If March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, then I am stunned that Jason Isringhausen wasn’t born on the 31st. The latest and maybe the final chapter in the career of the Cardinals all-time career saves leader may have been penned Tuesday at Busch Stadium. If you haven’t heard my now, Jason Isringhausen was diagnosed with a torn flexor muscle near his right elbow. He was quoted as saying only, “I’m done” as he left Busch stadium early Tuesday afternoon. If we ever see him in a major league uniform again, I would be extremely surprised. So, if we can take a break from anointing Michael Phelps the second coming for a few minutes, let’s try to put Jason Isringhausen’s career in perspective.

(Aside:  I am a sucker for a great story and am aware the way the media can fuel or derail the same, but the Phelps idolatry is reaching epic proportions. It seems like no one can speak objectively on a story with any historical perspective within something like 3 years of an event. Talk about getting caught up in the hype…Here is my take: Michael Phelps is the best swimmer of all-time, he made me get insanely jacked about near naked men flopping around in water and he did it with all the expectations and pressure one could fathom. But has anyone noted how unique swimming is for its opportunities to rack up gold medals?

If Kobe Bryant dominated basketball in the same way Phelps did swimming in Bejing, Kobe would win ONE gold medal. If Matt LaPorta hit 40 bombs for the U.S. baseball team, he would get, yes, ONE gold medal. Track and field would be the closest comparison. But even Carl Lewis didn’t have the opportunity to run the same distance in four different styles.

I mean, I’d love to see an interview with Lewis (who is a strange bird if you have ever seen interviews with him so it is not out of the realm of possibility) where he totally throws Phelps under the bus and says, “I could have won 8 if they would had the 100 meter skip, the 100 meter backwards run and then I won the 200 karaoke run to top it off.” Lewis won golds in long jump and the 100 meter in the same Olympics. That is like Phelps winning the 200 meter butterfly and then dominating the springboard. I am not taking anything away from Phelps, but I had to watch ESPN argue over which was a better athlete named “Michael” on Sportscenter: Jordan or Phelps?. What? Michael Jordan or Michael Phelps? To quote Farva from “Super Troopers”, “I won’t even dignify myself with a response to that question.”)

Shamelessly and without segue, back to Jason Isringhausen. It’s funny how perspective changes everything in life. One day before his career threatening injury, when I saw Isringhausen, my skin would crawl and blood began to boil in a similar manner to when I am forced to see that Spencer asshole from some MTV vehicle that turns rich, vapid teens into rich, vapid and famous teens.  Now, with one fell swoop, I am forced to look at the entire body of work of Izzy and feel a strong feeling of admiration and gratitude for the hometown Brighton boy who overcame so much.

Jason Isringhausen was the Gerald Ford of closers for the Cardinals. He wasn’t the flashiest or the most exciting guy but he got the job done and restored legitimacy and faith in the office. After we were betrayed by Dave Veres, Ricky “Blow”tallico and Juan Acevedo, Izzy was the reluctant warrior who you could hand the ball to. And he recorded the final out for a save more times than any other closer in Cardinals’ history.

I don’t know where we will go from here. Chris Perez seems to be making his case for taking over the reins. Will LaRussa selfishly try to push Wainwright into the role? Will the Cardinals’ brass shell out major cash for a K-Rod in the off-season? (um…no) Relievers are often unpredictable and finicky. And they cause me and many Cardinals’ fans the most grief given the timing and predicament in which they are thrust into night after night.

But the Cardinals lost an elder statesman Tuesday. They lost, from all accounts, a good man who bear hugged responsibility come success or failure every single time.  They lost a kid who grew up miles away rooting for the Birds on the radio and ended up living out his dream. And just because it was time to go, doesn’t mean we won’t miss him still. Here is one big tip of the cap back at you Izzy from the fans to you.