Isringhausen Notches Save No.7, But It's Not Pretty

The little letter after Jason Isringhausen's name in the boxscore is an 'S' but that hardly tells the story. Isringhausen got away with another save for the Cardinals Saturday as he walked the bases loaded but was rescued by his defense executing a double play. Isringhausen currently sports a 6.00 ERA with two losses and has given up three homers after surrendering only four all last year. Observers say Isringhausen's fastball has flatened out, but Isringhausen, whose past injuries are long behind him, believes that for some reason he just can't make the ball go where he wants it to go, and it often winds up splitting the plate as though he was throwing batting practice. Manager Tony LaRussa will undoubtedly stick with Isringhausen for awhile yet, but one wonders how soon it will be before necessity dictates that he starts looking at bullpen lefty Randy Flores or set-up man Braden Looper to help out from time to time in the ninth inning.