Mulder on the mend

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mark Mulder has been running routine field drills this spring while the other St. Louis Cardinals pitchers hurl fastballs.

Seven years ago, he was a promising young pitcher making his major-league debut at the age of 22. From 2001 to 2005, he recorded five consecutive 15-win seasons.

Now, he's on the mend from September rotator-cuff surgery and forced to stick to a recovery program that likely will keep him out of games until June or July.

"You want to be out there with the guys," Mulder said. "It's tested my patience. You have to stick to the program. There are some things I can probably do that I'm not doing now, but why take a chance?"

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he feels for Mulder, who had rotator-cuff surgery within a month of Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez. Martinez said Thursday that he is considering retirement if his recovery does not go smoothly.

Martinez, however, is 35 and a 15-year veteran, while the newly married Mulder is only 29 and in his seventh year in the majors.

"It's got to be tough," La Russa said. "When you've been as good as much as he's proven to be, you have a real strong memory of being good and remember where you've been."

Mulder signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Cardinals in January.

His only other major injury was a herniated disk, which forced him to end his rookie year in mid-September of 2000. He would likely be the sole left-hander in the rotation if he returns to start this season. The current front-runners for the rotation -- Chris Carpenter, Kip Wells, Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes -- are all right-handers.

Last season, when Mulder's shoulder began bothering him, he went 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA. The Cardinals staff shut him down in August.

"I just want to start feeling right and be ready," Mulder said.