Ailment gives new outlook for Eldred

ST. LOUIS -- Coming back from elbow surgery that sidelined him for almost two seasons and left him for a time with a rod implant for stabilization gave Cal Eldred a greater appreciation for every pitch he made.

Returning from a potentially life-threatening heart illness gave him a greater appreciation for everything outside of baseball.

"This is a little different. This is not an arm injury or a leg injury that you can rehab," Eldred said. "You appreciate life in general, having the opportunity to be with family and friends, and being a part of a team."

Eldred, 37, was sidelined for three months with myopericarditis, a viral infection that causes inflammation around the heart. He was hospitalized for three days and was in a weakened state for several weeks.

The first time he visited the clubhouse, about a month after being hospitalized, he stood for only minutes at a time before fatigue overcame him. And when he was cleared for activity, it was in baby steps at first.

"It's been a long road," Eldred said. "Some of the guys said it was surprising to them. Because they're playing every day it seems like it's gone quick.

"Well, I know three weeks that went real slow. So it's a good feeling to be back."

Eldred, who was activated for the final game of the interleague series with the Yankees, accompanied the team on a nine-game trip that began Monday night in Toronto and pitched in an inning in the game.

Heading into the trip he had appeared in only two games and pitched only two innings this season, and the last time he was on the mound was the fifth game of the season on April 10.

The going was painfully slow at first, leisurely games of catch really. He showed progress in simulated games, then advanced to three two-inning rehab stints for Class AA Springfield, each of them scoreless and the last on Thursday.

Eldred made the six-hour, round-trip drives to southwest Missouri into a family event rather than a chore, taking his sons C.J., 10, and Luke, 7.

"On the way back I had a lot of time to think about things because the boys were sleeping," Eldred said. "On the way down, we did a lot of talking.

"I'm never going to turn away from time with my family, and if there's a blessing in this whole thing it was that I got to spend a lot of time with my kids."

As a bonus, Eldred's kids got to suit up and participate while their dad was pitching.

"They loved it because they got to be bat boy and ball boy," Eldred said. "Luke said to me, 'When you're done playing with the Cardinals and you can't play there, do you think you can find a minor league team?'"

Whenever he was ready, the Cardinals were ready. St. Louis also was the team that allowed Eldred to revive his career in 2003 following the elbow surgery. He's had a pair of solid years with the Cardinals.

"The reports on him were good; his comments have been good," manager Tony La Russa said.

The Cardinals began the trip with a National League-best 40-22 record, so going without one of their middle relievers wasn't a big hardship. As Eldred pointed out, "Our bullpen is doing well so it's not like you're bringing your closer back."

Still, having Eldred as a participating member of the bullpen was a bonus.

"So far we've taken the hits and we're in first place," La Russa said. "But I think he's one of our leaders. He's definitely in that core of guys that goes about it exactly the way you need it."