La Russa, Cardinals employ “bullpencil”

The news that Jason Motte would receive work in a frame other than the ninth should have come as no shock to fantasy baseball players.

I prefer it, some day, to have a main guy on days he’s available.
- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa

The torching (and torturous) right-hander was shelled (four runs, four hits, one K) in his first appearance (a blown save chance) of 2009. He began his second, on Friday against the Astros, with the steadiness of Gary Busey after an overnight tour of Vegas.

Tony La Russa went to Kyle McClellan to record the final two outs of that contest. On Saturday, TLR insisted that the Cards need to keep throwing Motte out there. Sure enough, Motte was on that night; he fanned two and allowed one hit in an otherwise spotless sixth.

The drama surrounding Motte goes to show you what overvaluation of an unproven commodity can do to fantasy teams. I don’t own him anywhere despite believing that he was the most valuable St. Louis reliever. I also drafted Chris Perez in one league and plucked him from the free-agent tree in three others.

Tony Tony Tony has done it again

It feels good. (Does anyone get that reference? Maybe if I drop it with a little alto? OK, I’m slightly embarrassed. It’s no Motownphilly.)

It was clear that La Russa was hesitant to bestow the closer’s role upon Motte; the manager didn’t want to place all the responsibility on a 26-year-old with all of 11 innings on his big-league resume and who had been a catcher until 2006.

True, it’s not easy deciphering “coachspeak” in any sport, especially for fantasy purposes. The line between news and noise is often blurred.

But TLR has been around the block. It was obvious that Motte, who had a terrific spring, was first in line. By not naming the 6-footer the closer, La Russa still had the flexibility to go away from him at the first signs of trouble.

If he had appointed Motte (which seemingly every outlet asserted), he couldn’t have turned to another arm so quickly; he would have lost some face in the clubhouse. La Russa doesn’t put himself in that position.

He’s not a patient man, at least with young players. Last season, if you’ll recall, he handled Perez in the same manner. The 6-foot-4 reliever notched six saves in six opportunities in August; folks assumed that Perez was the grizzled skipper’s man.

In the span of about two weeks in September, though, Perez experienced a series of late-inning issues (including one big meltdown). Incidentally, Motte bailed out Perez in the final one, on Sept. 18. After that tilt, Ryan Franklin was the only pitcher to work in a traditional save opp.

Even when Adam Wainwright took control during the club’s magical 2006 postseason run, only the media seemed to refer to the then rookie as closer.

Stand by your man

Once Tony names his tiger, though, he’ll stick by him, through thick and thin. You can associate “Tony La Russa” with only two names that have held the title of “closer.”

Injuries were all that could remove Jason Isringhausen from the job in St. Louis. From 2002 (when Izzy arrived) through ‘07, he was the only pitcher to lead the club in saves.

From 1998 through 2001, three different pitchers led the club in saves; Dave Veres did it twice in a row (although in one of those seasons, the bullpen spread the wealth).

In 1996 and ‘97, TLR relied upon a staple from his days with the A’s: Dennis Eckersley. The Eck was La Russa’s man for most of the skipper’s tenure in Oakland. Once Eckersley outperformed Jay Howell down the stretch in 1987, Eckersley’s first year with the Athletics, the occupation was basically his for a decade. (You didn’t think it was just the killer ’stache, did ya?)

Although the role of stopper wasn’t as specialized as today’s incarnation, La Russa found himself playing musical chairs a little more often than not during his tenure with the Chicago White Sox, from 1979 to 1986. Perhaps those eight years made him appreciate the value of a man like the Eck.

The Cards he’s dealt

It’s not clear where La Russa will turn in the long term.

Last September, La Russa called Motte the “intriguing one.” He also warned that Perez, Motte and McClellan, the Cards’ 2008 Rookie of the Year, would have their work out cut out for them in the upcoming season:

“If they think they are guaranteed next year, that would be a step in the wrong direction. They opened some eyes. They’ll come to Spring Training getting a legitimate look. But they’ll have to beat somebody out.”

Motte seemed to do just that. It helped that Perez missed about two weeks of Spring Training with shoulder and foot problems; St. Louis optioned him to Triple-A Memphis a week before the season’s opening act.

Chris Perez: strummin' La Russa's pain with his finger

Perez has pitched three scoreless, hitless innings, with three K’s, while picking up a victory and a save for the Redbirds. He has also issued two free passes and thrown 42 strikes against 28 balls (60 percent strikes). Clearly, control remains his enemy, but it’s a good start.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Pitching coach Dave Duncan has said that it’s possible for a pitcher, specifically Perez, to earn his way into a ninth-inning role with the big-league club by pitching well in the role for the minor league affiliate.”

McClellan isn’t to be forgotten. Per La Russa and Duncan, the right-hander can handle batsmen from both sides of the plate. He’s ahead of Motte right now. He’s also a converted starter, a common trait in the closer frat.

No rush

La Russa has no target date for Perez’s return to the Cardinals. He’s willing to let his bullpen sort itself out. In that regard, patience is a favorite virtue, as he told the Belleville News-Democrat:

“I prefer it, some day, to have a main guy on days he’s available. When that happens, it will be that way. In the meantime, you just take what it is. Matchups, there’s a plus to that, too. You can go any way you want to.”

To that end, he has used Dennys Reyes, a southpaw, to close out a contest. As mentioned, McClellan has nailed one down, too. TLR said that he’s open to using any of his relievers – other than Brad Thompson – in a save situation.

And so, fantasy owners reel. You can’t drop Motte, unless you really need the spot. And like I says, you should pick up Perez. Each has the most upside in the city by the Arch. Desperate for saves? McClellan is gellin’, at least in NL formats. He might work his way into mixed value. No one is safe. Watch Franklin run away with a few opps.

It takes a lot for La Russa to find the fireman he trusts. Just remember this the next time you reach for an exciting but unproven reliever, at least on TLR’s watch. Nothing is written in ink. It’s high time you ponied up for insurance.