Jason Isringhausen’s baseball career has seen many highs and lows. In
2004 Isringhausen led The National League in saves with 47. Isringhausen
has been a two-time All-Star selection. At 38 years old the majority of
his baseball career is behind him, but for 2011 he is right back where
he started, with The New York Mets.
The Mets drafted Isringhausen in 1991 and called him up in July of 1995.
Isringhausen began his career as a starting pitcher for The Mets. Along
with Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson, they were dubbed as “Generation
K”. The trio was compared to former Met pitchers Nolan Ryan, Jerry
Koosman, and Tom Seaver who helped The Mets win The World Series in
1969. Like many other Met moves, this plan stunk worse than a sewage
plant. Isringhausen was erratic as a starter. Isringhausen, Wilson, and
Pulsipher were all too young and needed more seasoning in the minors.
The Mets gave up on Isringhausen and he was sent to The Oakland
Athletics in 1999.
Like many other ex-Mets before him, Isringhausen salvaged his career
once he left Queens. Isringhausen became a closer with Oakland and
helped The A’s to consecutive playoff appearances in 2000 and 2001.
Isringhausen then became the closer for The St. Louis Cardinals and
helped them win The National League Pennant in 2004. In 2008, arm
injuries caught up with Isringhausen and many in baseball figured that
Isringhausen was done.
After a year off, The Mets invited Isringhausen to spring training this
season. Many felt that he wouldn’t make it out of Port St. Lucie, but
Isringhausen did and became the setup man for closer Francisco
Rodriguez. Isringhausen’s golden fastball isn’t what it once was, but he
has kept his earned run average under 3.00 for most of the season.
Isringhausen’s role has increased since The Mets traded Rodriguez to The
Milwaukee Brewers during The All-Star break. Met manager Terry Collins
has used a closer-by-committee with Isringhausen being right in the mix.
Since Rodriguez was traded, Isringhausen has struck out nine batters
while recording two saves.
In a season where The Mets have been able to get the most out of
players, Isringhausen has to be at the top of that list. Isringhausen
was an afterthought and has become a solid contributor. On top of his
play on the field, Isringhausen can be an example to younger guys in The
Met bullpen such as Bobby Parnell. Parnell has an electric fastball
that he tends to be a little wild with. Wildness was the knock on
Isringhausen earlier in his career and he turned it around to become a
solid reliever. Having a veteran guy like Isringhausen gives Collins the
luxury of a player that can play the part of coach to work with younger
pitchers. From phenom to disappointment, to solid closer,
Isringhausen’s career has had ups and downs and now he comes full circle
with the team that he broke in with.
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