St. Louis Cardinals' Closer Controversy: Who Will Fill the Role to Finish '08?

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Wild Card despite having a closer controversy all season. Let's take a look at four names who could be the Cardinals' closer for the rest of the season.

Kyle McClellan

McClellan has had a very fine rookie season so far. He leads the majors in holds with 26 and has a 2.77 ERA. Some people have called for him to get his shot as closer, but I say keep him in middle relief.

He does a fine job with strikeouts, 49 in 61.2 innings. However, there are a few problems with McClellan. Despite the low ERA, he sports a 2-5 record, and is 1-5 in save opportunities. Another problem for him is right handed batters.

Despite being right handed himself, righties have hit .301 off of him in 136 at bats while lefties hit .189 in 95 at bats. As a closer, he will face batters from both sides of the plate. And with those splits, he really can't close.

Jason Isringhausen

Isringhausen has been the Cards closer since the 2002 season. Coming into the year his job was totally safe, but with a few blowups in early May, he landed on the disabled list and lost his job.

Just last week he was handed back the job, only to lose it again a week later. His 6.28 ERA he does not seem to be getting any lower. He has a 1-5 record and is 12-for-19 in saves. He is just not getting it done this year. He is also struggling mightily against righties like McClellan, but dominating lefties. In 100 ABs this year righties are hitting .310, while lefties are hitting .173 in 52 ABs. He is having a career worst season and Tuesday nights blow up is just the latest example of why he cannot close anymore.

Ryan Franklin

Franklin was already one of the top eighth inning men in the majors before getting a shot as closer when Izzy landed on the DL. It looked like he was the right man for the job until just a couple weeks ago.

Franklin was 14-16 in saves after being named closer (he was 0-2 in April, but was not yet named closer), but then he blew up in the Brewers series in late July. He blew two straight saves and was handed two losses in the process. He had given up at least a run in six of his last nine appearances.

He was relieved of his closer duties, and has pitched well as set up man again. It is the role that is best suited for him, and he should not leave it.

Chris Perez

Perez has been given the title "closer of the future," but that future is now. He dominated when he made his debut in mid May, as he did not give up a run in his first seven appearances.

But then he began to struggle and had an ERA of six in June and 5.06 in July. He was 0-2 in saves during those two months and was sent back to Triple-A to work on his slider.

Perez has had similar numbers against righties and lefties. Righties hit .214 in 56 at bats, while lefties have hit .265 in 34 at bats. Perez is a dominant strike out pitcher, averaging almost one per inning.

He then proved on Wednesday night that he can get the job done, getting the five out save against the Dodgers and striking out two in the process. In the ninth he was able to retire Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Russell Martin despite walking the first batter of the inning, Juan Pierre. Even before Wednesday night's outing, I felt that he deserved a shot.

If he is the closer of the future, let's give him a shot and see what he can do. I hope that he continues to close out games for the Cardinals in the coming weeks.