The "Official" Cardinals Discussion Thread.

[BigRedChief]

Figured that if we had one thread to discuss Cardinals "stuff" it would be easier to find. What do you think? Good idea?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by PGM

But how many of those teams won one with a POS like Jeff Weaver pitching out of his mind Just plain wierd, but I'll take it.

It's not a fluke when it keeps happening year after year. Theres a reason and its called Duncan.

[BigRedChief]

All-time Cardinals saves leader Jason Isringhausen walked away from the club Tuesday with what is believed to be a career-threatening torn flexor muscle near his right elbow.

Team medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta confirmed the finding to general manager John Mozeliak Tuesday night after reading the results from a magnetic resonance imaging of the elbow, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Brighton, Ill., native knew enough about his condition before leaving Busch Stadium early Tuesday afternoon to inform some club personnel, "I’m done."

The tear is located to the inside of Isringhausen’s elbow, according to sources familiar with Paletta’s finding, and causes him problems gripping the ball and flexing his wrist. Rest was prescribed but surgery could eventually become necessary should Isringhausen want to extend his career.

The injury apparently ends the tenure of one of the Cardinals’ most productive free agent signings and a core contributor to one of the most successful runs in recent franchise history.

Paletta examined the elbow during the club’s recent three-game series in Chicago and Isringhausen began receiving treatment. The reliever complained to several teammates of tenderness in the region after his last appearance, a one-inning outing in Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

"The last time he pitched, I could tell he was doing a lot of elbow-twisting out there, the kind of movement you recognize as someone trying to shake it off," said fellow reliever Russ Springer. "I knew he might have something going on in there, which is a shame because he was starting to throw the ball pretty decent."

Isringhausen endured shoulder and hip surgeries in seven seasons with the club but endured to convert 217 of his career 293 saves for his hometown team.

Manager Tony La Russa said he did not believe Isringhausen’s injury was career threatening; however, Isringhausen turns 37 next month and suggested to several team members Tuesday that he may be through coming back from such problems.

Among a lengthy list of repairs, Isringhausen required elbow ligament transplant surgery in January 1998. The club said in a release the current condition is related to tendon rather than ligament.

La Russa met with Isringhausen Tuesday afternoon but emerged unsure how long his former closer might have pitched with the condition.
"You can’t stress enough how that the hero stuff sometimes works in war but it doesn’t work here," La Russa said. "I didn’t get a real good, accurate [read] when he started feeling this. I don’t know."

The Cardinals will place Isringhausen on the disabled list today for the second time this season and for the fourth time during his tenure with the team. This season’s first stint followed a May incident in which he landed an open-handed punch against a clubhouse television following a blown save in Milwaukee.

It is unclear when the muscle tear was first diagnosed; however, club sources indicated Isringhausen might have pitched with discomfort for some time.

The weak grip and wrist problems are consistent with what some of the issues that contributed to Isringhausen’s abrupt loss of form that contributed to his landing on the disabled list May 16.

"There are a lot of times media and the fans don’t know, and they can’t know the real things going on with the players," said Adam Wainwright, who claimed no prior knowledge of Isringhausen’s problem. "I think he was just trying to battle through and give his team all he can."

After missing a month, Isringhausen was reactivated into a middle-relief role. He secured his final save Aug. 1 in a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies that came during a weeklong second chance as closer. A difficult Aug. 5 outing moved La Russa to return him to a middle-long relief role.
Isringhausen appeared only twice after striking out three in a two-inning outing Aug. 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw a scoreless inning against the Florida Marlins last Tuesday and, in what could be his final career outing, earned a hold in Cincinnati Saturday.

Isringhausen was 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 42 appearances this season, leaving him 45-49 with a 3.61ERA in 612 career games. He stands tied for 162nd place on the all-time appearance list with Jerry Koosman.

Isringhausen’s absence Tuesday went largely unnoticed as attention focused on the possible return of starting pitchers Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter from the disabled list. Isringhausen approached several fellow relievers before leaving but others were surprised to learn he had left the ballpark before the start of pre-game stretching.
"It’s tough to see his time here, and possibly his career, be up like this," Springer said. "You like to see him be able to throw the ball the way he’d like to throw it.

"Izzy’s a proud guy. He wanted to pitch better than this in front of these fans. I know it bothered him every time they booed him. I just wish he could have finished strong in front of the home fans and end up the way he wanted."

The Cardinals signed Isringhausen on Dec. 11, 2001 to a lesser deal than one offered by the Texas Rangers. He averaged 34 saves the next six seasons, including a career-high 47 in 2004 when the franchise reached its first World Series in 17 years.

A degenerative left hip condition forced Isringhausen to undergo two procedures, the most recent in September 2006 forced him to miss the team’s unlikely run to a world championship. He returned last season to convert 32 of 34 save chances, the game’s second-best success rate.
"He did a lot of great things here that he should be proud of," Mozeliak said.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

RIP Izzy

[BigRedChief]

WAINWRIGHT TO START

Adam Wainwright will return to a starting role, but La Russa stopped short of saying Wainwright will return to the starting rotation. Wainwright is scheduled to start Friday against Atlanta, his first appearance since injuring his right middle finger June 7 at Houston.

"He's an important guy to our staff, and we've missed him," La Russa said. "He's going to pitch that day. We're going to play it by ear and go from there."

Joel Piñeiro, who would have been on turn for Friday's start, will "back up" Wainwright, La Russa said. Wainwright threw 64 pitches in his rehab start Saturday for Class AA Springfield, and he expects to be ready to throw at least that many Friday. The Cardinals had been prepping Wainwright as a starter but also considered moving him into the bullpen as the team's closer. La Russa did not deflate the possibility that Wainwright could still be moved into the bullpen, saying Friday's start is just that — a start Friday.

Still, the schedule allows the Cardinals to start Wainwright on Friday and have him come back, on turn, to face Milwaukee at the end of this home stand.

"I feel where my long-term value is is as a starter," Wainwright said. "It doesn't matter what I do now. Whatever the team needs. ... (Friday) is a start. It at least allows me to prepare as a starter for now."

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by PGM

RIP Izzy

RIP Izzy great career....

time for Garcia to step up his A game.

[BigRedChief]

ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright is a starter again. For now.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa made the announcement on Wednesday that Wainwright will start on Friday against the Braves. Wainwright threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and pronounced himself fully ready to take on Major League hitters. After Wainwright met with La Russa, the decision was made to get him going in the rotation.

The Cards will go with a piggyback approach on Friday, as Wainwright gradually builds toward a normal pitch count and starter's stamina following his right middle finger sprain. Joel Pineiro will be on call to pick up Wainwright.

With right-hander Chris Carpenter (out with a shoulder strain) working his way back at a cautious pace, Wainwright's role as a starter isn't etched in stone. If Carpenter eventually returns to the rotation, Wainwright could be asked to work in late relief, to which he said he'd do what's necessary to make any adjustment that will best serve the club.

"You'd like to commit to one of them [starting or relieving] in your head as soon as possible," Wainwright said.

The immediate challenge will be to give the Cardinals a solid start in the opener of the Atlanta series.

After some conversations with La Russa, Wainwright has made clear he understands the big picture. A healthy Carpenter in the rotation at some point might mean Wainwright's greatest value in the final month or so could be as a closer.

"[La Russa] has let me know this is a one-start-at a-time thing right now," Wainwright said.

"Friday is all I can really think about. I'm getting ready to start on Friday and then we'll go from there. I expect to go out and compete and do very well. I'm snapping the ball as hard or harder than I have all year."
Wainwright will be making his 14th start, and his first since June 7. "There has been no definite determination of what Adam's role is, except that he's due to pitch Friday," La Russa said. "We'll get him back out there in a Major League situation, give him some work and evaluate where he is. Get him ready to go, and then see where he fits in the best."

[bango]

The Fredbirds are going to lose the next two games on their schedule. The Brew Crew should have brought their brooms for this series. Get ready to see the Wild Card Dreams and the Playoffs Hopes ride off into the sunset for this season for the Cards.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by bango

The Fredbirds are going to lose the next two games on their schedule. The Brew Crew should have brought their brooms for this series. Get ready to see the Wild Card Dreams and the Playoffs Hopes ride off into the sunset for this season for the Cards.

Maybe you could explian to us how it feels, you ought to be used to it by now.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

Maybe you could explian to us how it feels, you ought to be used to it by now.

yeah. The true blew Brew Crew....
they are ALL IN. trying to recover from 1982......

good luck you'll need it.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

2-0 Milwaukee. This is a key series.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by PGM

2-0 Milwaukee. This is a key series.

Major fold in Sept is what's needed by BrewCrew and this could be good, I just think were too little too late.... but they counted us out in 2006

[smittysbar]

WTF it was 5-0 in the 8th, I left came back, top of the 9th 12-0. I swear...LOUDLY

[bango]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

Maybe you could explian to us how it feels, you ought to be used to it by now.

One down, one to go.

[The Rick]

Good game, guys. That's all I'll say.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by bango

One down, one to go.

I wasn't talking about the series......