Cardinals ***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread *** - Page 114

**BigRedChief** · 08:57 PM

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

Frazod · 10-15-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Depending on the competition cycle, yeah. If you're rebuilding and you get a lot of good experience for your players, build on some stuff and charge up for next year - then it's a success regardless of the outcome (the Nats, for instance.

If you're a team like the Cardinals and you have all the talent this squad has, when the season begins you should set a pretty decent goal for yourself. I don't think WS or bust is fair, but I do think that the goal for this Cardinals team should have been a pennant. Otherwise you're setting your goals too low.

If you don't reach that goal, the season can't be a true success, though you could certainly get around not calling it a failure.

Did the Braves have a successful season? I don't think the die-hards would say they did. The Phils? Marlins? Mets? No, not at all. Reds? Nope 98 wins and a first round loss isn't a successful season, not with the veteran stars they have on the roster. I don't think anyone else in the Central can consider this a successful season either. The Bucs collapsed down the stretch again and the Brewers underperformed so badly early that they made re-building trades that bit them when they finally got their !@#$ in order.

The Giants are probably going to call this season successful after getting through to the playoffs even after their injuries/suspensions. The D-Backs can't possibly like it, nor can the Rox. Maybe the Padres with their strong finish, but that's a 'rebuilding' squad under the rebuilding rules.

If the Cards lose the NLCS, I'll consider this a fine season, but not one I would call a 'successful' one. An entertaining one and one where some guys developed, but this isn't a building squad - it's a championship caliber one and should be held to that standard.

I think that's a bit harsh.

We lost:
1. HOF Manager (yeah, I didn't like him, but still, he's a HOF manager)
2. Marquee star
3. Arguably the best pitching coach in baseball
4. Staff ace for most of the season
5. Berkman and Furcal, two seasoned veterans who were key to our success last year.

Also, Garcia is done for the post season and Lynn and Wainwright are shaky at best.

Even if we end up losing in 5, I think reaching this point is pretty damned impressive, all things considered.

But obviously I want more.

DJ's left nut · 10-15-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I think that's a bit harsh.

We lost:
1. HOF Manager (yeah, I didn't like him, but still, he's a HOF manager)
2. Marquee star
3. Arguably the best pitching coach in baseball
4. Staff ace for most of the season
5. Berkman and Furcal, two seasoned veterans who were key to our success last year.

Also, Garcia is done for the post season and Lynn and Wainwright are shaky at best.

Even if we end up losing in 5, I think reaching this point is pretty damned impressive, all things considered.

But obviously I want more.

If we don't advance, then we failed to split a 6-game series where both sides had an even number of home/away games. I think it's time to admit that the Cardinals really should win this series.

If they fail, that has to be seen as a disappointment.

**BigRedChief** · 10-15-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Depending on the competition cycle, yeah. If you're rebuilding and you get a lot of good experience for your players, build on some stuff and charge up for next year - then it's a success regardless of the outcome (the Nats, for instance.

If you're a team like the Cardinals and you have all the talent this squad has, when the season begins you should set a pretty decent goal for yourself. I don't think WS or bust is fair, but I do think that the goal for this Cardinals team should have been a pennant. Otherwise you're setting your goals too low.

If you don't reach that goal, the season can't be a true success, though you could certainly get around not calling it a failure.

Did the Braves have a successful season? I don't think the die-hards would say they did. The Phils? Marlins? Mets? No, not at all. Reds? Nope 98 wins and a first round loss isn't a successful season, not with the veteran stars they have on the roster. I don't think anyone else in the Central can consider this a successful season either. The Bucs collapsed down the stretch again and the Brewers underperformed so badly early that they made re-building trades that bit them when they finally got their !@#$ in order.

The Giants are probably going to call this season successful after getting through to the playoffs even after their injuries/suspensions. The D-Backs can't possibly like it, nor can the Rox. Maybe the Padres with their strong finish, but that's a 'rebuilding' squad under the rebuilding rules.

If the Cards lose the NLCS, I'll consider this a fine season, but not one I would call a 'successful' one. An entertaining one and one where some guys developed, but this isn't a building squad - it's a championship caliber one and should be held to that standard.

If you are not the top team out of 16 teams every year, its a failed season? That is way too high of a bar.

Frazod · 10-15-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If we don't advance, then we failed to split a 6-game series where both sides had an even number of home/away games. I think it's time to admit that the Cardinals really should win this series.

If they fail, that has to be seen as a disappointment.

And if they lose, I'll be disappointed, but Christ, my other teams are the Chiefs and the Tigers. Hard to rip on a team that has overcome so much adversity and is still deep in the playoffs when the other two are mired in epic suck and don't even bother to show up for regular season games.

Pasta Little Brioni · 10-15-2012, 04:41 PM

They've made it farther than I expected. Productive season. Everything else is just gravy. I do expect them to make mince meat out of this Giant squad however.

**BigRedChief** · 10-15-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

And if they lose, I'll be disappointed, but Christ, my other teams are the Chiefs and the Tigers. Hard to rip on a team that has overcome so much adversity and is still deep in the playoffs when the other two don't even bother to show up for regular season games.

yeah that is BS to win the pennant or you are a failure.

Yesterday I saw in person my football team totally lay down and put forth one of the most pathetic efforts

Contrast that with my baseball team show some true grit on Friday. They had a never give up, keep trying your best, we are all in this together approach. They give their best effort no matter how much they are down, how long the odds are, they just keep going, doing their best.

That giving of maximum effort, never say die scrappy team is the one that I want to root for, the one I want to follow. No matter the results on the field, I can be proud of their efforts and being a fan.

Frazod · 10-15-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

They've made it farther than I expected. Productive season. Everything else is just gravy. I do expect them to make mince meat out of this Giant squad however.

Agreed. We're playing with house money at this point. Win or lose, I'll sport my Cards stuff with pride. And I won't even wear the other shit out of the house.

Frazod · 10-15-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

yeah that is BS to win the pennant or you are a failure.

Yesterday I saw in person my football team totally lay down and put forth one of the most pathetic efforts

Contrast that with my baseball team show some true grit on Friday. They had a never give up, keep trying your best, we are all in this together approach. They give their best effort no matter how much they are down, how long the odds are, they just keep going, doing their best.

That giving of maximum effort, never say die scrappy team is the one that I want to root for, the one I want to follow. No matter the results on the field, I can be proud of their efforts and being a fan.

I figured you'd go to the Chiefs game with it being in Tampa. That had to suck.

**BigRedChief** · 10-15-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Our Time again eh?

maybe

Was watching MLB's baseball tonight and the old geezer was telling about a question that he had asked Mike Methany about why Waino came back out to cheer on the club after failing badly, why all the players are always on the first steps on the dugout and not sitting on the bench or back in the clubhouse.....MM's response............. I think they are afraid that if they sit on the bench or go back into the clubhouse that Carpenter will rip their heads off.

**BigRedChief** · 10-15-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I figured you'd go to the Chiefs game with it being in Tampa. That had to suck.

Had a lot of fun tailgating with my Arrowhead South group but it was hot and totally embarrassing.

Frazod · 10-15-2012, 05:21 PM

I'm currently reading through the Cards/Nats Game 5 thread on the NorthSideBaseball.com forum. Cub fans elated/nervous/furious/suicidal in just a few short pages. It's like popcorn for the soul.

Pasta Little Brioni · 10-15-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm currently reading through the Cards/Nats Game 5 thread on the NorthSideBaseball.com forum. Cub fans elated/nervous/furious/suicidal in just a few short pages. It's like popcorn for the soul.

That game was the World Series for them. Of course they ended up in misery.

KC_Connection · 10-15-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm currently reading through the Cards/Nats Game 5 thread on the NorthSideBaseball.com forum. Cub fans elated/nervous/furious/suicidal in just a few short pages. It's like popcorn for the soul.

That's probably similar to the feeling I get when I read Red Sox loss threads on http://sonsofsamhorn.net/, except way more epic.

**BigRedChief** · 10-15-2012, 06:33 PM

Was that a dirty slide by Holliday? The Giants seemed upset about the slide.

KC_Connection · 10-15-2012, 07:00 PM

Tim McCarver doesn't want players to run into catchers above the waist now. Good luck with that idea.

01-04-2012, 10:08 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-581038 VARSITY	*Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread * 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 Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-24-2012 at 08:57 PM..
Posts: 81,260

10-15-2012, 04:41 PM	#1700
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $378880	They've made it farther than I expected. Productive season. Everything else is just gravy. I do expect them to make mince meat out of this Giant squad however. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 72,922

10-15-2012, 05:21 PM	#1706
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-576615	I'm currently reading through the Cards/Nats Game 5 thread on the NorthSideBaseball.com forum. Cub fans elated/nervous/furious/suicidal in just a few short pages. It's like popcorn for the soul.
Posts: 121,712

10-15-2012, 06:33 PM	#1709
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-581038 VARSITY	Was that a dirty slide by Holliday? The Giants seemed upset about the slide. __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
Posts: 81,260

10-15-2012, 07:00 PM	#1710
KC_Connection Perpetual Mediocrity Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $1732783	Tim McCarver doesn't want players to run into catchers above the waist now. Good luck with that idea.
Posts: 57,655

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