The Cardinal Way

The legendary organizational philosophy that is easy to recognize, but difficult to define.

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"I feel like there's two ways to look at it," Piscotty said. "One is that, 'Oh, there are so many great outfielders in this organization, how can I move up?' Or you can say, 'I just have to be better.' I think everyone looks at it that way, and I feel like that's why the Cardinals have been so successful. They bring in such talent and there's this inner competition, but there is also the Cardinal Way. Everyone gets along, shares knowledge. It's so awesome to be a part of."

STLCardinals.com

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The Cardinals said goodbye to a couple of legendary players this week. 

Chris Carpenter was our bulldog, and he made sure everyone in the league knew it. It's a shame he wasn't able to stay healthy, but whether he was on or off the field, the mere presence of this Cy Young Award winner made the club fiercely competitive.

On the other side is David Freese, a local kid who almost gave up on baseball. With their backs against the wall, Freeser put the team on his shoulders and provided fans with arguably the best World Series in baseball history.

Thank you both for the great memories, the World Series Championships, and the pride that comes from knowing that we had players that exemplified the Cardinal Way. St. Louis is turning a new page, but these two Cardinals will be bookmarked in the hearts and minds of fans for a long, long time to come.

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Wainwright hits on a component of The Cardinal Way that is distinctively difficult to replicate: "And that's been taught and bred over the years from guys like Red Schoendienst, like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith. All of these great Hall of Famers that you've grown to love, they're still in our clubhouse hanging out, with the great Stan passing this offseason.

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"Understand this is not about me," Beltran said. "In order for a team to win a ballgame, a lot of things need to happen right, the right way. We have to pitch, we have to play defense and we have to come through offensively."

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=331011124

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"I think it starts out when we get in the system, knowing the Cardinal Way," Adams said. "When you come into the Minor Leagues, you're expected to win. It's the same here."

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_25_wasmlb_slnmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=stl

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Adams slipped through cracks until Cardinals again found a gem | SI.com

Apr 24, 2013   Matt Adams stands nearly upright in the batter's box, making him appear as imposing in person as his 6-foot-3, 260-pound roster entry might suggest. That sight of the hulking Adams is a first impression that's hard to overlook, even if many in baseball repeatedly did just that in his amateur career.

Matt Adams has demonstrated impressive power at every level he's played. The ceiling appears to be pretty high for Big City.

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As our nation struggled for clarity in the aftermath of 9/11, Jack Buck lead us back into normalcy. Although things would never be the same after that fateful day, Jack allowed us to share our national pastime as a tool to work through our grieving. I know he's still up there looking after us, so thanks Jack for stepping up to the plate. 

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As Cubs rebuild, La Russa explains 'Cardinal Way'

The Cardinals have built their organization around a strong farm system that can replace lost free agents and injured starts, and that model is what the Cubs are hoping to build in the near future.

Love to see "The Cardinal Way" mentioned in the same article for the Cubs from a Chicago publication.

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St. Louis Blues legend and Hall of Famer Brett Hull threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Tuesday’s game at Busch Stadium. Hull is now serving in a vice president role for the Blues.

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The MVP Case for Matt Carpenter by the Stats

Matt Carpenter has quietly put together a very consistent and productive season for the Cardinals this year and is now gaining some NL MVP consideration. In his first full season as a starter, Carpenter has been a lightning rod in the leadoff spot, instilling stability not seen in that slot for years (no offense to Jon Jay). He has clubbed doubles, legged out triples, and even crushed a few over the fence. He leads the league in Hits, Runs, and Doubles, and finds himself in the TOP 8 in AVG, OBP, OPS, and WAR. These rankings won't necessarily prove he's deserving of the MVP, but they do put him in the conversation, and that's more than anyone could have imagined before the season started. Is it enough to push him into the Top 5 by the time the MVP is awarded? Cardinal Nation sure hopes so!

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Craig Injured, Medical Staff Vaguely Positive as Usual

The rolled ankle looked like it could be a devastating injury, but initial reports are relatively good as Allen Craig is believed to have simply sprained his foot. The x-rays were inconclusive due to the swelling, but further tests didn’t show any major damage.

Although it’s unfortunate to lose such a cornerstone of this season’s success like Allen Craig, the situation creates an opportunity for Matt Adams to shine. The rookie has had a challenging second half to the season, but his 2 HRs in extra innings against the Reds may give him the confidence he needs to carry a part of the load for Craig the rest of the regular season.