The 2013 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 132nd for the baseball team in St. Louis, Missouri, the 122nd season in the National League (NL), and the eighth at Busch Stadium III. On Opening Day, April 1, the St. Louis Cardinals played the 20,000th game in franchise history against the Arizona Diamondbacks, dating back to the start of their American Association (AA) play in 1882. Heading into the 2013 season, St. Louis had an all-time winning percentage of .518.
Early in the season, the Cardinals navigated around the loss of key players Chris Carpenter, Jason Motte, Rafael Furcal and Jaime García due to season-ending injuries. To offset these depletions, the St. Louis tapped heavily into their farm system. In a May game against the Colorado Rockies, rookie starting pitcher Shelby Miller set an all-time franchise record for a nine-inning game score of 98. Starter Adam Wainwright accumulated a franchise-record innings (IP) before issuing his first walk on April 23 and earned NL Pitcher of the Month honors in June. First baseman Allen Craig produced the third-highest individual batting average with runners in scoring position at .454 as the Cardinals set an all-time Major League team record at .330. Rookie Matt Adams led the team in slugging percentage at .503. Second baseman Matt Carpenter, playing his first season at the position since turning professional, earned an All-Star selection as he led the Major Leagues in hits (199), runs scored (126), and doubles (55). In all, 20 rookies appeared in a game and the Cardinals collected 36 victories from their rookie pitchers. The 2013 edition set franchise records in fielding percentage (.988), pitching strikeouts (1254) and strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (7.73).
Holding off fierce competition from the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cardinals clinched the division crown as each team won at least 90 games. The Cardinals finished the season with an NL-best 97–65 won–loss record. They opened the playoffs by defeating the Pirates in five games in the NLDS. Advancing to their third straight NLCS, they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games for their 19th NL pennant. Rookie Michael Wacha, who had nearly no-hit the Washington Nationals late in September, continued his dominance throughout the postseason as he allowed no runs against the Dodgers in 13 IP, earning the NLCS MVP. It was the second straight NLCS appearance to which manager Mike Matheny guided the Cardinals, who became the first manager to appear in an LCS in his first two seasons. Rookie closer Trevor Rosenthal extended a 20-inning postseason scoreless streak that started in the 2012 NLDS. The Cardinals met the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, only to lose the series in six games.
Offseason acquisitions, departures and roster moves
Management and coaches October 25, 2012: Offered and retained all club coaches except bullpen coach Dyar Miller; no reason was cited. November 2, 2012: Hitting coach Mark McGwire declined a contract extension. November 5, 2012: Promoted assistant hitting coach John Mabry to hitting coach. November 5, 2012: Promoted AAA pitching coach Blaise Ilsley to major league bullpen coach. December 14, 2012: Hired Bengie Molina (Yadier's older brother) as assistant hitting coach. February 14: Extended GM John Mozeliak's contract by three years to end after the 2016 season. Record as Cardinals' GM: 439–371 (.542). February 14: Accepted manager Mike Matheny's 2014 option.
Hitters December 12, 2012: Traded second baseman Skip Schumaker to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league shortstop Jake Lemmerman. December 14, 2012: Signed infielder Ty Wigginton to a two-year contract worth $5 million. January 5: Free agent RF/1B Lance Berkman signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Texas Rangers. January 28: Signed free agent shortstop Ronny Cedeño to a one-year deal worth $1.15 million. March 7: Placed shortstop Rafael Furcal on the 15-day disabled list for a torn ligament, who was unavailable for the season as underwent Tommy John surgery. March 8: Signed first baseman Allen Craig to a five-year contract worth $31 million, including a $13 million club option for 2018 and $1 million buyout. March 19: Released Cedeño, leaving the club responsible for 45 days or one-fourth of the original salary ($282,787).
Pitchers October 30, 2012: Added right-hander Jorge Rondon to the 40-man roster when Lohse and Berkman were removed as free agents.Cards add righty Rondon to 40-man roster, MLB.com (October 30, 2012) November 9, 2012: Advanced Kyle Lohse an initial qualifying offer of $13.3 million, but he declined it to become a free agent. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on March 25. Under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, the Cardinals received a compensatory pick (#28) in the following June draft. November 13, 2012: Granted Kyle McClellan an unconditional release.Cards opt to part ways with righty McClellan, MLB.com (November 13, 2012) December 7, 2012: Signed left-handed specialist Randy Choate to a three-year, $7.5 million contract. January 28: Designated reliever Barret Browning for assignment when shortstop Cedeno was added to the 40-man roster. February 22: Placed right-hander Chris Carpenter on the 60-day disabled list due to persisting numbness and weakness in his pitching arm. March 27: Signed Adam Wainwright to a five-year extension for 2014–2018 worth $97.5 million.
Other offseason events On February 5, the Cardinals announced that Chris Carpenter was unlikely to pitch this season as he continued to experience weakness and numbness in his pitching shoulder and arm. He ceased throwing exercises and commented that he does not desire further surgery. Despite pitching just six full seasons with the team, he is likely assured a place in Cardinals' team history.
Less than a week later, Carpenter announced he would not travel to the club's spring training site in Jupiter, Florida and instead remain in St. Louis, fearing he could be a distraction. At a press conference that same day, he said he still holds out hope of pitching in 2013, and refused to talk about retirement. On February 22, the team placed Carpenter on the 60-day disabled list.
Spring training Schedule and media. The club announced its 32-game spring schedule on November 30, 2012. The first game was February 23, and the last on March 29. Twelve games were nationally televised either on Fox Sports Midwest (10) or ESPN (2), starting on Monday March 11, 12:05pm (CT) at New York Yankees, through Thursday March 28 against the Miami Marlins. (see also:National Broadcast Schedule)
Classic Cardinals. Four Cardinals major leaguers participated in the World Baseball Classic tournament. Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltrán both represented the nation of Puerto Rico, who finished runner-up for the entire tournament. Relief pitchers Mitch Boggs pitched for the United States, Fernando Salas pitched for Mexico and minor leaguer Richard Castillo also pitched for Spain.
Martínez returns to the US. Long held over by visa problems in his native Dominican Republic, Carlos Martínez was finally granted reentry into the United States in the last week of March, and joined the minor league camp in Jupiter, Florida. With camp ending on April 1, he started more than six weeks past the pitchers' report date in mid-February. The #3 prospect in the Cardinals' system ended the 2012 season in Double-A (Springfield), where he posted a 2.90 ERA and held opponents to a .237 batting average in 15 games (14 starts).
Final spring training results. The Cardinals finished spring training on March 29 with a 16–15–1 record, and recorded 98,686 total attendance in 16 home games for an average of 6,168. They had a .282 team batting average with an NL-leading 4.20 team ERA. Last year, the team had a 16–9–2 record in spring training games with a .276 team batting average and 3.05 team pitching ERA, finishing 11th in the Grapefruit League. They drew 85,858 fans during 13 home games, averaging 6,604 fans per game.
Openings Middle infield. With shortstop Rafael Furcal's elbow (strained ulnar collateral ligament) cutting short his 2012 season, rest was thought to be the best option rather than surgery. However, Furcal was shut down for the season on March 3 due to the ligament not improving, and an announcement for Tommy John surgery followed on March 7.
Free-agent signee Ronny Cedeño was brought in to back up second and shortstop after Skip Schumaker's trade, but was released on March 19,. After an 18-inning tryout and an .828 OPS in 340 PAs as a rookie in 2012, utility player Matt Carpenter was advised to continue working out at second in the offseason, and was nominated for the regular job after spring. Pete Kozma became the starting shortstop and Daniel Descalso the backup to Carpenter and Kozma.
Starting pitching. With Chris Carpenter shifted to the 60-day disabled list, one spot for a starting pitcher opened. Competition fell between Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller. Miller won the spot, sporting an 11:5 strikeout to walk ratio and 17 hits in 16 innings, compared to Kelly's 2:6 and 15 hits in 13 innings, placing him in a bullpen role. Starter Lance Lynn reported to camp forty pounds lighter than in 2012, but ironically struggled to find his command as he attempted to pitch using a "new body."
Reserve roles. Thanks to a strong spring at the plate, former Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year Matt Adams made the team as a pinch-hitter and backup at first base. Rookie outfielder Óscar Taveras also made a strong impression, batting .289 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 80 PAs. He started the season in the minors to allow "his development ... to be playing every day ... to handle the day-to-day rigors of the major league schedule", according to Mozeliak.
Injuries Matheny underwent successful back surgery on March 11 to relieve pain and numbness caused by a ruptured disk.
On March 21, closer Jason Motte experienced tightness in his pitching elbow after pitching against the Mets. An MRI revealed a right flexor tendon strain. He began the season on the DL and Mozeliak was uncertain how much time he would miss. Mitch Boggs replaced Motte as closer until his return. On March 22, third baseman David Freese experienced back pain and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Regular season
April The salary for the players for the season comes to $116.8 mil. (Google spreadsheet), a 4.4% increase over the $111.9 mil. in 2012.(Opening Day salaries)
Opening day on April 8 showed the largest attendance in the history of Busch Stadium with 47,345. The Cardinals had a 4–2 lead after 6 inn. and a 4–3 lead after 7 inn., but the Reds scored a run in the 8th to tie it, and then scored 9 in the 9th to win going away, 13–4. It spoiled a fine performance by starter Jaime García who pitched effectively for 6.2 inn., giving up 6 hits, 3 runs, walking 3, and striking out 10. It was the first of 19 games between the two teams the experts believe are the best in the Central, and will battle it out for the title.