Dear Jason Isringhausen: Enough is Enough Already

Dear Mr. Isringhausen:

I know your manager Tony LaRussa has not been making the most wise decisions as of late, but when he decides to put you in just two nights removed from a walk-off blown save, can't you at least redeem yourself?

Yeah, Jason, bubble in "No" for that question. Another deflating loss, this time 4-3 at the hands of the Brewers. When are you going to stop this madness? As a dedicated Cardinals fan, I realize it is only May, and therefore you have a lot of time to regain your composure, but man, this must be a downer.

Get your confidence back up, please. Right now, you are simply letting the starting pitchers know that any lead they turn over to you is not safe. First it was Adam's seven IP scoreless gem, now Todd's six IP scoreless?

How many more no-decisions are you going to allow our starters to get before you get a save? Sure, you grabbed a couple saves in the first two games of the Rockies series, but otherwise the road has been filled with bumps, in the form of several blown saves and three losses to your credit.

After your fifth blown save, and a skyrocketing ERA now approaching 7.50, my faith in you as our closer is running low. I'm banking that you return to your 2007 form, rather than that of 2006. Last year, I saw you go undefeated, with an ERA under 2.50. That's one hell of a rebound from 4-8 in '06.

The one guy you need to sit down and have a LONG talk with is pitching coach Dave Duncan. He has worked marvels with many pitchers, and surely he has to have some advice for a struggling former star.

Please Jason, our lead in the Central is now a mere one game. With the Cubs playing the Diamondbacks, conventional wisdom would say we would gain a couple games. 

Tomorrow is looking bleak with ace Ben Sheets taking the mound, but hopefully Joel can steal a win and get us back on our winning ways.

Keep your head up, Jason. We will need you for the rest of the season. But something has got to change.   

Sincerely,

Ben Weixlmann