St. Louis Cardinals: No love from simulations for the 2017 Cardinals

Apr 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) checks on St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty (55) after he was hit in the head by the throw as he scored during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) checks on St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty (55) after he was hit in the head by the throw as he scored during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The St. Louis Cardinals might fight hard this season and will certainly work to defeat the juggernaut that is the Chicago Cubs, but, according to OOTP will come up far too short.

If two games of the season are to indicate anything, as Dan suggests, then the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are set for a lengthy battle this season for the coveted spot in the NL-Central. That is how Dan suggests it. At FanSided, however, our own Nick Tylwalk simulated the season in Out of the Park Baseball 2018 (OOTP) and came to a completely different conclusion than that of Dan.

Look, let’s get this out of the way right out of the gate: this is a simulation computer game. It plays with variables and makes predictive statements/judgements based on several factors including projections and organizational past decision-making strategies. It is not a fool-proof approach to predicting the season’s outcome.

That said, as Nick highlights, it does add a touch of drama to the entire season. OOTP, according to Nick, predicted the trade of Andrew McCutchen and injuries to several teams. For a complete look at Nick’s OOTP simulation, jump over to his post.

Now to my reaction: zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Now, that’s not fair. It really isn’t. I am interested in this stuff but I’m angry that the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals continue to get short-changed.

I am angry because I believe this team can be a surprise to other in the MLB. I believe that this team will appear in the postseason and can play spoiler in a big, big way. And I am angry that simulations such as these are far too-tied to last year’s performance.

Let me say that I do not blame the simulations from tying predicted performance in 2017 to the almost-lame 2016 season for the St. Louis Cardinals. This lackluster season would certainly lead no one to predict a World Series win for the 2017 Cardinals.

That said, however, tying strictly to last season’s numbers makes one blind to resurgent players and their performances. We at Redbird Rants, while- yes- fans, are starting to honk in favor of the Cardinals and their abilities this season. OOTP might have missed our articles.

Nick’s OOTP simulation was not the first this season. Just prior to the start of the season, Daniel George over at our sister site App Trigger ran a season simulation through the new MLB The Show 17. In this simulation, the St. Louis Cardinals again did not fare well.

In Daniel’s simulation, the St. Louis Cardinals finished with a record of 86-76 falling short of the playoffs. In Nick’s simulation, the Cardinals finished with a record of 80-82 also falling short of the playoffs.

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Nick’s simulation had the Cardinals’ rotation as fourth in the NL-Central in runs against. Both simulations predicted an injury to Adam Wainwright. Both sims also indicated an ERA of near 3.20 for Lance Lynn.

All-in-all, the St. Louis Cardinals fall short in the sims, nothing more said. Having admitted that, however, I still remain ticked by them. Let me admit that I can see these outcomes happening but can also see the Cardinals being the spur in the saddles of others.

My prediction? The Cubs will win the NL-Central but I predict that the Cardinals will make the playoffs as the second wild card team (the threshold they fell just one game short of in 2016). Neither simulation predicts them achieving a WC slot but I believe that this team has the capabilities to secure one.

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If, for argument sake, we buy into the simulations as indicators (at the least), then I feel that the Cardinals will be movers for sure at the trade deadline. With promising youth in Memphis, I can completely see the St. Louis Cardinals picking up a few names that will make them winners in 2017 (maybe not of the World Series variety, but winners nonetheless).