“Interest exists in retaining pending free-agent Jason Isringhausen after the franchise’s career saves leader required surgery earlier this month to repair a torn tendon near his right elbow.

Manager Tony La Russa and pitching Dave Duncan have broached the possibility of Perez closing in Memphis or spending next season in St. Louis in a different relief role.”

Perhaps over the weekend you missed these little nuggets being busy with, well, whatever it is you do on the weekend.

However, In Joe Strauss' article about building the bullpen for 2009, and it goes into lengths about how Dave Duncan thinks that while Perez is improving, he needs Dave Duncan Complete Home Makeover, which includes losing weight and a brand spanking new higher arm slot, all in the name of consistency.

Tell me, is this going to be the same medical staff that will deem whether or not Izzy warrants an incentive based contract for next year that was the same to deem Matt Clement ready for Opening Day, Mark Mulder only a few weeks away and saw no problems with Chris Carpenter...until he experienced more and more pain.

Pardon me if I think it would be a colossal failure on the GM's part to be 'being open-minded to doing something' in the Izzy department, as John Mozeliak said. Why is that such a collassal failure of an idea?

John tells us why:

"Given his role, what he's accomplished and what he's represented to us, we need to think about it."

Bringing back an injured closer with a bad shoulder, bad arm and bad hip because of 'what he's accomplished' smacks of 'we want to get him 300 saves'.  And as LaRussa has proven over the years, if you give him the matches he will light fire to the library if need be.

So, already on the table?  Status quo.  The failpen will be fixed by rewinding back to April 2008, sending Chris Perez to Memphis, putting Izzy back in the pen, counting on Josh Kinney to get healthy and bringing back Russ Springer.

Yikes!