*** Official St Louis Cardinals to the 2006 World Series Thread *** - Page 70

bowens · #**691** 08-22-2006, 09:54 PM

Wow. Mets 8 Albert 7. What a wasted game. I know about all the saves the man has, but does anyone really have faith in Isringhausen any more??? Why does it seem like everytime I watch the damm game, he blows a save? And there really aren't any other options to close on the team. It's Izzy or bust. I thought Pujols had given the MVP chase a jolt in his favor. Think this result swings votes in Betltran's favor? Wow. Just wow...

MyTurn2Raise · #**692** 08-22-2006, 09:55 PM

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Jason Isringhausen. Rut-roh.

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unnecessary

the Card fans are, at best, conflicted over this guy and none of us toot his horn like some of the Lidge lovers

djj6835 · #**693** 08-22-2006, 09:56 PM

The only thing worse than Izzy's performance is the entire team blowing a six run lead. Izzy has to be one of the league leaders among closeres in both walks issued and home runs allowed.

challenger84 · #**694** 08-22-2006, 10:02 PM

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Jason Isringhausen. Rut-roh.

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I said this a good two years ago.

ligastar · #**695** 08-22-2006, 10:12 PM

Rut-Roh

CENTRAL W L GB
St. Louis 66 58 -

Cincinnati 66 60 1

Things are heating up in the NL Central. Another great outing by Kyle Lohse for the 'Nati. This is going to be fun down the stretch. It has been some time for the Reds playing post-season ball so we'll have to see and StL is still the favorite. Cincy needs to get out in front now to see how StL handles the added pressure.

RunDownHouse · #**696** 08-22-2006, 10:29 PM

Wait, you mean the Weaver-Isringhausen combination isn't one of the best in baseball?

djj6835 · #**697** 08-22-2006, 10:32 PM

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Why does it seem like everytime I watch the damm game, he blows a save?

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Because you're also remembering all those times the guy got the save but made it as difficult as possible. Of all the guys on the Cardinals he is third in walks with 34...and he's a closer (tenth on the team in innings pitched). Only Suppan and Marquis have more and they've pitched three times as many innings. He's also sixth on the team in home runs allowed.

Your Mom · #**698** 08-22-2006, 11:15 PM

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Why does it seem like everytime I watch the damm game, he blows a save?

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Because you're also remembering all those times the guy got the save but made it as difficult as possible. Of all the guys on the Cardinals he is third in walks with 34...and he's a closer (tenth on the team in innings pitched). Only Suppan and Marquis have more and they've pitched three times as many innings. He's also sixth on the team in home runs allowed.

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When this guy comes in, the other team jumps for joy. Watching on Sunday, down 3, when he came in, my uncle and I both said simultaneously "now we have a chance."

crockpot · #**699** 08-23-2006, 03:15 AM

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In general, LaRussa "definitely believing he is correct" is far from an indication that he is, in reality, correct.

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agreed. this wasn't really a point in my favor. i still think he was easily right on this one.

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i don't see pinch stats, so i can't speak on encarnacion's off-the-bench performance. how much do we value close and late?

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i put little value on this. The Book does argue that there is some small edge to clutch players, but how can you possibly determine duncan's clutchiness based on his sample size so far? this sort of thing should only be used in a decision that's otherwise close. this one was not.

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edit: I'm sure you will balk at this but doesn't LaRussa need to consider the psychological effect this will have on Duncan?

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i won't balk at it. if the cardinals are out of the race, i would reverse my position, and say that giving duncan the experience is more important than a meaningless win. this was a critical game, much more important than a minor hit to a kid's confidence. lest we forget, duncan is not a future star whose ego needs to be protected; he is a decent 25-year old having a hot month. bo hart, anyone? (he was actually 26)

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What are Encarnacion's numbers as a pich hitter? I think this needs to be taken into account too.

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i did forget to account for the normal decline in production from pinch hitters as opposed to players who started the game, but this is also not a big enough factor to sway the decision. as for encarnacion's personal PH stats this year, i don't see how that sample size could possibly be relevant.

i believe wild-man ohman was on the mound. did the cards have anyone on their bench who is better at working a walk against a lefty than these two? that could easily have been the better move than letting either of these two bat.

to those who would comment that i dismiss small sample sizes yet wrote off duncan against lefties based on a fairly small sample: i don't have access to his data against lefties before 2006, but i have no reason to believe his results were better, considering his overall 2006 numbers are way ahead of his previous performance.

djj6835 · #**700** 08-23-2006, 03:22 AM

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i believe wild-man ohman was on the mound. did the cards have anyone on their bench who is better at working a walk against a lefty than these two?

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I'm not sure who was on the bench but honestly anyone would be better than Encarnacion at working a walk. He's a notorious free swinger and rarely walks. I actually would have been fine with LaRussa pinch hitting for Duncan if he had put in a decent contact hitter with some speed, like Taguchi. However I don't think Taguchi was available.

edit: Looking back at the box score it looks like LaRussa's only option were Encarnacion and Bennett. This is also a typical LaRussa game. The entire bench and bullpen being depleted by the ninth inning because he makes so many unnecessary changes.