***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

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by frazod

I wonder if it makes any difference that the one he was having the altercation with wasn't the one he touched?

It can and probably will.

The 'touch' rule isn't a hard and fast one; the intent being the contact is extremely important. Yadi had a free look at the 1b ump once and didn't make contact with him. He clearly wanted to be in his face and yelling at him, but didn't want to rough him up.

With the ump he made contact with, he was clearly trying to get around him to go back to chewing on the ump. So the fact that the contact wasn't with the first ump will likely make a difference.

Here's where the star system may help us as much as anything. I'd be surprised if MLB dumps one of their MVP caliber players for any appreciable period of time for being upset about a clearly erroneous ejection.

[Pepe Silvia]

I'll have to see the highlights, I missed it.

[DJ's left nut]

Yadi didn't lose his mind until that Napoleonic little prick turned and smirked at him.

It was absolute bullshit.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Each team should be allowed one ump ass whipping per year.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Each team should be allowed one ump ass whipping per year.

"The Purge: MLB Edition"

For one game a year, player-on-ump violence is condoned and encouraged.

Y'know what...I think it would solve a bunch of problems. If you're Joe West, your get your shit in order real fast. And if you're an MLB team that randomly pummels umpires that don't deserve it, well the umps are certainly going to hold that against you.

If every team simply administers reasonable piss-poundings to the West/Hernandez/Davidson/bundle of sticksan umpires of the world, all is well.

I love this plan. I'm excited to be a part of it.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Venkman reference, FTW.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Last night I couldn't sleep. I watched Freese's AB in the 9th of Game 6, then Berkman's in the 10th and Freese's in the 11th.

I still can't believe that happened. It was the most dramatic baseball game I've ever seen and we won. Probably the best World Series of our lifetimes and we won.

Still get goosebumps.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Last night I couldn't sleep. I watched Freese's AB in the 9th of Game 6, then Berkman's in the 10th and Freese's in the 11th.

I still can't believe that happened. It was the most dramatic baseball game I've ever seen and we won. Probably the best World Series of our lifetimes and we won.

Still get goosebumps.

I have the DVD. It's just amazing, that actually did happen.

2006 will always be my favorite because I got to see it won live with my son. But how from a strictly excitement level, how can it ever get better? That was one of the best baseball games ever played.

[Jewish Rabbi]

I was an emotional wreck that night. Luckily I was watching alone and not taping myself

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I just read through the about 500 posts in the 2011 Cardinals thread that encompassed that game. I was nervous just re-reading the damn things.

[BigRedChief]

I was reading on another board that freese and or his agent wanted a deal like Craig this off season and Mo didn't even want to discuss a deal. Anyone hear this rumor before? Think freese's days are numbered in STL?

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Last night I couldn't sleep. I watched Freese's AB in the 9th of Game 6, then Berkman's in the 10th and Freese's in the 11th.

I still can't believe that happened. It was the most dramatic baseball game I've ever seen and we won. Probably the best World Series of our lifetimes and we won.

Still get goosebumps.

I recently watched it on you tube as well because I was watching old world series games when I was bored a couple weeks back, that game 6 still brings a tear to my eye, like you said I couldn't believe that happened and from that moment on I realized that I will never doubt this team again, no matter the circumstances, if they could come back from that adversity that they faced on that huge stage then they can do anything. I went crazy in 2006 because it was the first title in my lifetime and thought nothing could top that but I was wrong, nothing will ever beat 2011, that was just magic.Being a Cardinals fan is special for all of us here in our own unique way, they are part of our very soul.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It can and probably will.

The 'touch' rule isn't a hard and fast one; the intent being the contact is extremely important. Yadi had a free look at the 1b ump once and didn't make contact with him. He clearly wanted to be in his face and yelling at him, but didn't want to rough him up.

With the ump he made contact with, he was clearly trying to get around him to go back to chewing on the ump. So the fact that the contact wasn't with the first ump will likely make a difference.

Here's where the star system may help us as much as anything. I'd be surprised if MLB dumps one of their MVP caliber players for any appreciable period of time for being upset about a clearly erroneous ejection.

The second ump was initiating more contact than Yadi. At worst, he was slightly hand-fighting the guy to get around him to scream at that young little prick some more. I see a fairly hefty fine and no suspension.

I think Al said it best on the game commentary - the fans aren't there to see the umps. That little prick saw a chance to be the spotlight and he took it. Yes, the rulebook states that you can be tossed for that, but it's almost never used on the basepaths especially when a guy is just showing frustration (as Yadi was) and not complaining about the call.

If you watch the replay, Matheny slips in front on Yadi right at the last second before Yadi could have gotten himself in real trouble.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I was reading on another board that freese and or his agent wanted a deal like Craig this off season and Mo didn't even want to discuss a deal. Anyone hear this rumor before? Think freese's days are numbered in STL?

I feel like they always have been.

He's a guy with arthritic ankles and a history of alcoholism - does it really make any sense to lock him up long-term when you have him under team control for 3 more seasons?

I'd ride David Freese through 2015 then let him walk as a FA. He'd be approaching his age 33 season at that point and likely won't get too terribly much on the open market.

At that point you re-assess. If Wisdom or Kelly come along as you've hoped, Freese won't be needed. If Wong or Garcia have forced your hand at 2b, you can always slide Carpenter back over to 3b (though I hate doing that; why move a guy to 3b that can give you that kind of offense and plus defense at 2b, a much hard position to fill?).

The Cardinals would have plenty of options.

Freese hasn't ever been a candidate for a long-term extension, IMO. He's played overaged for most of his career and just doesn't appear to be a wise gamble for a smart ballclub. Extract as much value from him as you can from his team controlled years and then let him walk as he enters his decline years. It's the only way a mid-market payroll can keep it's best young players in the organization.

I don't think refusing to sign him to an extension means they won't have him back.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I was an emotional wreck that night. Luckily I was watching alone and not taping myself

I remember not being able to sleep, going out & running a couple miles just to perk me up for work at 6am; don't think I got any actual sleep for a couple days after the series.