most outlets still have game up with williams, look for it to be taken down soon and re-lined..
========
SAN DIEGO - Trying to concentrate on what they have rather than what they lack - specifically, a solid, healthy starting rotation - the Cardinals begin the second half of the season Friday night against the San Diego Padres holding a wish list but unable to exercise a deal.
The Cardinals are prepared to activate once-forsaken Andy Benes from the disabled list before next Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers while at the same time virtually conceding that Woody Williams will be shut down with a strained muscle in his left side.
Asked about Benes' comeback, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, "It's a compliment to Andy to have done well enough to get this opportunity. But the real compliment he needs is to do something with it."
Benes, who declined to sign retirement papers handed to him by the club on April 17, received a call from Jocketty on Wednesday after being knocked around in a rehab assignment for Class A Potomac. Benes' 60-day rehab was scheduled to end Saturday, but the Cardinals thought it more important to make him available for next Tuesday's start against the Los Angeles Dodgers than to make another rehab start.
Benes last faced major-league hitters April 15 in Phoenix. He allowed 10 runs (three earned) in three innings and subsequently landed on the disabled list due to an arthritic right knee. The knee is still arthritic and his ERA is still 10.80. It is the Cardinals rotation that has seen its status decline.
"At the beginning of June," Benes said, "I had no idea what the situation was going to be in the middle of July. I didn't know if I was down there with a legitimate shot at getting back and helping the team or going down there to be an encouragement to somebody. A lot happened in the 40 days I was there."
Jason Simontacchi, Travis Smith and Bud Smith own 15 major-league wins. Benes hasn't won since last summer.
Williams probably will be placed on the disabled list before next Tuesday. A starting rotation composed of two rookies, winless second-year starter Bud Smith, Benes returning from a three-month exile and struggling ace Matt Morris will be asked to maintain the lead until reinforcements can be found.
Some believe the staff is more vulnerable now than when it needed 10 different starting pitchers to escape April.
"People are going to have to step up," La Russa said. "It's already happened with some of these guys. And that's exactly what this is: an opportunity to step up."
Said pitching coach Dave Duncan, "We were vulnerable in April. Now, we have to focus simply on winning our next game. First you think about how Jason Simontacchi can win (tonight), then you think about how Matt Morris can win Saturday and Bud Smith on Sunday.
"Right now, we don't have the luxury of looking past each day's game."
Benes refers this season as "a couple of bizarre situations" yet feels his time spent at Memphis worthwhile. Rather than drop in every fifth day to make his start, he stayed with the Redbirds, hoping to contribute both on and off the field.
The Cardinals decided on Thursday to not make a roster move now, but Jocketty acknowledges Williams is expected to miss at least his next two starts with Benes appearing in his place.
"It makes it a lot tougher to win," Jocketty said. "We can't afford to make too many mistakes. Depending on how many starts Woody misses, the situation becomes more critical."
The Cardinals want to acquire a veteran pitcher. They covet Cleveland Indians lefthander Chuck Finley.
Jocketty's efforts to acquire proven starting pitching have been complicated by an arm injury to top pitching prospect Jimmy Journell, a lack of organizational depth and attempts by potential trade partners to leverage a first-place team in obvious need.
Fifth in the league in ERA (3.84) but still overly reliant on their bullpen, the Cardinals hoped to add an arm over the All-Star break, but it was the second-place Cincinnati Reds who helped themselves Thursday by dealing outfielder Juan Encarnacion and others for Florida Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Dempster.
The Cardinals open the second half Friday night with Simontacchi making his 11th major-league start. Morris, winless in his last three outings at Busch Stadium, starts Saturday, followed by Bud Smith trying for his first win in nine starts Sunday.
"We have several question marks," Jocketty said. "We have two guys, Bud Smith and Andy Benes, who might very well solve part of our problem. But they may not. Travis Smith has pitched well along with Jason Simontacchi. I've spent most of the last few days on the phone talking to clubs and people are familiar with our situation. So they're not exactly bending over backwards to help us.
"If anything, it's been close to impossible. I haven't given up hope, but it's going to take a little longer than we had expected to get a deal done."
Jocketty has failed to make a deal with the Baltimore Orioles for Scott Erickson, who is 0-6 in his last 12 starts. Industry sources indicate the momentum that once existed for Toronto Blue Jays starters Esteban Loaiza and Chris Carpenter has recently slowed.
While Cardinals general partner Bill DeWitt Jr. has freed Jocketty to pursue whatever help he believes appropriate, no deal has been taken to DeWitt for his approval.
The Cardinals made a low-visibility move by signing free-agent pitcher Nerio Rodriguez following his release by the Cleveland Indians. Rodriguez, a converted catcher, debuted with the Orioles in 1998 but has stagnated. He will assume Benes' spot in the Memphis rotation.
========
SAN DIEGO - Trying to concentrate on what they have rather than what they lack - specifically, a solid, healthy starting rotation - the Cardinals begin the second half of the season Friday night against the San Diego Padres holding a wish list but unable to exercise a deal.
The Cardinals are prepared to activate once-forsaken Andy Benes from the disabled list before next Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers while at the same time virtually conceding that Woody Williams will be shut down with a strained muscle in his left side.
Asked about Benes' comeback, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, "It's a compliment to Andy to have done well enough to get this opportunity. But the real compliment he needs is to do something with it."
Benes, who declined to sign retirement papers handed to him by the club on April 17, received a call from Jocketty on Wednesday after being knocked around in a rehab assignment for Class A Potomac. Benes' 60-day rehab was scheduled to end Saturday, but the Cardinals thought it more important to make him available for next Tuesday's start against the Los Angeles Dodgers than to make another rehab start.
Benes last faced major-league hitters April 15 in Phoenix. He allowed 10 runs (three earned) in three innings and subsequently landed on the disabled list due to an arthritic right knee. The knee is still arthritic and his ERA is still 10.80. It is the Cardinals rotation that has seen its status decline.
"At the beginning of June," Benes said, "I had no idea what the situation was going to be in the middle of July. I didn't know if I was down there with a legitimate shot at getting back and helping the team or going down there to be an encouragement to somebody. A lot happened in the 40 days I was there."
Jason Simontacchi, Travis Smith and Bud Smith own 15 major-league wins. Benes hasn't won since last summer.
Williams probably will be placed on the disabled list before next Tuesday. A starting rotation composed of two rookies, winless second-year starter Bud Smith, Benes returning from a three-month exile and struggling ace Matt Morris will be asked to maintain the lead until reinforcements can be found.
Some believe the staff is more vulnerable now than when it needed 10 different starting pitchers to escape April.
"People are going to have to step up," La Russa said. "It's already happened with some of these guys. And that's exactly what this is: an opportunity to step up."
Said pitching coach Dave Duncan, "We were vulnerable in April. Now, we have to focus simply on winning our next game. First you think about how Jason Simontacchi can win (tonight), then you think about how Matt Morris can win Saturday and Bud Smith on Sunday.
"Right now, we don't have the luxury of looking past each day's game."
Benes refers this season as "a couple of bizarre situations" yet feels his time spent at Memphis worthwhile. Rather than drop in every fifth day to make his start, he stayed with the Redbirds, hoping to contribute both on and off the field.
The Cardinals decided on Thursday to not make a roster move now, but Jocketty acknowledges Williams is expected to miss at least his next two starts with Benes appearing in his place.
"It makes it a lot tougher to win," Jocketty said. "We can't afford to make too many mistakes. Depending on how many starts Woody misses, the situation becomes more critical."
The Cardinals want to acquire a veteran pitcher. They covet Cleveland Indians lefthander Chuck Finley.
Jocketty's efforts to acquire proven starting pitching have been complicated by an arm injury to top pitching prospect Jimmy Journell, a lack of organizational depth and attempts by potential trade partners to leverage a first-place team in obvious need.
Fifth in the league in ERA (3.84) but still overly reliant on their bullpen, the Cardinals hoped to add an arm over the All-Star break, but it was the second-place Cincinnati Reds who helped themselves Thursday by dealing outfielder Juan Encarnacion and others for Florida Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Dempster.
The Cardinals open the second half Friday night with Simontacchi making his 11th major-league start. Morris, winless in his last three outings at Busch Stadium, starts Saturday, followed by Bud Smith trying for his first win in nine starts Sunday.
"We have several question marks," Jocketty said. "We have two guys, Bud Smith and Andy Benes, who might very well solve part of our problem. But they may not. Travis Smith has pitched well along with Jason Simontacchi. I've spent most of the last few days on the phone talking to clubs and people are familiar with our situation. So they're not exactly bending over backwards to help us.
"If anything, it's been close to impossible. I haven't given up hope, but it's going to take a little longer than we had expected to get a deal done."
Jocketty has failed to make a deal with the Baltimore Orioles for Scott Erickson, who is 0-6 in his last 12 starts. Industry sources indicate the momentum that once existed for Toronto Blue Jays starters Esteban Loaiza and Chris Carpenter has recently slowed.
While Cardinals general partner Bill DeWitt Jr. has freed Jocketty to pursue whatever help he believes appropriate, no deal has been taken to DeWitt for his approval.
The Cardinals made a low-visibility move by signing free-agent pitcher Nerio Rodriguez following his release by the Cleveland Indians. Rodriguez, a converted catcher, debuted with the Orioles in 1998 but has stagnated. He will assume Benes' spot in the Memphis rotation.
