The Izzynator Cometh?
JUPITER, FLA — While the Cardinals play down its potential, free agent closer Jason Isringhausen insists he remains interested in returning to the club as a non-roster invite this spring.
On his way back to his Tampa home after a weekend spectating at the Daytona 500, Isringhausen insists he has fully recovered from September surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon and is willing to compete for a role other than closer.
“I don’t mind working with those young kids there, especially (Jason Motte and Chris Perez). I don’t mind helping ‘em. I really believe it could work for everybody,” Isringhausen said.
Isringhausen, 36, stands at 293 career saves, including a franchise record 217 in seven seasons with the Cardinals. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers also have expressed interest in bringing him into camp to audition for middle or set-up relief.
Isringhausen is coming off a disastrous season in which he converted only 12 of 19 save chances and twice lost the closer role.
“I know last year was a terrible year at a terrible time for my career,” Isringhausen said. “But I don’t need money. I need to get back pitching again and figure out if I can still get major-league hitters out. To me, that means getting into camp and making somebody’s team.”
Last year’s problems at times brought Isringhausen into conflict with manager Tony La Russa, who referred Monday to “complications’ associated with bringing him into camp.
“I don’t have a problem with Tony. I don’t know if he had a problem with me,” Isringhausen said. “We had our shouting matches. That’s the way things go. I talked to him about it. And he’s talked to me. I have a lot of respect for him. We had seven pretty good years together.”
(11 votes, average: 4.55 out of 5)
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Honestly, I think it might be a good idea to bring him in on a strictly incentive based contract to help Motte and Perez move into the role of closer and Izzy attempting to make the team. He and the FO know that if he doesn’t play like he’s capable, he doesn’t make the team and we are stuck with very little salary.
If we are willing to take on 4 million from Kennedy to sit tight, why can’t we risk the league minimum plus incentives for Izzy to compete for a spot? It’s not like he is unwilling to compete even for a spot on the team…
Izzy had his time and now its our time to move on. I understand his desire to get those last 7 games, but it needs to be for someone else. He has such a problem coming clean when he’s hurt that it’s hard to want to take a chance on him again. We need to let the kids take their turn. They will get it done and have plenty of veteran support in the bullpen to help them without Izzy being one of them.
Bring him in MO!
This guy is done. Please do us a favor and not even consider this option!
Why? Hasn’t Izzy put us through enough?
I’d rather see “Oil Can” Boyd given a chance to make the roster than Izzy.
Don’t do it MO.
Manny would make more sense than Izzy…
MO - quick change your cell# & wear a groucho marx disguise.
Izzy & his agent will never find you….
Puhhlease.. for the LOVE of Cardinal Nation… don’t let the Name IZZY cross your lips… NO NO NO NO NO WAY!
Maybe it was his physical health. He does have quite a number of saves for the Cards. And if he has still got, we need it. (Although his saves always did scare me…he always seemed to load the bases before striking out the side.) Hell, give him a 6 week contract for about $750k. If he can be a productive closer, sign him for the rest of the season for about $3M. If not, cut him loose. At that price, it is not too much of a risk.
No Thanks! Izzy don’t go away mad, just go away! I have seen enough of your smokin 82 mph fastball. It is time to ride off into the sunset. I feel like we have enough pitchers that will have a hard time getting people out. We don’t need you.
While bringing Izzy in as a non-roster invite has potential positives, the negatives would probably far outweigh them. Realistically, Izzy needs a fresh start with a new team where there is no history and no expectations. Having Izzy there vying for a job could potentially create an uncomfortable situation for the young guys trying to find their place, and even if Izzy himself truly had no expectations to make the team, it would still be difficult for others to believe that. Izzy is the all-time saves leader for the franchise and that commands a certain amount of respect, and maybe even deference, from youngsters coming up. It is that reality, imo, that could make his being in camp uncomfortable for all concerned, except maybe Izzy himself. Clearly, he had expectations to return to the closer role, or at least to pitch more last year if he and TLR were going head-to-head then. And who knows how TLR’s sense of loyalty might affect his decisions, esp. since he is not crazy about the idea of the youngsters closing.
Isringhausen had 272 saves from the year 2000 to 2007. Thats an average of 34 saves a year. He has one bad year and people give up on him. Whats the complication? Bring him in, let him compete and see what happens. I would rather have someone that wants to play. Complication? How is it complicated. Let him tryout for the team. Otherwise he will be playing for another team and saving games for them. Wow sounds complicated.
Yea, Oil Can Boyd is looking for work too!