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Jason Isringhausen Update: "Either he's going to be a Ray or he's going to be with another club"

So here's what we know:

-Jason Isringhausen has been ok this spring. He hasn't been bad, but he's not necessarily forcing his way on the team.

-Erik reported his velocity was around 88 on Saturday when he normally is around 91.

-Lance Cormier is younger and should be better in 2009.

-Both sides are talking about a "creative" way to keep him.

-Izz'ys agent said he's not accepting a minor league assignment

"I'm optimistic we'll work something out,'' Horwits said. "Both sides want him to stay in Tampa Bay.''

Horwits also made it clear that Isringhausen won't go to the minors. "Suffice to say, Izzy is not going to accept a minor-league assignment,'' Horwits said. "Either he's going to be a Ray or he's going to be with another club.''--Heater

-Horwits goes on to mention that he expects a decision of some sort by tomorrow.

Let me say this; I am an Isringhausen fan and I really liked the signing when it happened, but lets face the facts. He is 36. He is coming off elbow surgery. He's looked ok at best and there are younger and most likely better options than him. I know, I know, he has "closer experience" and "293 saves" but this seems like a lot of work to keep a guy who couldn't find a job last month. If they can find a "creative" way to keep him without losing a younger, better arm then I'm all for it, but I can't think of a way that happens without him going on the DL and then taking a rehab assigment of some sort. Luckily, Andrew Friedman is more creative than I am.

0 recs  |  Comment 49 comments |

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screw that,

go with another club then. It’s not like he is dominating. At times, yes, he is awesome. But, Not worth jumping through hoops for.

In the name of Shinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Mar 31, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

enjoy SD or Pit Izzy.

Kaz/Shields/Garza/Sonny/Price/Davis/Hellickson-necessitate a drool cup or a 7 man rotation

by CubFanRaysaddict on Mar 31, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Works for me

Now trade Hammel and give Cormier a spot and we are set

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 31, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Keep Izzy

As i said BEFORE the game, Balfour is scary

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Isringhausen is terrible.

If he makes the season we’ll all have to hear you bitch about him being the closer.

by rglass44 on Mar 31, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why do you get s personal?

Isn’t everyone entitled to anopinion?

I feel Izzy and Percy have an attitude about the this year, and if healthy will do well

As for Balfour, i like him, but he has to throw strikes

Let’s not forget the reason Dohman won the job over him last year

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not personal.

Izzy just isn’t good. He’s terrible. The only reason people consider him is "closing experience.’ I’d rather have Eckersley. I’m fine with having him in the BP, but if he’s going to act like another washed-up, cocky, underperforming, SOB who refuses to come to grips with his talent then I’d rather he go elsewhere. It’s just that simple.

by rglass44 on Mar 31, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

well said! I agree. I’m not much of a fan either.

by yeseggs on Mar 31, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Again Tommy, i'm not

disputing the numbers, but be honest, the sample size is hardly fair

Also Balfour wasn’t elevated to back end till when?

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It doesn't matter where he pitched. He can't pick the situations he's thrown into

What I do know is Grant Balfour was a Top 3 reliever in the AL last year. I can’t say the same for Farnsworth. So if you’re asking me who do I feel more comfortable with Balfour,Farnsworth or Isringhausen it’s not even close.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 31, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd also like to mention that I expect Balfour to regress in 2009

But I’m still taking him over Isringhausen and Farnsworth.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 31, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Do this

Bring Izzy into the office, shake his hand extra firm, and then put him on the DL with a tendon strain in his finger.

by Jason Collette on Mar 31, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Cut him

We have much better options.

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I've never been crazy about Izzy

but Cormier doesn’t exactly light a fire under me either. A career WHIP of 1.7 is pretty sucky.

by yeseggs on Mar 31, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He was also incorrectly used as a starter for some his career

His two best seasons 2005 & 2008 both came as a reliever.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 31, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why are we 'hating' on Izzy for not ging to AAA?

MIL and/or TOR and/or PIT and/or BAL would snap him uup in a minute

DET too

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Toronto, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Detroit have room.

He signed a minor league deal and is refusing a minor league assignment. I don’t know what he expected.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 31, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not hating on him

but I will be hating on the Rays if they keep him over one of the other 3

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not hating

Just he’s the 9th or 10th best bullpen option in a 7 man bullpen. I really hope they just let him go.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Grant Balfour

Let’s hope he’ not having a Raffy Betancourt regression

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i don't understand

didn’t we sign Izzy to a minor league contract? can we not just send him to the minors?

by davidsmarch on Mar 31, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes and No

10-year veterans can refuse minor league assignment and become a free agent.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sad note today

Chuck Tiffany released

He once was ‘the guy’

by Raymondo on Mar 31, 2009 6:58 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He was never 'the guy'

He had good to great stats with fringy stuff before he got hurt. And before he got hurt, scouts questioned his work ethic, said his weight gain was affecting his ability to repeat his delivery.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Mar 31, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Closer question?

If 2 pitchers both with 40 save opportunities convert 36 of them, are they not equal in value in the those situations? Even if pitcher A has a FIP of 4.4 and pitcher B has a FIP of 3.2 with a better K/BB ratio.

by fight song on Mar 31, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Pitcher B is more valuable.

Save opps/saves converted mean nothing.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

How?

It doesn’t matter how you do it, just finish the game with your team winning.

by fight song on Mar 31, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But at the end of the day, results are what actually matter

Nobody gets rings for putting together the best theoretical team.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think your logic is a bit flawed here

The theoretical stats are great for predictive purposes, and thus are very useful for who you should keep or cut on a going-forward basis, but they’re not nearly as good for evaluating what happened in the past. If a team misses the playoffs but has the best third order wins, it’s not all that consoling that they missed the playoffs that year, though it does mean they’re probably doing something right in order to get there nest year.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Apr 1, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not necessarily

Even in a results based analysis, the level of “blow” would make a big difference. Not all blown saves are created equal. Some result in a tie game and the team still can win. Others result in a loss.

I disagree with RJ though. Assuming all 4 blown saves resulted in losses, then there isn’t any difference in actual value, when it comes to wins and losses. But it’s still bad process. Pitcher B SHOULD have had fewer blown saves, based on the info you gave.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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