Closer

With Jason Isringhausen struggling, what should the Cards do about the ninth inning?

'08:

Isringhausen: 18 games, 1 win, 4 losses, 11 saves, 5 blown saves, 7.47 ERA

I voted for temporarily replace. I know, I know. I said after he blew his last save opportunity that he needed to go, but I was very highly frustrated and needed to vent. But after rationally thinking it over, I seriously think that a temporary break from the closers role will do him a lot of good. I still think in the meantime that the Cards should temporarily call up Chris Perez and allow him to get a few pre-career saves and to get some much treasured pre-career pointers from Izzy.

Look, no-one feels any worse about the blown saves than Jason Isringhausen himself. He, after blowing his last save opportunity, went to TLR and removed himself as closer for the good of our team. I have a renewed belief that Izzy's plan will pay off later on. And I will be looking forward to Izzy returning as our closer.

To replace Izzy entirely would be an injustice to him, the team and to us fans in Cardinals Nation as he is only 8 saves shy of #300. What we need to be doing is instead of trash talking about him we should be standing behind him in full support.

Go Cards!!!!     68

Cards_68

I couldn't have said it better, Izzy is a superstar, just needs some time off! Good opportunity to look at the closer of the future. Let Izzy play it out however he is comfortable, and he will be money again before you know it! It would be nice to see #300 come in a Cardinals uniform! I think it took a true man to go to TLR and remove himself! Gotta respect him for that.

I agree with the temporarily replacing him strategy. Have him come in in different scenerios and get this fixed. His curve ball is nowhere to be found and has been going to it time and time again and it is biting him. Last year of the contract and would not be surprised if they go to Chris Perez in the off-season and have him come in as the closer.

With all the hype he had at the start of his career, he definately made a comeback as a closer! Just is tough to see someone go downhill this rapidly who did a lot of good for the Cardinals. He may have given me about 15 heart attacks oer the year, but always seemed to put up respectable numbers. Hopefully he gets it back together!

i belive a temporary closer by LIMITED comittee (2 guys and Perez or) with tthe two guys being Izzy and Franklin.

go cards

go blues on draft day!

I think Izzy is done......  I'm on board with trying to get the man to his 300th if we can limit the damage to the team, but I feel we should be looking for other options going forward. 

I've always been lukewarm on Izzy.  For most of his time with the Cards, he has done his job, but on the other hand, I don't think he strikes fear into the hearts of our opponents.  Even when he was pitching well, he has always allowed too many baserunners, and he is not a big time strikeout pitcher.  I want to see a closer go up there and throw 98-100mph and blow it past people.......not nibble on the outside corner with a cutter.

I agree with the strategy that is being used right now by TLR and Dunc.  Give Izzy a mental break and allow him to get a mechanical issue or two ironed out in a less stressful role.

I think Izzy is fine physically.  In a couple of weeks, I think he'll be back in as the closer of this team.  Go with a committee in the meantime.

I'm still behind Izzy.  Maybe the guy is not Mariano Rivera, very few are, but he's been plenty successful as the closer of this ballclub for a number of years.  And I think he has enough left to help us in that role through 2008.

All I know is that the Cubs, Cards and Brewers have all had issues with their closers this year.  As close as this division promises to be this year, the first team to really solve their closer issue is going to have the edge in the long run.

\I'm of the opinion that Izzy will be fine.  Maybe a short break is just what the doctor ordered.  A committee should work fine for the next week or so, any longer than that and we are in trouble.

I think Izzy will be back before too long.  I just hope he will be effective for the rest of the season!!

Unfortunately, him watching Gagne pitch over the weekend series can't help things at all.  It's like that part in Billy Madison "we are all now less-intelligent for having listened to you" kinda thing. 

Honestly, I think Izzy will be fine.  Let's face facts here, he's no spring chicken anymore as he's in his 13 major league season (I believe).  Since becoming a closer, he hasn't made more than 74 appearances in a season yet he has already made 19 so far this year and is on pace to make 77 this season at the age of 37.  He's been most effective when he gets around just 60 appearances in a season and I think the heavy work load the has resulted because of the amount of winning the Cardinals are doing is really starting to weigh on him. 

He'll be fine this season but I think it'll be very important for the rest of the team to be able to give him a few days off in between appearances and he'll be plenty effective.