IZZY & Izturis

Let's start with Izzy.  His ERA is now over 7 runs per 9 innings pitched, and rising, presumably.  He was quoted after Friday Night's game as saying it is mental, not physical.  O.K., if it's mental, he should do just fine in a mop up role.  Let's experiment a little before he pitches the Cubs into 1st place in the NL Central.  “I feel great physically, I’m just struggling very badly right now", was Izzy's exact quote.

Remember 2006, when he blew 10 saves?  His ERA was 3.55, half the current era of 7.11.

Izturis left 5 men on base last night, and is batting .211.   Does he have Ozzie Smith like range out there to justify his spot in the starting lineup? pipe

Who should step in as the temporary closer?

Kyle McClellan

Ryan Franklin

Chris Perez

Ron Villone

Anthony Reyes

...Reyes WOULD have been a GREAT candidate, if he had confidence in his fastball and his location, but he walks WAY too many batters, and rarely goes after them...

My vote goes to Kyle Mcclellan - He has the hunger, the fastball, and the "stuff", I think, to step in and learn the role.

Tony Larusa - It's time to consider giving another member of the bullpen a shot at this!

I gotta agree with you pipe, Izzy is just terrible. He seems to have no confidence to throw strikes and get ahead of a hitter, and his fastball has no movement. I struggle as a cards fan to even watch him pitch, but I have felt that way for a few years. He has lost the mentality to be a solid closer, give me a guy like Wainwright, it is no coincidence that Izzy was hurt when we won the world series.

The whole Izturis situation is a mess, let him be the guy off the bench and play Ryan at short for now. Ryan is a gamer and at least he can put the ball in play. Izturis was a very good hitter before his injuries, but .211 is not acceptable unless your the best defensive ss of all time. I hate to sound negative when the cards are leading the division but how good could they really be without these two, I'm thinking good enough to win the division.

Oh yeah, and the cubbies suck. GO CARDS! 

Hear, hear, Sonny. 

I'll say it again.  Izzy will be fine.

gomotigers-

I appreciate how much faith you have in Izzy. However, all I am gonna say is that I wouldn't be so quick to hop aboard the bandwagon just yet. Yes indeed he pitched like the Izzy of old tonight. But one good outing doesn't necessarily mean that he has uprighted his ship. I would be more inclined to be more relaxed about Izzy after he pitches several more outings just like tonight. Until that time comes, if it comes at all, I will continue to sit on the edge of my seat when he comes in with a scant 2, 3, 4 or even a 5 run lead. Please don't take me wrong. I've always liked Izzy as our closer and I'm pulling for him to get save #300 as a Cardinal. But I can only wonder just how much he has left in the tank.

I hope you are right and I am wrong.

GO IZZY AND GO CARDS!!!!     68

For a closer to be effective, he must close out the game at least 90% of the time.  Generally, that means no more than 5 or 6 blown saves all year.  Izzy has three a little over 1/6 of the way into the season.  It doesn't look good.

The problem with a blown save is that it infects the team with a doom and gloom dark cloud that hangs around for several days.  I believe that we have managed to win 2 of the 3 games Izzy has blown the save, but that won't be the case all year. He's got to turn it around, more or less immediately, or he'll be replaced, I'm betting. pipe

Last nights game was the only one I've been able to watch and Izzy looked great.  I know he's been struggling and if that continues than something has to be changed.  Who replaces him?  I think Villone could probably come in to close and do a fine job.  Mclellen maybe.  Izzy may have taken a giant step last night though.  I'm curious to see how his next performance goes.  I'm hoping he's snapped out of his funk because that would make everything easier. 

Izturis is p$ssing me off and I think the kid Ryan should get a shot.  Izturis can still come off the bench though.

i agree izzy has not been the most reliable closer this year especially lately.  he has 3 blown saves and only had 2 all of last season.  I am not so sure he isnt hurt.  I believe he relies on his fastball way to much, he needs to change it up more to keep the hitters guessing. 

as far as a replacement i am not sure the entire bullpen hasnt been the greatest at times besides Flores and McClellan and franklin of late.  i think the Cardinals have been griving 2 many free passes. 

Izturis still isnt that far off and we all keep going round and round about this and i am not a big fan of izturis, but his OBP is only .009 less than Ryans .357 compared to .348 and Izturis has a higher OBP than Glaus and Molina

maybe izturis is turing it around at the plate, because in his last 5 games he is 7-19 with a .400 OBP, but your right he has has a lot LOB

I was reading through this thread looking and waiting for some one to mention izturis' OBS, and finally is see.  This guy doesn't have the best ave, but .348 OBS in the nie spot isn't bad.  My biggest problem with him is late innings.  From the 7th on he is even worse hitting a meger .174.  We could certainly use an upgrade at this position.  Look for something to be done at the deadline.

I just don't know what to say or how to solve the Izzy situation.  We really don't have anyone who can step right in.  Perez would be the best option, but you don't just bring a closer up from AAA.  It is very rare to see a guy come right up and step into the ninth.  He would have to spend some time in the 7th and 8th before being thrown into the fire.  I'm not going to give reasons why each of the other guys wouldn't work out, but the fact is the only guy mentioned in this thread that even has the stuff to do the job is Anthony Reyes and we all know his head is just not right for the job.  At this point it is Izzy or nothing, and Tony is very aware of that, so you will not see a change.  We are just going to have to take our lumps with Izzy. 

I appologize we do have a guy on our roster who can get it done.  Problem he's our best starter right now.