Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 201

**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** · 07-17-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Well, I don't completely disagree, but I've seen conflicting reports as to whether Oscar can play cf. if he can, then I like your scenario better.

If he can play CF, even at an average level, he needs to play CF to get him and Adams in the lineup.

O.city · 07-18-2013, 08:45 PM

Jenifer Langosch ‏@LangoschMLB 2m
ICYMI, #STLCards notebook today: Holliday takes BP; Salas returns; Mo talks Trade Deadline; Carp's rehab start set: http://atmlb.com/1btPUyD

Pretty good read here.

IMO, Martinez needs a chance to start in STL or he needs to be in Memphis starting every 5 days.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 08:48 PM

Offensive explosion tonight.

And look out now, but Pete Kozma has back to back multi hit games. He may get his number retired.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 08:56 PM

Martinez in to pitch the 9th.

And he shits the bed, gets 1 out, gives up 4 runs.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:08 PM

And after taking a 7 run lead into the 9th, we have to burn our closer.

Pepe Silvia · 07-19-2013, 09:10 PM

Martinez definately sucked the cock tonight but I will take the win. i figured we had it so I ran an errand then came back and saw it was a save situation and was like wtf?

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:11 PM

I dont' know why he won't use Siegrist more.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:20 PM

22 games over .500!!!

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-19-2013, 09:21 PM

I understand running Chicken Salas out there for the 8th. It was a huge lead and the worthless mother****er might as well get a chance to fail in that situation.

I don't understand not handing the 9th to Siegrist. Why burn your long guy there? There is no way this team can survive Mike Matheny if this keeps up.

Now that Salas has proven he's still a worthless sack of shit you might as well call Blazek back up.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:24 PM

I dont' get the Martinez move, but even in that event, Martinez himself has to be better there.

But who's your long guy now? Kelly I guess.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:27 PM

Salas just doesn't have a place in the pen anymore. Hell, Butler is a better option right now.

I don't like Martinez up here in the pen, maybe I'm in the minority on that, but if he's here, he needs to start or he needs to be in Memphis starting.

**BigRedChief** · 07-19-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I understand running Chicken Salas out there for the 8th. It was a huge lead and the worthless mother****er might as well get a chance to fail in that situation.

Yeah, that was a perfect time and place to see if he had learned anything, changed. I hope Matheny sees the answer we all see, no....he's done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I don't understand not handing the 9th to Siegrist. Why burn your long guy there? There is no way this team can survive Mike Matheny if this keeps up.

I don't get this either. You still had a 3 run lead, its the Padres and we still get a chance to bat. But its the ****ing book. Save situation and the 9th, only the closer can pitch.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-19-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yeah, that was a perfect time and place to see if he had learned anything, changed. I hope Matheny sees the answer we all see, no....he's done.
I don't get this either. You still had a 3 run lead, its the Padres and we still get a chance to bat. But its the ****ing book. Save situation and the 9th, only the closer can pitch.

Matheny praised him in the PC, so I doubt he's going anywhere.

As far as the 9th was concerned, I just felt that he should have handed it to Siegrist at the very beginning. By the time Martinez shit the bed I thought Mujica was a defensible option.

O.city · 07-19-2013, 09:44 PM

I dont' really understand why we have Martinez AND Kelly right now. It seems they comprise the same roll.

**BigRedChief** · 07-19-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

I dont' really understand why we have Martinez AND Kelly right now. It seems they comprise the same roll.

Martinez should be sent to AAA. He's a starter. You sent him down to be a starter. He excelled. I'm assuming Carp gets the 5th spot until his body cant take it. Let Martinez spell Miller a few starts or Lynn.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3229627 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: 78,937

07-18-2013, 08:45 PM	#3002
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Jenifer Langosch ‏@LangoschMLB 2m ICYMI, #STLCards notebook today: Holliday takes BP; Salas returns; Mo talks Trade Deadline; Carp's rehab start set: http://atmlb.com/1btPUyD Pretty good read here. IMO, Martinez needs a chance to start in STL or he needs to be in Memphis starting every 5 days.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 08:48 PM	#3003
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Offensive explosion tonight. And look out now, but Pete Kozma has back to back multi hit games. He may get his number retired.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 08:56 PM	#3004
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Martinez in to pitch the 9th. And he shits the bed, gets 1 out, gives up 4 runs. Last edited by O.city; 07-19-2013 at 09:04 PM..
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:08 PM	#3005
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	And after taking a 7 run lead into the 9th, we have to burn our closer.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:10 PM	#3006
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1994664	Martinez definately sucked the cock tonight but I will take the win. i figured we had it so I ran an errand then came back and saw it was a save situation and was like wtf?
Posts: 16,532

07-19-2013, 09:11 PM	#3007
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	I dont' know why he won't use Siegrist more.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:20 PM	#3008
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	22 games over .500!!!
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:21 PM	#3009
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	I understand running Chicken Salas out there for the 8th. It was a huge lead and the worthless mother****er might as well get a chance to fail in that situation. I don't understand not handing the 9th to Siegrist. Why burn your long guy there? There is no way this team can survive Mike Matheny if this keeps up. Now that Salas has proven he's still a worthless sack of shit you might as well call Blazek back up. __________________ "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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07-19-2013, 09:24 PM	#3010
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	I dont' get the Martinez move, but even in that event, Martinez himself has to be better there. But who's your long guy now? Kelly I guess.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:27 PM	#3011
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Salas just doesn't have a place in the pen anymore. Hell, Butler is a better option right now. I don't like Martinez up here in the pen, maybe I'm in the minority on that, but if he's here, he needs to start or he needs to be in Memphis starting.
Posts: 81,176

07-19-2013, 09:44 PM	#3014
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	I dont' really understand why we have Martinez AND Kelly right now. It seems they comprise the same roll.
Posts: 81,176