Luvofthegame
09-08-2006, 11:54 AM
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/08/2006
PHOENIX — Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen will not pitch in this weekend's series against Arizona, and he expects to miss at least the next week as he attempts to alleviate pain and inflammation in his left hip that is at the root of his inconsistency.
Isringhausen blew his 10th save of the season Wednesday in Washington, and he alerted the team afterward that his problems with an arthritic hip have increased to a point that he can no longer pitch effectively through the injury.
"It's just gradually gotten worse and worse," Isringhausen said Thursday, when he marked his 34th birthday by getting treatment. "I've never had this much problem with my control. The other day (Wednesday), I had no idea where the ball was going.
"It's frustrating because even the outings when I don't give up runs it seems I really struggle to get my three outs," Isringhausen continued. "Just my body makes it hard to get three outs consistently."
The Cardinals will attack the inflammation in his left hip over the weekend and hope that it helps return stability to the joint, which takes the brunt of his delivery as he lands his plant foot. The closer will meet with the team physician, Dr. George Paletta, on Monday, when Isringhausen said he expects to get a cortisone shot. At the least, he will need a couple of days for the cortisone to take effect. Other options, such as surgery now or after the season, will also be discussed.
Similarly, the Cardinals are weighing their ninth-inning options.
In Isringhausen's absence, the Cardinals have two likely candidates to handle his closing responsibility. Righthander Braden Looper has been a closer for both Florida and the New York Mets, and when he signed with the Cardinals, the club indicated he could develop into Isringhausen's heir. Looper has recently aced his setup role, getting eight wins in relief, but he continues to work on his effectiveness against lefties. The Cardinals would not shy from using matchups to dictate the ninth, said manager Tony La Russa.
Rookie Adam Wainwright, the more likely of the two to handle the closing job, has been the club's stingiest reliever. He leads the team with 16 holds -- and holds are assessed by the same rules as save situations, but they apply to middle innings.
"I feel a little more comfortable with Wainwright (against lefties) because he's got more things that he can do to get a lefthander out," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "He does all the things that you look for in a late-game pitcher. He warms up quick. He doesn't really get excited. The ingredients are all there."
Isringhausen has been playing through a hip injury since 2004, and he had surgery to repair the lining of the joint after the Cardinals' most recent World Series season. There were times that summer that he would scream as he would release a pitch. The surgery was meant to address the problem, but even then it appeared the lack of cushion in the joint would lead to recurring problems. CARDS-D'BACKS
Game 1 Box Score: Cards 6, D'backs 2
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Throughout this season, the Cardinals' closer has battled irregular performances and erratic pitches. He has gone most of the season fumbling for his best pitch -- the cut fastball -- and he has gone stretches without using his curve.
He has blown a career-high and major league-leading 10 save opportunities -- one of three 30-save pitchers to botch 10 chances in the past 10 years -- and he has allowed 10 home runs. (The most he previously allowed as a closer was five.) Wednesday's blown save was his third in seven games, and in his past 10 appearances Isringhausen has a 1-4 record and four saves.
The problematic hip is causing what Duncan called "instability" in Isringhausen's mechanics. As he plants his left foot, his leg buckles, sometimes harshly, making it difficult to throw a pitch low in the zone or get the expected movement.
Isringhausen, the franchise's all-time leader in saves and one shy of 250 in his career, acknowledged the injury may end his season.
"I know there's a chance of that. It might make some people happy," said Isringhausen, who lost just five of his first 192 appearances as a Cardinal. He has lost eight of 59 this season and has been the target of barbs and Busch Stadium boos.
"It's on my mind. It's hard to be part of something for this long and then not be a part of it at the end. ... If my not pitching helps the team out, then that's what I need to do. If I go out there and stink every time, then, yeah, I shouldn't be pitching.
"I don't need to be going out there and wasting games for a team that has worked so hard," he concluded. "I'm not going to jeopardize all that we've worked for just to try and make a comeback. I have a lot of things to think about."
Isringhausen has undergone several forms of treatment this season to combat the inflammation, instability and immobility in his joint. At one point, he had lubrication injected into his hip to facilitate easier movement. Trainer Barry Weinberg said there is an "attrition issue because (with) the activity he does, it is not going to get better."
In New York, Isringhausen met with coaches to discuss the severity of the injury in his hip, and since then they all felt he'd made improvement, La Russa said. It's possible that throwing on back-to-back days in Washington aggravated the condition.
It took Isringhausen 50 pitches to get four outs in two days against the Nationals. He threw 22, including 13 balls, Thursday, losing the game on the ninth strike he threw.
"It was so unexpected that he would have this kind of problem," La Russa said. "Besides losing the game, it was like getting knocked down, getting up and then, pow, getting pounded again by finding out he was having that kind of soreness. He's got a lot of credit with us because he's been sore and went out there and did the job. You really can't blame him."
Comparison of Cardinals' three best closer options:
Jason Isringhausen
Record: 4-8 ERA: 3.55
Vs. LH: .270 Vs. RH: .187
Career SV-SVO*: 249-294 (84.7%)
Pros: His save conversion percentage ranks among the top 10 in baseball history. Went 14 consecutive appearances earlier this season without allowing an earned run. He relishes the role and has shown in the past he can do it even when injured.
Cons: Any hip ailment calls into question his everyday availability and every-outing reliability. His control has been off, his best pitch (the cutter) erratic, and his 10 home runs allowed are twice his previous career high as a closer.
Braden Looper
Record: 8-1 ERA: 3.69
Vs. LH: .321 Vs. RH: .247
Career SV-SVO*: 103-136 (75.7%)
Pros: Has been the Cardinals' most reliable righthanded reliever over the past month, fulfilling his billed role as Isringhausen's setup man. Looper has experience as a closer, including a season closing for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.
Cons: Though better recently, Looper has a history of struggling against lefties, which could evolve into a closer-by-committee situation. Pitched injured for the Mets in 2005 yet still had a track record of trouble handling highly scrutinized closer role in New York.
Adam Wainwright
Record: 2-1 ERA: 3.07
Vs. LH: .306 Vs. RH .179
Career SV-SVO: 1-3 (33.3%)
Pros: Sports the most dominant package of pitches in the bullpen, a four-pitch arsenal that comes from being groomed as a starter. Leads team with 16 holds, which are saves for middle relievers. Is a bona fide strikeout pitcher.
Cons: Has no background as a closer, and while he's emerged as a top-flight reliever in his first summer in the bullpen, the move from seventh-, eighth-inning arm to the ninth inning can be jarring. Cardinals have been reluctant to use him on consecutive days.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/08/2006
PHOENIX — Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen will not pitch in this weekend's series against Arizona, and he expects to miss at least the next week as he attempts to alleviate pain and inflammation in his left hip that is at the root of his inconsistency.
Isringhausen blew his 10th save of the season Wednesday in Washington, and he alerted the team afterward that his problems with an arthritic hip have increased to a point that he can no longer pitch effectively through the injury.
"It's just gradually gotten worse and worse," Isringhausen said Thursday, when he marked his 34th birthday by getting treatment. "I've never had this much problem with my control. The other day (Wednesday), I had no idea where the ball was going.
"It's frustrating because even the outings when I don't give up runs it seems I really struggle to get my three outs," Isringhausen continued. "Just my body makes it hard to get three outs consistently."
The Cardinals will attack the inflammation in his left hip over the weekend and hope that it helps return stability to the joint, which takes the brunt of his delivery as he lands his plant foot. The closer will meet with the team physician, Dr. George Paletta, on Monday, when Isringhausen said he expects to get a cortisone shot. At the least, he will need a couple of days for the cortisone to take effect. Other options, such as surgery now or after the season, will also be discussed.
Similarly, the Cardinals are weighing their ninth-inning options.
In Isringhausen's absence, the Cardinals have two likely candidates to handle his closing responsibility. Righthander Braden Looper has been a closer for both Florida and the New York Mets, and when he signed with the Cardinals, the club indicated he could develop into Isringhausen's heir. Looper has recently aced his setup role, getting eight wins in relief, but he continues to work on his effectiveness against lefties. The Cardinals would not shy from using matchups to dictate the ninth, said manager Tony La Russa.
Rookie Adam Wainwright, the more likely of the two to handle the closing job, has been the club's stingiest reliever. He leads the team with 16 holds -- and holds are assessed by the same rules as save situations, but they apply to middle innings.
"I feel a little more comfortable with Wainwright (against lefties) because he's got more things that he can do to get a lefthander out," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "He does all the things that you look for in a late-game pitcher. He warms up quick. He doesn't really get excited. The ingredients are all there."
Isringhausen has been playing through a hip injury since 2004, and he had surgery to repair the lining of the joint after the Cardinals' most recent World Series season. There were times that summer that he would scream as he would release a pitch. The surgery was meant to address the problem, but even then it appeared the lack of cushion in the joint would lead to recurring problems. CARDS-D'BACKS
Game 1 Box Score: Cards 6, D'backs 2
Cards 2006 Photo Gallery
Cards schedule/results
Cards individual stats
Cards team stats
MLB Scoreboard
NL Standings
Wildcard Standings
NL Leaders
FAN FORUMS
Derrick Goold's "Bird Land" blog
Cards Talk: Sound off!
Bernie's Press Box
E-mail a "Letter to Gordo"
MORE BASEBALL
Cardinals Site
D'Backs Site
MLB's Site
AZCentral: D'Backs coverage from Arizona Republic
Back to Cards on STLtoday.com
Throughout this season, the Cardinals' closer has battled irregular performances and erratic pitches. He has gone most of the season fumbling for his best pitch -- the cut fastball -- and he has gone stretches without using his curve.
He has blown a career-high and major league-leading 10 save opportunities -- one of three 30-save pitchers to botch 10 chances in the past 10 years -- and he has allowed 10 home runs. (The most he previously allowed as a closer was five.) Wednesday's blown save was his third in seven games, and in his past 10 appearances Isringhausen has a 1-4 record and four saves.
The problematic hip is causing what Duncan called "instability" in Isringhausen's mechanics. As he plants his left foot, his leg buckles, sometimes harshly, making it difficult to throw a pitch low in the zone or get the expected movement.
Isringhausen, the franchise's all-time leader in saves and one shy of 250 in his career, acknowledged the injury may end his season.
"I know there's a chance of that. It might make some people happy," said Isringhausen, who lost just five of his first 192 appearances as a Cardinal. He has lost eight of 59 this season and has been the target of barbs and Busch Stadium boos.
"It's on my mind. It's hard to be part of something for this long and then not be a part of it at the end. ... If my not pitching helps the team out, then that's what I need to do. If I go out there and stink every time, then, yeah, I shouldn't be pitching.
"I don't need to be going out there and wasting games for a team that has worked so hard," he concluded. "I'm not going to jeopardize all that we've worked for just to try and make a comeback. I have a lot of things to think about."
Isringhausen has undergone several forms of treatment this season to combat the inflammation, instability and immobility in his joint. At one point, he had lubrication injected into his hip to facilitate easier movement. Trainer Barry Weinberg said there is an "attrition issue because (with) the activity he does, it is not going to get better."
In New York, Isringhausen met with coaches to discuss the severity of the injury in his hip, and since then they all felt he'd made improvement, La Russa said. It's possible that throwing on back-to-back days in Washington aggravated the condition.
It took Isringhausen 50 pitches to get four outs in two days against the Nationals. He threw 22, including 13 balls, Thursday, losing the game on the ninth strike he threw.
"It was so unexpected that he would have this kind of problem," La Russa said. "Besides losing the game, it was like getting knocked down, getting up and then, pow, getting pounded again by finding out he was having that kind of soreness. He's got a lot of credit with us because he's been sore and went out there and did the job. You really can't blame him."
Comparison of Cardinals' three best closer options:
Jason Isringhausen
Record: 4-8 ERA: 3.55
Vs. LH: .270 Vs. RH: .187
Career SV-SVO*: 249-294 (84.7%)
Pros: His save conversion percentage ranks among the top 10 in baseball history. Went 14 consecutive appearances earlier this season without allowing an earned run. He relishes the role and has shown in the past he can do it even when injured.
Cons: Any hip ailment calls into question his everyday availability and every-outing reliability. His control has been off, his best pitch (the cutter) erratic, and his 10 home runs allowed are twice his previous career high as a closer.
Braden Looper
Record: 8-1 ERA: 3.69
Vs. LH: .321 Vs. RH: .247
Career SV-SVO*: 103-136 (75.7%)
Pros: Has been the Cardinals' most reliable righthanded reliever over the past month, fulfilling his billed role as Isringhausen's setup man. Looper has experience as a closer, including a season closing for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.
Cons: Though better recently, Looper has a history of struggling against lefties, which could evolve into a closer-by-committee situation. Pitched injured for the Mets in 2005 yet still had a track record of trouble handling highly scrutinized closer role in New York.
Adam Wainwright
Record: 2-1 ERA: 3.07
Vs. LH: .306 Vs. RH .179
Career SV-SVO: 1-3 (33.3%)
Pros: Sports the most dominant package of pitches in the bullpen, a four-pitch arsenal that comes from being groomed as a starter. Leads team with 16 holds, which are saves for middle relievers. Is a bona fide strikeout pitcher.
Cons: Has no background as a closer, and while he's emerged as a top-flight reliever in his first summer in the bullpen, the move from seventh-, eighth-inning arm to the ninth inning can be jarring. Cardinals have been reluctant to use him on consecutive days.