Edmonds won't make road trip with Cardinals

ST. LOUIS-- Jim Edmonds, who missed his 12th start in 13 games Saturday due to post-concussion syndrome, will not accompany the St. Louis Cardinals on their upcoming seven-game trip.

Edmonds had been trying to slowly increase his activity level, but has noticed no improvement. So for the foreseeable future he has ceased baseball activities.

"When I try to do a lot it gets worse," Edmonds said Saturday. "Since I've stopped doing everything I've noticed my mornings are getting better."

Juan Encarnacion has gotten the bulk of the playing time in center field, moving over from right, in place of the eight-time Gold Glove winner. Encarnacion started there again on Saturday night against the Pirates.

Edmonds said he'd do only light activities such as riding a stationary bicycle, for about a week. After concluding a nine-game homestand on Sunday, the Cardinals will play three games at Washington and four at Arizona before returning Sept. 11.

Edmonds, and the team, have no idea whether he'll be ready to play again then.

"I think he's in sort of a resting state," manager Tony La Russa said. "He hasn't had the workouts that would clear him to go.

"If all of a sudden he has a major improvement, we could get him on a plane. But he's going to stay back and do what he can to get ready."

Edmonds said team doctors, noticing no progress, advised him to back off earlier in the week. He said he hasn't taken batting practice or worked out on the field for "two or three days."

"I'm just trying to do a little bit of cardio work, real light," Edmonds said. "Maybe I'll take a couple of swings at the end of the week and see what it does."

Edmonds, who was batting .260 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 104 games, sustained a concussion in June when he tried to rob the White Sox' Joe Crede of a home run and slammed his head on the warning track in Chicago. Post-concussion syndrome wasn't diagnosed until last month after Edmonds was removed from a game complaining of dizziness and blurred vision.

Edmonds also has been bothered by nausea and felt disoriented while driving, mostly late at night. He had started only twice in the last 17 games.

Until Saturday, the team position had been that Edmonds had a spot in the lineup waiting for him, whenever he was ready. Now, the team has ceased that gentle push.