Location: St. Louis, Mo. | Ballpark: Busch Stadium (46,861) | Spring Training: Jupiter, Fla.
Owner: William DeWitt, Jr. | GM: John Mozeliak | Manager: Tony La Russa | World Championships: 10
As the Cardinals lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games Friday night, they got a glimpse of their future, which might be sooner than anybody thought.
With right-hander Jason Isringhausen on the disabled list, officially because of a lacerated right hand but, in truth, because of a troubled psyche, rookie Chris Perez made his major league debut an impressive one.
Throwing in the high 90s consistently and 100 mph at least once, according to the radar, Perez pitched a hitless seventh inning, striking out one. Perez, who was 1-1 with eight saves and a 2.04 ERA at Memphis, is only 22. He was the 42nd overall pick in the 2006 draft out of the University of Miami.
Manager Tony La Russa, asked what he saw of Perez, said, "Composure. Good stuff. He wasn't throwing the ball back to the screen. I thought he was very impressive.
"He was an impressive pitcher in camp. And the impressive thing, too (in spring training), was that he knew we were looking at him closer and he didn't faint."
Admittedly, Isringhausen's injury, which was sustained when he took a couple of swats at a television set after a frustrating loss a week ago, is not a career-threatening one.
"They found some infection," said La Russa. "There's an issue there and it affects his grip some, but that definitely is not what anybody is pointing at as his problem."
Isringhausen, who was not at Busch Stadium on Friday, will take the weekend off and then go back to the Cardinals' spring training camp in Jupiter, Fla., to begin his rehabilitation.
"It's like a hitter who's in a slump. Get back to basics," said La Russa.
"We were going to have to do something to get him right. There is a problem with his hand, but it's more short term."
RAYS 3, CARDINALS 1: Right-hander Braden Looper pitched around most of 10 hits allowed and two walks to permit Tampa Bay to score just three runs in his six innings. But Andy Sonnanstine blanked the Cardinals until left fielder Chris Duncan's solo homer in the eighth. First baseman Albert Pujols went hitless, snapping both his 14-game hitting streak and 42-game on-base streak.
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I've long felt that Jason is mediocre at best. Nearly every time he actually saves a game, he nearly blows the save. Otherwise he blows the save. What do you think? Is Izzy a Stud or a Dud?
Why does it seem that every year we get stuck with a pitcher who's supposed to be the answer to our woes, and he COMPLETELY blows it for the season? Examples last year are Anthony Reyes and Kip Wells especially. I mean, Kip Wells was just HORRIBLE for us as a
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Jimmy Ballgame has officially passed his physical and has become a rival Chicago Cub. I don't know about you but I think this deal sucks. When we play the Cubbies on July 4th, I can not and will not give him any kind of ovation. If he were to be wearing any different uniform then yes I would give him an ovation. But not in Cubbie blue. This deal, like Bernie Miklasz said in today's arti
Finally Izzy is going to be placed on the DL or sent to the minors. He has single handedly put this team into a funk. I hope the Cardinals bring up Perez.
T. Johnson will be having surgery so his season is most likely over.
Mulder- I heard on the news tonight that he threw in the bullpen session today. I really hope that he will be able to come back soon, but in my opinion they should use him in the bullpen for 2 reasons. 1.) It was not till he started stretching his outings out that he began to have the problem. So maybe he can last
What do you think? The Cardinals got off to a fast start at 10 games over .500 (21-11), but have since got 3-8...have we been spoiled? I think we need our starting pitchers back so that we can get Wellemeyer and Looper into the bullpen to stable it up. Will it be a season like last year where we go 1 win and the 2 losses?
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Why? Why? Why? Why in hell is Tony LaRussa so stubborn and close minded enough to throw away yet another game??? With plenty of other pitchers to choose from in the bullpen, TLR lets yet another game get away (Thursday to the Pirates)...6 outs away from a well earned win...give Izzy the ball for a third of an
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SD released him....injury prone, batting under 200. Think ol Jimmy is done? If so, he had a GREAT career. I hope he retires a Cardinal. (One day contract)
