Healthy reply ends questions

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen had 32 saves in 2007 after coming off hip surgery. (Associated Press file) [Click to enlarge]

JUPITER, Fla. -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason Isringhausen owns flashy vintage cars and a big personality but he's happy this spring training to skip the attention.

Isringhausen sat quietly with little notice in the Cardinals clubhouse through the first three days of practice for pitchers. It's very different from last season when he entered camp still rehabbing from arthroscopic hip surgery and every pitch was analyzed by coaches and the media.

"I think that's one of the advantages we have coming into camp is, in Izzy's case, there's more certainty because he's been through the season," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Sunday. "He's been through an offseason of normal conditioning, and he's coming in feeling good."

Isringhausen, 35, had a good season in 2007 despite the Cardinals' inability to make the playoffs. He made 32 saves and had a 2.48 ERA.

Before the All-Star break, Isringhausen was especially strong with a 1.53 ERA over 35.1 innings pitched.

He has spent 12 years in the major leagues, the last six with the Cardinals, and is St. Louis' all-time saves leader with 205. The team exercised Isringhausen's 2008 contract option in October for $8 million.

"Now, you can talk about who's here and who's not here," Isringhausen told reporters. "I can go about my business and don't have to worry about rehabbing and just get ready for the season."

He pitched Saturday on the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium. It was Isringhausen's first opportunity to pitch outdoors during the offseason.

"My hip felt pretty good," he said. "I mean, it felt a little tight, just because that was the first time off the mound. Coming from 10-degree weather, we don't get to get on mounds too often."

Cardinals medical staff cleared pitcher Cliff Politte to throw today. Politte, who had a stiff shoulder coming into camp, could pitch Tuesday or Wednesday.