Notebook
La Russa: Pujols Is Hindered by Hamstring Strain
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 18, 2006; Page E04
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 17 -- St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said Albert Pujols's power struggles in the playoffs have been caused by a right hamstring strain. La Russa said the injury has also given Pujols problems running the bases, something that could force the manager into some reluctant late-inning strategic decisions.
Should Pujols, who on Tuesday night hit his first home run since Game 1 of the division series against the San Diego Padres, get on base late in the game and the Cardinals are losing, La Russa said he would consider pinch-running for him.
MLB Basics |
"I wouldn't do it in the seventh, but if he gets on in the ninth, you have to think about it," La Russa said.
La Russa said Pujols does not have a tear in the hamstring but just a simple strain that gets treated each day with a heat wrap. The off day because of Monday's rainout seems to have helped.
"Just a day off would help him get better," La Russa said.
Pujols is batting . 294 in the NLCS with two extra-base hits.
Carpenter's Work
Cardinals Game 6 starter Chris Carpenter left early on Tuesday for New York to get rest. Carpenter threw a bullpen session on Monday to work on mechanical problems that have caused him to be inconsistent with his breaking pitches. Carpenter allowed five runs in five innings in Game 2 of the NLCS and did not seem to have control of his heralded breaking pitch.
"His bullpen session was a good session," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "He wasn't happy with the command of his off-speed pitches in the game the other day and he felt like that would be important for him to get a little better feel of it."
La Russa dismissed the possibility that Carpenter, who has thrown 240 innings this season, was tired.
"There's nobody in the major leagues that is a better pitcher than Chris Carpenter," La Russa said. "Even on a night he struggles, he's going to make it work."
La Russa added that if the rotation had been set up right, Carpenter would have been slated to start Games 1, 4 and 7 of the NLCS.
Floyd Uncertain
Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said outfielder Cliff Floyd's status remains uncertain. Floyd, ailing with an injured left Achilles' tendon that will require surgery, pinch-hit Tuesday night, but it's unlikely that he would be able to rejoin the starting lineup.
"If Cliff wants to play he can play," Minaya said. "As far as the game is concerned, that's subjective. It's about who can go out there and play, and play healthy."
Floyd was re-injured in Game 1 while running out of the batter's box on a foul ball. . . .
It's becoming more probable that Orlando Hernandez (injured calf) will join the starting rotation if the Mets reach the World Series.
"With 'El Duque' anything is possible," Minaya said. "Here is a guy that has a long history of being around big games and being around comebacks, just his overall defection from Cuba and coming here."
