ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Andy Van Slyke wasn’t one to mince words when he was a high-caliber Major League Baseball player who spent his most productive years with the Cardinals in the mid-1980s and the Pittsburgh Pirates for another eight seasons becoming a big league coach for several years.

He still isn’t afraid to share his opinions, which is why Frank Cusumano has him as the Monday night guest on his “Press Box� show that airs at 6 o’clock on KTRS (550 AM). in his appearance this week with his pointed commentary about the Cardinals, especially closer Ryan Helsley’s level of tenacity.

Part of the discussion centered on the idea of team’s starting pitchers working six innings before others come in to pave the way for Helsley to enter the game in the ninth. The club has had him in the traditional closer role (usually pitching in the ninth inning with the team ahead) since last season after previously using him occasionally in key situations earlier in games. It was a mutual decision to try to keep him sharp for late-season appearances, though Van Slyke wants to see Helsley more often.

“Hopefully our closer wants the ball, which is not always the case,� Van Slyke said. “There’s plenty of times he doesn’t want the ball. How many times have you seen him pitch three days in a row? Or two games in a row?�

The answer is that he has pitched on back-to-back days four times this season (in 24 appearances) but not three days in a row.

“Sometimes you’ve got to know your body, right?� Cusumano asks Van Slyke.

Van Slyke responds: “Sometimes you’ve got to know the win’s more important than maybe not feeling good. Think about it. If you play five years, 10 years, 15 years in the big leagues — I know plenty of players that don’t want to go play because they don’t feel good. But the gamers, they’re the ones who go out and play whether they feel good or not, or grab the ball whether they feel good or not.

“Here’s the thing — I’m not so sure he understands the difference between being hurt and being sore.�

Helsley had 49 saves last year to lead the majors, with four blown chances and an earned-run average of 2.04. But this time, now through about 43% of the season, he had just 13 saves, a 3.75 ERA and five blown saves — including three in a row.