Duncan Sent To Minors
A day after Chris Duncan got the go-ahead hit that ultimately led to the Cardinals 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros Thursday night, the struggling left fielder was sent to the minors.
Duncan was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday in hopes he can regain the stroke he exhibited the past two seasons. The Cardinals recalled power-hitting outfielder Joe Mather from Memphis and had him in the lineup Friday night against the Pirates.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he made the decision after consulting coaches and the front office.
“It was a very tough call because even though he’s not quite himself, he’s still surviving here,” La Russa said. “He’s not hitting under .200, he’s hitting .260. But in the end just because of this rash of left-handers we’re going to face the next two series, I just don’t think not getting him a bunch of at-bats is the right thing to do.”
Duncan is batting .213 in May and .252 overall with four homers and 16 RBIs. He has struggled to regain his stroke since sustaining a sports hernia last season.
Mather is batting .315 with 12 homers and 24 RBI’s in 38 games for Memphis, and has a six-game-hitting streak. Of his 32 hits this month, 20 went for extra bases.
The 25-year-old Mather, a third-round pick in 2001 who bats right-handed, was batting second against Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Zach Duke. He’s the sixth player to make his debut with the Cardinals this season.
Clement Scheduled For Rehab Assignment; Carpenter Rehab Going Smoothly
Cardinals pitcher Matt Clement is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this week, finally signaling a bit of progress for a player out since shoulder surgery in 2006.
Clement, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million free agent deal in January, starts the rehab assignment with Class-A Palm Beach on Wednesday. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said the club will almost certainly use the entire 30-day rehab period to make a call on the right-hander.
“He’s definitely going to be someone we want to be challenged and pushed,” Mozeliak said. “In his case, we’re going to find out what we really have. I suspect by the first part of July, we’ll know.”
The Cardinals are taking a conservative approach with Cris Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner, because there’s no urgency to get him back in the rotation. He’s had what Mozeliak referred to as a “very smooth” rehab thus far, and the team has forecast a return around after the All-Star break.
“There’s no reason to accelerate anything,” Mozeliak said. “We’re getting quality starting pitching right now. Let him continue to get stronger and feel better about what he’s doing.”
Mark Mulder’s Future Remains Uncertain
An MRI exam last Wednesday on Mark Mulder’s problematic left shoulder revealed no additional injury, but Mulder is unable to get his arm high enough to execute pitches.
“When your arm doesn’t rotate up, mine rotates down,” Mulder said. “I don’t know how to describe it. It doesn’t rotate up the way it should, so there’s no way of getting on top of the ball and getting any downward angle.
“Could I go out and pitch? Yeah, but I don’t have command because when you’re underneath the ball, your release point is different. Could I go out and throw strikes? Yeah, but they’re not going to be very good pitches. We’re trying to figure out why my arm doesn’t want to rotate up like that.”
The Cardinals were optimistic in spring training that Mulder would be back in their rotation by May, but manager Tony La Russa said Thursday he doesn’t anticipate Mulder will be ready until after the All-Star break.
“I’ve put a lot of effort and a lot of patience into this,” Mulder said. “It gets tough after a while because you try so many different things. This has nothing to do with mechanics or delivery. It’s just that my shoulder doesn’t rotate the way it should. That’s all it is, but we have to figure out why. Nothing hurts. It just feels like it’s not oiled or something. When I throw, my body doesn’t let (my arm) get up to that spot … where it has to get to.”
Mulder was 2-2 with a 6.66 ERA in five rehab starts, but the Cardinals shut him down early this month when he experienced shoulder fatigue. Mulder has had two shoulder surgeries and said there won’t be another operation under any circumstance.
“I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I’ll take it to the house before that happens. I’m done. There’s no way they’re going back in there.”
La Russa said he no longer is as concerned about Mulder the pitcher as he has about Mulder the person.
“He’s had a couple of setbacks,” La Russa said. “I mostly am concerned about Mark. You’re talking about a guy who’s a great pitcher and he’s been dealing with this stuff for a couple of years. I’m mostly concerned about what he’s going through. It’s his career.”
Pineiro On The 15-Day DL
Pitcher Joel Pineiro was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Wednesday for a strained right groin. The move is retroactive to May 21 making him eligible to return June 5, his next scheduled start.
“He’s not going to be able to go Saturday,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. “We just can’t pitch short. You can’t put that on a staff.”
Pineiro, who’s 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts and 44 innings, injured the groin chasing a fly ball during batting practice nearly two weeks ago in San Diego.
Kelvin Jimenez was recalled from Memphis to take Pineiro’s spot on the roster. Jimenez is 1-2 with a 1.88 ERA and one save in 20 games for the Redbirds. He has three walks and 15 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Todd Wellemeyer Continues Impressive Start
Todd Wellemeyer has been the surprise of the Cardinals rotation thus far, working seven strong innings last Friday against Pittsburgh. Wellemeyer (6-1) won his career-best fourth straight decision and doubled his victory total from last season.
“I kind of know I belong,” Wellemeyer said. “They gave me an opportunity and I’m going to make the best of it. I’m not trying to think too much out there, just pitching.”
Entering the season, Wellemeyer had a career record of 9-10 with a 4.98 ERA for four teams, making him the most likely pitcher to get bumped from the rotation when any of the team’s several injured starters returned.
Pittsburgh had only two runners in scoring position the last six innings against Wellemeyer.
And there’s a rumour still going round that Mark Prior still has a career in the game of baseball. For want of a better word he ought to retire at this juncture. Were he a race horse he’d have been put down long ago !
And that Ankiel catch was one for the ages. This kid is proving to be something special.
tophatal ………….
Ankiel has been scuffling a little of late, as have several Cards. Troy Glaus is coming around though and Pujols is Pujols. Even though his hitting hasn’t been very good of late, Ankiel plays defense as well as anyone in MLB.
Good to know about Clement. I just asked my wife about him only two days ago.
I’m very familiar with ex-Cub Wellemeyer too. Glad he finally got it together. He showed so much promise as a Cub.
Wellemeyer has been the man for the Cards so far. Wainright and Lohse have been pretty good. Looper is inconsistent, and Pineiro hasn’t been anything special but overall, the pitching hasn’t been bad.
What was initially thought to be a weakness could end up being a strength. With Clement, Mulder and Carpenter all possibly returning to the rotation, the Cards are going to have a glut of pitching.
They could use some of those as trade bait at the end of July, at least potentially.
I’ll be watching intently …