Former NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter returned to St. Louis this week after complaining of discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow, yet another setback for the injury-plagued pitcher.
Carpenter, who had been throwing to hitters at the team's spring-training complex in Florida, was examined Friday and is likely to get a second opinion - which you know means it was bad news.
"I'm concerned," general manager John Mozeliak said. "If we weren't concerned he would have been in Florida and would have thrown today. He called and told me he was concerned."
The club did not release results of Friday's exam, but the setback apparently is not believed to involve damage to the ligament transplanted near Carpenter's right elbow last July 24.
Mozeliak underscored that the club believes the issue is not "structural" but did not offer further details, pending the second opinion.Carpenter's rehabilitation had been moving along smoothly, and the 2005 Cy Young Award winner was targeting a return in late July or early August. But Carpenter threw to hitters Wednesday and experienced discomfort.
"Could 'Carp' still pitch for us sometime this year? We think so," Mozeliak said. "But will he pitch sometime around the All-Star break like we were hoping? That's not likely."
The typical recovery time for Tommy John surgery is roughly 12 months.
Meanwhile, Cards left-hander Mark Mulder, recovering from two shoulder operations, will begin his second rehab stint on Saturday for Double-A Springfield.
Mulder will throw in the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday while a third pitcher, right-hander Matt Clement, is scheduled to make his second rehab start in the second game. Clement missed all last season following shoulder surgery.
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