Beyond the basic medical report
provided by the team, the commentary and ratings are mine.
Green = player progressing toward return on his
predefined schedule
Yellow = status unclear – return timing
undefined
Red
= new problem -
impact unknown
Starting
pitchers
* Joel Pineiro - right shoulder
capsulitis - throwing a bullpen Wednesday.
Commentary: The club is taking it
slowly with Pineiro. With Kyle Lohse in house, there is less pressure to push
it. Pineiro still has just one spring game appearance. Code =
yellow.
* Matt Clement - recovery from right
shoulder surgery - throwing a pitchers practice on Thursday, March 20.
Commentary: Still no target for
game action. Not expected to be ready for the start of the season, nor is it yet
clear what the Cardinals really have in Clement. Code =
yellow.
* Mark Mulder - recovery from left
shoulder surgery - threw a bullpen Wednesday.
Commentary: All the words are
positive. Will start the season on the disabled list. A rehab assignment prior
to a May return seems a plausible scenario. Code = green.
* Chris Carpenter - recovery from right
elbow surgery - scheduled for bullpen session Wednesday.
Commentary: Seemingly on track for
a midseason return. Code =
green.
Relief
pitchers
* Josh Kinney - recovery from right elbow
surgery - threw a bullpen Wednesday.
Commentary: Was said to be
slightly behind Mulder in terms of schedule. Like the rotation, the bullpen
could be crowded. Has options remaining, so not inconceivable that he could be
asked to start in Memphis and perhaps remain past a normal 30-day rehab period if required. Code = green.
* Tyler Johnson - left shoulder
tendonitis - will be examined by Dr. George Paletta on Thursday, March
20.
Commentary: Little is known as to
the severity of this and when Johnson could be expected back. Hopefully, it will
become clearer later this week, but starting the season on the DL seems
determined already. Code =
yellow.
Outfielder
* Juan Gonzalez - left abdominal strain -
MRI was normal, will take BP Wednesday.
Commentary: Juan is running out of
time to unseat Rule 5 pick Brian Barton, who appears to be in the lead for the
fifth and final outfield position on the Cardinals. Whether or not Gonzalez
would report to Triple-A Memphis remains unclear. Code =
yellow.
Brian Walton can be reached via
email at brwalton@earthlink.net.
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