***Official 2014 STL Cardinals thread part II***

[BigRedChief]

Original thread was getting to large for the board

2011 WS Championship
2012 one win from another WS
2013 two wins from another WS title
2014 Central Division title and NLCS series win (so far)

This is a franchise that has made the postseason 10 times in the last 14 seasons.

Only 1 losing season since 2000.

Reached the World Series 4 times since 2004 and won as many championships (two) the past eight seasons as it did from 1965 to 2005.

Our new Manager has more post season experience than any other manager in baseball, except the Giants manager.

Made the NLCS 8 times

Three million attendance? Take it to the bank.

60 post season wins since 2004. 20+ wins more than any other team.

[Swanman]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

This offense is just not good enough.

Jay has cooled off so Bourjos should be in center with either Jay or Grichuk in right. My love affair with OT is over for now. He is terrible defensively and doesn't hit. Maybe he will get it together over an offseason. Grichuk may not hit all that much but his defense is light years better, as is Jay's in right.

And pinch-hitting Ellis in the ninth, . Seems the real Captain Concussion is back managing the team.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Swanman

Jay has cooled off so Bourjos should be in center with either Jay or Grichuk in right.

If Bourjas or Grichek is in center, they make that play and probably throw out Phillips at the plate. It was a pretty short hit to the outfield. Grichek needs to start in CF tonight,

Originally Posted by Swanman

My love affair with OT is over for now. He is terrible defensively and doesn't hit. Maybe he will get it together over an offseason.

He was hitting .500 with two game winning RBI's on the road trip until the last two games. The dude can hit. His fielding...... He needs to pick up a 1B mitt.

Originally Posted by Swanman

And pinch-hitting Ellis in the ninth, . Seems the real Captain Concussion is back managing the team.

Numbers. He was 3-3 against him before this series. But, how long ago? Is Ellis that same hitter now as he was when he went 3-3? I would like Grichek and his bat speed against Chapman.

[BigRedChief]

Grantland on ESPN.
The Cardinals: A Gross October Tradition Unlike Any Other

There are some annoying inevitabilities that come with the calendar: taxes in April, swamp ass in August, and the St. Louis Cardinals in October. I thought we were in the clear this year, because on July 1, the Cardinals were 6.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, and in complete shambles. They’d gotten nothing from Oscar Taveras, their outfield super-prospect, or Allen Craig, a key component on last year’s pennant team who sucked this year and was promptly traded. Yadier Molina and Michael Wacha have both missed huge chunks of time. Closer Trevor Rosenthal hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.

And yet, here we are. Here they are, back in first place by 2.5 games with only three weeks to go. Milwaukee has faded, and Cincinnati has been undone by a rash of injuries that would seem more impressive if not for the Rangers’ season, and yet here are the Cardinals, once again atop their division like a cat that keeps scaling the refrigerator.

Since 2000, the Cardinals have recorded 13 winning seasons, made the playoffs 10 times, made the NLCS eight times, won the pennant four times, and won the World Series twice. They’re probably the best-run organization in the game, with scouting and player development systems that turn junior college shortstops into major league closers, mold fat college third basemen into MVP-caliber players, and pluck starting position players from Division II.

the rest is here:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/st...g-playoff-run/

['Hamas' Jenkins]

They are skipping Wacha's start on Sunday. I was freaking out, but they say it's to work on his fastball location, as they feel his mechanics are out of whack. I guess he threw a BP session yesterday. Nevertheless, something to watch very, very closely.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

They are skipping Wacha's start on Sunday. I was freaking out, but they say it's to work on his fastball location, as they feel his mechanics are out of whack. I guess he threw a BP session yesterday. Nevertheless, something to watch very, very closely.

The broadcast was saying its mechanis and not anything physical. He certaintly looked like shit last time out.

Miller has been lights out since adding the curve ball and slider. Waino looks like he is back on track. Lynn is looking like a #1. Lackey has always brought his "A" game in the playoffs. It won't be so bad if Wacha can't go because of Lynn and Miller stepping up their game.

But damn seeing Kershaw twice and Grienke in a 5 game series won't be a walk in the park.

[O.city]

Winner Winner. Don't think I've ever seen a ball hit as hard as Hollidays home run. Yeesh.

[BigRedChief]

The Cardinals had a players only meeting on Friday afternoon. It was called by Holliday. He, Waino and Molina spoke.

The gist.......We have a chance at another World Series, we have the talent, There are no guarantees you will ever get this chance again in your career. Let's get it going.

First players only meeting this year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Winner Winner. Don't think I've ever seen a ball hit as hard as Hollidays home run. Yeesh.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Good to see Rosenthal again. Best he's looked all season.

[O.city]

Offense hitting the ball better (Holliday for sure). Still not sure it's good enough (it's not) but the pitching is really good right now.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Mi_chief_fan

Good to see Rosenthal again. Best he's looked all season.

It's Molina. All of our pitchers have improved. In Rosey's case Molina convinced both him and Miller to use the curve ball more often. Probably not the first time they have been told that but for whatever reason when Molina came back they are both bringing the "A" game.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Offense hitting the ball better (Holliday for sure). Still not sure it's good enough (it's not) but the pitching is really good right now.

We tool care of business this weekend. We have played down to the competition too much this year. Glad it didn't happen this weekend. We also set up the pitching staff for Milwaukee. Have a full bullpen ready. We sweep the Bucks again, its over.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We tool care of business this weekend. We have played down to the competition too much this year. Glad it didn't happen this weekend. We also set up the pitching staff for Milwaukee. Have a full bullpen ready. We sweep the Bucks again, its over.

It's not Milwaukee I'm worried about; it's Pittsburgh, and we're done playing them for the year.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

At this point, I just want the Dodgers to keep winning or totally crater. I want no part of them in a series. Hate having to match up against Kershaw. If they run down the Nats, we'll dodge them in the first round. If the Giants catch them, same deal unless we overtake the Nats.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's not Milwaukee I'm worried about; it's Pittsburgh, and we're done playing them for the year.

Yeah, I know. I think the Brewers don't even make the playoffs. Pitt does. Which I'd like to happen. I hope Pitt wins the play in game and then beat the Nationals and we get HFA for the NLCS. Assuming we can beat Kershaw a 3rd time in the playoffs in the last 2 years. He's tough. But if Waino is on, he can be just as tough on the Dodgers.

I was just saying that if we win 3 more without a loss. The math becomes very tough for Pitt to overtake us without us melting down.