Izzy ready for rehab work to pay off

Posted May 18, 2009 by Marc Lancaster

Updated May 18, 2009 at 05:12 PM

Jason Isringhausen has pitched in 10 minor-league games over the past month or so, with some extended spring training outings before that. And whle the 36-year-old said he was glad he had some extra time to get himself back to full strength before giving the majors another spin following elbow surgery that ended his 2008 season early, he’s anxious to get back to games that count.

His chance likely will come tonight, barring a complete game by Jeff Niemann, as Joe Maddon wants to get Isringhausen involved immediately. When it happens, it will be a big deal for the veteran, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since last Aug. 16 for the Cardinals.

“There will be some emotions, yeah. I hope so,” Isringhausen said this afternoon. “There better be – that’s why I’m doing this still, because that’s really the only thing that gives me that kind of feeling. That’s what my wife said – ‘I’m going to be scared of you when you retire, because trying to find that feeling again, you’re probably going to kill yourself.’

“But that’s why we all do it, is that competition. It’s just hard to get the feeling in the minor leagues, knowing in the back of your mind that it doesn’t really mean anything. It’ll be fun whenever I get in there – which will probably be tonight – and then we’ll just go with it and see what happens.”

Maddon said Isringhausen will be used in a variety of roles as needed, and he won’t hesitate to use the former closer in a tight, late-inning situation.

“There’s no holding back with him at all,” said Maddon. “At the right moment, we’ll pop him.”

Isringhausen will take whatever action he can get, just happy to be back in the majors after his rehab stint. At least he only had to make one bus ride in that time, though.

“From Durham to Gwinnett in Atlanta,” Isringhausen said. “It was 3 1/2 hours, it was plenty long, but it was long enough for me to lose plenty of money during it, too. They were all happy about that. ... I don’t miss those days, no.”