Brian34Cook

Randy Flores
2008: 1/3
Career: 4/11

Ryan Franklin:
2008: 1/3
Career: 2/14

Braden Looper:
2008: 0/0
Career: 103/139
- No way that'll happen -

Russ Springer:
2008: 0/0
Career: 8/29

Ron Villone:
2008: 0/0
Career: 6/25

Kyle McClelan:
2008: 1/1
Career: 1/1

Chris Perez (AAA):
2008 SV: 8
Minor League: 35

Jason Motte (AAA):
2008 SV: 0
Minor League: 11

Honestly there aint many choices.. but cant afford to keep blowing games left and right.. his comments last night sounds like he's really sad about constantly letting this team down in games and that he's pitching like a second grader and he may be having a meeting with Tony, Dunc, and Mo today to see about changing closers..

I personally go with McClellan.. Chris Perez I'm not sure is ready but he's gonna have to been by next year anyways IMO.. I could see it being Russ Springer or Ryan Franklin in all honesty though.. veterans Tony would go to.. Ron Villone maybe on occasion.. I dont really know so I guess we'll see if something comes out of a meeting today..

Am I wrong to think Isringhausen could do fine as the 8th inning guy like Brad Lidge and Brian Fuentes have done before? Either way or pitch him when you want just not in save situations..

Brian34Cook

Latest loss leaves Izzy worried
05/10/2008

Rather than rationalize his fourth loss, Isringhausen suggested a meeting today with manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and general manager John Mozeliak to find at least a temporary alternative to using him in the ninth inning.

"I'm just getting sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down," Isringhausen said.

Isringhausen fumbled only two of 34 save chances last season after hip surgery in 2006. He admits now that he's lost.

"I remember in '06, I had an explanation; I just wasn't telling anybody. Now, I don't have an explanation," he said. "I'm just pitching like a second grader."

La Russa, Duncan and Isringhausen insist there is no physical problem. Poor mechanics are apparently the reason.

"There's nothing wrong with his stuff," said Duncan. "He's just not making pitches. That can be corrected."

La Russa confirmed a meeting today but thought the aftermath of a brutal loss was no time for further discussion. Isringhausen took time immediately after the loss to make known his feelings.

"It's just time for them to figure out — we should have five more games in the win column, in my mind. So we should be out there in first place even more," Isringhausen said. "They can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching. We're going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off from that role and we'll get somebody in who can do a better job right now."

Few players shoulder more weight than Isringhausen, considered a team leader as well as a staff bulwark. When he is cut, the wound is felt universally.

"I'm leading the league in saves (11) and blown saves (5) with an ERA of (7.47). It's not a whole lot of fun, especially when you let down 25 guys day in and day out. It's the end of it," he said.

STLtoday - Latest loss leaves Izzy worried

Kyle Man

I feel sorry for Izzy, but for now we should stick him in the middle relief role, and put McClellan in the closer's roel.

__________________

Brian34Cook

Isringhausen taken out of closer role for time being
Updated: May 10, 2008, 2:49 PM ET

MILWAUKEE -- Jason Isringhausen got his wish. After blowing his major league-leading fifth save on Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.

"He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said. "There's still going to be games where you can't cherry-pick his situations because if we're playing well, you need your bullpen."

La Russa said the closing duties will be split between Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer, and that he wouldn't shy from using a left-hander in the role against certain lineups.

"We'll mix and match," La Russa said. "I think all things, everyone rested, Franklin and Springer are the guys that match up the best."

Isringhausen, who has four blown save opportunities in his last seven appearances and is 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA, said Saturday he met with La Russa and agreed he needed to be pulled from the role.

"It needed to be done," Isringhausen said. "It's a mental break more than anything."

La Russa told Isringhausen on Saturday that it's no different from when a top hitter is struggling in the lineup. La Russa's only options would be to shuffle the lineup or give a player a few days on the bench. In Isringhausen's case, La Russa wants to keep him active and fresh, but still give him a mental break from the taxing role of being the closer.

"He's not hurting, he's just pressing and lost his confidence," La Russa said. "You go back to the drawing board a little bit on his delivery so he can locate better, and you give him some appearances and hopefully he gets people out and his confidence goes back up."

Both Isringhausen, who is 23rd on the career saves list, and La Russa believe he'll return to the closer's role once he has time to refocus.

ESPN - Isringhausen taken out of closer role for time being - MLB

Brian34Cook

La Russa said righthander Jason Isringhausen, temporarily removed from the closer’s role, would not pitch the ninth inning just yet.

But La Russa said, "There’s no doubt he’s going to appear in important situations. It just won’t be the ninth."

STLtoday - Tony comes up with a new one