“Close” but no “Closer”…

Last night’s ninth inning was frustrating to say the least. It seems Isringhausen has improved, for the most part, on his inability to throw strikes. It even seems that improvement may have cut down on his inability to keep the ball in the ballpark. But…he’s still very hittable. I’ve supported putting Izzy back in the closer role, mainly because we have to know what we have…a closer or a “used to be a closer.” And, to be honest, last night was not entirely Izzy’s pitching that was to blame. If he comes up with that ground ball, the game most likely ends in the ninth – but let’s not kid ourselves. If a closer puts himself in a bases loaded situation, that’s bad. I don’t care if he gets out of it or not…he has no business being in that situation anyway. It’s clear the Cardinals have to (and will) take another look at their closer situation today. So, I’ve decided to put together a few options. Take the poll on the right to let me know what you think of the possibilities below:

Currently on the MLB level roster

Jason Isringhausen    Yes, he’s still an option, albeit not a very enticing one at this point. Izzy just doesn’t have it right now, and I don’t know that he ever will again. He looks as if he’s throwing very hesitantly. His hip surgery may have been a success, but I think it’s changed how he pitches. He used to throw “all-in” and fully commit to the plate with every pitch. However, his hip difficulties have forced him into a change in delivery…perhaps out of habit in trying to protect his hip prior to the surgery or maybe out of necessity because his repaired hip just can’t take the stress any longer. Whatever it is, it’s causing him to groove the ball to hitters. He’s entirely hittable, and without a high risk (to his hip) change in delivery, I don’t think he’ll ever get back to “closer worthy” again. At this point, Izzy is a 7th or 8th inning reliever, but that’s it.

Ryan Franklin    This guy has good stuff. He’s got the right mental approach, toughness, etc. – but he just doesn’t have a dominant pitch to challenge hitters with in the ninth. That doesn’t stop him from trying, however. “Frank” has solo home run written all over half his fastballs, and that just can’t happen in the ninth inning. As a setup man in the 8th, Ryan can afford to take a few more risks…especially at home…and his use of the off-speed stuff is actually beneficial to the pending closer because of the sudden change in velocity/stuff they will be seeing in the ninth. But those luxuries do not translate well to the ninth inning. Franklin just doesn’t have the fast ball to consistently challenge hitters in the ninth inning the way he is accustomed to doing it in the 8th. And none of this even addresses the fact that Franklin himself is clearly not comfortable in the closer role. All of that said, Ryan can be a very effective pitcher in the ninth inning, but more a Trevor Hoffman style (location and off-speed pitches) than an Izzy-in-his-prime style; but if the guy pitches the ninth like an ideal setup/8th inning guy, doesn’t that mean he should be a setup/8th inning pitcher?

Russ Springer    Springer has been outstanding this year (not considering his last appearance), which is exactly why the club is hesitant to pull him from his current role – come into tough spots with runners on base and get outs. At the same time, if the guy is currently your best bullpen pitcher, doesn’t that make him the closer by TLR’s own definition? Springer could do the job…for the most part. He’s tough as they come in the ‘pen. He knows how to pitch and how to locate. His fastball isn’t dominating but it’s not meat either. He could do it. The problems? He couldn’t do it every night. Putting Springer in the closer role automatically means you will be a “closer by committee” team – at least somewhat. Russ is just old, and his body can’t take it anymore. That was clear in Sunday’s game. The guy was just worn out after being used in several consecutive days. Also, I’ve heard reports that he struggles a bit with lefties. So, putting Springer in the role means you may have to spell him a bit due to his age, and he may have to share a few ninth inning appearances with a lefty specialist. Splitting time with a lefty and another closer makes you not really the closer at all.

Kyle McClellan    K-Mac may be able to do the job. He certainly has the stuff (especially with that breaking ball), and his fastball is good enough. He’s shown unusual poise and durability in his first big league season, but that’s just it…can we really expect to catch lightening in a bottle with a rookie starter-turned-reliever-turned-closer twice in three years (e.g. Waino)? Really, I don’t have any knocks against Kyle. I think he could do it. But what about the impact on the rest of the bullpen? Isn’t the closer supposed to restore order to the bullpen – not introduce even more role confusion? If another viable option exists, K-Mac is much too valuable in his current role to risk further upsetting the bullpen by moving him into ninth inning duties.

Currently on the AAA level roster

Chris Perez    Perez, in his initial stint in the Bigs, was not up to the task of closing out MLB games. He lacked a viable second pitch and was prone to bouts of wildness at inopportune times. When he was sent down to Memphis, he was specifically instructed to work on his slider and pay no attention to the results. In his last ten games at AAA, Chris was scored on twice – once in one game and five times in another. If those are save opportunities, one could say he has two blown saves in ten opportunities…in AAA. Considering that number could double or triple against MLB hitters, I have to hope the kid’s a good listener and didn’t worry about the results. Of course, if he’s consistently throwing his slider, I have to wonder if it has actually improved at all…as is, he seems pretty hittable. Still, he could be the best option considering the above possibilities.

Jason Motte    This kid is a toss-up to me. A former catcher turned pitcher, he’s certainly lighting up the minor leagues. In his last ten games at Memphis, Motte’s numbers are impressive:  13.1 innings pitched, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 27 strikeouts, and a 0.68 ERA. However, reports suggest his fastball – while “blazing” – lacks movement and occasionally misses it’s spot. As a recent inductee to the bullpen club, he also lacks a dominant second pitch. He does possess a slider, but it is reportedly less than impressive and perhaps telegraphed. Long story short, the kid’s gonna’ get timed and pounded at this level…maybe. After all, how do you bet against a kid that throws it 96 – 98 mph? Still…without much movement, that’s good enough to get your 6 – 9 hitters out, but the top of the order is gonna’ pound you.

Currently on the AA level roster

Fernando Salas    This guy is an enigma. He has 21 saves at Springfield, was selected to this year’s Futures Game when Jaime Garcia couldn’t go (no small task), and certainly looks impressive when I watch him pitch in person. But the reality is this…no one knows what to expect from him. He seems like the Springfield Mystery Man. I don’t like the idea of bringing this guy up.

Jess Todd    I really like the idea of bringing this guy up. According to all reports, this kid has a good cutter, a good slider, and several other pitches that could be used in a ninth inning role without fear. He’s currently a starter for Springfield, but I would love to see how his “phenom-like” pitches could translate to the Big League level right now…especially in a one-time-through-the-order situation like the ninth inning. Very intriguing…not very realistic, however. But remember, teams were specifically interested in Todd at the trade deadline for a reason.

Rotation considerations

Adam Wainwright    No. This option has been talked into the ground by many, many writers/sources, so I won’t spend much time on it here. But let me say this…Waino is FAR too valuable in the rotation to move into the closer role. You don’t take an ace quality pitcher and limit his innings. What would you think if the Cubs suddenly moved Rich Harden to the closer role? Or the Brewers suddenly yanked Sheets out of the rotation and inserted him into the ninth inning? I’ll tell you what my reaction would be…Whoo Hoo! The fewer innings I have to face those guys, the better…and if they are the closer, a lead by my team means I don’t have to face them at all. The same is true of Wainwright. You want to make Brewers and Cubs fans happy? Move Waino to the closer role. Otherwise, stop going down this road and find another option.

Braden Looper    This could work, especially with how much Looper has changed his approach to pitching since becoming a starter, but I still don’t like it. He doesn’t have dominant stuff to begin with, and the possibility of him suddenly discovering it because he is moved into a role that needs it is slim to none. However, he does have the experience. He was a closer for the Mets not that long ago. But don’t forget how we got him…he wasn’t removed from the closer’s role for no reason.

Todd Wellemeyer    This idea has merit. The guy has a good fastball (velocity and movement) and a decent slider. The problem? To get that “good” velocity a quality ninth inning pitcher of his type throws, he has to sacrifice control. He can throw 95 – 97 mph consistently (with movement), but without control. To keep from walking the side, he has to cut it back to 91 – 93 mph. Still, his fastball has enough movement and “life” to get hitters out consistently even with the self-imposed decrease in velocity. Problem number 2? His slider is a toss-up. Half the time it’s on, the other half it’s not. And if he can’t rely on his slider, his fastball tends to get him in trouble. Not a good combination.

Way out there options

Rick Ankiel    Hehe…just kidding.

Wrap-up
I will say this…I would not want to be TLR, Dunc, and Mo right now. There is no clear-cut decision to be made here…but something does have to be done. And it has to be done sooner rather than later if we expect to continue contending.

A quick note on the young guys (Todd, Motte, etc.):  In a full season, these kids could become exposed (especially Motte) and timed. But we’re talking a month and a half left in the season. Most of these teams are going to see us one more time, twice at the most. Not counting the post season, I’m not sure they would see the kids enough in the ninth inning role to time them or “sit” on any one pitch. Still…counting on a “short term assignment” theory like that is a big gamble in itself.

Ah well…glad it’s not my decision…GO CARDS!!!

Will the Real St. Louis Cardinals Please Stand Up?

The eFlu sucks. And, despite their early responses, WordPress tech support has been dead in the water and useless ever since. So to hell with ‘em! We’re movin’ on…

“And Lo, though I walk through the Valley of Trade Rumors, I shall fear no MoneyBall GMs with deception in their hearts and injured pitchers on their rosters!”  – The Book of Jocketty, 15: 30

What a week. In the words of a random poster on the St. Louis Post Dispatch forums, “It doesn’t even hurt anymore.” Okay, that’s not entirely accurate…but it’s not far off. During the Lohse/Santana game, I found myself laughing at points where I would normally be creating new, inventive curse words to describe poor play. I just couldn’t help myself. It all feels like a bad dream…or perhaps some lost scene from the recent Jack Black movie Be Kind, Rewind.

Has something happened to our beloved St. Louis Cardinals? Are they secretly trapped in some Cambodian wilderness, livng off nuts and berries, carefully picking their way through guerrilla-infested jungles after a Pujols-charity-mission gone wrong? Such a calamity could certainly explain the imposters currently attempting to fake their way through MLB games on Fox Sports Midwest. Such a group seems determined to actually pass themselves off as ball-players (I’m pretty sure Mitchell Boggs is actually Jack Black with a sock-stuffed uniform…but maybe that’s just my ancient 1989 Sanyo T.V. set on the fritz again..), but alas…we are not fooled. The ruse is over.

Will the real St. Louis Cardinals please stand up?

This week, Chris Carpenter finally makes his return to the rotation. Make no mistake…this is huge. Carpenter is, in addition to Pujols, “the” significant piece of the St. Louis Cardinals’ identity. He embodies Dave Duncan’s philosophy, Tony La Russa’s work ethic, and the “Play Like a Cardinal” tenacity fans beg for from their players. True, the results this Wednesday won’t be “Carp like,” but Carpenter WILL be himself. His presence on this team will elevate the pitching staff, solidify the confidence of the position players, and re-energize a coaching staff that is at its wit’s end trying to figure out what combination of AAA pitchers can adequately fill the Cy Young void left by our Ace’s absence. The bullpen – over-worked, over-stressed, and overwhelmed – will finally be able to enter a game and face a lineup suitably lulled to sleep by the rhythmic work of an efficient, effective starter. Instead of bailing out a starter struggling against a team playing hand-ball with the outfield fence in the fifth or sixth inning, they’ll be able to enter the game with only the expectation of continuing the innings-eating pace set by the pitcher who came before them. I know…Carp won’t look like the Carp we know…but seriously…won’t ANY Carp be an upgrade from the starters we’ve seen in the past?

Adam Wainwright is also spinning good news…despite the idiocy being tossed about by some members of the front office regarding Waino as a closer. The Brewers have Sheets and C.C., the Cubs have Harden and Zambrano, Wellemeyer and Looper have been lucky to make it past the fourth or fifth inning within three runs of the lead, Joel can’t pitch his way out of a wet paper bag, Lohse just got tagged for 7 runs in 5+ innings, Carp hasn’t pitched since Opening Day of 2007 – and the front office is considering throwing Wainwright into the bullpen????!!!! Idiocy abounds in St. Louis. If Waino can’t go as a starter for the rest of this season, the season is over anyway…Adam in the bullpen will solve NOTHING. Remember, it’s not enough to make the post season – we passed the “I’m just happy to be here” mentality years ago – we have to be able to compete. With Wainwright in the pen, we can’t…we just can’t…(Need I remind you what happened when we faced Randy Johnson and Kurt Schilling in the playoffs a few years ago?).

So…let’s review thus far…the Cards are attempting to reclaim their winning identity, and the return of Carp and Waino is going to go a long way in doing that…but at least one more piece is missing. Barring a trade/call-up/new idea (I’m still intrigued by the possibility of Jess Todd as a closer ala Waino’s rookie campaign…), this team needs to resolve the closer role…and quickly. TLR believes both Franklin and Izzy are distracted by each other’s presence – Izzy because he wants the closer role and Frank because he feels like he’s taking Izzy’s spot. TLR’s answer? Frank’s the closer and he’ll just explain it to them.

????…seriously? Has he been watching the games? Okay, I know Izzy’s gotten tagged a couple times in the ninth recently…but I really believe that is a combination of bad luck and distractions. Will Izzy be a dominant closer again? No way. But he HAS to be the guy right now. We have to plug him into the role again (reference his short work of the Wright/Delgado/Beltran lineup just the other day), and then we can restore some order in the bullpen. Franklin can go back to his specialty in the 8th, K-Mac can go back to his 7th inning work, and Ron/Randy (ugh…) can again focus on lefties alone. And the best part…? Russ Springer can be used to spell Izzy in the ninth and come in when there are runners on base in a key situation. I’m telling you…Izzy may not be perfect, but he HAS to be “the guy” right now. We plug him in, and see what he’s got. If he can’t get it done…we get rid of him. Ugh…it hurts to say that…I love Izzy…but this team can no longer afford to babysit a closer that won’t be here next year…and Izzy knows it.

Would it really be that bad to say to Izzy, “Look…we love you man, but we need a dominant closer to contend…you’re just not there anymore. But, we want you to get 300, so we’ll do whatever we can to help you…trade you for nothing, accept the rest of your salary so a team will give you a shot…whatever it takes. How ’bout it? See you on Jason Isringhausen Day in ‘09?” We did Reyes a favor by sending him to Cleveland…can’t we do better for Jason?

That’s all I’ve got for today. Expect some kind of roster move involving Boggs today…we have 4 outfielders (counting Ank) but only 3 are currently playable. Boggs is going down anyway, and this team needs a fourth playable outfielder. Is it time to end Barton’s rehab assignment? Or will Nick “The Stick” get another shot at the Bigs? Too bad Rasmus is injured…this could have been “the day” – with Dunc injured and likely to get traded if the team DOES make a deal (him or Schu), Raz could very well have started his Cardinal era today…

Ah well…GO CARDS!!!

UPDATE!  Nick “The Stick” has been recalled from AAA to fill out the depleted outfield bench. Mitchell Boggs has been optioned to AAA as expected.

Bird Watching: “I didn’t know I got a ribbon!”

Ah, the innocence of inexperience. After yesterday’s win over the Phillies, Ryan Ludwick…first-time all-star outfielder for the Cardinals…was pulled aside for a quick post-game interview. When Jimmy “The Cat” Hayes asked Ludwick about getting a “ribbing” from manager Tony La Russa, the wily interviewer intentionally slurred the word to make it sound more like “ribbin” than it did “ribbing.” Ludwick’s response?

“Ribbon?! I didn’t know I got a ribbon!”

Ah, Luddy. That response has got to be number one on the David Letterman top 10 list entitled “You MIGHT be a first-time MLB All-Star if…” And the best part was the physical reaction…a quick snap of the head and a back and forth whipping motion that silently said, “Wow! Really?!”

Hehe…I love it when MLB players look like Little Leaguers..really…no sarcasm…I love it. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than watching a 30 year old man scream and jump and yell like a 12 year old. And when Ryan Ludwick was told he “got a ribbon,” you just knew he was having flashbacks from his Little League days when all the 12 year old all-star selections got to line up and receive a trophy for being named an all-star. The only thing missing for Ludwick last night? A giggling mother on one knee gleefully snapping pictures, determined not to miss a single moment of her Lil’ Luddy’s day.

That’s why I like to see players like Luddy make the All-Star team…because it means something to them. I know, I know…Albert Pujols is going to his seventh All-Star game, and he has been quoted in numerous articles saying he savors this one as much as the first…but come on…at some point, you know your reaction upon hearing you’ve made the All-Star team is naturally reduced to one word: “Cool.” And no, that’s nothing against El Hombre…I’m a huge fan of his, on and off the field…but it’s human nature. After the first few times, your experience will naturally deteriorate.

Ludwick’s experience? More than 60 text messages on his cell phone congratulating him. And, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, zero included requests for tickets. That’s impressive. And that’s the experience of a first-time all-star…dumbfounded elation. A dream realized.

You know those back-yard summer days as a 12 year old “all-star in the making” when you would swing a bat made of air and round invisible bases? You remember the crowd going wild and the announcers screaming “Kevin’s done it! Kevin’s done it! He’s won the game! Oh my goodness, he’s won the game!”?

Think back to those days for a moment…were you surrounded by sub-par players? Were you on a team made up of minor league call-ups and 40 year old has-beens? Of course not…what would be the fun in that? You were surrounded by the best of the best…Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith…or, if you didn’t grow up in Missouri…Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio…and the list goes on and on. You were surrounded by the best…because you were one of them. You belonged.

On July 15th, that experience will be Ryan Ludwick’s experience. He’s a National League All-Star. He’ll be playing in the last year of the storied Yankee Stadium. He will be joined by the best of the best: Lance Berkman, Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones, Chase Utley, Brandon Webb…and on and on. And Ryan Ludwick, for the first time, will be one of them…An All-Star…the best of the best.

And somewhere in Missouri, a 12 year old boy will be enjoying his back-yard summer as he swings a bat made of air and rounds invisible bases. The crowd’s going wild and the announcers are astounded that “Billy’s won the game! Billy’s won the game! Oh my goodness, Billy’s won the game!”…and when he plants his feet triumphantly on home plate, he will be met by the best of the best…Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman, Chase Utley, Brandon Webb…and Ryan Ludwick.

I wonder if Luddy will remember to wear his ribbon?

BIRD SEEDS

Rick Ankiel Making History…?  The last time a Cardinals team finished a season with a Home Run leader OTHER than Albert Pujols was in 2000 (Jim Edmonds hit 42)…the year before Pujols made his major league debut. Rick Ankiel now sits on number 19, one more than Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick (both All-Star selections, by the way). I’ve heard multiple Cardinals “experts” mention that Ankiel, since being called up last August, has more HRs, RBIs, and game-winning RBIs than any other Cardinal. This kid is incredible…and he’s only getting better. Keep it up, Rick.

Brendan Ryan Pressing  Here we go again. Brendan Ryan was handed a golden opportunity to excel when Cesar Izturis went down…and he blew it. I like the kid. Really. But when you are a young player trying to show the organization you’re a viable option at SS for the foreseeable future, you HAVE to grab hold of those opportunities and squeeze the life out of them. Especially when the opportunity includes a home series against the Cubs. Ryan may very well be a middle infield option over the next few years, but he needs to show more than he’s shown the last few weeks, or he ain’t gonna’ cut it.

Jason Isringhausen has GOT to be Ready  Izzy has looked good. Not perfect, but good. Franklin is losing his edge in the closer’s role. Let’s take a quick look at the stats for the months of June and July for both pitchers. 

Franklin in June – 13 app., 13.0 IP, 6 ERs, 4.15 ERA - and in July – 3 app., 2.0 IP, 2 ERs, 9.00 ERA.
Izzy in June – 7 app., 10.1 IP, 2 ERs, 1.74 ERA – and in July – 2 app., 2.0 IP, 0 ERs, 0.00 ERA. 

Franklin has done an outstanding job as a fill-in, but he’s a better setup man. As long as this team has no permanent solution at closer, the bullpen will continue to flounder. Izzy is ready. He may not be the Izzy of old, but he is our best option in the ninth right now. Plug him in there, spell him a few times with Franklin or Perez, but plug him in there. It’s time Izzy returned to the closer’s role in St. Louis so the rest of our bullpen can regain some stability.

Mark Mulder Returns  Oh boy. I watched his start in Springfield (the last one), and he pitched very effectively. He clearly labored (physically) in the final two innings, so the 4th and 5th innings of his start tonight will be key. Honestly, I don’t think anyone, including Mark, really knows what to expect from him tonight. So, our final words this week are very simple. Good luck, Mark.

UPDATE!  Dude…this is hilarious:  http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/pictures/pictures/2008/06/cooler-on-wheels/