Carpenter to DL; Perez, Boggs on way from Memphis
The Cardinals will put starting pitcher Chris Carpenter on the disabled list before this afternoon’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, initiating a series of moves that could include a fresh look at outside availability.
Though no moves have yet been made official, manager Tony La Russa recently informed reliever Brad Thompson of his option to Triple-A Memphis. Subtracting Thompson assures the club will make at least two moves to compensate for Carpenter’s loss after he suffered a strained left oblique while batting in the top of Tuesday’s fourth inning. Carpenter experienced increased discomfort while warming before the inning’s bottom half and was removed. The Cardinals are soon expected to announce the promotion of former closer candidate Chris Perez and starter Mitch Boggs from Memphis.
Logistics are a problem, since the candidates need to get from Memphis to Phoenix before today’s 2:40 p.m. first pitch. Carpenter, meanwhile, is scheduled to return to St. Louis tonight in order to be examined by team doctors.
Club officials remain reluctant to project how long Carpenter will be out; however, those familiar with the team’s history of oblique injuries are conceding Carpenter’s absence for at least six weeks. His extended down time may lead the team to renew its search for free agent or trade options. It is unclear whether that search could extend to Pedro Martinez, whom the club briefly entertained as possible closer candidate. Martinez, last seen hurling for Team Dominicana in the World Baseball Classic, doused the interest by insisting he would not sign for less than $5 million.
The identity of Sunday’s starter against the Chicago Cubs is not yet known. Boggs would be a logical choice but may be needed earlier in the series to protect a bullpen depleted during Tuesday night’s 7-6 loss. If Thompson is optioned, there is no obvious “innings” reliever.
Kyle McClellan also represents an option for Sunday night’s start.
More should become available later as Derrick Goold reports from Phoenix. The wildly popular Joe Strauss Live!!! is also set for 1 p.m. today.
(15 votes, average: 3.4 out of 5)
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After reading the comments from the Cubs fan, all I really have to say is…”10 RINGS”….When the Chubs win one, come talk on our blog. the Chubs payroll is $300million and they still can’t win. 10 RINGS BABY! WE will have number 11 this year.
good news is that hopefully Perez will be closer now
Cubs fans always forget karma. Maybe, just maybe, the reason why their team hasn’t won since reports of ballgames routinely were filed by carrier pigeon is their strutting, in-your-FACE, spoiled brat entitlement attitude.
“Wahhh, we haven’t won for so long, it’s our turn!”
Maybe if you’d be grateful for even making the playoffs, your team might win a game or two.
There’s no such thing as curses, but karma, that’s stone cold real.
“The wildly popular Joe Strauss Live!!! is also set for 1 p.m. today.” Now that’s shameless self-promotion Strauss…
jus friggin wonderful…TRADE FOR HALLADAY!!LOL
Why Boggs? Because he has major league experience? That doesn’t seem to matter with the rookie fielders on the team. PJ Walters out pitched Boggs all spring training and again in his first AAA start. Where is his chance?
I imagine that Boggs will end up being used before Sunday and as a result he will ride the shuttle back to Memphis in favor of a Walters or Hawksworth start on Sunday night. I can’t see them using McClellan who is showing himself to be a one inning pitcher and who is not stretched out.
Trading out Brad Thompson for Chris Perez dramatically improves the bullpen.
The next move I would like to see made is DFA’ing Brendan Ryan and calling up Allen Craig. Despite our winning record vs. lefties, the offense has not been very good against southpaws and the Cards could really use another right handed bat.
Yeh, I kind of thought PJ Walters would get the call, given the great spring he had. What I want to know is why in sam hill did Tony blow through virtually the entire bullpen last night? If he was going to use Brad Thompson anyway–and he IS on the team to be the long reliever, no?–then why didn’t he come in the 4th inning and pitch 3 or 4? I like Brad much better as a middle reliever than as a late reliever. And McClellan does seem to be only a one inning guy, so he’s better at the back end. I also don’t understand bringing up Perez and optioning Thompson, since it is more likely than ever that we will need someone to eat innings, given that we’ve got a rookie coming up to start for at least 6 weeks (or roughly 8 starts). I want Perez to have his chance as much as anyone, but this doesn’t seem like the right time to bring him up, imho.
I FEEL SORRY FOR THOMPSON THE GUY IS A GOOD PITCHER AND IT SEEMS EVERY TIME THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING HE GETS SHUFFLED AROUND. IF I WAS HIM I’D BE DISGRUNTLED. BUT I BELIEVE HE HAS DISPLAYED A LOT OF CLASS IN THE PAST AND I’M SURE EVEN AS DISAPPOINTED AS HE PROBABLY IS HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I WISH HIM LUCK AND WHEN HE FINALLY HOOKS UP WITH A TEAM THAT WILL USE HIM PROPERLY WATCH OUT CARDINALS. THAT’S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
Here we go again. I knew that the discussion by Bernie, Burwell and company yesterday on the radio about how great our rotation was but that we could not afford an injury would jinx things. Here’s hoping that Chris isn’t one and done again this year.