I think you buried the lead here... the results are nice, in the playoff crapshoot.

More impressive is that you have 68% of your playoff roster homegrown, and making $520k or less. That includes your leadoff hitter who in his first full season put up 55 doubles and 6.6 WAR, 60% of the rotation, cleanup hitter, and closer.

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I know but its just SOOOO Cardinals to have a down year and then put it together at the end to win it all.

Not sure if you caught this Greg, 3 straight benders to end the game against erstwhile Cardinal-killer Alvarez. Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night!

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I know all of the narrative of a team that backed in, et al. but that team was reeling in September with injuries. Eckstein, Edmonds, Rolen, and Isringhausen were all out. They just got some unbelievable performances out of retreads like Spiezio, Reyes, and Weaver... none of whom were ever heard from again.

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I believe Jeff Weaver is one of like three guys to ever get traded during the season and win a W.S. game

Spiezio has been heard from quite a bit at strip clubs, in meth labs, on police blotters......

I have no idea why the Cards fans on this board are awesome guys and every other Cards fan I know are fucking assholes. On a road trip with 3 other Cards fans and I'm pretty sure I'm going to stab the self righteous pricks with a pen in their necks.

Wow!!! That was strike 3. I thought Joe West was working the ALCS.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

The pride of Morris, Illinois.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I had roommates, and guys on my floor, in college that were Cubs and Cardinals fans. We went to games at Wrigley and Busch the summer of McGwire/Sosa. Not only did we have a good time, but fans at each venue were fine. I've heard of all of the bad St. Louis experiences. I didn't have one.

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Boggles my fucking mind. Here you have the premier national league franchise and they can't stop giving me shit as a Cubs fan. Fucking asshole hillbillies. They can't leave me and my bison dogs alone. They deserve an eternal fisting up the asshole with a porcupine.

Just imagine if they were constantly questioning you and giving you shit, but their team was awful with no direction. That would really be insufferable. Oh, wait.

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Tomorrow morning I'm buying a Cardinals hat, just because of this exchange

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I went down to Game 1 of the NLCS 2 years ago and wore Brewers stuff, wasn't bad at all. All in good fun and only semi-jack ass.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur

Hard to say anyone has Kershaw's number. So I won't.

His VS splits are worst against STL, however

74.1 innings against us across 12 starts

4W-5L
3.75 ERA
1.318 WHIP


Still pretty good... he is a god against everyone else.

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Ryu vs STL

2-0
14 IP
0.00 ERA
0.64 WHIP

Even 12 starts isn't that predictive... but 2 starts is really inconclusive.


Anyway, Xeifrank ran matchups and compared them to the Vegas odds
25.8% for the Dodgers and 74.2% for the Cardinals (winning the NLCS).

Game #6
LAD Kershaw 56%
STL Wacha 44%

Game #7 (if nec.)
LAD Ryu 46%
STL Wainwright 54%

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Pretty sure if theres a Game 7, its necessary.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Ya know, Wacha has been so good, Im hoping seeing him twice in a week will benefit the offense.

Should there be a second consecutive collapse after a 3-1 lead, you tip your cap to Kershaw and Ryu... a little different feeling than being gut-punched by Barry Zito and Ryan Vogelsong.

These LCS have had some pitching duels... Peavy getting nibbly notwithstanding

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I don't like your view on my Cardinals, RPB.

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-- source

I have The Dodgers in a pool or I'd only be about 80% of this

I read somewhere (can't recall now, still hungover from last night ) Including last night, Wacha in his 12 MLB starts has re-faced an opponent 4 times within 8 days. The second appearances have each resulted in a scoreless outing. We don't know what this kid is going to be, but he really knows how to pitch.




The curious handling of Wacha (and to a lesser extent, Martinez) around mid-season looks absolutely genious in hindsight.

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http://twitpic.com/di54bw







Who's that taking BP?
Allen Craig, ladies and gentlemen.

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Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Cardinals outfield prospect Stephen Piscotty "left such a favorable impression (this spring) that he could be on speed dial."

The 2012 supplemental round pick batted .342/.426/.579 during Grapefruit League play, hitting a homer while walking twice as much as he struck out. Piscotty is certainly less heralded than fellow outfield prospect Oscar Taveras, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he beats him to the majors. If Matt Adams struggles against left-handed pitching, the Cards could move Allen Craig back to first base and stick Piscotty in right field versus southpaws. The 23-year-old will open the year as Triple-A Memphis' right fielder.

I like Piscotty, but as a sort of 'tweener that doesn't have huge isolated power, I just don't see how he fits with this team in it's current state. Probably has a higher floor than Taveras, I could see him being a decent regular on a middling team.

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Pete Kozma is on the opening day roster...

Well that's exactly the opposite of what I was hoping for in that post


The ESPN.coms article picking Rays to win WS explained a few teams he considered and a quick reason why

• Cardinals: They could go to the World Series and win it every year.


Its true

Goold was tweeting that Mark Ellis is having some issues with his arthritis. Pete will be back on the Memphis Shuttle in a couple days... I certainly don't want Descalso as the primary defensive replacement at... well, any position really.

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I don't think Matheny is the best manager or strategist. He's kind of a puppet for the Mozeliak regime. It was hard to tell how much credit to attribute to Mo during the TLR Era. Given the track record the past few years, the realist says that they can't just continue to find relatively tool-less guys and churn them into All-Stars. Draft college pitchers with just enough "polish" to become effective in the Show rather quickly...yet Mo & Co. have earned the benefit of the doubt at this point.

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