The Cardinals have Major League Baseball just where they want it. Well, not quite.
With the loss of closer Jason Isringhausen, whose degenerative hip contributed to his ineffectiveness during the season, the Redbirds have their work cut out for them. They need a closer and everyone in baseball knows it. Here are three suggestions, all of which are flawed, but here we go.
The first is obvious in using Braden Looper in the role. He has done it before in Florida and with the New York Mets.
The problem is that he was not as effective as he needed to be. Thus, the Cardinals signed him to be the set-up guy. Although Looper has responded well after offseason shoulder surgery and he has seen his record go to 9-2, one wonders what would happen when facing the likes of the Mets and there star left-handed hitters Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran.
The next suggestion would be using rookie Adam Wainwright. He has shown a lot in the set-up role this season. He has never been asked to close games with any regularity.
Running out a guy to the mound in pressure-packed situations – who may be in the starting rotation next season – is asking a lot. If he blows up and has an offseason to think about it, who knows? Had the Cardinals tried this earlier in the year with Wainwright, it might have worked. They had no reason to. They had Isringhausen and nine million reasons why they were going to use him come hell or high water. Guess what? Allow me to introduce the Cardinals to Mr. Hell and Miss Highwater.
Finally, the old “bullpen by committee.” This was a great idea a few years ago when pitchers could go beyond five innings. To have all hands on deck to close could be a great idea. One problem, though. What happens if you get in a jam early and you have to go through several relief pitchers? What happens the next night?
You cannot save anyone because in the playoffs every game counts. If you have watched Jason Marquis lately, you might need a guy warming up right after the national anthem. The other issue here would be match ups. Who does what against whom? It’s a numbers game. Hunches and luck will get you sent home sooner than one would like to think.
As the Cardinals get set for postseason play, they have their work cut out for them. Being short-handed in a couple of different areas will make this a tougher task. But this is why they play the games. Anything can happen. The one thing that has to happen for Tony La Russa is for someone to not only answer the phone in the bullpen, but to also answer the challenge of getting some people out when the game is on the line.
Rams’ offense MIA
Okay, four preseason games, two regular season games and the Rams’ offense continues to be missing in action. Coaching miscalculations, offensive line injuries, lack of a blocking scheme and guys just not being able to make it happen have slowed the offense. Plus, the Rams’ O is somewhat predictable. That’s right, predictable. A player in the NFL recently told me that it would take anywhere from two to four weeks to figure out a very primitive offense. He was wrong. It did not take that long. How a NFL team has no solution to the blitz to protect the quarterback is ridiculous. Especially when they were not trying to unveil anything in the preseason. It makes no sense why this team’s passing game lacks timing. The issue of this being new to everyone no longer works. Between the mini-camps, training camps and all of the other practices, surely this team would be sharper than they have shown. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce still have what it takes to take over a game. If you ask Steven Jackson, Steven Jackson will tell you he can make things happen on the ground. So when will this thing get turned around? Soon. It is time to quit having everyone guessing and just go out and play.
Arizona is next for the Rams and I look for both teams to go for it often. Should be fun this Sunday in the desert.