GM says Cards “Can’t Just Keep Giving Games Away Like That.”
DOWNTOWN — Had one groundball turned out differently, had it not slipped through his hands as rapidly and frustratingly as the save did a few moments later, maybe the questions would have been different.
But Tuesday is another blown save for the Cardinals’ bullpen — No. 27, for those keeping score — and means another inquisition for the club’s closer, Jason Isringhausen.
Isringhausen entered his second save opportunity since returning to the role with a three-run lead and the bases empty after Andruw Jones’ solo home run to open the ninth. No need to repeat the play by play here. (Senior baseball writer Joe Strauss has it covered in the game story.) With the bases loaded, James Loney hit a dribbler down the first base line. There was a clear play at first base, but Isringhausen mishandled the ball. A run scored. The bases remained loaded. There was still one out.
That grounder goes differently, and GM John Mozeliak may not be meeting with manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan today to discuss the recurring concerns about how the Cardinals are going to close games.
Isringhausen declined to talk to the media after the 6-4 victory.
Mozeliak did. In a brief, but telling, interview — from which the end quote in Strauss’ game story came — Mozeliak said the team “can’t just keep giving games away like that.”
The transcript of his late-night Q & A with a handful of media:
Q: Mo, what was your take on what you saw in the ninth inning tonight?
Mozeliak: It was disappointing. Obviously to get a game pitched so well up until the ninth and to have the outcome go the way it did, in terms of a home run, hit, walk — it was tough. I think it’s something that Tony, Dunc and I will talk about tomorrow, strategize and see what makes the most sense. You can’t just keep giving games away like that.
We’re not in a situation where we can go out and necessarily find somebody to close. We’re very supportive of Izzy, and we’ve stood by him. but at some point we have to get some results.
Q: Would rookie Chris Perez be considered as an option?
Mozeliak: Everything is an option right now. We have to be open-minded and just try to make the best decision for this club. You look at how (Chris Carpenter) pitched today and how outstanding he was. He gave this team more than a chance to win. And it got down to the ninth and we just couldn’t put it away.
For many reasons, the ninth inning has become a quagmire for the Cardinals this season, not the least of which is the kind of games this team has been prone to play — and there’s every reason to believe will continue to play. Having a runner on base for Ryan Ludwick’s home run Tuesday night is the difference between that win and the Cardinals’ 42nd one-run ball game of the season. That leads the majors, and is already five more than the Cardinals had total last season.
The Cardinals 21 one-run wins are the fourth-most in the majors, second in the National League.
But in a tightly bunched wild card race and an NL Central division stacked with three contenders for playoff berths, the more glaring wins are the ones the Cardinals haven’t cinched of late. The most blown saves in the majors is one thing — because Ryan Franklin got tagged with a blown save Tuesday that was hardly his doing. The more telling stat is the Cardinals have now led 64 of their of their 115 games after the seventh inning.
They have lost 12 of those games.
After a game that was almost No. 13, Mozeliak said another audit is needed.
Q: Are you going to discuss (how to use the current) roster differently, or are you going to look at doing something roster-wise?
Mozeliak: I just want to listen to Tony and Dunc and hear what all of our available options are. Someone brought up Chris Perez. What may be the kind of change in strategy which might be a different formula that might work? We’re not going to be able to go out and necessarily trade for someone to be that closer. Izzy may get that opportunity. That’s for Tony and Dunc to let me know. I’m not ruling that out at all right now.
I think right now people are answering things with more emotion than real thought. It’s just something that regardless of how you look at it’s a frustrating situation when you can think of how we’ve lost a lot of these games late in the game. A lot of them come to mind. It’s unfortunate.
-30-
Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
There is no way Izzy and Franklin can be given another shot at the closing role. Perez had one really bad outing in his last 10 games in Memphis. He deserves the shot at the 9th, not the 8th so he can pretend its the 9th. I’m not saying he’ll get the job done, but he’s the only guy we haven’t tried yet. But the odds of that happening are slim.
I think there’s a better chance our closer is making a rehab “start” on Saturday.
Fantasy I know, but I had hoped the going nowhere Mariners might ship out J.J. Putz. Enough reasons I suppose that wasn’t going to happen.
Many of us have hoped that if necessary, Perez would sort of be the 1985 Todd Worrell of 2008. Still could happen, but Rolen05 has a point. If our closer is rehabbing Sat, will the starters step up and do even better, especially about getting more innings?
P.S. Does anyone think hard throwing Jason Motte has a good MLB future?
Personally, I’d rather have Wainwright return to a starting role, but what about using him as closer? Is that a valid option?
When La Russa confirmed for several of us before the game that Wainwright was headed out on a rehab assignment — he will start Saturday, somewhere — I asked him if he could also cement the role Wainwright will be returning to when he’s done on his rehab assignment.
The answer, paraphrased, was: No.
La Russa said the team “will see” what Wainwright’s strength is and, perhaps more importantly, what the team’s need is.
dg
Excuse me, I just checked and I was pining for the Putz of last year. We all have fond memories of Wainwright of 06. I doubt he wants to. I doubt management wants him to. The rotation needs him. Still, something has to be done about the nightmarish closing situation.
Thanks Derek. Good info. Goes beyond my speculative answer.
I like Wainwright as a starter, but at this point, I think he’s the best shot we have at closer.
Holy Kowabunga!!! I’m not a baseball brainiac, and I’m not cold, heartless, or fairweather. I stick by great Cards like Izzy. But for goodness sake, he has had enough chances– the magic is gone. PLEASE don’t put him in tomorrow night. I’m taking my Dad to the game, and we don’t wanna see a sad mess like that 9th. Welcome back Carp– sorry for no decision
Please, no more Izzy. He’s a nice guy, but he just doesn’t have it any more. He gets a save, not easily, but with his usual drama. Then he goes right back to what he has been doing all year. He blows a lead, in this case one that we have had the whole game. We can’t keep bringing him in and letting him give games away. It’s stupid to even consider that.
If it were up to me, I would put Wainwright in as closer and pick up Livan Hernandez on the cheap to log some innings.