St. Louis seeking some relief

ST. LOUIS -- All spring, Jason Isringhausen has taken the ball.

That's the biggest change for the St. Louis Cardinals, much bigger than the additions of Reggie Sanders, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis and the question marks surrounding second base, left field and the leadoff slot.

"It's a normal spring, finally," Isringhausen said. "Last year was terrible -- I didn't get to do anything. But this year is normal.

"I'm on schedule, just like everybody else."

From the Cardinals' standpoint, a healthy closer could be enough to make the team a contender in a National League Central that's much improved at the top. The Cubs added Greg Maddux to complete a power rotation, while the Astros added Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.

But the Cardinals appear to be a lot more secure in the late innings than either of the division favorites, particularly Houston minus Billy Wagner.

Last year, St. Louis blew a major-league high 30 saves, most of them while Isringhausen was sidelined following offseason shoulder surgery that shelved him until mid-June. This year, the Cardinals are looking for the vintage 2002 Izzy that dominated with 32 saves in 37 opportunities and didn't allow a home run.

"He's feeling great and in good shape," Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "I think there will be times when we can use him three days in a row."

Isringhausen expects regular work -- and no babying. He's fine, he has insisted over and over this spring.

"No big deal," he said. "I just tell them how I feel and they decide what they want to do. We've got enough arms down there to do the job, but I plan on being available every day."

The bullpen has been overhauled, with right-handers Julian Tavarez and Mike Lincoln and left-hander Ray King helping holdovers Steve Kline and Cal Eldred take care of holding the lead, and Jason Simontacchi available for long relief. But Isringhausen is the key.

"The easy answer is last year Izzy was never normal, never 100 percent," manager Tony La Russa said. "Just from that point alone, it's better."

The biggest question heading into the April 5 opener at home against the Brewers is a rotation that pales in comparison with the co-favorites in the Central, based on recent results. The Cardinals' starting five totaled 42 wins last season.

The first two starters, Matt Morris and Woody Williams, are proven and combined for 39 victories, but after that there's uncertainty.

Chris Carpenter has been impressive most of spring training and was handed a spot in the rotation, but he has missed most of the last two seasons and has undergone two shoulder operations.

Jeff Suppan is an innings-eater with five straight 200-plus seasons, but he's a career 62-75 and his best is 13 victories last year.

Jason Marquis, once considered a future star for the Braves, was winless at the major league level last year.

Those are the biggest reasons most experts are picking the Cardinals, who have been to the postseason four times in eight seasons under La Russa, to finish third this year. La Russa doesn't seem to mind the downgraded expectations.

"Compare it to a championship rotation, and I think we have a chance based on what I've seen," La Russa said. "A couple of months into it, we'll have a better idea."

The Cardinals still have one of the top offenses in the NL, centered around batting champion and two-time MVP runner-up Albert Pujols. He's the NL's youngest batting champion in 41 seasons and his three-year start (.334 average, 114 homers, 381 RBI) is arguably the best in major league history.

A healthy Jim Edmonds, coming off shoulder injury that hampered him the second half of last season, provides a potent bat in the middle of the lineup. He had 39 homers and 89 RBI last year while playing hurt. Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria both are coming off 100-RBI seasons.

Sanders hit 31 home runs last year and could bat second.

After a year off, 36-year-old Ray Lankford showed signs he could still hit and handle at least part-time duty in left field, perhaps sharing the job with Kerry Robinson. Second base is muddled after the recent acquisition of Tony Womack after so-so springs by Bo Hart and Marlon Anderson.

The Cardinals' defense is one of the best in baseball, winning four Gold Gloves last year: Rolen at third, Edmonds in center field, Renteria at short and catcher Mike Matheny.

All of them insist they are indeed contenders coming off their disappointing 88-win season.

All of them insist they are indeed contenders coming off their disappointing 88-win season, and that the pressure is not off internally because the team has not made any major upgrades. La Russa reasons that lower fan expectations, though, should at least decrease criticism.

"I don't think it's any easier for our club this year because we think we have a chance to win, so we're putting pressure on ourselves," La Russa said. "Last year, we did, too.

"It's just if you get off to a bad start, 'Hey, you're bad like we thought you were going to be.'"