What if Izzy doesn't pitch...

Below is from Rick Wilton of Hardball Times.  If he's right, it requires a complete rethink of the offseason priorities. I, for one, would much rather see Wainwright starting than closing -- he gets more innings that way and can better take advantage of his assortment of pitches.

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St. Louis Cardinals closer ,Jason Isringhausen, has about three weeks left in his major league career. Izzy is leading the National League in blown saves and now we know why. He has an arthritic left hip that is in much worse condition than what was known by the public.

Isringhausen has inflammation in his hip along with an overall degrading of the hip joint, to the point that lubrication injections and every conceivable non-invasive type were used to help improve his hip malady. Some work, but only in the short term. Think of it as a band-aid approach to get him through the season.

Isringhausen is scheduled to get a cortisone injection and not pitch for about a week. The hope is the inflammation will quiet down enough for him to pitch the last couple of weeks of the season, and if the Cardinals are lucky, into the postseason.

Because the hip is unstable and Isringhausen struggles with mobility, the future is bleak. If there was a treatment that would mask or allow him to pitch more effectively, the Cardinals medical staff has likely tried it or considered it. The likely scenario after the season is for Isringhausen to visit a collection of specialists then have hip surgery to help ease the pain. He's likely to have the joint shaved, and it's believed he can lead a normal non-baseball life.

It has been a terrific career but sadly, Isringhausen is facing near impossible odds to pitch in the majors after this season.