2008 Woodie Awards
Cards closer set for 300
R.B. Fallstrom (AP)
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Getting to the point where the countdown to 300 saves could begin was quite an ordeal for St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen.
Isringhausen earned No. 290 with a perfect ninth inning on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds. He's tied for the National League lead with nine saves in 11 chances.
But there was no missing the sense of tension, even with a three-run lead, before first baseman Albert Pujols hauled in Ryan Freel's foul popup for the final out of a 5-2 victory.
"Yeah, it was a little nerve-wracking going out there," Isringhausen said. "Once you get out there and you get that scoreless inning, it helps things out a little bit. It's a lot easier to clear your head."
Isringhausen's bloated 6.00 ERA is a better indicator of his early-season results. Lately he's been anything but reliable, with two blown saves and a loss in his previous six appearances. He allowed runs in four of the games.
Manager Tony La Russa never wavered in his support of Isringhausen, coming off perhaps his best year. Isringhausen was 32-for-34 last year, making a full recovery from hip surgery that sidelined him for the team's run to the 2006 World Series title.
The 35-year-old right-hander has saved 30 or more games in all but one of his six full seasons in with the Cardinals, is their franchise career leader with 214 and is poised to become the 22nd member of the 300-club. There are seven active 300-plus save closers: Trevor Hoffman (528), Mariano Rivera (451), Billy Wagner (364), Troy Percival (329), Roberto Hernandez (326), Jose Mesa (321) and Todd Jones (306).
La Russa knows how tough that job can be. He's often said he'd begin building a team by first choosing a closer.
"I just have so much respect for how difficult it is to get those last outs," La Russa said. "I don't think he's ever gotten beat up. He's like our club, he's one of the guys that's been consistently outstanding."
Isringhausen knows better.
Isringhausen earned No. 290 with a perfect ninth inning on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds. He's tied for the National League lead with nine saves in 11 chances.
But there was no missing the sense of tension, even with a three-run lead, before first baseman Albert Pujols hauled in Ryan Freel's foul popup for the final out of a 5-2 victory.
"Yeah, it was a little nerve-wracking going out there," Isringhausen said. "Once you get out there and you get that scoreless inning, it helps things out a little bit. It's a lot easier to clear your head."
Isringhausen's bloated 6.00 ERA is a better indicator of his early-season results. Lately he's been anything but reliable, with two blown saves and a loss in his previous six appearances. He allowed runs in four of the games.
Manager Tony La Russa never wavered in his support of Isringhausen, coming off perhaps his best year. Isringhausen was 32-for-34 last year, making a full recovery from hip surgery that sidelined him for the team's run to the 2006 World Series title.
The 35-year-old right-hander has saved 30 or more games in all but one of his six full seasons in with the Cardinals, is their franchise career leader with 214 and is poised to become the 22nd member of the 300-club. There are seven active 300-plus save closers: Trevor Hoffman (528), Mariano Rivera (451), Billy Wagner (364), Troy Percival (329), Roberto Hernandez (326), Jose Mesa (321) and Todd Jones (306).
La Russa knows how tough that job can be. He's often said he'd begin building a team by first choosing a closer.
"I just have so much respect for how difficult it is to get those last outs," La Russa said. "I don't think he's ever gotten beat up. He's like our club, he's one of the guys that's been consistently outstanding."
Isringhausen knows better.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Kris
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:56 AM CST
I don't know about anybody else but I am AMAZED that the Cards are doing as well as they are. I think this week-end will tell because they are playing the Cubs, and they look great this season. (Continued…)
David
posted 5/02/08 @ 3:23 PM CST
I too am amazed at the great start the Cards have had so far. Every baseball analyst was predicting the Cardinals to be last to next to last place this year, and so far it really does not seem to be that way. (Continued…)
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