***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

[Mi_chief_fan]

@dgoold: Molina has inflammation in right knee. MRI can back "clean" for structural damage, he said. Expects to play Tuesday at earliest. #stlcards

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

@dgoold: Molina has inflammation in right knee. MRI can back "clean" for structural damage, he said. Expects to play Tuesday at earliest. #stlcards

hell keep him out till after the All Star break. without Molina we are sunk. He needs the rest anyway.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

hell keep him out till after the All Star break. without Molina we are sunk. He needs the rest anyway.

I'd rest him today, off tomorrow anyway, and probably the 2 against Houston, at least.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

@dgoold: Molina has inflammation in right knee. MRI can back "clean" for structural damage, he said. Expects to play Tuesday at earliest. #stlcards

Thank God.

[Pepe Silvia]

Sweep. Good series, time to start another winning streak. Damn Cubbies screwed us and let the Pirates tie, I knew they would.

[Pepe Silvia]

And just after I posted the Cubbies win, tied for first. woot

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Starting Molina 78 of the first 85 games was a fireable offense.

Catchers should not start more than 140 games per year.

[VAChief]

Roster move?

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...5294f7652.html

I wonder who they are thinking of calling up? I doubt it is Wong. Taveras is hurt. Someone like Brock Peterson maybe? RH with some power (.949 OPS at Memphis). Probably a defensive liability, but couldn't be much worse than Wiggington. Whoever it is it will be addition by subtraction.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Starting Molina 78 of the first 85 games was a fireable offense.

Catchers should not start more than 140 games per year.

I just goggled. (as in my eyes nearly popped out of my head, not as in I used the search engine to confirm).

That really happened? Matheny needs to pay attention to what happens to catchers who consistently catch more than 140 games in a season. It might take a few seasons, but they break down.

Ned Yost is trying to do the same thing to Salvador Perez, I think.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Roster move?

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...5294f7652.html

I wonder who they are thinking of calling up? I doubt it is Wong. Taveras is hurt. Someone like Brock Peterson maybe? RH with some power (.949 OPS at Memphis). Probably a defensive liability, but couldn't be much worse than Wiggington. Whoever it is it will be addition by subtraction.

I think Ryan Jackson would be a good move. Give him a shot as SS and if he does well, the SS position might be less of a black hole in the lineup.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by Swanman

I think Ryan Jackson would be a good move. Give him a shot as SS and if he does well, the SS position might be less of a black hole in the lineup.

Possibly, I'm not sure that makes us any better. There was an article this week in the Post that mentioned that statistical projections for Jackson and Kosma for the remainder of the year were pretty much the same. Jackson or Kosma coming off the bench would not be a real run producing threat. You are basically replacing your right handed pinch hitter off the bench. We don't have one of those right now unless Adams is playing.

[StcChief]

Yadie good news. I'd rest him tonite. get ready for Cubbies series.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Possibly, I'm not sure that makes us any better. There was an article this week in the Post that mentioned that statistical projections for Jackson and Kosma for the remainder of the year were pretty much the same. Jackson or Kosma coming off the bench would not be a real run producing threat. You are basically replacing your right handed pinch hitter off the bench. We don't have one of those right now unless Adams is playing.

I am just biased about Kozma right now so that probably clouds my thinking. He started out ok and in the last month or more his offense has gone completely in the tank. He is so bad that I would be sorely tempted bat Waino or Shelby 8th when they pitch.

A good answer would be to get a real major league shortstop from someone else but the price will likely be too high for the quality we receive. Thank god Carpenter has more than solidified the 2b spot. The gaps left are CF and SS.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Wigginton is finally gone. Per PA, probably the worst Cardinal in history.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Wigginton is finally gone. Per PA, probably the worst Cardinal in history.

C Rob Johnson promoted; let the Yadi injury speculation begin.