Tag Archives: Jason Isringhausen

Which Three Years Were Better: 2004-2006 or 2011-2013?

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The past 10 seasons are an extraordinarily rich time in St. Louis Cardinals history, as we all know. Seven trips to the postseason, six times in the National League Championship Series, five National League Central titles,  four World Series appearances resulting in two World Championships — obviously a glorious time to be a Cardinals fan.

Yet also two very distinct ways to that success, with the Tony La Russa/Walt Jocketty era reaching its pinnacle in 2004 with its reliance more on veteran acquisitions to make an impact and now the John Mozeliak/Mike Matheny way that’s blossoming with talent developed from within. Which has me wondering: of these past seasons, which three-year stretch was better: 2004-2006 or 2011-2013?

Here’s a refresher on these two championship stretches.

2004-2006

MV32004
Record: 105-57 (best in MLB), finished first in NL Central.

Postseason: Won NLDS 3 games to 1 over Dodgers; won NLCS 4 games to 3 over Astros; lost World Series in sweep by Red Sox.

Top hitters: The MV3 — Albert Pujols .331/.415/.657 with 46 home runs and 123 RBI, WAR of 8.4; Scott Rolen .314/.409/.598 with 34 homers and 124 RBI, WAR of 9.1; Jim Edmonds .301/.418/.643 with 42 homers and 111, WAR of 7.1. Also, Tony Womack hit .307 and had 26 stolen bases. Edgar Renteria hit .287 with 72 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

Team batting average: .278, first in NL.

Team OPS: .804, also first in the NL.

Top starting pitchers: Chris Carpenter, 15-5, 3.46 ERA; Jason Marquis, 15-7, 3.71 ERA; Jeff Suppan, 16-9, 4.16 ERA.

Saves leader: Jason Isringhausen, 47.

Team ERA: 3.75, second in NL (Braves first at 3.74)

Postseason moment to remember: Jim Edmonds 12th inning walk-off home run in Game Six of the NLCS.

Award recognition: The MV3 finished third (Pujols), fourth (Rolen) and fifth (Edmonds) in NL MVP voting. Tony La Russa was second in the NL Manager of the Year race.

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Who Would You Choose For a Cardinals Hall of Fame?

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The official Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum will open as part of Ballpark Village next spring, and construction is moving along nicely. Last month, the United Cardinal Bloggers gave our ideas on what we’d like to see in the museum — our choices are here. This month, we take a look at the five individuals we’d like to see inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Like any election, we had rules to follow. All those who the Cardinals have already honored by retiring their numbers are already included in the Hall of Fame. A player must be retired, or seem to be retired (such as, for example, Scott Rolen). And there’s no limit on service time.

So, with those in place, here, in alphabetical order, are the choices for the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Jack clarkJack Clark

By Michael

No player compressed more moments into three years than The Ripper. People don’t remember, but when the Cardinals lost Bruce Sutter as a free agent to Atlanta after the 1984 season, most everyone was predicting them to finish last or well below .500. But when the Cardinals got Jack Clark for pretty much nothing in a trade with the Giants, I knew better. I knew how great Clark was — he was the NL’s Eddie Murray, the most dangerous guy at the plate in the league.

And he proved it in Game 6 of the 1985 NLCS — top of the ninth, Cardinals looking like they’d face Orel Hershisher in Game 7 in LA, two runners on. First pitch, boom.

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