FanNation

Jason Isringhausen is out as the Cardinals closer -- at least temporarily -- and you can't help but worry about this a little bit.  You never like to see something like this happen, and with the Cards as surprising a first place team as any in baseball, it's especially troubling.  What actually worries me more is the fact that LaRussa has announced that he's going with the oft used/seldom successful "closer by committee" approach.  After the opening month, I will say that if anyone is going to make that strategy work, its LaRussa.

It does sound as if the plan is to pitch Izzy in the middle innings to allow him to regain his confidence a bit, and hopefully that does the trick and we've got a real closer again by the end of May.  Time and again, we've seen teams employ the mix and match approach and seen it fail miserably.  Guys in the bullpen seem to thrive when their roles are defined in black and white, and not knowing how to prepare day to day may take a toll on a bullpen that will be crucial to the Cardinals continued success.

Early on, it seems like it might be Ryan Franklin that will get the bulk of the work.  There has also been talk of bringing "closer of the future" Chris Perez to the majors.  Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the club give Anthony Reyes a shot at closing.  Early in the season, Isringhausen himself gave his endorsement of Reyes ability to come in out of the pen, do his job, and then forget about the result as soon as its in the books.

Reyes was sent down to get some work in as a starter, and most likely increase his trade value.  It seems to me that the big problem LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have had with Reyes is his inability (or unwillingness) to stick to the gameplan that Duncan outlines for his pitchers.  But in the 9th inning, Reyes can come in and try to blow guys away.  It's not at all dissimilar to what the Cubs are trying to do with Kerry Wood.  Step on the mound, crank it up, get guys out and the Cards win ballgames.

Doesn't look like its going to happen, but I'd like to see the team give it a try.