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**BigRedChief** · 07-30-2008, 06:48 AM

Carp is back tonight. Should be a good team to get the first start against. I'm not looking for a lot tonight. He's got to be rusty.

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Carpenter is back one year plus five days after undergoing an elbow ligament transplant. Club officials agree with La Russa's assessment that it would be preferable for Carpenter to make one or two more rehab appearances. But since a perfect world is unavailable, Carpenter assumes the slot previously held by several rookie arms — less than 24 hours before Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline passes.

"Friday night after the game I figured they were going to ask me to do it. And I'm OK with that," Carpenter said.

"I look at it as he's returning to the rotation ready to pitch, ready to help us contend," pitching coach Dave Duncan said.

With Carpenter, the Cardinals have enjoyed 105- and 100-win seasons and captured a World Series in a third. Without him, they flamed out in 2003 and suffered a 78-win finish last season.

General manager John Mozeliak likens Carpenter's return to a major trade deadline acquisition. Though others within the organization react coolly to such a comparison, all agree that Carpenter offers a better chance to make an impact than lefthander Mark Mulder, who lasted 16 pitches in his comeback from rotator cuff surgery May 9 in Philadelphia.

"I'm excited to go out there and compete again and have fun," said Carpenter, who has won 51 of 94 starts since signing with the Cardinals as a non-tendered free agent coming off shoulder surgery in December 2002. "I've been looking forward to this date for a long, long time — a year-and-a-half. I'm most happy my arm feels good and I'm happy I'm going to be back to help the club win. I'm happy that hopefully I'm past all this stuff and I can look forward to the future without having to deal with it."

Carpenter, 33, has celebrated two birthdays since his last start and missed more time since last opening day than he did while requiring two shoulder operations, in September 2002 and July 2003.

Carpenter was disappointed with command of his fastball in a four-inning appearance at lace w:st="on">Springfieldlace> on July 20. After what he considered two unsatisfactory innings last Friday, Carpenter "pulled back" and became more comfortable with his command during his final 3 2/3 innings. He also experienced less stiffness after the lace w:st="on">Memphislace> assignment.

"I'm excited by that," Carpenter said. "I don't know what they're going to do (tonight), but we'll see. I told Tony I feel I definitely can compete here."

07-30-2008, 06:48 AM	#652
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-711038 VARSITY	Carp is back tonight. Should be a good team to get the first start against. I'm not looking for a lot tonight. He's got to be rusty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carpenter is back one year plus five days after undergoing an elbow ligament transplant. Club officials agree with La Russa's assessment that it would be preferable for Carpenter to make one or two more rehab appearances. But since a perfect world is unavailable, Carpenter assumes the slot previously held by several rookie arms — less than 24 hours before Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline passes. "Friday night after the game I figured they were going to ask me to do it. And I'm OK with that," Carpenter said. "I look at it as he's returning to the rotation ready to pitch, ready to help us contend," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. With Carpenter, the Cardinals have enjoyed 105- and 100-win seasons and captured a World Series in a third. Without him, they flamed out in 2003 and suffered a 78-win finish last season. General manager John Mozeliak likens Carpenter's return to a major trade deadline acquisition. Though others within the organization react coolly to such a comparison, all agree that Carpenter offers a better chance to make an impact than lefthander Mark Mulder, who lasted 16 pitches in his comeback from rotator cuff surgery May 9 in Philadelphia. "I'm excited to go out there and compete again and have fun," said Carpenter, who has won 51 of 94 starts since signing with the Cardinals as a non-tendered free agent coming off shoulder surgery in December 2002. "I've been looking forward to this date for a long, long time — a year-and-a-half. I'm most happy my arm feels good and I'm happy I'm going to be back to help the club win. I'm happy that hopefully I'm past all this stuff and I can look forward to the future without having to deal with it." Carpenter, 33, has celebrated two birthdays since his last start and missed more time since last opening day than he did while requiring two shoulder operations, in September 2002 and July 2003. Carpenter was disappointed with command of his fastball in a four-inning appearance at lace w:st="on">Springfieldlace> on July 20. After what he considered two unsatisfactory innings last Friday, Carpenter "pulled back" and became more comfortable with his command during his final 3 2/3 innings. He also experienced less stiffness after the lace w:st="on">Memphislace> assignment. "I'm excited by that," Carpenter said. "I don't know what they're going to do (tonight), but we'll see. I told Tony I feel I definitely can compete here." __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
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