Luvofthegame
09-29-2006, 10:29 AM
New closer gets some advice from injured Isringhausen
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
With Jason Isringhausen out for the remainder of 2006 due to hip surgery, Adam Wainwright appears set to be the primary closer for the Cardinals. So what advice did Isringhausen give the rookie?
If you guessed it had anything to do with pitch selection or grips, you'd be wrong. It was much simpler. Isringhausen basically reminded Wainwright to take a breath every now and then.
"There was definitely some intensity there that's not in other situations," Wainwright said Wednesday night after recording the second save of his career. "But for the most part, if I'm pitching like I should be, and doing what Izzy was telling me to do -- step back and breathe, the same thing [Braden] Looper was telling me -- it's the same. It is what you make of it."
Isringhausen spoke like a proud parent after Wainwright nailed down Wednesday's win.
"He did awesome," said Isringhausen, the Cardinals' career leader in saves. "It was awesome to watch. He did a great job of backing off the mound, taking a deep breath when he needed to.
"It's amazing. He's a rookie, but he can do it. He doesn't have enough experience to know what's going on."
Wainwright blitzed through the first two hitters with strikeouts before allowing a double. He ended the game with a grounder to second, making for a relatively uneventful save by Cardinals standards this season.
"One reason that we have positive expectations for him is that he worked himself into a clutch role in that bullpen even though it wasn't the ninth inning," said manager Tony La Russa. "And he did it through the quality of his work. Every time he advanced to more important responsibilities, he faced that same kind of, 'Oh man, they're asking more of me,' and he handled it.
"I just think this is the next step. He's been practicing. Tips like what Izzy gave him -- that's why it's nice when you have mentors."
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
With Jason Isringhausen out for the remainder of 2006 due to hip surgery, Adam Wainwright appears set to be the primary closer for the Cardinals. So what advice did Isringhausen give the rookie?
If you guessed it had anything to do with pitch selection or grips, you'd be wrong. It was much simpler. Isringhausen basically reminded Wainwright to take a breath every now and then.
"There was definitely some intensity there that's not in other situations," Wainwright said Wednesday night after recording the second save of his career. "But for the most part, if I'm pitching like I should be, and doing what Izzy was telling me to do -- step back and breathe, the same thing [Braden] Looper was telling me -- it's the same. It is what you make of it."
Isringhausen spoke like a proud parent after Wainwright nailed down Wednesday's win.
"He did awesome," said Isringhausen, the Cardinals' career leader in saves. "It was awesome to watch. He did a great job of backing off the mound, taking a deep breath when he needed to.
"It's amazing. He's a rookie, but he can do it. He doesn't have enough experience to know what's going on."
Wainwright blitzed through the first two hitters with strikeouts before allowing a double. He ended the game with a grounder to second, making for a relatively uneventful save by Cardinals standards this season.
"One reason that we have positive expectations for him is that he worked himself into a clutch role in that bullpen even though it wasn't the ninth inning," said manager Tony La Russa. "And he did it through the quality of his work. Every time he advanced to more important responsibilities, he faced that same kind of, 'Oh man, they're asking more of me,' and he handled it.
"I just think this is the next step. He's been practicing. Tips like what Izzy gave him -- that's why it's nice when you have mentors."