Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 199

**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

Mi_chief_fan · 07-14-2013, 09:54 PM

Allen Craig>Anthony Rizzo

O.city · 07-14-2013, 09:54 PM

.337 with runners in scoring position for half a year of baseball is pretty impressive.

O.city · 07-14-2013, 09:56 PM

21 hits. Nice.

So for the 2nd half, we need our starting pitching to get back on track, Freese and Holliday to get heads out of asses, and a SS or CF to emerge or play better.

Marcellus · 07-14-2013, 09:56 PM

I will take it. 21 over at the break.

O.city · 07-14-2013, 09:57 PM

I realize you can say this every year, but ****, we're 21 games over .500 and could easily be sitting close to 30 if

A.) Boggs doesn't shit his dick off early in the year

B.) Our bullpen didn't suck early.

DJ's left nut · 07-14-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

I realize you can say this every year, but ****, we're 21 games over .500 and could easily be sitting close to 30 if

A.) Boggs doesn't shit his dick off early in the year

B.) Our bullpen didn't suck early.

C.) We didn't coast for the last 6 weeks.

The Cardinals were at 37-18 after their June 1 double-header against the Giants.

They've gone 20-18 since and they've done it without Mitchell Boggs. The Cardinals started reading their press clippings and have been playing down to their opponents for entirely too long.

It's time to stop talking about Mitchell Boggs are the early-season bullpen struggles. We've had 6 credible relievers in the bullpen for several weeks and it's yielded us a barely better than .500 record. Sure, this team could be a little better, but it could very easily be worse.

They need to step it back up if they want to win this division.

O.city · 07-14-2013, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

C.) We didn't coast for the last 6 weeks.

The Cardinals were at 37-18 after their June 1 double-header against the Giants.

They've gone 20-18 since and they've done it without Mitchell Boggs. The Cardinals started reading their press clippings and have been playing down to their opponents for entirely too long.

It's time to stop talking about Mitchell Boggs are the early-season bullpen struggles. We've had 6 credible relievers in the bullpen for several weeks and it's yielded us a barely better than .500 record. Sure, this team could be a little better, but it could very easily be worse.

They need to step it back up if they want to win this division.

Very much so.

We took 2 of 3 from te reds in cincy and pretty much fumbled around since.

I don't think it's any coincidence though that during that last stretch, the starting pitching hasn't been very good at all.

Pepe Silvia · 07-14-2013, 11:16 PM

There is still a lot of ball left, I'm not fretting yet. If they keep lagging for the next few weeks after the the break then I will be a little concerned. I just can't see Pittsburgh hanging with us anyway, they had a bumpy stretch there a week ago and could totally collapse in the second half. They looked great the first half last last year too and then completely nose dived. We'll be alright.

**BigRedChief** · 07-15-2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

C.) They need to step it back up if they want to win this division.

This isn't the 27 Yankees team reborn. Sure we have gaps and issues but they do have the best record in baseball. What about the other teams? Don't they need to step it up more? How many of them would want to have the best record in baseball?

VAChief · 07-15-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

This isn't the 27 Yankees team reborn. Sure we have gaps and issues but they do have the best record in baseball. What about the other teams? Don't they need to step it up more? How many of them would want to have the best record in baseball?

Agreed, it used to matter more than it does now. The playoffs are a marathon of their own. What was our record at the break in 04, 05? What was it in 06, 11? That doesn't mean I don't want to win every series, but sometimes you can get a distorted view of where your team is if everything falls your way during the season.

Most likely we will get an energy boost with some of our prime call ups late August, early September. Hopefully, Mo continues to find a diamond in the rough or two that fit in nice as well.

Chief Roundup · 07-15-2013, 06:37 AM

This is the 6th time the Cardinals have had the best record in MLB at the All-Star break. We have went to the WS the previous 5 times.

**BigRedChief** · 07-15-2013, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VAChief

Agreed, it used to matter more than it does now. The playoffs are a marathon of their own. What was our record at the break in 04, 05? What was it in 06, 11? That doesn't mean I don't want to win every series, but sometimes you can get a distorted view of where your team is if everything falls your way during the season.

Most likely we will get an energy boost with some of our prime call ups late August, early September. Hopefully, Mo continues to find a diamond in the rough or two that fit in nice as well.

The last few years has taught us that what matters most is how you are playing when you get into the playoffs.

Didn't everyone think 2004 was our year? Ran into a hotter team. Didn't everyone think we had no chance in 2006 and 2011?

Just get to the tournament and hope you get hot.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-15-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

This is the 6th time the Cardinals have had the best record in MLB at the All-Star break. We have [redacted].

LALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU...LALALALALALA

Pepe Silvia · 07-15-2013, 06:15 PM

One game at a time gentleman, one game at a time.

Mi_chief_fan · 07-15-2013, 06:29 PM

@Cardinals: End of first inning: Chris Carpenter strikes out two, allows a broken bat single to left. Pitches 13, Strikes 10.

@ejbelt1: “@Cardinals: Chris Carpenter strikes out first batter on three pitches. Fastball up to 94 MPH.” Awesome news!

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3219627 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: 78,939

07-14-2013, 09:54 PM	#2971
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	Allen Craig>Anthony Rizzo __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517

07-14-2013, 09:54 PM	#2972
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2824064	.337 with runners in scoring position for half a year of baseball is pretty impressive.
Posts: 81,176

07-14-2013, 09:56 PM	#2973
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2824064	21 hits. Nice. So for the 2nd half, we need our starting pitching to get back on track, Freese and Holliday to get heads out of asses, and a SS or CF to emerge or play better.
Posts: 81,176

07-14-2013, 09:56 PM	#2974
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3162662	I will take it. 21 over at the break.
Posts: 69,145

07-14-2013, 09:57 PM	#2975
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2824064	I realize you can say this every year, but ****, we're 21 games over .500 and could easily be sitting close to 30 if A.) Boggs doesn't shit his dick off early in the year B.) Our bullpen didn't suck early.
Posts: 81,176

07-14-2013, 11:16 PM	#2978
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1984664	There is still a lot of ball left, I'm not fretting yet. If they keep lagging for the next few weeks after the the break then I will be a little concerned. I just can't see Pittsburgh hanging with us anyway, they had a bumpy stretch there a week ago and could totally collapse in the second half. They looked great the first half last last year too and then completely nose dived. We'll be alright.
Posts: 16,535

07-15-2013, 06:37 AM	#2981
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $2141627	This is the 6th time the Cardinals have had the best record in MLB at the All-Star break. We have went to the WS the previous 5 times. __________________ Fanaticism is nowhere. There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
Posts: 19,190

07-15-2013, 06:15 PM	#2984
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1984664	One game at a time gentleman, one game at a time.
Posts: 16,535

07-15-2013, 06:29 PM	#2985
Mi_chief_fan There was an idea..... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Murfreesboro,TN Casino cash: $9942966	@Cardinals: End of first inning: Chris Carpenter strikes out two, allows a broken bat single to left. Pitches 13, Strikes 10. @ejbelt1: “@Cardinals: Chris Carpenter strikes out first batter on three pitches. Fastball up to 94 MPH.” Awesome news! __________________ Bandwagon Predators Fan!
Posts: 3,517