MLB: Cardinals' Carpenter could return next week
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter is preparing to return to a major-league mound next week.
So much for the idea that the right-hander was lost for the season.
Assuming no setbacks occur during a scheduled 90-pitch simulated game on Saturday, Carpenter could be ready as early as Thursday against the Astros at Busch Stadium.
Carpenter, 37, had surgery July 19 to alleviate the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, but has progressed quicker than expected.
"Gotta love surprises," general manager John Mozeliak told MLB.com earlier this week.
Carpenter logged 273 1/3 innings during St. Louis's 2011 World Series Championship season. Before he could ramp up during spring training, he was shut down with numbness and weakness in his shoulder, arm and neck.
After resting for three months, Carpenter's short-lived return led to a visit to a specialist, who recommended surgery.
Carpenter could join Adam Wainwright at the top of a rotation that had posted a 5.91 ERA from Aug. 24 through Sept. 10. The team has gone 7-12 during that span, as they look to secure one of the two National League wild-card slots.
"I think everybody that knows Chris Carpenter and has been around him and knows how competitive he is, knows he will bring some excitement to the club," Mozeliak said. "I think anybody who has ever been on the DL knows that contributing as a cheerleader is hard. The most respected players in the game carry some weight. But being active and being a live contributor just adds to your credibility."
---The document signed by Pete Rose that details his banishment from Major League baseball is among the sports memorabilia scheduled to be auctioned off next month, according to an ESPN.com report.
Signed Aug. 23, 1989 by "Peter Edward Rose," along with then commissioner A. Bart Giamatti and deputy commissioner Fay Vincent, the five-page document describes the sanctions Rose agreed to when he accepted his punishment from the sport.
Auctioneer Ken Goldin told ESPN.com that he feel the artifact will fetch more than the $996,000 paid in 2005 for the 1919 pact that sent Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees.
"I feel this is the most important document in baseball history," said Goldin, of Goldin Auctions, which will auction the document starting Oct. 10.
The agreement stipulated that Rose be placed on the "Ineligible List," though he would be permitted to apply for reinstatement.
A day after the agreement was signed, Giamatti announced that Rose had "engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences." Giamatti died eight days later.
Rose applied for reinstatement in 1992 and 1997, but remains banned. In his 2004 autobiography, "My Prison Without Bars," Rose publicly admitted to betting on baseball while managing the Reds, but claimed he never bet against the team.
Other items in the auction are a 1951 set of used and autographed sparring gloves from Rocky Marciano, a 1934 Yankees team signed baseball, a Ty Cobb game-used bat and a Michael Jordan American Express card.
---The Baltimore Orioles released reliever Kevin Gregg on Friday. He designated for assignment earlier in the week. The 34-year-old posted a 4.74 ERA in 43 2/3 innings for the Orioles, in 40 appearances.
---The Kansas City Royals recalled outfielder Jason Bourgeois from Triple-A Omaha. Bourgeois batted .333 in 19 big-league games this season.
