Jason Isringhausen ~ RP [R]

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RHP Jason Isringhausenis 36 and a 13-year big-leaguer with 293 career saves, but he'll be a bit excited making his exhibition debut today, the next step in his bid to make the team. "There's a little pressure going into it," Isringhausen said. "When you know you're on the team, it's a little monotonous. … It's a little different now. But it's a good different."

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RHP Jason Isringhausen has entered in the sixth for his Rays debut.

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Isringhausen, one of the career leaders in saves, has been impressive so far in bullpens following offseason elbow surgery.

Today, Isringhausen had a decent outing, overcoming a rocky start. He gave up a leadoff triple to McCutchen, who ripped the ball to the wall in left-center. Tabata then hit the ball hard to leftfield for a sacrifice fly.

Isringhausen threw 17 pitches, striking out Craig Monroe swinging to end the inning.

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Jason Isringhausen made his first appearance of the spring and the veteran reliever put together a solid outing.

The veteran right-hander gave up one run on one hit while striking out one in an inning of work during Sunday's 7-7 tie in 11 innings between the Rays and the Pirates.

Isringhausen back on the mound | raysbaseball.com: News

[love_that_reefer]

Izzy has very little chance of making the team but he could impress another one.

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RHP Jason Isringhausen has entered the game here in the seventh, pitching a clean inning.

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Jason Isringhausen struggled a bit, allowing two hits and a run, and the score is tied 2-2 going to the bottom of the sixth.

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RHP Jason Isringhausen just came in for the seventh, in his first back to back outing of the spring.

Isringhausen looked good, retiring the Reds in four hitters (only one got on, due to an error). He struck out Jonny Gomes looking.

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Isringhausen's agent, Dan Horwits, said he and Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman have been "working through some issues today" and he expects resolution by tomorrow at the latest. "I'm optimistic we'll work something out,'' Horwits said. "Both sides want him to stay in Tampa Bay.''

Horwits also made it clear that Isringhausen won't go to the minors. "Suffice to say, Izzy is not going to accept a minor-league assignment,'' Horwits said. "Either he's going to be a Ray or he's going to be with another club.''

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Here's one potential resolution that may be under discussion - Isringhausen is added to the 40-man roster, and starts getting his $750,000 major-league salary, but is put on the DL and stays in extended spring for a few weeks to build strength and get sharper.

That allows the Rays to keep him, and buys them time to see how closer Troy Percival holds up, to see how often they need a long reliever, and to see how much Isringhausen could be of service.

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RHP Jason Isringhausen will stay with the Rays, executive VP Andrew Friedman said.

He will be added to the 40-man roster and most likely will go on the DL.
"It was something that was important to both sides," Friedman said. "We're obviously very excited. We feel like there is a very good chance at some point in 2009 Jason will help us win games."

Friedman said they will be "fairly methodical" in the process and there is no time limit or deadline on how long Isringhausen will rehab. He will spend most of his time In St. Petersburg but may also workout in Port Charlotte at extended spring training.