Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals placed Albert Pujols on the disabled list. This isn't news - Pujols is going to need a lot more than 15 days to recover from a forearm fracture. To take his roster spot, the team recalled Mark Hamilton from triple-A Memphis. Hamilton hasn't hit well in a couple quick Major League trials, but he owns a 1.043 OPS this year with the Redbirds, and should get an occasional look at first base, spelling Lance Berkman.

More significant than Pujols' placement on the DL is his timetable. The initial reports said that Pujols would be out for 4-6 weeks. Joe Strauss says might be a bit optimistic:

Am told Pujols needs 4 weeks in cast but may need longer wait for baseball-related activies. Mid-August return more likely than early Aug.

So Pujols will spend about a month in a cast. Then, rehab and a gradual return to full activity, and Pujols might not return to the Cardinals' lineup until the middle of August. Which is roughly two months away.

It may be reported down the road that Albert Pujols is running behind in his recovery. In truth, it appears initial reports were just a little too sunny.