Morris on pace in recovery

JUPITER, Fla. -- The corner of the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse closest to manager Tony La Russa's office is pitchers' rehab central.

One end cubicle belongs to right-hander Matt Morris, coming off minor shoulder surgery in December.

Across the walkway there's closer Jason Isringhausen, one of the NL's top closers last year despite a painful hip injury that also landed him on the operating table soon after the World Series. Isringhausen's next-door neighbor is right-hander Chris Carpenter, who missed the entire postseason with a nerve damage in his right biceps sustained in mid-September.

It's early, very early. But all three have been pitching as if the injuries that made the Cardinals' major-league leading 105-victory season that much tougher were simply a bad dream.

"We're all different, but everybody is going good," Isringhausen said. "So that's all we care about."

The health of this trio is crucial to the Cardinals' continued success. Morris persevered through the injury that intermittently robbed him of velocity to win 15 games despite a 4.72 ERA. Carpenter was one of the top comeback stories in the major leagues, going 15-5 and establishing himself as the team's ace after a nearly two-year absence due to a pair of shoulder operations. Isringhausen tied for the league lead in 47 saves.

Carpenter is the likely No. 2 starter behind newly acquired Mark Mulder. Isringhausen once again presides over the bullpen. Morris, who has started the last three opening days for St. Louis, expects to regain that form although he might not join the rotation until May.

Right now, Morris is causing the Cardinals to reconsider their timetable for his return with a number of impressive mound sessions.

"He's getting in a bad mood because he wants to go to the post and we keep training him," La Russa said, slipping into a horse racing metaphor. "But better safe than sorry, one step at a time.

"Right now it's making sure he gets the proper bullpen work before he ever faces a hitter."

Carpenter's season ended in mid-September when a nerve in his biceps stopped firing. He felt ready to pitch before the World Series but the Cardinals were cautious and held off.

Now, the only time he thinks about the injury is when someone else brings it up.

"They knew it would fix itself and get back to normal, it was just a matter of how long," Carpenter said. "I don't have any concern about it, I don't think about it, I just go out and throw."

Carpenter believes his latest injury will make him stronger.

"I know I'm going to be better than I was last year," Carpenter said. "It's another year removed from my surgery and I'm excited."