It's doubtful that the second best team in the National League needs good news, but the Cardinals are getting it anyways Monday afternoon as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Chris Carpenter will throw off of a mound either today or tomorrow and could return as early as May 23. This will be the first time the former Cy Young winner has thrown in almost a month, since injuring his oblique against Arizona on April 14. At this point, it's hard to get excited about any potential return point for Carpenter until it actually happens. He looked great all spring and pitched very well in his first two starts this season before his injury, but he's still only made eight appearances since the 2006 World Series. An oblique injury is theoretically less threatening than the arm problems he's faced, but it's still keeping him off the field.
There's no doubting that the Cards could use Carpenter's help if he does ever get healthy. Both rookie Mitchell Boggs and Todd Wellemeyer have looked rough at times this year and really, Kyle Lohse and Joel Piniero have been the best starters for the Cards to this point in the season. That seems like a recipe for trouble down the road, even for a team that's off to a 20-12 start. Of course, counting on Carpenter isn't exactly the best route to success either.
Then again, Mike Hampton's already made six starts this year. I guess anything's possible.
