***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread ***

[BigRedChief]

St. Louis Cardinals: 7 reasons fans should feel good about 2012

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:26 PM

St. Louis Cardinals fans are likely feeling deflated after the collapse that put an end to the team's dreams of a World Series repeat, but there is good reason to be excited.

With all of the odds against them, the Cardinals managed to push their 2012 season beyond any anticipated boundary.

Given all of the season's changes and the adversity the team had to fight through, the fact that they played in October at all was an anomaly in itself. On paper, it made sense for the Cardinals to be in the playoffs, but few saw them as a true threat.
As the season continued, even fans began to doubt as they watched the team seemingly crumble in June and July. When the Cardinals finally came to life in September they went 11-5 in the last 16 games of the season to lock up the second Wild Card position in its inaugural year.

That run, despite it's crushing end in Cincinnati in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, lots of good came from the Cardinals' season and playoff run.
Following in no particular order are 10 reasons Cardinals fans have to be excited about the 2013 season.

Trevor Rosenthal
When rookie fireballer Trevor Rosenthal made his first trip to St. Louis, it was obvious almost instantly that he was something special.
Between his 100 mph fastball and the general inability for almost anyone to hit off of him, he became a huge part of the Cardinals playoff run.

He pitched in a total of 19 regular season games before the 22-year-old rookie from Lee's Summit, Mo. got his first taste of postseason baseball and he put on quite a show.
In 8.2 IP over seven postseason appearances, Rosenthal held opponents to only two hits and no runs.
It's possible that down the stretch he may have already earned his spot in the rotation for 2013.

Shelby Miller
The long-coveted fastball pitching prospect Shelby Miller also made his first trip to St. Louis in 2012 and put on a good show.
In 13.2 IP over six regular season games, Miller surrendered only two runs on nine hits. His postseason performance was more of the same with two runs on four hits in 3.2 IP.

Despite a dismal first half of the season in Memphis, Miller got himself together and still managed to make one major league start before the end of the season -- a very impressive start at that.
Against the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of the regular season, Miller posted 5.2 hitless innings. He gave up no runs and collected his first major league win.

Expect to see a lot more of Miller in St. Louis early in 2013.

Joe Kelly
When Joe Kelly made his major league debut on June 10, few could have guessed the importance he would play throughout the remainder of the 2012 season.
Kelly started 16 games for the Cardinals this season filling in for Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn, but it was the postseason when he really came through for his teammates.

When starting pitchers struggled time and again in October, it was Kelly who came to their rescue.
In seven postseason appearances, Kelly threw 7.2 innings and surrendered only two runs on six hits. Kelly came through for the Cardinals from the bullpen.
There's a good chance that could be his home in the future.

Mike Matheny
When the Cardinals hired Mike Matheny to take over for Tony LaRussa, many question bringing in a manager with no experience to such a storied franchise.

He had a few hiccups and growing pains along the way, but for a rookie manager to get his team where Matheny did this year speaks volumes.
His players have a strong respect for Matheny and credit his positive style with being a driving force behind their 2012 success.
True, he didn't get them through the NLCS, but the team made it to an all or nothing Game 7. That's good experience for the players obviously, but also for Matheny. Not only did he learn a lot about managing in the media pressure cooker that is postseason baseball, he also got a taste of what it felt like to win as a manager.

NLCS loss means more drive to win
While the NLCS loss was a good lesson for a young manager, it's an even more important lesson for a young player.
The 2011 championship lit a fire under young players like Lance Lynn and Jon Jay. That fire helped drive them to extremely successful sophomore seasons.

What happened in 2012 will likely do the same for Rosenthal, Miller and Kelly. Their 2013 season may not be like Jay or Lynn's 2012, but now they've gotten a little taste of what it feels like to be a winner.

Both the excitement and the public humbling can be a great experience for any young player.

The run was without several key components
In a season riddled with injuries, none were as crucial as those late in the season.
The loss of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal significantly weakened the team's bench. Instead of having Pete Kozma, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter to pinch hit, the team wound up having to use them in the lineup.

The loss of Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook also rocked the Cardinals. Instead of having Lynn and Westbrook also available from the bullpen, Lynn was pushed back into the rotation after a very successful NLDS bullpen stint.

Having gotten as deep into the playoffs as the Cardinals did in spite of the injuries is quite the accomplishment.

They did it without Pujols, LaRussa and Duncan
Few in the world of sports gave the Cardinals a fighting chance when Albert Pujols left the team to play on the west coast. Surely this team couldn't be as good as they were?

Few gave them a chance after longtime manager Tony LaRussa decided it was time to retire.
Few gave them a chance after pitching coach Dave Duncan left the team.
The Cardinals did it despite all of that. That's something any fan should be proud of.

No, they didn't hoist a trophy. There will be no parade or tickertape.
What there is, though, is hope for next year and that will come sooner than you may think.
After all, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just four short months.

From a blog I was sent on twitter: http://www.dailystatesman.com/blogs/...es/entry/50051

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We couldnt resign Hamels and extend Waino. I'd rather have Waino.

Why not?

Berkman, Westbrook and Lohse come off the books at 12, 8.5 and 12 respectively, so there's 32.5 million and Wainwright's already on the books for $9 million.

The cost of Wainwright, Hamels, Lynn and Craig isn't going to much more than the cost of Wainwright, Berkman, Lohse and Westbrook. We'll also be getting McClellan's disastrous $2.5 million off the books to boot. Frankly, we have an option year on Waino anyway - if we have to write his extension in a manner that has it take effect in 2014 (after Carps deal expires), so be it.

Ownership can't let the team atrophy after letting Pujols walk and Carpenter doesn't have more than another season left in him anyway. If all they do is extend Waino in the offseason and re-sign Lohse (who is the exact sort of expensive mediocrity that dooms teams with mid-market payrolls), they're moving laterally in a big big way. That's unacceptable for an ownership group that has reaped far more revenue than it could've ever dreamed.

They need to make a stronger commitment, IMO. They made the smart baseball decision to let Pujols walk - now they need to re-invest the Pujols money into the team. Making an aggressive play on a 28 yr old star left-hander (a commodity this team hasn't had since Carlton) is hardly asking too much.

[VAChief]

I really like what I have heard about Rosenthal. Proves once again you can find those diamonds in the rough (21st round) who can suddenly blow up occasionally. Miller had a good outing last night, maybe he will start to listen to his coaches after all.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/2...nclick_check=1

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Why not?


Ownership can't let the team atrophy after letting Pujols walk and Carpenter doesn't have more than another season left in him anyway. If all they do is extend Waino in the offseason and re-sign Lohse (who is the exact sort of expensive mediocrity that dooms teams with mid-market payrolls), they're moving laterally in a big big way. That's unacceptable for an ownership group that has reaped far more revenue than it could've ever dreamed.

They need to make a stronger commitment, IMO. They made the smart baseball decision to let Pujols walk - now they need to re-invest the Pujols money into the team. Making an aggressive play on a 28 yr old star left-hander (a commodity this team hasn't had since Carlton) is hardly asking too much.

Landing Beltran and giving Molina a long term contract that was considered so generous that MLB clubs were publically complaining was not atrophy.

Mo has made enough moves that he should be trusted to make the right decision about mid season moves. He's made one bad trade and several excellent trades. On the curve of mid season trades, thats Hall of Fame level success. Just ask the Brewers who mortgaged their future last year. Only to lose to us.

I dont see the Dewitt's as being so cheap that they would rather make more money than win. Just dont see any atrophy.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Beltran picks up his 2000th hit on the night his jersey is the promotional handout.

Nice.

[Simply Red]

Dan Uggla is basically MLB's Samie Parker.

[Simply Red]

not to disrupt your redbird talk, It's the only place on CP that's talking baseball, currently.

So if you don't mind my interloping - from time-to-time. Ty

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

not to disrupt your redbird talk, It's the only place on CP that's talking baseball, currently.

So if you don't mind my interloping - from time-to-time. Ty

Hell, just start your own Braves thread. Better than the ****ing Giants.

[rico]

Originally Posted by frazod

Hell, just start your own Braves thread. Better than the ****ing Giants.

I didn't open the Giants thread, but when I noticed it, I thought it was a joke.

[Frazod]

****

[rico]

Ugh.

[Frazod]

**** I hate that goddamn McCutchen.

[Frazod]

And why the hell didn't they give Wainwright the hook after last inning?

[OnTheWarpath15]

WTF happened?

I turned it off after we took a 5-2 lead. Figured that would be enough for Waino.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

WTF happened?

I turned it off after we took a 5-2 lead. Figured that would be enough for Waino.

Waino missed location after location. And then the bullpen did its usual meltdown.

[whoman69]

Sanchez and Freeman optioned to Triple A Memphis. Replaced by rookie lefty Barret Browning and right-hander Maikel Cleto. McClellan was moved to the 60 day DL to make room for Browning on the 40 man roster.