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« Scenarios: Bonds In The American League | Main | With Ramirez Inked, Marlins Looking At Jacque Jones »
Isringhausen Wants a Break
The Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss today reports that there is growing concern about the work of closer Jason Isringhausen, who has already blown five save chances this year. After his most recent blow-up, Izzy said he is sick of embarrassing himself and hurting the team. He suggested a meeting today with manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and general manager John Mozeliak to find at least a temporary alternative to using him in the ninth inning.
In the short term, Ryan Franklin or Randy Flores could be called on to close games for the Cards, though neither pitcher strikes out many batters. Ron Villone currently has an ERA under 1.00 and is averaging almost one strikeout per inning, but the last time he finished a season with an ERA under 4.00 was 1997. Still, he might prove a capable option while Izzy works to get his groove back.
If Isringhausen can't correct his mechanics, St. Louis could be in the market for a closer come July. Closers who could be available include George Sherrill, Matt Capps, Chad Cordero and Huston Street (who has had his own struggles of late). Joakim Soria seems a logical trade candidate, though there is talk he could be converted to a starter.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can contact him here.
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I suppose there's also the possibility of calling up Chris Perez and giving him a shot too?
Posted by: fitz | May 10, 2008 at 03:17 PM
The Royals had better not trade Soria, especially to our cross-state rivals.
Posted by: Koby | May 10, 2008 at 03:18 PM
chad cordero is only valuable in coach pitch little leagues.
Posted by: onephine | May 10, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Soria is not getting traded. No offense, but that's absurd to even bring up the possibility unless the package in return is just stupidly good.
Posted by: firesticks | May 10, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Firesticks, I couldn't agree more that Soria most likely won't be traded. But I do think the Royals should explore it, if they could get a young bat or a starter in return.
Posted by: Coley Ward | May 10, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Soria is too valuable to the Royals, either as a closer or potential starter, to give up unless we get A LOT back in return, a potential starter and big bat. And it may seem like overvaluing, but I think a lot of Royals fans will share the sentiment.
Posted by: Koby | May 10, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Soria is incredibly cheap too. He'll be very expensive to pry away.
Posted by: Victor | May 10, 2008 at 04:48 PM
"Firesticks, I couldn't agree more that Soria most likely won't be traded. But I do think the Royals should explore it, if they could get a young bat or a starter in return."
Since the Royals have at least considered moving Soria to the rotation, I don't think trading him for a SP prospect makes much sense. As for a young bat, you'd have to be talking a top tier hitter, which more than almost any team is going to part with for a closer. I think the Royals are better off keeping Soria and transitioning him to the rotation either late this year or early next year. That gives them time to see if Nunez or Ramirez can close games out. Working Soria in as the 5th starter next(easy to skip over and keep innings down) would help the Royals end up with a dominating rotation by 2010-Grienke/Meche/Bannister/Soria/Hochevar.
I'd actually expect a contract extension offer to Soria long before any trade explorations.
Posted by: gatling | May 10, 2008 at 05:11 PM
The answer to the Cardinals problem lies within, and his name is Chris Perez. #42 overall pick of 2006 draft, BA top 100 prospect, 2007 numbers of 2-1 2.96 ERA and 35 SV. So far this year in AAA he is 1-1, 2.16 ERA 8 SV and 21 K's in 16 innings. Bring this guy up, cherry pick his opportunites working his way up from middle relief, to set-up and to eventually closer.
If the Cards trade for anything, it should be another power bat or starting pitcher, not a reliever.
Posted by: forlife61 | May 10, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Are the Cards even seriously considering calling up Chris Perez at this point? Haven't even seen a single mention of him in the St. Louis media today.
He's been pretty unhittable lately, after a bit of a slow start. He's supposedly the successor to Izzy, so why not give him a shot?
Posted by: Sunny Reiser | May 10, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Randy Flores was never in contention for the closer job. Anyhow, this has been solved already. The closer job will be split between Franklin and Springer, and occasionally someone else when needed. In other words, LaRussa is even platooning the closer position.
Perez won't be handed the closer job without ever throwing a major league pitch, so I don't know why people keep wanting that. Remember, Anthony Reyes was dominant in AAA too before coming up, and we all know where that went. I do want to see Perez, but it's not going to be now.
As for as the Cards being in the market, that's pure speculation at this point.
Posted by: octoberredbirds | May 10, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Regarding Soria, I think it's true that it wouldn't make much sense to trade him for a starting pitcher, unless the Royals determine that he is going to be strictly a bullpen guy.
I'm curious to see how Soria handles starting, if he gets a chance. When he came up he was projected as a number three starter. Now the thinking is he could be even better than that. Will he be a guy lik John Smoltz, who capably handles both starting and closing? Or will he be more like Brett Myers (who is killing my fantasy team, fyi)?
Posted by: Coley Ward | May 10, 2008 at 10:14 PM
"Huston Street (who has had his own struggles of late)."
Huh?
Posted by: GaryW | May 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Coley, if Soria can match Myers production Dayton Moore would jump out of his shoes. It would make him the second best SP on the Royals.
Realistically, both Smoltz and Myers probably aren't the best comparisons as they both were SPs who became CL. The number of CLs who became SPs, good or bad, is nearly 0. I can't think of any, though I may be forgetting the guy who did it.
Posted by: benjoua | May 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM
This being only temporary, the Cards will not move to bring up Perez. You'll see him this fall, more than likely, and then next year if he does well.
Posted by: 99Perfectos | May 11, 2008 at 07:07 AM
I'll put the Cards odds at trading for a closer at 0%. In fact, I'm shocked that the author of the post didn't even mention Chris Perez. Why trade prospects when the Cards have been grooming this kid as the future closer. I predict a call-up in a couple weeks, a month of middle relief/setup, and depending on the performance of he and others, he should be closing by September.
Posted by: deeco3307 | May 11, 2008 at 07:41 AM