Cardinals third baseman David Freese says he still anticipates an imminent return from the right ankle bruise that has bothered him for more than a month.
Now his left toe might have something to say about that.
Before Tuesday's game, Freese revealed a toe still discolored and bruised from an accident Sunday in which a 75-pound weight landed on his foot while he worked out in the Busch Stadium weight room.
X-rays taken Monday discovered a break in Freese's big toe, which either complicates his return or merely adds another inconvenience, depending on the person asked.
"When I went in there I just thought it was precautionary. I didn't think it was broken," Freese said. "When I went in for (the ankle), I thought the ankle was broken. So it's kind of reversed."
Concern exists that Freese could stress the injured right ankle if he returns too quickly and compensates for a painful toe. The club has confined its description of Freese's ankle injury to a bone bruise; however, there have been repeated references to weakness in the area.
Manager Tony La Russa sounded more reserved than Freese discussing the matter.
Before the weight-room incident the club had projected Freese's return for around the first of August.
No one publicly offered a modified time-line Tuesday but concerns were voiced privately that the accident could set back Freese's return by two to three weeks.
Freese suffered the ankle injury when he got his right foot twisted atop third base June 5.
"He's not that close yet," La Russa noted. "He's feeling better but he's still restricted, limited or however you want to put it. It would've been a bigger 'Oh, no' if he had really been imminent to go on a rehab (assignment). He's still got significant soreness in there."
Freese voiced optimism he still could go on a rehab assignment sometime next week.
Freese returned quickly from the initial injury but found lingering pain prevented him from keeping weight on his right side when swinging. The results were not good and the club finally put him on the disabled list retroactive to June 28.
"It just happens, I guess. It's frustrating. It's disappointing. I'm pulling my hair out sitting around here," said Freese, who has not run since being placed on the disabled list and has temporarily suspended his hitting program. "The only thing that makes it easier is we've been winning. If we were losing a lot more it would be even more difficult."
Freese earned the Cardinals' starting third base job in spring training and enjoyed a solid start to join the conversation for rookie of the year contenders.
He is hitting .296 with four home runs and 36 RBIs in 240 at-bats.
Ludwick's return a success
Cardinals right fielder Ryan Ludwick made a strong impression in Tuesday's first rehab appearance for Triple-A Memphis.
Ludwick, on the disabled list because of a calf strain, connected for a home run in his first plate appearance against the Omaha Royals and finished one for three in the Redbirds' 3-2 victory.
The at-bats were Ludwick's first since he strained the calf June 25 against the Kansas City Royals.
"I know he's not going to be one of those guys who goes down there and half-steps the games," La Russa said. "I know he's really going to get himself ready."
The Cardinals hope to activate Ludwick in time for this weekend's series in Chicago against the Cubs.
Sweet Lou to bow out
Word quickly reached the Cardinals clubhouse that Cubs manager Lou Piniella plans to retire at season's end.
"I know he's not a BS'er,'' La Russa said. "If he said it, he means it. But he can also change his mind, too."
La Russa and Piniella were childhood friends and high-school rivals in Tampa, Fla. They remain close while building cases as Hall of Fame managers. La Russa ranks third in managerial wins.
Piniella, 67, will retire as the game's 14th winningest manager.
The friends opposed each other in the 1990 World Series when Piniella's Cincinnati Reds swept La Russa's Oakland A's.
"I don't really enjoy going against somebody when you really know them well," La Russa said.
Infielder Aaron Miles played for Piniella for parts of two seasons and recalls Piniella as "a great manager to play for. He expects you to play hard and play the game the right way. He doesn't have much patience for mistakes. But I think a lot of him."
Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin broke into the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners when Pineilla managed there. Franklin recalled an uncompromising taskmaster, especially with young players.
"Without a doubt, he took losses harder than any manager who I've ever played for," Franklin said. "He didn't have patience for walks. He didn't have patience for younger guys. If you messed up, he'd let you know it."
IZZY TO CINCY?
Cardinals career saves leader Jason Isringhausen is entertaining an offer from the Cincinnati Reds and his former general manager, Walt Jocketty.
Isringhausen, 37, has not appeared in a game since Aug. 16, 2008. He eventually required arm surgery to repair tendon outside his right elbow.
Jocketty last week signed another former Cardinals reliever, Russ Springer, to a minor-league contract.
Schumaker is Sidelined
La Russa wrote Skip Schumaker into his original lineup but reconsidered due to the second baseman's sore left wrist.
Schumaker hurt himself when the hand folded as he made a strong defensive play in Monday's second inning against Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
"He's really not playable," La Russa said.
Et Cetera
The team's offensive improvement since the All-Star break has done little if anything to alter the manager's perception of the team's needs.
"I haven't seen any changes in what we talked about with the front office about being our priorities," La Russa said.
• Scouts from the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels and Florida Marlins attended Tuesday night's game.
The Orioles and Rays assigned two scouts.
• Cardinals infielder Tyler Greene continues to recover after being hit on the right wrist by a pitch Saturday.
