What Is 2017 St Louis Cardinals season

Overview

The 2017 St. Louis Cardinals season marked the franchise's 136th year in Major League Baseball and their 14th playing home games at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Under manager Mike Matheny, the team aimed to return to postseason contention after missing the playoffs in 2016.

Despite a competitive roster and strong fan support, the Cardinals fell short of playoff qualification, finishing third in the National League Central with an 83–79 record. The season was defined by mid-season trades, inconsistent pitching, and breakout performances from several younger players.

• Record and Standing: The team finished with an 83–79 win-loss record, placing third in the National League Central behind the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
• Manager: Mike Matheny managed the club for the sixth consecutive season, becoming the first Cardinals manager since Whitey Herzell to lead the team for six full years without a playoff appearance.
• Home Attendance: The Cardinals drew 3,407,293 fans during the season, ranking 6th in MLB attendance despite missing the postseason.
• Notable Trade: In August 2017, the Cardinals traded outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Dominic Leone and minor leaguer Conner Greene.
• Breakout Performer: Tommy Pham emerged as a key offensive force, posting a .306 batting average, 23 home runs, and 73 RBIs in just 103 games played.

How It Works

The 2017 season structure followed standard MLB scheduling and playoff qualification rules, with the Cardinals competing in a six-month regular season to secure a postseason berth.

• Regular Season:The 162-game schedule ran from April 3 to October 1, with the Cardinals opening on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Division Play:Games against NL Central rivals accounted for 76 of the 162 games, including 19 matchups each against the Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, and Reds.
• Postseason Qualification:To reach the playoffs, the Cardinals needed either a division title or a wild card spot, both of which they narrowly missed.
• Roster Construction:The 25-man active roster included key contributors like Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, and Stephen Piscotty before his mid-season trade to Oakland.
• Injuries and Call-ups:Multiple injuries to starters like Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martínez led to increased roles for younger pitchers such as Luke Weaver and Jack Flaherty.
• Front Office Moves:General Manager Mike Girsch focused on bullpen improvements, acquiring relievers like Seunghwan Oh and John Brebbia during the season.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2017 Cardinals compared to their division rivals in key statistical categories:

The table highlights the gap between the Cardinals and the dominant Cubs, who won the division by nine games. While St. Louis outperformed the Pirates and Reds, they lacked the consistency to challenge Milwaukee for the second wild card spot, finishing 13 games behind the second wild card team.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season served as a transitional year for the Cardinals, signaling a shift from their previous era of sustained success to a rebuilding phase centered on youth development.

• End of an Era: The season marked the final full year for longtime stars like Yadier Molina and Matt Carpenter before the team began prioritizing younger talent.
• Farm System Impact:Top prospects like Jack Flaherty and Dylan Carlson began making their presence felt, setting the stage for future roster changes.
• Managerial Change: Mike Matheny was dismissed after the 2018 season, with 2017 viewed as the beginning of declining confidence in his leadership.
• Attendance Resilience: Despite missing the playoffs, the Cardinals maintained strong attendance, reflecting the city's enduring support for the franchise.
• Competitive Benchmark: The 83-win season became a baseline for evaluating progress in subsequent years as the team retooled.
• Front Office Strategy: The mid-season trades signaled a shift toward balancing competitiveness with long-term sustainability, influencing future decision-making.

Ultimately, the 2017 season was a pivotal chapter in the Cardinals’ modern history, blending veteran presence with emerging youth and laying groundwork for organizational changes in the years that followed.