Cardinals ***Offical 2012 STL Cardinals World Champions Thread *** - Page 8

**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

O.city · 02-10-2012, 06:24 PM

Didn't realize it was as good as it is, I just read that the Cardinals have the 4th ranked Minor league system in baseball.

Tons of pitching on the way.

**BigRedChief** · 02-10-2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Didn't realize it was as good as it is, I just read that the Cardinals have the 4th ranked Minor league system in baseball.

Tons of pitching on the way.

very cool. 3 World Series's in 7 years. 2 World Championships and we are already reloading.

O.city · 02-10-2012, 06:56 PM

6 guys in the top 100 4 of them pitchers I believe.

**BigRedChief** · 02-10-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

6 guys in the top 100 4 of them pitchers I believe.

and 2 of them are someday possibly Cy Young winners. Very high ceilings.

O.city · 02-10-2012, 07:05 PM

Yeah.

They talked about another young guy we picked up with top of the rotation stuff.

I would love to keep those guys, but it's nice to have them to deal if we have to get a HUGe bat somewhere.

whoman69 · 02-10-2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Didn't realize it was as good as it is, I just read that the Cardinals have the 4th ranked Minor league system in baseball.

Tons of pitching on the way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

very cool. 3 World Series's in 7 years. 2 World Championships and we are already reloading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

6 guys in the top 100 4 of them pitchers I believe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

and 2 of them are someday possibly Cy Young winners. Very high ceilings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah.

They talked about another young guy we picked up with top of the rotation stuff.

I would love to keep those guys, but it's nice to have them to deal if we have to get a HUGe bat somewhere.

Are you reading this Cubs fans?

Pasta Little Brioni · 02-10-2012, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

very cool. 3 World Series's in 7 years. 2 World Championships and we are already reloading.

The future is always now and maybe next year isn't just a cliche

whoman69 · 02-10-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

The future is always now and maybe next year isn't just a cliche

"Maybe next year" definitely isn't just a cliche, its the Cubs motto.

Mi_chief_fan · 02-11-2012, 08:18 PM

Not sure what to think of the Linebrink signing.

**BigRedChief** · 02-12-2012, 09:53 PM

Yadi reported to camp 2 weeks ahead of the date when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report. Doesn't seem to be the actions of a disgruntled player.

Mi_chief_fan · 02-14-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yadi reported to camp 2 weeks ahead of the date when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report. Doesn't seem to be the actions of a disgruntled player.

Agreed. He's no prima donna, he's just a ballplayer.

O.city · 02-15-2012, 09:56 PM

Been thinking about this for a little while, since I don't think he wants to move to 3.

If you could keep Shelby Miller, would you give up anyone else to get Hanley to play SS?

**BigRedChief** · 02-15-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Been thinking about this for a little while, since I don't think he wants to move to 3.

If you could keep Shelby Miller, would you give up anyone else to get Hanley to play SS?

no thanks to Hanley. They will want miller and more.

DJ's left nut · 02-15-2012, 11:20 PM

What they want and what they'll get are very different animals. They're not going to get anything approaching Miller in return for Hanley, not when the rest of MLB knows they have the Marlins over a barrel and not when Hanley's production was horrid last year.

I'd offer them Cox and Martinez for him. I like Jenkins a ton and don't think we have enough positional talent in the system to trade Tavares. I don't care what anyone says - Cox is Matt Carpenter with worse plate discipline and higher draft status - he's not a starter at the next level and we need to deal him before his value completely craters. I think Martinez's delivery has him in the bullpen one of these days.

**BigRedChief** · 02-19-2012, 08:06 PM

I'm thinking that Molina is gone. This is going to be a new era in Cardinal history without Pujols and Larussa. I'd feel a lot better with Molina behind the plate with our young pitching coming up.

JUPITER, Fla. • Having watched his close friend Albert Pujols go through the same situation and answer the same questions a year ago, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was prepared to talk about his contract this afternoon following the first official workout of spring training.
He also was forthcoming.

Molina acknowledged that the two sides had talked about an extension, and that his agent and the club did engage in some dialogue this winter about what it would take to keep Molina from reaching free agency at the end of the 2012 season. Those conversations, however, are now over.
"We stopped talking about it. For now, I think," Molina said, standing at his locker in the Cardinals spring training clubhouse. "For now, we've stopped talking. For now, I don't want to talk about it. Hopefully, when the season starts (something will be done)."

Asked if he would give a hometown discount, Molina said, "I don't know about that. I don't know about that. Like I say _ I always say this _ I like the town. I like the city. At the same time, I have to think about my family ... like they worry about their team. This is business. If I get good money, I'll take it. If not, I go away."

Molina said he did not want conversations about his contract to overshadow his preparation for the season. He was careful to point out that didn't mean he was going to close the door and walk away from negotiations as Pujols did with a deadline a year ago.
Molina is open to talking again.

He also did not rule out agreeing to a deal during the season.
Last season, Molina's agent, Melvin Roman, worked on and finalized an extension for another client, lefty Jaime Garcia, with the Cardinals. That deal was done in the middle of the season.

Molina is playing on the final year of an extension that paid him $21.5 million over five years with the Cardinals. This is the option year on that deal (signed in January 2008), and Molina will make $7 million this season.

You can see video of Molina's interview with the media at our live, real-time coverage of the Day 1 workout. It's on one of the final two pages.
Molina said that he learned a lot by watching what Pujols went through last season and this winter. The two remain in contact. Molina called it "business" and he said that the Cardinals would be making "a business decision," when it came to approaching him again about an extension.
General manager John Mozeliak did not talk at length about the situation with Molina on Sunday morning when asked.

"Our desire would be to find a way to sign him," Mozeliak said.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...#ixzz1mspyaPN1

01-04-2012, 10:08 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-561038 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: 81,251

02-10-2012, 06:24 PM	#106
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-535936	Didn't realize it was as good as it is, I just read that the Cardinals have the 4th ranked Minor league system in baseball. Tons of pitching on the way.
Posts: 84,153

02-10-2012, 06:56 PM	#108
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-535936	6 guys in the top 100 4 of them pitchers I believe.
Posts: 84,153

02-10-2012, 07:05 PM	#110
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-535936	Yeah. They talked about another young guy we picked up with top of the rotation stuff. I would love to keep those guys, but it's nice to have them to deal if we have to get a HUGe bat somewhere.
Posts: 84,153

02-11-2012, 08:18 PM	#114
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	Not sure what to think of the Linebrink signing. __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,518

02-12-2012, 09:53 PM	#115
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-561038 VARSITY	Yadi reported to camp 2 weeks ahead of the date when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report. Doesn't seem to be the actions of a disgruntled player. __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
Posts: 81,251

02-15-2012, 09:56 PM	#117
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-535936	Been thinking about this for a little while, since I don't think he wants to move to 3. If you could keep Shelby Miller, would you give up anyone else to get Hanley to play SS?
Posts: 84,153

02-15-2012, 11:20 PM	#119
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $-630901	What they want and what they'll get are very different animals. They're not going to get anything approaching Miller in return for Hanley, not when the rest of MLB knows they have the Marlins over a barrel and not when Hanley's production was horrid last year. I'd offer them Cox and Martinez for him. I like Jenkins a ton and don't think we have enough positional talent in the system to trade Tavares. I don't care what anyone says - Cox is Matt Carpenter with worse plate discipline and higher draft status - he's not a starter at the next level and we need to deal him before his value completely craters. I think Martinez's delivery has him in the bullpen one of these days. __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 66,703

02-19-2012, 08:06 PM	#120
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-561038 VARSITY	I'm thinking that Molina is gone. This is going to be a new era in Cardinal history without Pujols and Larussa. I'd feel a lot better with Molina behind the plate with our young pitching coming up. JUPITER, Fla. • Having watched his close friend Albert Pujols go through the same situation and answer the same questions a year ago, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was prepared to talk about his contract this afternoon following the first official workout of spring training. He also was forthcoming. Molina acknowledged that the two sides had talked about an extension, and that his agent and the club did engage in some dialogue this winter about what it would take to keep Molina from reaching free agency at the end of the 2012 season. Those conversations, however, are now over. "We stopped talking about it. For now, I think," Molina said, standing at his locker in the Cardinals spring training clubhouse. "For now, we've stopped talking. For now, I don't want to talk about it. Hopefully, when the season starts (something will be done)." Asked if he would give a hometown discount, Molina said, "I don't know about that. I don't know about that. Like I say _ I always say this _ I like the town. I like the city. At the same time, I have to think about my family ... like they worry about their team. This is business. If I get good money, I'll take it. If not, I go away." Molina said he did not want conversations about his contract to overshadow his preparation for the season. He was careful to point out that didn't mean he was going to close the door and walk away from negotiations as Pujols did with a deadline a year ago. Molina is open to talking again. He also did not rule out agreeing to a deal during the season. Last season, Molina's agent, Melvin Roman, worked on and finalized an extension for another client, lefty Jaime Garcia, with the Cardinals. That deal was done in the middle of the season. Molina is playing on the final year of an extension that paid him $21.5 million over five years with the Cardinals. This is the option year on that deal (signed in January 2008), and Molina will make $7 million this season. You can see video of Molina's interview with the media at our live, real-time coverage of the Day 1 workout. It's on one of the final two pages. Molina said that he learned a lot by watching what Pujols went through last season and this winter. The two remain in contact. Molina called it "business" and he said that the Cardinals would be making "a business decision," when it came to approaching him again about an extension. General manager John Mozeliak did not talk at length about the situation with Molina on Sunday morning when asked. "Our desire would be to find a way to sign him," Mozeliak said. Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...#ixzz1mspyaPN1 __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
Posts: 81,251