Two weeks ago, which was the last time the Cardinals packed their bags to go on a weeklong trip, center fielder Colby Rasmus found himself answering questions about off-field items, such as his previous requests to be traded and his relationship with manager Tony La Russa, rather than what he was doing in the batter's box.

At the time, Rasmus, just back a few days from a calf strain that cost him a couple of weeks of starts, was hitting .264 with 19 homers and 54 runs batted in. That was an OK season at that point, but in the two weeks since the furor, capped by Rasmus' two-hit, two-run, one-homer day on Sunday, the 24-year-old, second-year player has hit .382 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

"I view it like I wished we hadn't missed him for two or three weeks," said La Russa, referring to the time Rasmus was out, which roughly corresponded with the Cardinals' fall from first place and virtually out of the National League Central Division race.

One of La Russa's issues with Rasmus has been the latter's concentration level. The manager is seeing an improvement there.

"His concentration is on-time the whole game," La Russa said. "He's been relentless at the plate, which is one of the things you see as one of the hallmarks of success for Albert (Pujols) and Matt (Holliday) and guys who hit for a high average. They don't throw at-bats away.

"(Rasmus) has been grinding every at-bat. And he's been productive."

After the Cardinals had beaten the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Sunday at Busch Stadium, Rasmus conceded he might be playing more relaxed since tension heightened two weeks ago.

"I guess you could say that," he said. "I realized some things. Just go out there and play the game and don't worry about any of that stuff. That's not going to help and it's not going to help the team.

"Since then, I get along with everybody fine."

Rasmus suffered his right calf injury Aug. 15 but he believed another injury, when he fouled a ball off his shin the day before, made him favor his leg and induced the calf problem.

From Aug. 15, when Rasmus had to come out of the game in the fifth inning, until Aug. 30, Rasmus didn't make a start. Counting the Aug. 15 game, the Cardinals went 4-9, with five of those losses in seven games coming at Washington and Pittsburgh.

"I definitely didn't want to be out," Rasmus said. "And I definitely didn't like sitting around and watching what was going on, as far as our struggles. I got back in there and I've been trying to do the best I can."

As a rookie, Rasmus hit .251 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs, and he stressed himself so much about how he was perceived in the clubhouse and by his manager and if he was fulfilling the lofty expectations that his gastrointestinal health suffered, and he lost about 25 pounds at one point.

"I put way too much stress on my body that shouldn't have been there," he said.

This year, with not as much stress until the incident a couple of weeks ago, Rasmus had lost fewer than 10 pounds from his opening-day weight of 200.

In both years, Rasmus said he learned one of the keys to survival "is not letting things get to me that shouldn't. When it comes down to it, just wipe all that stuff clean.

"That's what I've got do moving forward. If anything happens, just let it go by like water off a duck's back."

Rasmus can be quiet and admitted he has "put up his guard" sometimes. "People don't understand me, but I think through time, people have gotten to know me better and I've gotten to know them better," Rasmus said.

The numbers now are .279, 23 homers and 64 RBIs. "To be honest with you, I'm happy with where I am this year, with all things considered," Rasmus said.

At least one area Rasmus said he would like to improve would be his run production hitting behind Pujols and Holliday. Rasmus, when batting fifth, often has hit with two outs and men in scoring position, His average in those situations is just .222.

"I like hitting behind the big guys, coming up in those spots," he said. "But it's been tough this year. I haven't hit, especially with those two guys on base all the time. I haven't got near the RBIs."

Two weeks remain, and if the Cardinals don't make the postseason Rasmus said he was looking forward to spending time at the beach with his family, which includes a baby. Until then ...

"I'm just going to play the game hard, play the game right and all that stuff on the side ... try to leave it wherever. Just play the game the way I have been the last two weeks."