Mulder Returns to Rotation
DOWNTOWN — Not to be missed amidst a quick burst of roster moves Sunday morning was a tall lefthander striding through the Busch Stadium outfield to do what he hasn’t done in nearly a year.
Mark Mulder was off to throw a bullpen.
Cast as a reliever in his return to majors after two years of rehab from shoulder surgery and several failed attempts to start again, Mulder is back in the rotation, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced Sunday. Mulder will start Wednesday in Philadelphia, his first start since last September and his one start before this summer’s All-Star break.
“He’s starter material and we have a spot in the rotation,” La Russa said a few hours before first pitch of the Cubs-Cardinals series finale. “He’s the guy who fits it best.”
The Cardinals opened a spot in the rotation Sunday morning by optioning out rookie Mitchell Boggs to Triple-A Memphis. Putting Boggs back in the minors and placing Brian Barton on the disabled list — with a hand injury — opened up roster spots for Joe Mather and Cesar Izturis. It also restored the Cardinals’ pitcher-player balance to 12 pitches and 13 position players. Mulder is listed on the lineup card as available from the bullpen Sunday, but he threw an extensive session in the ‘pen to prepare for Wednesday start.
Mulder got a total of four outs in two appearances as a reliever in the majors, and in his first save opportunity he got the first blown save of his career.
But during two rehab assignments in the minor leagues this season, Mulder started exclusively. He went 3-3 with a 6.55 ERA in seven starts. His finest work was down in the Double-A Texas League, where he went 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA for Springfield.
The Cardinals will take only one lefty reliever on the road, Ron Villone.
The lineup for today’s game against the Cubs:
- Joe Mather, LF
- Rick Ankiel, CF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Ryan Ludwick, RF
- Troy Glaus, 3B
- Yadier Molina, C
- Cesar Izturis, SS
- Todd Wellemeyer, RHP
- Brendan Ryan, 2B
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
FYI … you have two RFs. But as always, thanks for the quick info.
If this lineup is held to less then 4 runs, I will be highly surprised. I would much rather see Miles at 2B instead of the struggling Ryan but it’s nice to have Cesar’s defense and occasional clutch hitting back.
I hope we get the good Welle back today! Go Mathers!
I think Ankiel is CF not RF. A typo I’m guessing.
As always DG, thanks for the quick information.
Was there any talk at all about Garcia making a start…or being called up as a LH reliever? I assume not, but just wondering.
Thanks for the information. Pretty good lineup, I believe they will score some runs today. Now if Wellemeyer is right is the question after that last outing.
Kinda top heavy lineup.
This looks much better to me:
Ryan
Ankiel
Pujols
Ludwick
Glaus
Mather
Molina
Wellemeyer
Izturis
As for Mulder coming back, I’m excited about it. Seem to make a lot of sense to see what we have with him before the All-Star break. With Carpenter and Wainwright likely back in early August, it’s not like we’ll stick with him long if he’s not performing. Sure he struggled his last time out, but the Mets were getting a lot of little bloop hits and weak ground balls that just found a hole. I think he’ll do okay.
I have the feeling this is the “trial by fire” time for Mulder. I think it is a good idea…it’s time to figure out what he’s got left in the tank.
Derrick–
He got a save in his first appearance. It was in his second that he got the blown save.
You know, Mulder’s first start coming against Philly has it’s pros and cons…on the con side, he will be facing a very potent lineup (as we learned when they came storming into St. Louis)…but on the pro side, their biggest power threats (Utley and Howard) are lefties…I know Mulder is no lefty specialist, but it is absolutely better than facing a team with RH power threats…Burrell excluded, of course.
glad to see joe mather back though it’s kinda odd he’s batting leadoff today..
though i like the power 1 through 5 in the lineup today..they all can hit it a long way
I think that only one lefty reliever on the road trip is somewhat terrifying news…especially being that it is Villone. Think it is about time to call up Garcia. Things worked pretty well with Perez…
–j9
Can someone explain to me why the players wouldn’t have voted Albert as a reserve to the NL All-Team? I understand the fans not doing so, but forcing Clint Hurdle to put Albert on makes me think that Albert doesn’t get along very well with other players.
Red in Chicago, Mulder did not get a save in his first appearance. The score was 7-1 when he came in (and when he finished). Doesn’t qualify for a save.
May the Lord be with us.
Mark Mulder making a start makes no sense at all. Starting him in Philadelphia? We might as well hang a white flag out of the dugout. He can’t get AAA hitters out anymore, much less ML hitters; his biggest problem was giving up the long ball, so we’re going to start him in a bandbox ballpark?
If he lasts longer than 3 innings and gives up less than 6 ER I’ll be very surprised.
Speaking of giving up six runs, that’s how many runs Garcia gave up today for Memphis in, I think, 4 or 4+ innings. The Redbirds won anyway, 8-6.
Wednesday could get ugly. And I think it’s on national TV.
That it is. ESPN. National TV. Citizens Bank ballpark. Vs. the Broad Street Boppers/Bombers. Whatever nickname you choose. Nice assignment.
Methinks the stars are for the message, not the messenger. Right?
dg
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Hey DG, any word on how Carpenter’s 55 pitch simulated game went today?? Thanks…
Carpenter is one of the pieces of news being tracked today. The others include Matt Clement’s official assignment and the health of Adam Wainwright’s finger. Plus, working on some other stuff for tomorrow’s paper. When there are updates on the three pitchers, I’ll pass them along.
dg
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DG,
I haven’t heard why Haerther was outrighted off the 40 man roster. Was there another move I missed?
I’m going to scrap up every penny i can find and bet on the “over” wednesday night between stl and phi since Mulder is starting, woo hoo!!!!