Cards expect to lean on strong bullpen

[Justin]

Isringhausen returns, but new faces battle for relief roles

JUPITER, Fla. -- Among the many ways the Cardinals have won games the past two years, winning the bullpen battle ranks high on the list. Even ahead of its heralded starting rotation, St. Louis has leaned on a deep and talented bullpen for two seasons running.
With an offense that may lack a bit of the punch that marked the past two seasons, the relief corps could be more important than ever for the Redbirds in 2006. And for the third straight year, they're sticking with a strangely successful formula: bring back the closer, and overhaul much of the rest of the unit.

After spending two years as the bridge between the starters and Jason Isringhausen, Julian Tavarez and Ray King are gone. Al Reyes and Cal Eldred have also been subtracted from the mix. Their contributions will be replaced in a variety of ways, or so the club hopes.

Only one obvious one-for-one switch took place. After Tavarez was not retained (he eventually signed with Boston as a free agent), Braden Looper signed a three-year deal to take his place as the primary right-handed setup man. Looper closed for the past three years, with the Marlins and Mets, but elected to take a step down in status in order to have a chance to return to the postseason and play close to home.

"I could have gone to a couple of teams and maybe not had as good a chance to win," he said. "I could have gone to a couple teams where I had a chance to set up and maybe close eventually, and they were good teams, but this just felt like the right situation."

If the Cards are to have another imposing bullpen, Looper will have to be a big part of it.

"It's probably the most important thing we did all winter, because the bullpen is so important to us," said manager Tony La Russa. "Not having Reyes, not having Tavarez, that's an important hole. So I'd say Loop is probably tied for first."

It could be tricky early in the season, since Looper is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery. He's progressing well, and will be held back only slightly if at all, but April expectations may be tempered a bit.

By August and September, though, the Cardinals believe they have found their Tavarez replacement.

"If Looper gets his game back, which I expect he will, he can contribute as much as Tavarez, if not more," pitching coach Dave Duncan said.

Rincon and Flores will need to be effective in the absence of King. Flores, who stepped in for Steve Kline in 2005, will pick up some of the key situations that went to King. But Rincon is more of a pure specialist than either King or Flores, and will likely need to be protected from seeing too many right-handed hitters.

The Cards could carry a third lefty, either Carmen Cali or Tyler Johnson. But that would cut into the right side. Non-roster invitee Jeff Nelson intrigues the club with his ability to neutralize dangerous righty hitters, but lefty swingers pulverized him last season.

Looper also has something of a left-right split. Thompson was tough on lefty hitters in his 2005 rookie campaign, but even with Thompson, it would be preferable to have another right-hander who can get hitters of both persuasions out. That is, a fifth right-hander -- which would preclude a third lefty.

"You'd like to have somebody that you could pitch two or three innings, if need be, that can get both lefties and righties out," said Duncan. "You look for that. But you also address problems. If there's a significant difference there, you try to find out why, and see if you can do something to improve it."

Duncan believes that Looper, at least, will have more success against left-handed hitters in 2006 because he'll be healthy. Rincon and Nelson, on the other hand, will be pegged as specialists. Assuming, of course, that Nelson makes the club, which is not guaranteed.

Another need is for a strikeout pitcher, something that was lost when Reyes underwent elbow surgery. Nelson has the ability to get a K, but his high walk totals the past two years negate that somewhat.

Fortunately, the two holes could be filled with one man. While the Cardinals are trying to put together a bullpen, they're also endeavoring to choose a fifth starter. Someone from that derby might well be pushed to the bullpen.

"We've talked about that (strikeouts)," said Duncan. "It would be nice to have somebody like that. And we may have somebody here that fits that role.

"You look at the competition between the three starting guys, and one of them will make it and two will not. So somebody in the bullpen could end up being one of those guys, and that could be a strikeout guy."

[redsrbetter]

That Looper signing was definitely huge for this team after losing Tavares and King. I really think Cali has a promising future as well. Should be interesting.

[Dry1313]

i dont see a good bullpen...

[love_that_reefer]

I don't see a better bullpen than last year but this could just work out. Looper was a great setup guy for the Marlins in their chapionship run. They still have Thompson and Flores from last year and got Rincon to get the lefties out. Guys like Looper will thirve in St. Louis because it is the exact opposite of New York.

[Dry1313]

That may be true but most of these pitchers weren't that great to begin with, I think Looper has poor command and control, Rincon is up and down, and although the prospects seem to be good you never really can tell. Not to mention Looper is coming off of a surgery, so who knows how his stuff will be affected? I think, regardless of performance, this bullpen is a downgrade from last years and barring a big aquisition I think their bullpen is worse then the Cubs and Astros.

[General]

I disagree with you on Rincon. He is a very solid lefty specialist, one of the best specialists in the game. His addition was a great move by the Cards, especially considering what they gave up.

[love_that_reefer]

Not mention that Marquis or Reyes will probably be in the bullpen. Ponson is also apossibility but I see him as the fifth starter.