The Cardinals in a Pair of Graphs

by
October 13, 2012

The Cardinals are just ridiculous.

Last year.


Source: FanGraphs

This year.


Source: FanGraphs

We’re all going to be telling our grandkids about the early 21st century Cardinals and their miraculous Octobers.





 

Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

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Michael
11 years ago

How many teams have won the WS after being 1strike from elimination? We know the 2011 Cards and the 1986 Mets did it in the WS, but what about 1 strike away at any point in the postseason?

2
schlomsd
11 years ago
Reply to  Michael

1986 Red Sox against the Angels in Game 5 – the Dave Henderson home run off Donnie Moore – is another one.

-5
Ian R.
11 years ago
Reply to  schlomsd

Last I checked the 1986 Red Sox didn’t win the World Series.

11
Antonio bananas
11 years ago
Reply to  schlomsd

Hmmm “at any point in the post season”. Good job at reading Ian.

-54
B N
11 years ago
Reply to  schlomsd

@Ian: As a Red Sox fan from an alternate universe, I resent that implication!

@Antonio: No, he is correct. The phrasing said that the team had to win the WS, but could have been 1 strike from elimination at any point in the postseason. Not that they avoided elimination in that round after being one strike away.

9
mkd
11 years ago
Reply to  schlomsd

“How many teams have won the WS after being 1strike from elimination?”

The Red Sox survived being one strike away from elimination in the 1986 ALCS. They did not go on to win the World Series. Good job reading Antonio.

25
Stuart
11 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Closest I can come up with are 1985 Royals, 1997 Marlins, and 2001 Dbacks who were 2 outs from elimination in the World Series.

1
Mattq
11 years ago
Reply to  Michael

the cardinals were down to their last strike twice in game six of the world series last year, and they were down to their last strike twice in the 9th inning of last nights game. Molina and Freese both had two strikes and managed walks

1
chuckbmember
11 years ago
Reply to  Mattq

I heard they faced 5 pitches in the game Friday that were their last strikes, or could have been.

1