Wainwright Rehab Start in Springfield

[dhaab]

Pitched 4.2 innings, 64 pitches. Gave up 3 singles, had 0 walks and struck out 7.
Put him back in the rotation!

[dv6y]

++

[davhaf]

Yes!!!

[yankees suck!]

he pitched a pretty good game. granted it was aa ball. his curve was looking sick though.

[007]

Wainwright's role hinges on Carpenter

CINCINNATI -- Adam Wainwright's Minor League rehabilitation start on Saturday night spurred optimism, even enthusiasm, among the Cardinals. It did not, however, change anything regarding his undetermined role with the Major League club.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan reiterated on Sunday that no decision has been made as to whether Wainwright will start or relieve when he rejoins the Cardinals, which could happen as soon as next weekend. Wainwright is recovering from an injured pulley tendon in his right middle finger.

It's still conceivable Wainwright could start on Friday against the Braves, or at some point over the three-game weekend series at home versus Atlanta. But it also still is possible that Wainwright will pitch as a reliever for St. Louis when he is activated. The primary deciding factor appears to be the pace of Chris Carpenter's recovery from a muscle strain in the back of his shoulder.

"The big thing is getting a feel for where Carpenter's at," Duncan said.

It essentially adds up like this: If the Cardinals believe Carpenter could come back soon, then Wainwright still may be bullpen bound. If Carpenter appears headed for a disabled-list stint of much more than the required 15 days, then Wainwright likely would return as a starter. Wainwright will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, while Carpenter is scheduled to throw on flat ground at Busch Stadium that same day.

Duncan acknowledged it was difficult for him to envision having both right-handers in the starting rotation in the near future.

"It's unlikely," he said. "I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but it's unlikely."

If the Cards decide to use Wainwright as a starter, though, he certainly looks like he's close to being ready. He pitched 4 2/3 brilliant innings for Double-A Springfield, striking out seven without allowing a run, and all the reports were that his pitches were as good as his numbers.

"He was pretty positive, because everything kind of fell into place for him," Duncan said. "He had real good command of his fastball and kept it down. His cutter was real good. His changeup was real good. His breaking ball was good -- he mostly used it in counts where he was looking for chases, and he got chases."

asfasdf

[backstop]

Ugh. Start him.

[dhaab]

Ugh. Start him.

Unreal how Duncan can be SO stubborn about stuff like this. Lohse is back to pitching like the journey man he is and Pineiro is still an average at best pitcher, but God forbid we have both Wainwright and Carp in the rotation together.

[Brummerball]

Especially puzzling given the success Perez has had closing out games.

[backstop]

I don't think it's stubbornness, specifically -- if anything, they're thinking outside the box a bit here, and I appreciate that...just don't necessarily agree with it.

[sketch]

Give him one more rehab start. Why does one decent outing of 65 pitches make him a better starter than Brad Thompson one more time? They can go 4 man for the next turn. Give him one more start of 80 pitches and get him back at close to full. He needs to go to the rotation.

[dhaab]

I don't think it's stubbornness, specifically -- if anything, they're thinking outside the box a bit here, and I appreciate that...just don't necessarily agree with it.

How is it thinking outside the box? He used to be a great closer more than two years ago, but now he's developed into a very good to almost great MLB starting pitcher. The only reason they're even considering putting him in the closer role is because they have major problems making a rookie their closer. IMO, even if Perez was striking out every batter and hadn't allowed a baserunner, they'd still be freaking out at the prospect of putting him in the closer role full time.

[backstop]

I just think most teams would automatically put their best starter back into the rotation.

They keep running Perez out there for the ninth, so they can't be that scared of it.

[Reggie Cleveland]

I just think most teams would automatically put their best starter back into the rotation.

They keep running Perez out there for the ninth, so they can't be that scared of it.

This shit just makes no sense whatever.

Perez is getting the job done. Until he's not, put him back in the freakin' rotation and forget you ever considered not doing it.

Damnation.

[dv6y]

Yeah the only way it makes sense is as you guys are alluding to, that they just cannot accept that Perez is the answer at closer.

[kah]

I just think most teams would automatically put their best starter back into the rotation.

They keep running Perez out there for the ninth, so they can't be that scared of it.

This is why this thread is a lot of worrying over nothing. Carpenter's out. Perez is 4-4 in save opportunities. Wainwright's gonna start.