikes, three. The team looks primed to roll over and die. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:23 PM	#3387
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Get ****ed and die Westbrook. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:43 PM	#3389
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Sorry, but I just don't believe in these guys against good teams in big games. This is the same group that completely shit their pants when they had three straight chances to get to the World Series. It's not the 2011 team. There is no power in this lineup, it gets carved up by LHP, and it's becoming increasingly easy for any team to pitch to them by busting them inside. Albert Pujols isn't walking through that door. Lance Berkman isn't walking through that door, and Chris Carpenter isn't walking through that door. __________________ "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

07-29-2013, 05:47 PM	#3390
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Westbrook has thrown so many ****ing meatballs this inning that the Pirates have just missed. __________________ "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

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