I love Adam Wainwright (in a completely nonsextual baseball way, of course - not that there's anything wrong with it). My love for him started in early 2006 - as he slowly worked his way up to become one of our primary setup men. He seemed fearless. And that curve...oh that sweet curve. October 2006 just confirmed what I already knew - this guy had the heart and guts to do really special things. When he faltered in early 2007,  I was heartbroken, despondent and confused. His absolutely incredible second half was vindicating.

This season has been disappointing because of a freak injury to his finger. But nothing has been more disappointing than the way in which Adam has been jerked around by TLR/Dunc et al. in his rehab. From being told he was going to be in the bullpen, to upping his pitch count (but still being vague on his role), to suggesting that if Carpenter were healthy we wouldn't NEED our other ace and he could go to long relief.

Well, yesterday Adam did something extraordinary  (again). He publicly called everyone out on this bullshit. He refused to sit back and let his situation be messed with any longer.  Now he could've been the good soldier (like so many boring ball players before him) and spew some bullshit about "I just want to help my team win....whatever role Tony thinks is good, is fine with me".

But this is what he said:

"I’m ready," Wainwright insisted. "If they told me that I’m starting tomorrow, I’d feel ready except for that I just threw a side. I’m ready to face hitters in the big leagues. I know I can get guys out now."...."It’s frustrating to know I’m ready to pitch and I don’t have a role,"..."I would only speculate that I’m starting. But I don’t know    that. I think it all depends on how No. 29 [Carpenter] feels."

He made clear he wants to start, but also, that he can help the team win:

"I can still have that good end to the year. I know I can help this team win. I know this team has a great chance to win. I’m excited to be part of it. I just don’t know which role yet."

The way he phrases it starkly illustrates the insanity with which he is being handled. He's ready; he wants to help; but he doesn't even know his role. How is that possible???

As recently as yesterday Mo was suggesting (RIDICULOUSLY) that Adam might go into long relief. Essentially Brad Thompson's role. Adam didn't mince words with his thoughts about this.

 

"I don’t even want to talk about middle relief," Wainwright said, adding, "I don’t think they’d put me in the bullpen to be a middle reliever. I just don’t see the value of me there."

What about a 4th rehab outing?

...the pitcher said he would be "incredibly disappointed" to learn [about another rehab outing].

"I wouldn’t feel right about it," Wainwright added. "Everybody wants to play in the big leagues."

What is so great about this is the public nature of Wainwright's intransigence is that it might just force TLR/Dunc's hand into doing what everyone knows is logical and necessary.

La Russa seemed to make room for Wainwright’s return as a starter.

"They’re together but there’s enough separation that I think you’ve got to do what’s best for Adam and our club right now, and then get Carp’ ready as soon as we can and see where we are," La Russa said....

Wainwright’s candidness before media and in a subsequent meeting with La Russa seemed to jumble that equation....

"I would probably prefer it if he had said he would come back however we needed him," La Russa said. "I know he wants to be a starter. He’s worked to be a starter all year long. He’s having a terrific season as a starter. But I know he’ll do whatever we need."

Kudos, Adam. Every day my love for you grows stronger. Now not only have you proved yourself a stealth competitor on the mound, you also show yourself to be a shrewd politician; not below manipulating a situation to get what you (and so many others) want. Lets hope TLR/Dunc aren't so stubborn that they will ignore this public outcry. If Wainwright is put into the bullpen after this, they risk not only the team's performance, but also their relationship with one of the key starting pitchers for this franchise into 2009 and beyond.

Last night on the ESPN broadcast Dave O'Brien referred to a "setback" in Wainwright's road back. He claimed he was cleared to throw (as we know), but he tried and couldn't get a good grip on the ball and was going to shut it down for a while longer.

Did anyone else hear this?

No coverage in the post-dispatch this morning that I can tell...I"m hoping O'Brien had false information, but perhaps Mo and co. are muzzling the St. Louis media outlets on this bit of news (trying to maintain that Waino and Carps returns will be like trades)

It seems as if we have yet another example of injured player mismanaged by the medical staff or the coaching staff or both. Or, better, we have a new example for the same player that was previously mismanaged!

The questions that comes to mind:

Was Mulder pushed to hard to come back leading to this new injury to his rotator cuff?

Should he been thrown into a pennant race, where he was clearly trying to overcompensate physically to get a respectable velocity?

And most important, is he done? Will he ever be able to return to even is 2005 self, let alone his 2000-2003 self?

So now that the horrific news. has come out on Juan's season-ending eye injury, I thought I'd repost my earlier  chronicle of the 10 crucial, clutch and game-changing hits Juan contributed the 2007 campaign.

Juan has taken a lot of heat on this board (undeserved in my opinion).  I just hope that when all is said and done in 2007, we don't forget the contribution Juan made. I don't think we're in this September 'race' without him....

Wow - can this team take any more tragedies...ughh...

The Cardinals had dropped two of the first three to Col and desperately needed a split - Juan delivers a go ahead double to put them up for good 4-2.

Tie game w/ cincy, 6th inning, Juan homers to put them up for good, 3-2.

Juan offers a game-changing 3-run homer to put the cardinals up for good against philly, 4-1.

Tie game, 8th inning in Cincy, Juan delivers a clutch single to put the Cardinals up 3-2 and give them the victory.

Remeber when we took 3 of 4 from Ari, well this was game three of that series, 8th inning, we're losing 4-3, and Juan doubles in the tying run, and then scores the winning run (driven in by Rolen).

Same Ari series - Juan took care of all of the scoring in this one - 3 run homer.

The least significant of my findings, but still big - Juan delivers a  single to put the cardinals up 2-0 against Florida. You may recall this is the game where Kip wells turned his season around. How much do you think he appreciated those first inning runs?

Tie game, 8th inning in Atlanta, Juan delivers again with the winning RBI to put the cards up for good 2-1.

You all must remember this one - perhaps the most important game of the season. We'd lost 2 of 3 to the Cubs, the first of 4 to the Brewers, and had gone down 6-0. Juan delivered 3 (3!!!!!!) two-out single to cut the lead to 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, setting the stage for the heroics that ensued.

Remember that crazy 5th inning vs. San Diego? Juan delivered the go ahead rbi.
.

I thought there should be a diary on this

Not a great result, but very, very encouraging to hear is fastball was clocked at 91. He was consistently at 86-7 post June last year, and after two or three more rehab starts - who knows - he may have it up to the 94-5 range of the Mark Mulder of old.

I figure this diary should also debate the other big question - who will Mulder replace?

My vote is Loop, but knowing Tony it will probably be Reyes. :-)

As lboros pointed out this morning, we can all see the positive results of Rolen's cortisone shot (both last october and over the past week).

Any medical practitioners out there who know how long we should expect this to last? Do the benefits wear off? Could he simply get another shot if they do?

As we cling to the last remnants of hope this season, I think we all can agree that any chance of contending whatsoever is contingent on the productivity of Scott Rolen.  

Yes, we are all excited to see the return of young Anthony. Fresh off his dominating showing in AAA.  Al Hrabosky even claimed he "heard" that Reyes is throwing 93-95 (I'll believe it when I see it... and, btw, I don't believe it...Al is generally a bs homer/cheerleader).

But anyway, I remember listening to the "inside pitch" (KFNS) on a Sun. morning w/ Hummel and the other dude right before Reyes was sent down, and they had this fella, Mike Marshall, on (http://www.drmikemarshall.com/), who apparently has become an expert on pitching mechanics and injuries (he claims he has a work program that guarantees no injury...hmmmmm).  

Mike said that Reyes's delivery was the worst he's ever seen in his entire life (he's been doing this for a long time). He predicted "something's going to pop, real soon". Hummel seemed skeptical and dismissive, which would have placated me if not for hearing Scott Terry make similar comments on Fox Sports Midwest a couple nights earlier; claiming Reyes's mechanics were very violent and put a lot of stress on the elbow.  Said he didn't feel good at all looking at the way he was pitching.

So - how long does young Anthony have before he's on the shelf? Is this guy really our savior?

For my money, Pujols and Ramierez are the two best right-handed hitters in the game. So it's  striking to see how similar their starts have been -

Albert Pujols
AVG .245 | HR 6 | RBI 21  | OBP .339 | SLG .413    

Manny Ramirez
AVG .250 | HR 6 | RBI 25  | OBP .343 | SLG .399  

So, just in case you thought unexplainable ineptitude of a great hitter was only our problem...others feel our pain.

Of course, the sox are in first place, so they are not worried about it.

Us on the other hand....meh

Apparently, his elbow 'flared up' last night after his bullpen.  I knew the rosy outlook on him the last few days was a total farce.

Hawksworth apparently set to make the start on tuesday, which will be - if nothing else - interesting.  Of course, all the facinating young arm starts in the world won't save our season if Carp is out.

http://www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=447023

With all this hullabaloo about our lack of set up men, Vin Scully just reminded me that we let Al Reyes walk this off season to sign with the Devil Rays. Did anyone notice? I've seen virtually no mention of this in various hot-stove cards talk.

Does his injury make him questionable for this season(i recall a torn ligament in 2005)? Sure would love to have the 2005-version of Reyes in our bullpen right now.

Will there be a retrospective, detailed DVD released recapping the ENTIRE 2006 season.

The World Series DVD from MLB will only cover the playoffs.

I live in Massachussetts and when the Sox (regrettably) won, the local cable station that broadcasted the games released a DVD going month by month through the season, all the way through october.

I would love to see a similar video from the Cardinals somehow.

You know the worst thing about Izzy's injury, the cardinals have had exactly 3 save situations since he left the fold on 9/6.

The first was blown by Looper on 9/22.

The last two were saved by Wainwright on 9/27 and 9/30 respectively.

I think we all assumed on 9/6 that we would have a larger sample with which to make a postseason determination on the closer position...But after three save-opps, we all believe Wainwright is the man?

But in the playoffs will it be more of the "committee" variety based on situations that lboros recomended after Izzy went down? Or is it Wainwright or bust? But what if Wainwright blows a save? Then what?

Thoughts?

Anyone have any idea how the hell I'm going to be able to watch Satuday's game when my market will be getting the Phillies-Marlins feed? Mlb.tv will be blacked out.  Do sports bars sometimes have access to multiple satellite fox-feeds?

HELP!!!!  I wish Fox would just pick one game and broadcast it nationally. At this crucial point in the season, cardinals fans should be able to see their team!

It would be interesting to see any stats on how this works out for teams. I witnessed it as an unmitigated disaster for the 2003 Red Sox; since then, any mention of the concept yields outbursts of scorn and ridicule amongst Sox fans.

My impression is that bullpens are composed of human beings who like to have clearly defined roles. They are not chess pieces to be mixed and matched according to innumberable game situations. It's a long credo that effective, stable bullpens have clearly defined roles for each pitcher.

So - I'd like to question lboros almighty wisdom. Instituting a "situational" closing situation could be a disastrous decision for a team that needs stability going into octoboer - not experimentation.

Since Looper seems to have settled into his "role" - and his psyche is somewhat fragile - I think duncrussa's proclivity for Wainwright is a good hunch.

A more risky choice - but possibily more stabilizing for the bullpen as a whole -- is SOSA. The dude has closer stuff...throws HEAT...and he's pitching great now.  This keeps Wainwright in his great setup role and keeps him lined up for a starting spot next spring. If Sosa implodes (very possible) then go w/ Wainwright.  

But, closer by committee? In September? With Brad - Freakin' - Thompson possibly involved?!??! No way!

It's as if the baseball gods couldn't let us be giddy for one full day... :-(

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Mulder tagged for five runs in third rehab start
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder gave up five runs in four innings Thursday in a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis to test whether he was ready to return to the major leagues.

The two-time All-Star walked five and yielded seven hits -- including a two-run homer by Joaquin Arias -- before leaving after the fourth inning. Only 50 of his 92 pitches were strikes, and he benefited from two runners being thrown out from the outfield.

A shoulder injury has created problems with the left-hander's delivery, causing him to throw at three-quarters instead of over the top. After the third inning, Memphis pitching coach Dyar Miller sat on the bench next to Mulder, pulling his arm over his head and making a downward throwing motion.

Mulder returned for the fourth and gave up a double to Adam Morrissey and a single to Arias, but Morrissey was cut down at the plate by left fielder Shawn Garrett's throw. Mulder ended his outing with his third strikeout, getting Jamie Burke swinging on a full count.

Four of Oklahoma's five runs were earned, and all of the RedHawks' hits were solid. Two other sharply hit balls were snagged by Memphis fielders -- a line drive to third by Eric Young in the first inning and a sinking liner that right fielder Brian Martin dove to catch in the second.

It was the third rehab start for Mulder since he went on the disabled list on June 21, a day after giving up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings against the White Sox, with an injury described as rotator cuff irritation and impingement in the left shoulder.

Mulder walked the first batter he faced on six pitches and got his first out Young's line drive. Adam Hyzdu lined a single to left, and Burke followed with a two-run double to the warning track in left center, the deepest part of the ballpark at 415 feet.

Young opened the third by walking on a full count, and Arias powered Mulder's 3-1 pitch into the bullpen in left center for his first home run since May 30. The RedHawks made it 5-1 when Aarom Baldiris lined an RBI single to center, but Mulder got out of the inning when Burke was caught in a rundown between third and home.

A healthy Mulder would be a key addition to the Cardinals, who extended their NL Central lead to 3½ games Thursday with a win against second-place Cincinnati.

The winningest pitcher in the majors from 2001-05, Mulder started the year 5-1 and had a 3.69 ERA after throwing 8 1/3 shutout innings against the New York Mets on May 17. But then the struggles started.

Over his next six starts, Mulder had an 11.39 ERA and lost four of his five decisions. He had a 6.09 ERA when he went on the DL.

In his first rehab start, he gave up two runs -- one earned -- in five innings Aug. 6 for Class A Quad Cities. His second rehab start wasn't as smooth. In four innings with Memphis, he gave up four runs on four hits.

Mulder is a free agent at the end of the season.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press