Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 243

**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** · 08-03-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Way to blow the lead off double assholes.

Missed the game up until the Reds had the bases loaded and no one out. Our bullpen got them out without a run. Then Holliday and Freese strike out on pitches way out of the strike zone, Delcaso with a weak grounder.

The Reds are not going anywhere playing like this.

Pasta Little Brioni · 08-03-2013, 07:57 PM

Reds playing homerun derby off of Blazek

**BigRedChief** · 08-03-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Reds playing homerun derby off of Blazek

Missed location thats for sure. Need to get the game tomorrow.

**BigRedChief** · 08-04-2013, 12:53 PM

Maybe they are out of that funk. Up 9-2 in the 6th.

Marcellus · 08-04-2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Maybe they are out of that funk. Up 9-2 in the 6th.

The Pirate and Dodgers series at home should tell us something.

Pepe Silvia · 08-04-2013, 01:30 PM

What an ass whipping, love it. Hate the Dreads.

Marcellus · 08-04-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

What an ass whipping, love it. Hate the Dreads.

I wish we would have used some of these runs in the Pirate series.

3 games out of 4 with 11+ runs.

**luv** · 08-04-2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I wish we would have used some of these runs in the Pirate series.

3 games out of 4 with 11+ runs.

Averaging 13 runs per game on this road trip. Probably more now that we're up to 15 in this game (so far).

kcpasco · 08-04-2013, 02:05 PM

What an ass beating. I hope they saved some of this for LA. And DD needs to be the everyday SS.

kcpasco · 08-04-2013, 02:11 PM

I wonder what Mujica has done to pass the time in the pen this road trip. LOL

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-04-2013, 02:13 PM

Half full: Offensive explosion.

Half empty: Take some of runs from the games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and the team goes 8-3 on the road trip.

VAChief · 08-04-2013, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Half full: Offensive explosion.

Half empty: Take some of runs from the games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and the team goes 8-3 on the road trip.

Hopefully, we had our bad streak for the year. We just need to keep it close, let Molina truly heal, and then let our best arms pitch down the stretch. It will be interesting to see the options we have in September with Martinez and Wacha available in the pen or as insurance for Westbrook/Kelly in the rotation. Wong and Taveras could provide some offensive spark as well.

Games like this offensively skew our run differential, but we are still far and away the leader in this category.

O.city · 08-04-2013, 07:26 PM

What's going on with taveras anyway?

VAChief · 08-04-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

What's going on with taveras anyway?

We should be hearing something soon. The last story I saw was on 7/20 and they thought it would be 15 more days. I think they have seen enough of him to know that he can help them at the end of the year. No reason to rush him, be sure he is healed. A couple of weeks playing regularly and he could be an option to call up in September.

If it is more serious than what has been divulged then they will probably shut him down for the season.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-04-2013, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAChief

We should be hearing something soon. The last story I saw was on 7/20 and they thought it would be 15 more days. I think they have seen enough of him to know that he can help them at the end of the year. No reason to rush him, be sure he is healed. A couple of weeks playing regularly and he could be an option to call up in September.

If it is more serious than what has been divulged then they will probably shut him down for the season.

He's been taking BP for a week. Should be running by now. High ankle sprains are injuries that just linger.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 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: 78,979

08-03-2013, 07:57 PM	#3632
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $4018880	Reds playing homerun derby off of Blazek __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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08-04-2013, 12:53 PM	#3634
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 VARSITY	Maybe they are out of that funk. Up 9-2 in the 6th. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 78,979

08-04-2013, 01:30 PM	#3636
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1944664	What an ass whipping, love it. Hate the Dreads.
Posts: 16,555

08-04-2013, 02:05 PM	#3639
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	What an ass beating. I hope they saved some of this for LA. And DD needs to be the everyday SS.
Posts: 15,477

08-04-2013, 02:11 PM	#3640
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7733463	I wonder what Mujica has done to pass the time in the pen this road trip. LOL
Posts: 15,477

08-04-2013, 02:13 PM	#3641
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Half full: Offensive explosion. Half empty: Take some of runs from the games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and the team goes 8-3 on the road trip. __________________ "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
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08-04-2013, 07:26 PM	#3643
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2784064	What's going on with taveras anyway?
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