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.
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
(POLL)
Hey guys im an o's fan. not trying to start any trouble or anything. I was just wondering if you guys would give up the likes of Colby Rasmus for George Sherrill and maybe even a Jay Payton
...(more)
I am not expecting too many responses on this one. The Cards just gave up the winning HR to Ryan Braun. Unless we can come up with something in the bottom of the 9th we are going to get sweept by thhe Brewers. Now I dont think this series is the end all be all of the season, and I think the Cards will bounce back this weekend But
Who wins the series? Half the voters in the StLPD picked a split, and I don't think they're far off.
I am extremely bored at work, so here is my analysis...
Game 1: Neither of these pitchers is great, obviously. But Pineiro is ridiculously streaky, and since his last start was a debacle, I'd think he's in for a decent start tonight. McClung is good on the r
By Wayne Lin. This late into the season, fantasy rosters are constantly changing due to hot performances or taking a chance on players they see might make a difference in the second half. After all, last season Matt Holliday hit .375 in the second
...(more)
