Auuuuuuurrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!

I keep having this recurring dream where the Cardinals have dominated the entire game, then Jason Isringhausen comes in blows it.

Izzy was given a gift Friday night, getting the leadoff batter to swing at the first pitch and ground out to third. Then Rick Ankiel was able to bail him out on a line shot to straightaway center field. Two outs, bases empty. Maybe Jason Isringhausen is going to come through...

He served up a base hit. Then he served up another base hit. Then, for good measure, he walks the bases loaded and puts the winning run in scoring position. Hmmmm... I wonder what's going to happen next.

Oh, yeah. Like clockwork he gets behind in the count to Rickie Weeks. Rickie freaking Weeks. And weeks lashes one into left to hand the Cardinals' division rival a win and the Redbirds a loss they didn't deserve.

I don't know what the Cardinals are seeing. But the people who pay for the tickets are seeming to notice that Izzy looks like he is either hurt or he's just out of gas. It's cruel, I admit it, to point this out.

Izzy looked like he was ready to burst into tears during the post-game interview, which is totally uncharacteristic. And I feel awful for him. I want him to get the job done. But right now he can't do it.

His ERA is 7.47. He has blown four saves in two weeks. His velocity is down and his pitches are straight as an arrow, which has resulted in his complete inability to strike anybody out.

I praised the manager the other day for keeping an even keel and being classy when Isringhausen blew a couple of games a week or two ago. But now something really needs to be done.

You just can't keep giving games away if you want to be a serious contender. I repeat, the Cardinals need to call up Chris Perez from AAA Memphis to bolster the bullpen and start grooming him to be the big league stopper.

Either that or they need to find yet another starter to allow Braden Looper to move back to the closer's role. I have great respect for what Izzy has given the Cardinals when he was healthy. But he's not getting the job done now. And the Cardinals either need to find a way to help him start getting the job done, or they need to find someone else to do it.

Comments

[Joe]

Every team blows leads, every closer blows saves. But man, something ain't right with izzy. they have to do something about it. he's on pace to outdo his 10 BS's in 2006 by the end of this month.

if izzy isn't injured, TLR and dunc need to make something up to get that guy on the DL.

the only saving grace? the cards are 1-for-1 winning World Series when izzy blows 10 saves in a season and gets replaced.

[View From the Cheap Seats]

Joe,

I love your optimism. But the Cardinals won't make to to the post season this year with 10 blown saves from Izzy.

I agree that they ought to try to shut him down -- or at least lighten the load on him until they can figure out what's wrong.

The problem is that there isn't anybody else in the bullpen right now who is a good candidate to step into the closer's spot.

Franklin's struggling. Something's up with Springer, because he's not only struggling, but the Cardinals seem reluctant to use him. And McClellan doesn't need the pressure.

That's why I think Chris Perez needs to come up and see if he can channel Todd Worrell circa 1985.

[Fred McTaggart]

I think McClellan is the guy. He pitches with guts and ability. He failed a bit last week against the Rockies but that's the only time I can remember.

As for Izzy: I love the guy. He has done so much for this team for so long that he should not be thrown under the bus. He and Duncan keep insisting nothing is wrong, but his pitches don't look right to me.

[Jesse]

Either they need to give Perez a shot, or go with the plan made a long time when they signed Looper, where he we would be the closer following Izzy's departure. Right now though this is unlikely as he was become a very formidable starter. Why not try getting McClellan, Parisi, and Flores to get us to the 9th inning and try Franklin. Sure he has been very shakey but he has actually been getting the job done.

[Joe]

thanks scott.

i was half-kidding about the 10 blown saves guaranteeing another title. :)

i don't know about thrusting perez right into the closer role. i'm cool with it happening at some point this year, but not right away. gotta ease him into it with 7th and 8th inning work first. even if it's just for a week or two......

but then again, i don't know who really has closer-stuff. of course, i would have told you you were crazy if you woulda told me wainwright was gonna be a lights out closer 2 years ago, too. maybe mclellan is this year's wainwright, as he's been compared to a couple of times this year.