Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 266

**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** · 08-14-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

There's no way, after this last half inning, that you can say either Freese or Holliday is playing hard. No way.

You were talking about the team quitting, not a player or two. I said thats BS.

This team has not quit, they are just not executing and are not as good as they seemed at the first part of the season.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-14-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

yeah, it sounds like you just rolled an ankle. We have all rolled an ankle, whats up with that wimp?

and BTW, WTF did the FO rush him back?

Better to have him ready to replace Jay in CF in 2014.

DP killing innings, no power anymore. Making really bad defensive plays. Simple plays he just boots.

You have to remember how incompetent the Cardinals medical staff is. Although it is an injury that notoriously lingers, I'm never willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, because they've never done anything to earn it.

kcpasco · 08-14-2013, 08:05 PM

LOL at Kozma. Can we please give Jackson a chance.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-14-2013, 08:05 PM

All the Pirates have to do is play deep. The team doesn't have the power to hit anything over the fence, and if they play no doubles the worst thing the Cards will ever do is just slap singles against them.

This isn't just a downswing, it's a full-blown tailspin.

**BigRedChief** · 08-14-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcpasco

LOL at Kozma. Can we please give Jackson a chance.

He's in a prolonged .219 slump and has the flu. Plus someone in the FO must hate him.

Lets not kid ourselfs, Jackson isn't the solution at SS either. But, how horrible does he have to be to not beat out Kozma?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 08-14-2013, 08:32 PM

O/U 85.5 wins?

**BigRedChief** · 08-14-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

O/U 85.5 wins?

Over.

90 wins and wildcard at home against the Reds

Mi_chief_fan · 08-15-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You were talking about the team quitting, not a player or two. I said thats BS.

This team has not quit, they are just not executing and are not as good as they seemed at the first part of the season.

No, I didn't say they quit, I said they were collapsing. Lack of execution, as you point out, is the main reason, but it sure doesn't look like Holliday & Freese were giving their best effort. Maybe they are. I don't know, I just know it looked bad. Cost Shelby 3 runs.

That said, Molina & Robinson set to return today, and Burnett always gives them a chance.

O.city · 08-15-2013, 01:01 PM

Stick a ****ing fork in this team.

O.city · 08-15-2013, 01:28 PM

Got to pick up this run

O.city · 08-15-2013, 01:31 PM

Que the Adam Sandler video

Marcellus · 08-15-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Stick a ****ing fork in this team.

I am listening at work and got pissed and turned it off, I then turned it back on just in time to catch them scoring 5 runs.

If they win this game I will feel 100% better about the rest of this season.

Mi_chief_fan · 08-15-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Que the Adam Sandler video

I'll take it.

O.city · 08-15-2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I am listening at work and got pissed and turned it off, I then turned it back on just in time to catch them scoring 5 runs.

If they win this game I will feel 100% better about the rest of this season.

They were dead to rights up to this point

Marcellus · 08-15-2013, 02:42 PM

****ing Rosenthal!

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

08-14-2013, 08:05 PM	#3978
kcpasco MVP Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $7743463	LOL at Kozma. Can we please give Jackson a chance.
Posts: 15,476

08-14-2013, 08:05 PM	#3979
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	All the Pirates have to do is play deep. The team doesn't have the power to hit anything over the fence, and if they play no doubles the worst thing the Cards will ever do is just slap singles against them. This isn't just a downswing, it's a full-blown tailspin. __________________ "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
Posts: 74,820

08-14-2013, 08:32 PM	#3981
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	O/U 85.5 wins? __________________ "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
Posts: 74,820

08-15-2013, 01:01 PM	#3984
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Stick a ****ing fork in this team.
Posts: 81,176

08-15-2013, 01:28 PM	#3985
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Got to pick up this run
Posts: 81,176

08-15-2013, 01:31 PM	#3986
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Que the Adam Sandler video
Posts: 81,176

08-15-2013, 02:42 PM	#3990
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3172662	****ing Rosenthal!
Posts: 69,145