Game 138 postgame vent thread

PS:
Here I was being ostracized for questioning Izzy.  Hate to say I told you so, but....

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/comments/2006/8/10/14255/3124/157#157

it was clear after two batters today that he had zero command. so from now on, he should no longer have the benefit of the doubt; he doesn't get 6 batters to work things out.

11 came with a 1-run lead.
11 came with a 2-run lead.
11 came with a 3-run lead.

his problem is that he is maddeningly inconsistent. and the last place a maddeningly inconsistent pitcher should be is in the 9th.

i'm really torn. if Izzy's right, he's the Cards best option. but he's not right. so do you keep running him out there and hope it clicks at some point? this team will not be successful in October without him - probably not even with him - so i think you might just have to stick with him and pray for the best.

i like having Wainwright available for situational relief - coming in with a guy or two on when you need a strikeout. if Wainwright closes then you have no one who can bail you out of a 6-7-8 inning jam. Looper is no better than Izzy, in my view. and Sosa has been horrible as a closer earlier this season.

another hole, with no viable way to patch it.

One there are way to many "automatic" outs in this line up. Ronnie, Yadda, So, Miles. Eventhough Yadda went deep today, he is still having a bad year. Sad thing is Ronnie was brought in because he COULD HIT. Now, who knows whats wrong. The fact that So keeps getting at bats is so fustrating. No pun intended. With so many auto outs, or offense just cant be expected to out hit every team like they have in the past.

Two, IZZY just needs to be replaced with LOOP. I hate to say it since I am such a big fan. But clearly he cant be counted on when we need him most. Its pretty sad that now when he comes in, we all expect bad things. Just like when Jason Marquis pitches. Its sad because he used to be a shut down guy. Now he is not. I know everyone is upset at IZZY. But he is just as mad at himself for letting the team and us down. Got to give him that. When he blows it, he always takes the blame. If LOOP can close in New York with a bad shoulder, he can close for us. If we are going to get deep into the playoffs, which lets all face it, this year its going to be very very hard. We need a reliable closer. And right now, its NOT IZZY. Bring in LOOP. He is the best chance we got. I like Adam, but I still think he does not have the experince to close. LOOP does, and I really think its time for him to start closing games.

Eather way, no world series for this years Cardinals. I think we all have known that since June. Wheather we want to admit it or not.  

His horrid save rate is just that, horrid, but he does have 33 saves meaning he CAN be a very good closer.

I don't want him in the closer role for a few games atleast, but I certainly don't think we should throw him under the bus.

Same cast of characters with some of the stuff though, so I can't say I'm suprised.  Just, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

With the winning run at 2nd base, 1 out and the bases loaded....where should Pujols have been playing?

Should he have been in 'no-doubles' defense?
Should he have been in normal defensive alignment?
Should he have been back for DP depth?
Should he have been shaded towards 2nd as he was?

Where should the first basemen be standing at that point in the game?

I'm not trying to say Pujols could have stopped ANYTHING from happening there, I just wondered everyone's opinion on it.

Izzy's left hip -- which has been problematic in the past -- is bothering him again... all the more reason why it's so strange that La Russa went back with him again today, after Izzy threw 28 pitches in the 9th inning Wednesday.

--B

There may not be a choice now...

i guess that sorta explains it. i agree with wainwright getting a shot. there's just no real argument for izzy or anyone else over him imo, other then maybe looper..maybe.  

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2260552

i know it's kind of a pipe dream, but i kind of doubt that Reyes will be starting in October. putting in him short relief would allow him to go all out for a few batters at a time, and would allow him to get by using only one or two pitches (change-up + 4-seam, w/occasional curve for effect).

won't happen. probably shouldn't. would be sort of ironic, tho.

"Braden Looper is our closer"

Somewhere Mets fans are laughing hysterically all the while crying about bad memories.

That looks like a rough game.  I'm not going to rip into Izzy esp. if he's hurting.  I'm just wondering why our medical staff continues to send injured pitchers to the mound.

Whatever...I still don't feel like we have a great option to replace Izzy.  Wainwright gets slammed by lefties .894 OPS against.  And as good as Hancock has been, he doesn't really have closer stuff, imo.

With rosters expanded, sit Izzy for a while and hope he can sort things out.  Izzy 'clicking' is still the best option at closer for this team.

from espn:
""Absolutely not," shortstop Michael Young told reporters when asked if he thought the team lacked toughness. "If anyone questioned my toughness or my ability to grind through a season, I'd have a big problem with it.

"We didn't win because we lacked toughness," Young added. "We didn't win because we got outplayed. But don't question my approach to the game. Any player that takes pride in the game would look at those comments personally."

Young's comments came after Hicks singled the shortstop out during his radio interview, saying that the All-Star Game MVP and reigning batting champ is a great player and leads by example but is "not a captain of the clubhouse kind of guy.""

Actually, I started with the line "Where have you gone Johnny Littlefield?  Card Nation turns its lonely eyes to you," but that went nowhere fast.  This is what replaced it.  Apologies in advance to Johnny, June, Roseanne, Norm, Dave and the rest of the Cash family:

I see the ninth a-comin'
Its comin' right as rain
We've only got a one run lead
So there's gonna be some pain
Cause we close with Isringhausen
Kiss that lead goodbye
We close with Isringhausen
So hang your head and cry.

When I was just a baby,
My Mama told me, "Son,
Don't put your faith in Izzy
If you're up by just one run
Cause he'll pitch to Jose Vidro
And make him look real fine
When you hear those Nat fans cheerin,
You know that lead is dyin'.

I bet there are teams relaxing
With real closers on their staffs
They've all got low blood pressure
And their close games are for laughs
But we know when Izzy's comin'
That the laugh's on us
And the other team won't stop laughin
Til we're on the bus.

Now if I owned the Card-nals,
If the Redbird pen was mine,
I'd move old Izzy's carcass
Just a little down the line
So what happened just won't happen
Like it did today,
But we'll close with Isringhausen
Til he's DFA.

I'm here all week.  Try the veal.

but now this series coming up with AZ is big especially with the stros next week...they need to at least split with Zona who will be ticked after getting no hit youd think...maybe they can get weava some runs to go with his snappa...then stros nest week..neword if clemens will be there?

So what do they do now?

Looper has closed before, but he has been brutal for the last two weeks and I have about as much confidence in his stuff as Izzy's.

Wainwright has one of the sickest curves in all of baseball. He could probably get the job done, but he isn't exactly dominant (or even good) against lefties.

Reyes would probably be the best option, but he would have to recondition his arm and Thompson would probably have to move into the rotation.

Or, they could go straight K-Rod in '02 and bring Chris Perez up from A ball. He closed games for one of the most storied college programs and has been lights out this year for The Swing. Of course, this would be the most radical move La Russa would have ever made, so it really isn't very likely.

Sooo... what to doooo?