Isringhausen gives up closer's job
Posted: Sunday May 11, 2008 08:38AM ET
Izzy is out. Mix-and-match is in. The Cardinals at least temporarily removed embattled Jason Isringhausen from the closer's role Saturday morning, barely 12 hours after the righthander suggested the move to preserve the bullpen's integrity as well as his own mental well-being. "It's just something that needs to be done," Isringhausen said. "It wasn't about them. It was about me."
Jason Isringhausen, AP
Comments (19)
Gagne, and now this? Ugh.
Yankee64 | 05/11/08, 08:39 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe was so stellar last year. What the hell happened?
I respect the fact that he asked to be removed. I had begun wondering when TLR would remove him.
CardsFan2 | 05/11/08, 08:43 AM
Report Offensive Commenthow can all these closers that were so great all of a sudden suck. turnbow, izzy, gagne, lidge, what happened
yankeefan21142 | 05/11/08, 11:25 AM
Report Offensive CommentIt make you appreciate Mo even more. Guys pop up and have better years here and there but none of them do it year in and year out. Eventually they get hurt or they crack from the pressure.
Justin Cyder | 05/11/08, 03:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentEh, it's just a phase. Izzy'll get through it.
Sir Sci | 05/11/08, 05:12 PM
Report Offensive CommentIt is better for him to take a break from it. Remember what happened to Brad Lidge. He has never been the same player he used to be after the Pujols walk off homer. A little time would have been good for him and it will be good for Izzy.
c note - Hancock rules | 05/11/08, 07:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhat a rough weekend in Milwaukee for closers. Rollie Fingers is probably scared to walk down the street.
Tell it like it is | 05/11/08, 09:00 PM
Report Offensive CommentThough impressive when one considers a Mariano Rivera, the fact is that closing is a vastly over-valued "skill." Great section in "Moneyball" all about it. Every player goes through slumps. The problem is that the slumps that often get overlooked in batters and starting pitchers get magnified 1000-fold when it comes to closers because their slumps almost always decide the outcome of the game in favor of the opposing team. As a result, the outside pressures from fans and media only make the problem worse and force closers into states of mental collapse. So though closers don't have any remarkably different playing ability than other pitchers, they have to be babied a bit because the position has been invented to be the most stressful job imaginable. We didn't use to have closers at all. You had a starter (who went a lot deeper into games, by the way), and then you had a few relievers who would pitch whatever innings remained (usually on their own). Granted, larger pitching staffs have become a necessity due to the offensive explosion of the last 30 years, but it just seems like a system that is designed to wear arms (and minds) out prematurely.
eightyeight | 05/11/08, 11:03 PM
Report Offensive CommentCardinals would be the best team in baseball if not for this guy, get rid of him, he's old and wasted up
catch_smiley | 05/11/08, 11:14 PM
Report Offensive CommentPoor Iz. But, he did cost two out of the last four games.
Cardinals82 | 05/11/08, 11:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment"I'm sorry - soo sorry please accept my apology" !!!
Kaycee3 | 05/12/08, 03:05 AM
Report Offensive Commentwhatever. he had some bad games. get him back in the bullpen to get his rthym back and put him back in as closer. the pitching has been so successful this year and i dont think it would be a good idea to change things up too much.
Kayakman | 05/12/08, 09:23 AM
Report Offensive CommentIzzy was overworked in the first few weeks of the season. He's already got 11 saves. After a little time to catch his breath, he'll be back closing games for the Cards. No worries.
M-a-r-s | 05/12/08, 09:51 AM
Report Offensive CommentI appreciate the way Izzy stood up and made no excuses and basically said "get me out of there, I stink"..... he feels as bad as anyone about his performance, but at least he is a stand-up guy about it. He'll come back and get it turned around
TenRingsSTL | 05/12/08, 03:14 PM
Report Offensive CommentUnfortunatly for Izzy his stuff is getting very pedestrian. His curve is still great, but he does not get a chance to throw it because his cutter and fastball are getting pounded early in the count. The starting rotation deserves to hsve a doorslammer that will not lose leads and the time to start looking is sooner not later.
Superheat | 05/12/08, 05:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentIzzy has been like a vacuum of late, only he sucks more.
Tell it like it is | 05/12/08, 09:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentLet Ankiel pitch the ninth.
maximus | 05/13/08, 02:25 AM
Report Offensive CommentLOL yeah, that's a good idea.....
TenRingsSTL | 05/13/08, 12:09 PM
Report Offensive CommentAll players experience some type of slump during the season. Izzy will right the ship and take his spot back. Now could be the time to groom someone for the closer of the future.
cardinal in columbus | 05/15/08, 09:03 AM
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