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 are too many people wanting Wainwright to move into the closer role. We need another starter that can go long to take pressure off the bull pen. Wainwright before his injury was averaging close to 7 innings a game. Pinero and Wellemeyer have troubles going longer than 5. Looper (who is a better starter than a reliever) has troubles going more than 6. Look at Loopers last 10 outings he is averaging barely 5 innings per start! WE NEED WAINWRIGHT AS A STARTER! I would like to see McClellan or Perez get a shot. Although McClellan needs to rest, he’s shown outstanding consistancy at this level, which you need as a closer. I think when Wainwright comes back as a starter and that means a starter is removed from the rotation. Pinero whose been horrible lately should go to the bull pen. He has great movement on his pitches and maybe more effective as a long inning reliever. Wellemeyer who is a better starter because he’s found the strike zone and believes in Dunc’s strategy may be better now as a single inning reliever. He has strike out potential, as he currently leads the team in strikeouts. I also like the stuff rookie left-hander Garcia has and I like how fresh his arm is. Something needs to be done with Izzy, possibly make him a middle reliever, he didn’t do too bad at that. We are going to need playoff experience when push comes to shove in the bull pen. If we continue to throw rookies and unknown individuals into the game we will crumble down the stretch when things really matter. No matter what happens rookie or veteran I don’t think we have a logical answer to this question right now. However, as I previously stated NO ADAM WAINWRIGHT as a closer! We will see better protection if the guys are more rested in the pen. Wainwright, Lohse, and Carp will eat innings resting our pen and that will help aide in changing the pens poor performance.
On another thought quickly, if we boo anyone that comes out of our bull pen when they are in the middle of a save or any other stress filled situation, we only hurt our team as fans! If you don’t think a booing crowd doesn’t get into the pitchers head more than the batter or any thing that has occured on the field your WRONG! If you feel you have to boo do it in your head! Don’t errupt during a game at busch into a loud roar of BOO! Your only hurting your team more!
In looking at the post-Izzy options, here’s one I don’t think has been suggested: Pineiro. Now before anyone throws a handfull of Ballpark Village dirt in my direction, think about the following: A closer come in to typically get one inning of work, and does not often come in with runners already on base. If you look at Pineiro’s numbers in the first inning over his last ten starts, he’s only allowed runs in two of those ten games (7/26 - 2 runs, and 7/13 - 1 run). That would give him a first inning ERA of 2.70 (assuming all three runs were earned). Keep in mind in the first inning, he’s facing the top of the lineup. This might also be addition by subtraction - he’s been hit hard the longer he’s worked into games, so if we can capitalize on what he does well and avoid what he doesn’t do well, wouldn’t that be a win-win?
Give Perez the shot. Izzy’s been a great Cardinal and deserves to be remembered better than what his stats this year have been. Franklin deserves a medal for going out there night after night knowing that he’s not a true closer. Put him back in that 8th inning role. If Perez fails and we’re still in the race the only option left will be to put Wainright in there in the 9th inning and address this closer issue this winter.
This problem has been ignored by Mozeliak. The players and coaching staff have done a great job getting to this point. Look at our outfield - all are making between 350-900K this year and getting the job done as well as any other team. Middle infield is pot luck and performing. Starting pitching is way beyond what it should have been. Most GM’s would have considered themselves lucky to be in contention at this point and fixing the one glaring issue - An old, beat up and unproductive bullpen. Everyone reading answer this question: How would you manage the 7-9th innings. Now manage the next night giving the day before rest. Guess what - you can’t. Mozeliak went through the trade deadline looking like a rookie getting run over by the competition, or even worse looking like a vet not running out a groundball. This was his first true test of competition and he is to blame in the late innings for his lack of results. Izzy+Frank+MO = Blown Save.
The only thing worse than watching Jason Isringhausen blow another save is listening to Al Hrabosky constantly making excuses for him and infering that somehow the Cardinals owe him the opportunity of reaching 300 saves. Please… there are just not enough games left in the schedule at the current blown save to save ratio for this to happen this year. And Tony LaRussa, While I admire loyalty to a player the only explanation I can come up with for you continuing to send Jason Isringhausen to the mound is he must have pictures of you in a compromising position. Jason Isringhausen has never been a lights out closer. Your opponents probably can’t wait for the 9th inning to get back in the game. And we all know the cardinals would not have won the world series in 2006 if Mr. Isringhausen was the closer. I know this all sounds rather harsh
….BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS!
What is the Cardinals’ won-loss record in the 27 games that have been blown saves?
Has anyone considered Kyle McClellan? He throws strikes, has good velocity, and does not cave under pressure. Alternatively, bring up Perez and let him try. He can’t be any worse than what we have so far. I’d be opposed to returning Wainwright or Wellemeyer to the ‘pen. These guys have done extremely well in converting. I think there’s a risk (both physical and mental) in putting them back. H.
To the true cards fan who wrote Izzy still has what it takes to be a closer and that you have faith in him, I thought the captain of the Titanic was no longer living.