New-look 'pen, same success expected
03/13/2006
A sign of the baseball free agency times is that a team may excel in one area and the following year may have to use much different personnel to maintain that success.
That is the case with the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals bullpen.
Last year, the Redbird relievers led the National League with a 3.17 ERA. However, with the retirement of Cal Eldred (38), the postseason Tommy John surgery of Al Reyes, the free agent departure of Julian Tavarez and the trade of Ray King to Colorado, St. Louis appeared vulnerable. This, combined with the nucleus of division rival Houston's bullpen returning intact, would perplex many organizations. Not so with the Cardinals.
"Every year, you have to retool your ballclub," commented St. Louis manager Tony La Russa. "Last year, we didn't have Steve Kline. That is where Randy Flores came in. We picked up Ricardo Rincon to go with Flores. We have two young guys, Carmen Cali and Tyler Johnson, that have Major League stuff."
La Russa expects last season's newcomers, Flores and right-hander Brad Thompson, to elevate and pitch more crucial innings.
"Thompson came in with very little experience and did an excellent job," remarked La Russa.
Jason Isringhausen shares La Russa's optimism.
"We should be right where we left off last season," said Isringhausen, who is beginning his seventh season as the Cardinals closer.
"A lot of our bullpen success comes from the quality starts by our staff," continued Isringhausen. "They made our job a lot easier. When four or five rested relievers have to get only a few outs, it puts us in a position to succeed."
La Russa plans to carry 12 pitchers for Opening Day. Expect La Russa to team with pitching coach Dave Duncan and continue the formula of combining young arms with a couple of veteran specialists, capped off by a steady dose of Isringhausen to close out games.
Rincon is another astute Walt Jocketty acquisition. He leads all Major League players, allowing only 19.2 percent of his inherited runners to score during his entire career, a statistic that has been officially recorded since 1974. Rincon is playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
"My brother, Ron, had a little time with him at Oakland last year and was very impressed with him," said Flores of Rincon. "He was very helpful to his teammates, as Ray King and Steve Kline were to me as I came up."
Braden Looper, the sometimes maligned closer for the New York Mets, returns to a right-handed setup role in which he shined for the Florida Marlins for five seasons.
"Being in this bullpen is an opportunity for me to win," said Looper. "There is a good mix of young guys and veterans."
After a rough outing Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, in which he gave up a three-run home run to Edgar Renteria, Looper assessed his performance.
"I have to get back to repeating my delivery. After pitching hurt all last year and having surgery, I am not as consistent as I need to be. However, I feel as good as I have in over a year. I feel strong."
Non-roster invitees Jeff Nelson and Alan Benes bring the experience that is a staple in Cardinals bullpens.
With 14 years of American League experience, Nelson is excited to play in the Senior Circuit. He especially relishes being in a bullpen that reminds him of his New York Yankees championship relief corps.
"It is almost like you are a rookie again," said Nelson. "There is a lot more situational play in the National League. In the AL, if the starters are strong, you could get four or five days off. Here, with pinch-hitting, you get to pitch a lot. I have always liked to work frequently."
La Russa likes the way Benes pitches out of difficult situations. He could copy the late career success his brother, Andy, had with the Cardinals.
The runner-up for the fifth starting assignment appears to fit the role of long relief specialist. Currently, a battle exists between veteran Sidney Ponson (29) and youngsters Anthony Reyes (24) and Adam Wainwright (24).
"I don't like to talk about them as relievers if they are currently starters," said La Russa. "But it is a possibility that they could be used in the bullpen."
Ponson, often criticized for his conditioning, is in great shape this spring and throwing well. Wainwright led the International League in innings pitched last year and never missed a start. Reyes is closer to being on the big league roster than at any time in his career.
"Reyes is a special talent," commented La Russa. "Wainwright has grown into a man. He has really filled out. Ponson is throwing hard and is in great shape."
If most of the expected evaluations of La Russa and Duncan are realized, Isringhausen's prediction of continued supremacy by the bullpen should come to fruition.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
A sign of the baseball free agency times is that a team may excel in one area and the following year may have to use much different personnel to maintain that success.
That is the case with the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals bullpen.
Last year, the Redbird relievers led the National League with a 3.17 ERA. However, with the retirement of Cal Eldred (38), the postseason Tommy John surgery of Al Reyes, the free agent departure of Julian Tavarez and the trade of Ray King to Colorado, St. Louis appeared vulnerable. This, combined with the nucleus of division rival Houston's bullpen returning intact, would perplex many organizations. Not so with the Cardinals.
"Every year, you have to retool your ballclub," commented St. Louis manager Tony La Russa. "Last year, we didn't have Steve Kline. That is where Randy Flores came in. We picked up Ricardo Rincon to go with Flores. We have two young guys, Carmen Cali and Tyler Johnson, that have Major League stuff."
La Russa expects last season's newcomers, Flores and right-hander Brad Thompson, to elevate and pitch more crucial innings.
"Thompson came in with very little experience and did an excellent job," remarked La Russa.
Jason Isringhausen shares La Russa's optimism.
"We should be right where we left off last season," said Isringhausen, who is beginning his seventh season as the Cardinals closer.
"A lot of our bullpen success comes from the quality starts by our staff," continued Isringhausen. "They made our job a lot easier. When four or five rested relievers have to get only a few outs, it puts us in a position to succeed."
La Russa plans to carry 12 pitchers for Opening Day. Expect La Russa to team with pitching coach Dave Duncan and continue the formula of combining young arms with a couple of veteran specialists, capped off by a steady dose of Isringhausen to close out games.
Rincon is another astute Walt Jocketty acquisition. He leads all Major League players, allowing only 19.2 percent of his inherited runners to score during his entire career, a statistic that has been officially recorded since 1974. Rincon is playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
"My brother, Ron, had a little time with him at Oakland last year and was very impressed with him," said Flores of Rincon. "He was very helpful to his teammates, as Ray King and Steve Kline were to me as I came up."
Braden Looper, the sometimes maligned closer for the New York Mets, returns to a right-handed setup role in which he shined for the Florida Marlins for five seasons.
"Being in this bullpen is an opportunity for me to win," said Looper. "There is a good mix of young guys and veterans."
After a rough outing Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, in which he gave up a three-run home run to Edgar Renteria, Looper assessed his performance.
"I have to get back to repeating my delivery. After pitching hurt all last year and having surgery, I am not as consistent as I need to be. However, I feel as good as I have in over a year. I feel strong."
Non-roster invitees Jeff Nelson and Alan Benes bring the experience that is a staple in Cardinals bullpens.
With 14 years of American League experience, Nelson is excited to play in the Senior Circuit. He especially relishes being in a bullpen that reminds him of his New York Yankees championship relief corps.
"It is almost like you are a rookie again," said Nelson. "There is a lot more situational play in the National League. In the AL, if the starters are strong, you could get four or five days off. Here, with pinch-hitting, you get to pitch a lot. I have always liked to work frequently."
La Russa likes the way Benes pitches out of difficult situations. He could copy the late career success his brother, Andy, had with the Cardinals.
The runner-up for the fifth starting assignment appears to fit the role of long relief specialist. Currently, a battle exists between veteran Sidney Ponson (29) and youngsters Anthony Reyes (24) and Adam Wainwright (24).
"I don't like to talk about them as relievers if they are currently starters," said La Russa. "But it is a possibility that they could be used in the bullpen."
Ponson, often criticized for his conditioning, is in great shape this spring and throwing well. Wainwright led the International League in innings pitched last year and never missed a start. Reyes is closer to being on the big league roster than at any time in his career.
"Reyes is a special talent," commented La Russa. "Wainwright has grown into a man. He has really filled out. Ponson is throwing hard and is in great shape."
If most of the expected evaluations of La Russa and Duncan are realized, Isringhausen's prediction of continued supremacy by the bullpen should come to fruition.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
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