Via BBTF, Bill Baer discusses the genius of the Cardinals front office:

Although, contrary to popular belief, “Moneyball” was not about on-base percentage, OBP was and still is a critical component in the success of the more sabermetrically-savvy organizations. The Cardinals lead all 30 major league teams in on-base percentage among non-pitchers at .350. They have struck out in the second-lowest percentage of plate appearances behind only the Giants. As a result, they put the ball in play more than just about anyone. Consequently, the team’s .326 BABIP has led to rally after rally, leading the National League in averaging five runs per game (the league average is 4.06).

Imagine taking the 2002 Angels and adding lots of walks, and you have the Cardinals offense. Combine that with a pitching staff that walks few, and the team has a formula for winning. It does seem to me, however, that the Cardinals could be stopped by a team with a great defense, although I don’t see much evidence for that in this season’s numbers.

This is also good news for Astros fans, as some of the smart people who built St. Louis are now running the Houston franchise.