GRAND CENTER — Bunkered in here at Channel 9’s studios, just a Jim Hayes’ Frisbee throw from the grand Fox Theater, and ready to see No. 2 hitter Yadier Molina step in against his favorite pitcher to see at his favorite away ballpark to hit.
And already Max Leinwand has brought up a question to wonder:
Who is the emergency catcher on this year’s team?
Molina grounds out while Max is asking. So, As Rick Ankiel goes deep — clogging up the basepaths, eh? — for another home run off Dave Bush, here are the first round of questions:
Q: Unfortunately, an Jason Isringhausen question. … Izzy IS a good guy! However … a HUGE QUESTION, please! Does Izzy any longer have a 4th pitch?
1) Curveball - saved as an “out” pitch, but Izzy isn’t getting to a “curveball count” too often these days.
2) Fastball - “okay” speed still, but UP. What happened to Izzy’s SINKING fastball?
3) Slider - ain’t workin’. Under repair at the moment.
Did Izzy give up on his split-fingered pitch? Did he lose control of it, or what? Izzy needs something that SINKS … that he can control within the strike zone. Where’s the sinker (easier to control) or split-finger? Izzy’s stuff is no longer all that exciting, and his “arsenal” is just not that extensive.
– Roger Schutt, Grass Valley, Calif.
DG: This past spring training, Isringhausen spent some time with a softball wedged between his first two fingers on his right hand. Ryan Franklin showed Isringhausen the grip on a split-finger fastball and pitching coach Dave Duncan encouraged him to try it. Isringhausen thought it would be an effective alternative to his changeup, but he wasn’t comfortable enough with his command of it to bring the split into the regular season. Isringhausen’s “arsenal” is plenty expansive — fastball, cut fastball, changeup and curveball — and he has stopped throwing the curveball recently meaning his “arsenal” may be expansive but has not been exploited.
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Q: Good morning. Could you give an update on how things are going for our #1 pick in 2007, Pete Kozma? What are the realistic short-term and long-term expectations for him? Are they excited about his potential to bring an upgrade to the highly important SS spot? I appreciate your time & information greatly …
– Superdave4good, Tulsa, OK
DG: Kozma started off hot for Low-A Quad Cities, hitting .341 in April. He’s cooled in May and his average has dropped ot .293 entering play Monday. In Kozma’s early numbers for a full-season club, there are a lot to like: 11 extra-base hits, 24 strikeouts against 16 walks, and 34 runs created in 32 games. Short-term: Expect him to go through feast-famine turns at his current level and maybe earn a spot for a callup later in the year, if the Palm Beach roster opens up for him. Long-term: He’s a first-round pick taken because the Cardinals believe his glove will keep at a premium position throughout his career. The bat needs to be playable-plus, perhaps showing he could be a No. 6 in the field and a No. 2 in the lineup. An ugrade? Over whom? It’s too early to tell if Kozma will be an upgrade because we don’t really know who he’ll be pushing. Brendan Ryan? Free agent? Check back when Kozma is playing shortstop and hitting toward the top of the order in the Texas League. Say, by 2010.
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Now watching the second inning, Hayes offers this question: Why would you bunt over the guy on crutches?
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