The Return Of Chris Carpenter

Chris Carpenter To Start Friday For Cardinals

Chris Carpenter will make his first start of the season for the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday against the Houston Astros, according to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com. Carpenter has yet to pitch this season due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and resulting surgery. He was not expected to pitch at all this season, but he will now return the Cardinals rotation just in time for the stretch run.

The Cardinals are 11 games behind the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the National League Central, but they hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second and final National League Wild Card spot after beating them 5-2 on Sunday. A healthy Carpenter could give the Cardinals' rotation a much-needed boost, as Jake Westbrook has been sidelined with an oblique injury and Jaime Garcia has struggled since returning from the disabled list.

Carpenter last pitched in Game Seven of the 2011 World Series, in which he earned the win.

For more news and notes on Cardinals baseball, be sure to read Viva El Birdos.

Cardinals' Chris Carpenter Targeting Next Week For Return

Remember last spring, when everybody said Chris Carpenter wasn't going to pitch this season at all? Well, it looks like he's going to pitch this season. Jenifer Langosch (via MLB.com):

All along, Chris Carpenter kept the secret.

Truth is, when he termed his July 19 surgery as season-ending, Carpenter himself didn't buy into it. When he talked about preparing for 2013, he wasn't ruling out pitching in 2012. What came across as a pitcher resigned to a lost year was one internally challenged by what he knew no one could possibly expect.

--snip--

Yet here he is, one simulated game away from fulfilling the goal that only he had. Barring any surprise development, Carpenter is set to make his season debut next week.

With Jake Westbrook out of action with an oblique injury, Lance Lynn was recently reinserted in the Cardinals' rotation and Lynn -- an All-Star, by the way -- pitched six strong innings against the Dodgers, Thursday night. So management's going to face a tough choice. Will Carpenter take Lynn's place in the rotation? Will Carpenter replace Jaime Garcia, who pitched well in his first start after coming off the DL, but has a 5.82 in his four starts since? Or what about rookie Joe Kelly, who's been consistently good but without the durability for greatness?

If Carpenter really is close to 100 percent, this is one of those proverbial good problems to have.

Chris Carpenter Injury: Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

Chris Carpenter Considering Surgery For Shoulder Woes

Last week, it was revealed that Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter had a rare condition known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Still, at that time it was noted by MLB.com’s Jennifer Langosch that he would try to pitch through it, but now, that’s all changed. Joe Strauss:

The Cardinals and co-ace Chris Carpenter on Monday discussed a second shutdown and the possibility of season-ending surgery due to continued nerve-related shoulder problems that again arose following the pitcher’s most recent side session.

The club scrubbed Carpenter’s scheduled bullpen session Monday and has no timetable for Carpenter’s next session, according to a club source. Carpenter visited Dallas-based specialist Dr. Gregory Pearl last Thursday to discuss his alternatives as he confronts thoracic outlet syndrome, a rare condition that compresses nerves and blood vessels in a region between the collarbone and rib cage.

With the All-Star break approaching and no timetable for anything, it would seem that surgery might be Carpenter’s best option; if done soon, he could be ready to pitch again in 2013.

For more on the Cardinals, please visit Viva El Birdos and SB Nation St. Louis.

Chris Carpenter Has Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Cardinals righthander Chris Carpenter has not pitched since the World Series. He had some trouble during spring training and was shut down, and has made tentative steps toward returning, only to have a setback each time. Now, there appears to be yet another setback:

Carp diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Will attempt to pitch through it, then likely undergo offseason procedure, says GM Mozeliak.

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) June 29, 2012

Personally, I had no idea what this was before I saw this tweet. Off to the Google, whose first result is from the US National Library of Medicine:

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a rare condition that involves pain in the neck and shoulder, numbness and tingling of the fingers, and a weak grip. The thoracic outlet is the area between the rib cage and collar bone.

All right, now we’re getting somewhere. What’s the prognosis?

Having the first rib removed and the fibrous bands broken may relieve symptoms in certain patients. Surgery can be successful in 50% to 80% of patients. Conservative approaches using physical therapy are helpful for many patients.

None of this sounds good. I am not a doctor (obviously), but that link doesn’t seem to indicate any swift return to the pitching mound for Carpenter.

For more on the Cardinals, please visit Viva El Birdos and SB Nation St. Louis.

Chris Carpenter Feels 'Weakness' In Shoulder

If you'll recall, Chris Carpenter has been out of action for a very long time. He's very slowly been building himself back up, and Monday he was set to throw to hitters. If that throwing session went well, the Cardinals thought about sending him on a minor-league rehab assignment. Carpenter hasn't been close to coming back, but he's been making progress.

Unfortunately, Monday's throwing session didn't go well, in that it didn't go at all.

Carpenter will not face hitters today as scheduled. Felt "weakness," per Matheny. Will have schedule set when #Cardinals return home.

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) June 25, 2012

So this is a setback of unknown severity. Based on the reaction, it isn't thought to be terrible news, but it's unwelcome news that pushes back Carpenter's expected date of return. He'll throw soon, and in the meantime the Cardinals will do their best to remain in the race with a depleted rotation. Kyle Lohse posting a sub-3 ERA certainly doesn't hurt.

Chris Carpenter Throws Off Mound

The Cardinals ace threw 26 pitches off a mound Wednesday, but don't look for him back any time soon.

Chris Carpenter Hopes To Throw Off Mound This Week

When the Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter was first diagnosed with nerve irritation in his shoulder, he and the team both hoped he could return by May.

May has come and gone. It’s almost mid-June. He’s still not back and there’s still no timetable. But there is news! Joe Strauss:

Chris Carpenter will return to the mound later this week for the first time since mid-March, barring a setback in a strength-and-conditioning program to support a right shoulder affected by a nerve disorder.

Carpenter said Sunday the Cardinals’ training staff has yet to provide a specific day for his first bullpen throw but that he expects it to occur during the team’s current homestand.

Carpenter has been throwing off flat ground. So he’s making progress. The article quotes him as saying he’s been making “huge steps”, but there is still no specific date anticipated for his return. The Cardinals could use him, but they’ll have to be patient.

For more on the Cardinals, please visit Viva El Birdos and SB Nation St. Louis.

Chris Carpenter Undergoing 'Battery Of Tests' As Part Of Recovery

The headline seems scarier than it is. A battery of tests is rarely a good thing. All it would take is one activist judge to change the definition and make it an "assault of tests," and that would really sound scary. But Chris Carpenter is undergoing tests as a scheduled part of his recovery process.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Carpenter has been back in St. Louis doing his rehab work at Busch Stadium since the team left Florida late last Wednesday night. His work has consisted of strengthening exercises, ones that he's had to do to rebuild the shoulder.

This week's tests are designed to measure his improvement.

Doctors also will test the nerves that led to the weakness during spring.

The goal for his return is still May, though the Cardinals and doctors have been reticent to provide an exact date for obvious reasons. This is a little more ambiguous than a hamstring pull or something similar, so the Cardinals are going to make sure that Carpenter's discomfort is completely gone before they start him on a throwing program.

Mozeliak: Chris Carpenter Could Return In May

Chris Carpenter came down with a nerve/shoulder problem early in Cardinals camp. There's no truth to the rumor that he tagged Adam Wainwright, WWE-style, before entering the trainer's room. The Cards were rightfully concerned that Carpenter might be gone for a long, long time. It'd be tough for the Cardinals to succeed without both of their aces, especially in the playoffs. This year, for sure.

But via Tim McKernan, we have an update from Cards GM John Mozeliak:

Mo: If Carpenter had to pitch today, he could pitch. But, he's just not comfortable. I'm optimistic that sometime in May he'll be ready.

— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) March 30, 2012

Well, I'm guessing that's referring to John Mozeliak. Could be Mariano Rivera weighing in. Or Mo Vaughn! But probably Mozeliak.

It's worth remembering that Carpenter was running on fumes and gumption oil for the last month of the season, and that extra month would be hard on every pitcher. An older, somewhat-dinged pitcher like Carpenter even more so.

Cardinals Not Planning To Seek External Replacement For Chris Carpenter

In 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals were without ace Adam Wainwright, but they had ace Chris Carpenter. In 2012, the St. Louis Cardinals will have ace Adam Wainwright, but ace Chris Carpenter is out indefinitely. Carpenter has nerve irritation that's making his shoulder feel weak, and while he's dealt with this in years past, he doesn't have a recovery timetable. The Cardinals and Carpenter will have to wait and see, and we could be talking about a few months.

For whatever it's worth, surgery is not currently an option. Still, the Cardinals are expected to contend, and Carpenter's absence is a blow. Yet for now they're comfortable replacing Carpenter with Lance Lynn. Jenifer Langosch:

Mozeliak does not anticipate looking externally for a different starter, meaning that the club is confident that Lynn, who pitched as a starter in the Minors, is ready to handle the job at the highest level.

As with all official statements, this one is subject to change. Maybe Lynn doesn't look very good, or maybe Carpenter has trouble coming back. Then it would make sense for the Cardinals to evaluate all options, internal and external. They'll put their trust in Lynn for the time being, though, and he was good over 12 starts in triple-A last season. He won't be Chris Carpenter, but he could do the job.

Chris Carpenter Injury: Out Indefinitely With Shoulder Problem

First it was a bulging disc, but Chris Carpenter still was slated to start on Opening Day for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now, not so much. Carpenter has been re-evaluated in St. Louis, and will be out of action indefinitely with nerve irritation in his pitching shoulder. The good news is that he's dealt with this injury before, and always come back without needing surgery.

Here's GM John Mozeliak, via Stltoday.com's Joe Strauss:

So whether it's rest or some sort of treatment program that we've done in the past to get him back, it does not appear to be... anything surgical or we know that if we have to take that next step, he's done for the year. None of that is on the table."

This could obviously be a lot worse, but it's still a blow to the Cardinals, who were obviously looking forward to having Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in their rotation for the first time since 2010. But Carpenter's struggled with this injury a number of times before, and he did throw 273 innings last season, including the postseason. So maybe we shouldn't be surprised that he's hurt once again.

Carpenter's injury will only renew speculation that the Cardinals might pursue Roy Oswalt, but for now Carpenter's slot in the rotation will be taken by Lance Lynn, who spent most of last season in the bullpen.

For more on the Cardinals and Carpenter, please visit Viva el Birdos.

Chris Carpenter Injury: Cardinals Pitcher Returns To St. Louis To Be Examined

St. Louis Cardinals righthander Chris Carpenter had thrown live batting practice on Sunday and the team had hoped that he might still be ready to start on Opening Day April 4 against the Marlins.

Unfortunately, now that seems less likely than ever. Joe Strauss:

Carpenter resumed a throw program last week and appeared to work without discomfort during Sunday’s session against hitters. But as the Cardinals headed north to play the Atlanta Braves and Astros on a two-day trip, Carpenter felt renewed pain while trying to toss on Monday.

“His arm just didn’t respond,” manager Mike Matheny said.

Carpenter headed back to St. Louis Tuesday to be examined further. Lance Lynn takes over Carpenter’s spot in the rotation, for now, and it appears that Kyle Lohse will make the April 4 start, which would be his second Opening Day start for the Cardinals (he also started the Cards’ opener in 2008).

For more on the Cardinals and Carpenter, please visit Viva el Birdos.

Chris Carpenter Injury: Cardinals Unveil Plan B

Given the concerns about Chris Carpenter's disc injury, the Cardinals are preparing another pitcher to assume Carpenter's spot in the starting rotation.

Chris Carpenter's Injury A Bulging Cervical Disc, According To Report

There's good news and bad news for St. Louis Cardinals fans waiting to hear more about Chris Carpenter's mysterious neck injury. The good news is that Carpenter did not suffer nerve damage in his neck. The bad news, however, is Carpenter was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc.

The report comes from Joe Strauss:

While u wait: Carpenter diagnosed w/bulging cervical disc. Not nearly as bad as nerve damage. Club yet to decide when he resumes throwing.

— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) March 11, 2012

Carpenter has been undergoing a battery of tests while bouncing around between doctors in an effort to find what's been causing his persistent neck pain, and it appears the Cardinals have finally found an answer. Of all the things his injury could have been, a bulging disc is on the mild side. The fact that the team does not have a timetable for his return, or even when he may start throwing on the side, gives reason for worry, with a lot depending on how he heals from the bulging disc.

For more on the Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos and SB Nation St. Louis.

Chris Carpenter Injury: Cardinals Righthander To Be 'Re-Evaluated'

The Cardinals ace is going to miss an unspecified length of time with an unspecified neck problem. Being specific, this cannot be good news for the team.