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Izzy: 'Dumbfounded' (Joe Strauss May 16, 2008)
Izzy: 'Dumbfounded'
The team's rehabilitation of Isringhausen from a crisis of confidence went terribly awry Thursday afternoon as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for four eighth-inning runs against him, turning the Cardinals' 5-4 lead into an 8-5 deficit that became a dreary 11-5 loss at rain-soaked Busch Stadium.
I don't think he'll get DFA'd. I think he'll get the DL. Whether or not he returns will be determined. I do think this will be his final season though, and given his stature as a Cardinal, I think he'll be given the option to retire as a Cardinal.
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/16/2008ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
 May 15, 2008 -- Cardinals pitcher Jason Isringhausen (right) hands the game ball to manager Tony La Russa as he is relieved in the eighth inning. (Chris Lee/P-D) |
PIRATES 11, CARDS 5 • Up next: 7:15 tonight vs. Rays, FSN Midwest
Two weeks after completing a stellar April, the Cardinals and exiled closer Jason Isringhausen find themselves in the perfect storm.
The team's rehabilitation of Isringhausen from a crisis of confidence went terribly awry Thursday afternoon as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for four eighth-inning runs against him, turning the Cardinals' 5-4 lead into an 8-5 deficit that became a dreary 11-5 loss at rain-soaked Busch Stadium.
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SLIDESHOW: Pirates 11, Cards 5
Box: Pirates 11, Cards 5
No longer able to rationalize the obvious, manager Tony La Russa described
Isringhausen as "Problem No. 1" moments after the loss. The admission coincides with a potential roster move today involving the franchise's career saves leader, who left open the possibility Thursday of accepting a minor-league assignment to recapture his missing mechanics and confidence without compromising the bullpen's integrity.
"I'm out of answers. I'm out of excuses," Isringhausen said. "We've just got to go to the next step, whatever that might be. I don't have any answers. I expect probably an answer tomorrow when I get here. We'll go from there."
Isringhausen will be examined this morning by team orthopedist Dr. George Paletta. Isringhausen and team officials have denied a physical ailment is the reason for his recent struggles; however, club sources indicated Thursday he has been receiving treatment on his arthritic left hip.
"I don't know what we're going to do," Isringhausen said. "I wish I could say I was hurt, my arm was falling off, or I couldn't land. I can't do that. People (hitters) standing at home plate tell you what the end result should be. I'm not getting any swings and misses, so that says something about my stuff. I feel healthy. But maybe my 'healthy' just isn't good enough."
The club is expected to put Isringhausen on the disabled list today or broach the possibility of designating him for assignment, a procedural move that would place him on waivers before reassigning him to a minor-league affiliate. Either way, a roster move is considered likely.
"He's beside himself, puzzled, the whole thing. He's Problem No. 1 right now," La Russa said. Isringhausen classified today's expected move as "a management decision."
The Cardinals carried a 5-1 lead into the fifth inning thanks to 11 hits during Pirates starter Ian Snell's four-inning outing. Rick Ankiel's first-inning sacrifice fly and Yadier Molina's RBI ground ball accounted for a 2-0 lead before left fielder Chris Duncan crushed a two-run double in the fifth inning, then scored the inning's third run on third baseman Troy Glaus' third single.
There, starting pitcher Joel Pineiro stumbled, allowing the Pirates to creep to 5-4. It set off a chain reaction that brought Kyle McClellan and Randy Flores into the game before Isringhausen inherited the one-run lead 18 hours after he worked a perfect ninth inning in Wednesday's 5-1 win.
"(Pineiro) wasn't the same in the fifth inning. I know he's not happy about it. He let them back in the game," said La Russa, unhappy enough himself to hook Pineiro after only 70 pitches.
Isringhausen quickly hurt himself with a series of sins, beginning with a four-pitch walk of third baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, a flared single and his own throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
Isringhausen's throw past third base permitted Mientkiewicz to score the tying run before pinch-hitter Jason Bay punished a three-run home run, the first pinch blast for Bay, the Pirates' everyday left fielder.
"It was a very, very tough inning," understated La Russa.
Isringhausen (1-5) allowed two hits, walked two, got an out and committed an error in a 20-pitch span. Bay's home run came on pitch No. 12. The rest was details. He now carries an 8.00 ERA with 32 base-runners and three home runs allowed in 18 innings.
The offense joined Isringhausen and Pineiro as co-conspirators. An anemic two for 16 with runners in scoring position, the Cardinals stranded 13 runners Thursday after leaving 15 the night before.
The loss was the Cardinals' seventh in nine games and dropped them two games off the NL Central lead for the second time this season. It also marked the Cardinals' sixth loss when leading after seven innings. They lost twice last season when leading in the same circumstance.
"We've talked about it so long, what's left to say?" wondered Isringhausen.
The blown save was Isringhausen's sixth in 17 chances. La Russa removed him from the closer's role after he fumbled a lead last Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Isringhausen twice delivered an open-handed blow to a television set after the loss. Memphis reliever Chris Perez was pulled out of line in a Las Vegas airport and told he was going to the parent club before another call rescinded the order about 30 minutes later.
Isringhausen reappeared Monday during a 5-3 win that Ryan Franklin closed and again in the ninth inning of Wednesday's non-save situation.
"I'm lost with whatever. Today I'm not even mad like I was in Milwaukee," Isringhausen said. "It's just gotten to the point right now where you're kind of dumbfounded."
La Russa considered relievers Mike Parisi and Russ Springer unavailable Thursday; Springer because he had pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, Parisi because he could start Sunday in place of Kyle Lohse, who has experienced persistent shoulder stiffness since his May 8 start in Colorado. Springer briefly stirred but only as a decoy.
Ryan Franklin was held back to pitch the ninth inning because La Russa thought his recent workload too great to ask for two.
"It was totally about we've got a one-run lead," La Russa said. "We need three outs in the eighth, three outs in the ninth. The only two guys you felt you had available were Izzy and Franklin. I thought Franklin for the top of the lineup was a better choice. That (lower) part of the lineup was a better challenge for Izzy."
La Russa's use of Isringhausen Thursday suggested to several teammates he was close to regaining his role. La Russa disputed the impression. Regardless, Isringhausen labeled the outing "a few steps backwards. ... I just proved to them it's not going to work. We just go from here."
Where it all takes him becomes official today.
[email protected] | 314-340-8371
SLIDESHOW: Pirates 11, Cards 5
Box: Pirates 11, Cards 5
No longer able to rationalize the obvious, manager Tony La Russa described
Isringhausen as "Problem No. 1" moments after the loss. The admission coincides with a potential roster move today involving the franchise's career saves leader, who left open the possibility Thursday of accepting a minor-league assignment to recapture his missing mechanics and confidence without compromising the bullpen's integrity.
"I'm out of answers. I'm out of excuses," Isringhausen said. "We've just got to go to the next step, whatever that might be. I don't have any answers. I expect probably an answer tomorrow when I get here. We'll go from there."
Isringhausen will be examined this morning by team orthopedist Dr. George Paletta. Isringhausen and team officials have denied a physical ailment is the reason for his recent struggles; however, club sources indicated Thursday he has been receiving treatment on his arthritic left hip.
"I don't know what we're going to do," Isringhausen said. "I wish I could say I was hurt, my arm was falling off, or I couldn't land. I can't do that. People (hitters) standing at home plate tell you what the end result should be. I'm not getting any swings and misses, so that says something about my stuff. I feel healthy. But maybe my 'healthy' just isn't good enough."
The club is expected to put Isringhausen on the disabled list today or broach the possibility of designating him for assignment, a procedural move that would place him on waivers before reassigning him to a minor-league affiliate. Either way, a roster move is considered likely.
"He's beside himself, puzzled, the whole thing. He's Problem No. 1 right now," La Russa said. Isringhausen classified today's expected move as "a management decision."
The Cardinals carried a 5-1 lead into the fifth inning thanks to 11 hits during Pirates starter Ian Snell's four-inning outing. Rick Ankiel's first-inning sacrifice fly and Yadier Molina's RBI ground ball accounted for a 2-0 lead before left fielder Chris Duncan crushed a two-run double in the fifth inning, then scored the inning's third run on third baseman Troy Glaus' third single.
There, starting pitcher Joel Pineiro stumbled, allowing the Pirates to creep to 5-4. It set off a chain reaction that brought Kyle McClellan and Randy Flores into the game before Isringhausen inherited the one-run lead 18 hours after he worked a perfect ninth inning in Wednesday's 5-1 win.
"(Pineiro) wasn't the same in the fifth inning. I know he's not happy about it. He let them back in the game," said La Russa, unhappy enough himself to hook Pineiro after only 70 pitches.
Isringhausen quickly hurt himself with a series of sins, beginning with a four-pitch walk of third baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, a flared single and his own throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
Isringhausen's throw past third base permitted Mientkiewicz to score the tying run before pinch-hitter Jason Bay punished a three-run home run, the first pinch blast for Bay, the Pirates' everyday left fielder.
"It was a very, very tough inning," understated La Russa.
Isringhausen (1-5) allowed two hits, walked two, got an out and committed an error in a 20-pitch span. Bay's home run came on pitch No. 12. The rest was details. He now carries an 8.00 ERA with 32 base-runners and three home runs allowed in 18 innings.
The offense joined Isringhausen and Pineiro as co-conspirators. An anemic two for 16 with runners in scoring position, the Cardinals stranded 13 runners Thursday after leaving 15 the night before.
The loss was the Cardinals' seventh in nine games and dropped them two games off the NL Central lead for the second time this season. It also marked the Cardinals' sixth loss when leading after seven innings. They lost twice last season when leading in the same circumstance.
"We've talked about it so long, what's left to say?" wondered Isringhausen.
The blown save was Isringhausen's sixth in 17 chances. La Russa removed him from the closer's role after he fumbled a lead last Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Isringhausen twice delivered an open-handed blow to a television set after the loss. Memphis reliever Chris Perez was pulled out of line in a Las Vegas airport and told he was going to the parent club before another call rescinded the order about 30 minutes later.
Isringhausen reappeared Monday during a 5-3 win that Ryan Franklin closed and again in the ninth inning of Wednesday's non-save situation.
"I'm lost with whatever. Today I'm not even mad like I was in Milwaukee," Isringhausen said. "It's just gotten to the point right now where you're kind of dumbfounded."
La Russa considered relievers Mike Parisi and Russ Springer unavailable Thursday; Springer because he had pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, Parisi because he could start Sunday in place of Kyle Lohse, who has experienced persistent shoulder stiffness since his May 8 start in Colorado. Springer briefly stirred but only as a decoy.
Ryan Franklin was held back to pitch the ninth inning because La Russa thought his recent workload too great to ask for two.
"It was totally about we've got a one-run lead," La Russa said. "We need three outs in the eighth, three outs in the ninth. The only two guys you felt you had available were Izzy and Franklin. I thought Franklin for the top of the lineup was a better choice. That (lower) part of the lineup was a better challenge for Izzy."
La Russa's use of Isringhausen Thursday suggested to several teammates he was close to regaining his role. La Russa disputed the impression. Regardless, Isringhausen labeled the outing "a few steps backwards. ... I just proved to them it's not going to work. We just go from here."
Where it all takes him becomes official today.
[email protected] | 314-340-8371
I don't think he'll get DFA'd. I think he'll get the DL. Whether or not he returns will be determined. I do think this will be his final season though, and given his stature as a Cardinal, I think he'll be given the option to retire as a Cardinal.
He seems like a good guy and has been a very good Cardinal. Maybe a couple weeks to clear his mind could help. While I am upset that we have lost several games b/c of him, we are still right there when AP sees about one good pitch per game.
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