Isringhausen 'fine' after facing hitters

ST. LOUIS -- Closer Jason Isringhausen, still rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when he threw to hitters for the first time in more than a month in St. Louis.

Isringhausen threw without discomfort and felt fine afterwards. He is scheduled to face hitters a second time on Friday. After that there's a chance he could be immediately activated to help rescue a bullpen that had blown 13 of 24 save opportunities.

"He should probably go out on a rehab, but we haven't talked about it yet," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He's not going to just throw one of these."

A large contingent of team brass surrounded the batting cage as Isringhausen, who had 32 saves in 37 chances last year, threw to So Taguchi, J.D. Drew and Wilson Delgado.

"I didn't think it was that big of a deal," Isringhausen said. "There's been so much written about the bullpen so it makes it a big story, I guess."

More high hopes

This is the third buildup for Isringhausen, who has been on the disabled list since March 21 -- a few days after impressing the team with his spring training stuff. Another attempt was aborted in early April and this time around Isringhausen said he felt a bit rusty.

"I wasn't trying to throw 100 mph, I was just getting used to facing hitters again, and I could tell it had been a while," Isringhausen said. "I could see myself looking up to see where the ball was going and not just raring back and throwing."

The biggest key is how Isringhausen feels today.

"That's been the biggest thing every day I throw, it's always about how I felt the next day," Isringhausen said. "That's how we're going to know when I can throw back-to-back days.

"The way it feels right now I don't think it'll be a problem."

Earlier this season, Isringhausen had problems getting loose. That wasn't the case Tuesday when he was ready after just a few throws to bullpen catcher Jeff Murphy.

"Each day it's getting better and better," he said. "I was firing them right off the bat."

Left-hander Lance Painter, on the disabled list since April 11 with a right hamstring injury, threw off the mound before Isringhausen to considerably less fanfare.

"I'm just the appetizer, he's the four-course meal -- and the dessert," Painter said, pointing at Isringhausen's locker stall.

The Cardinals believe Painter is nearly ready to begin a rehab assignment, although Painter has yet to test his leg covering first base.

"The only way I'm going to know if I'm going to be able to go is to test it," Painter said.