Now that Jason Isringhausen has been at least temporarily decommissioned as the Cardinals' closer, we're venturing into parts unknown. Manager Tony La Russa is talking about using a mix-and-match approach to navigate those ninth innings. Ryan Franklin had the save in Saturday's 5-3 win over Milwaukee. Next time, the opportunity may go to Franklin again, or Russ Springer, or one of the lefties — Randy Flores or Ron Villone.

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There are lots of things you can say about Eric Gagné right now.

For example, that he should not be allowed within 300 feet, or however far it is from the bullpen to the mound, of a close game anymore.

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Fregosi detested the word slump. To him, it was the dirtiest word in baseball. He had played the game and knew how torturous one of those . . . those . . . those things could be on a player's mind. He refused to give in to the word, refused to recognize its place in the baseball lexicon.

Fregosi wasn't the only one who stiff-armed the word.

Yogi Berra once said, "I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting."

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Time to rest the RF, try a new leadoff hitter

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