Another Stellar Izzy Outing

What's left to say?

Jason Isringhausen did it again.  For the third time this week, he took victory and turned it into defeat.  He has more blown saves (3) in May than saves (2).  His ERA is approaching 7.50.  How long will this go on?

Numerous comparisons are being made between this year and 2006, when he struggled for so long before his hip injury was finally diagnosed.  But on May 9, 2006, his ERA stood at 4.77 and he only had two blown saves.  He blew four in June on his way to 10 on the season.

Tonight's was particularly galling, when you note that he came in and had two outs before he threw his third pitch.  Then a single by J.J. Hardy, hitting .235 on the season.  A single by Gabe Kapler, a .279 hitter.  A walk to Jason Kendall, who was 3 for his last 16 and was 2 for 17 lifetime against Izzy.  After that, it was almost a fait accompli that he was either going to walk Rickie Weeks to force in a run or give up a hit to lose the game, and he did the latter.

If Izzy's smart, he'll avoid the game threads tonight, because there's a lot of skewering going on.

The problem is, there's a lot less of statistical backing to defend Izzy with now.  The post by Larry at VEB earlier this week really opened my eyes up.  I was hoping it was just a slump, but when you look at the data, it seems to be much more than that.  He's not getting the ball past people.  You need that in your closer, because otherwise swings become hits become losses.

He's given up 5 earned runs in 3.2 innings in May.  It's not getting better, it's getting worse.  Which is sad when you consider his April ERA was 6.00.  And while ERA doesn't tell the whole story most of the time, it's a pretty telling stat when your closer has one in this area.  And he started the year with seven scoreless innings!

With the Cubs winning today and with the Cardinals facing Ben Sheets tomorrow, they really needed this game.  And they should have had it as well.

There's a good bit of blame to go around, though.  The Cardinals only managed three runs, including two in a bases-loaded, no out situation.  Getting two was good, but there will still no outs after that.  A solid hit would have broken the game open, but instead it was a liner that doubled off Izturis and that was pretty much that.  The Cardinals have done a great job lately of jumping on the opposing team early.  What they've not figured out is how to keep building, to be able to score in the middle and late innings.

I think the Hero status should go to Albert Pujols, though.  That was a monster home run as part of his 2-3, one walk night.  37 straight games reaching base is a nice marker.  If he can get a couple more, it'll be the second-longest streak in the last few years.

Today (assuming you are not going to read this in the few minutes between now and midnight) the Cardinals have to come back and try to end their longest losing streak of the season against a pitcher that's as good as almost any out there.  Ben Sheets has a nice 4-0 record and a 2.29 ERA.  It's going to be a tall task.

In the past, though, the Cardinals have hit Sheets very well.  Pujols has a .403 average in 65 AB against him, with 4 home runs.  Chris Duncan should get off the bench, as he's got a couple of homers against Sheets as well.  Izturis might get the day off, though, with his 2-22 mark.  Since 2005, Sheets is 1-6 with an ERA over 4 against the Redbirds, according to the research I did for the CCH series preview.

Joel Pineiro goes for the Cardinals.  Only Jason Kendall has really seen him a lot, and he's only had minor success.  On paper, you'd think the Brewers would be heavy favorites, but if some personal histories hold up, this could be a closer game than you'd think.

The only question will be, who will close it out for St. Louis if it is?


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