Mulder thinks season is done

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder, hammered in a pair of starts since coming off the disabled list, believes he probably won't pitch again this season because of shoulder problems.

"I doubt it, but I don't know," Mulder said Wednesday. "I can't give you a yes or a no, but the way it feels and the way it looks, I doubt it."

Mulder underwent an MRI, the second this season on his ailing shoulder, on Wednesday morning.

He said Dr. George Paletta, the team's orthopedic consultant, told him the MRI was very similar to the first one taken in June when Mulder went on the DL with impingement and rotator cuff fraying.

The next step for Mulder will be to get a second opinion. After undergoing extensive rehabilitation without success, surgery has become a viable option.

"It's a possibility now," Mulder said. "Before, I didn't really think it was. Over the next couple of days, we'll determine whether I need that or not."

Mulder lasted only 1 2/3 innings Tuesday in his second start, allowing five runs against the Marlins. In his first start, he allowed nine runs in three innings against the New York Mets. He's 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA after entering the season as the winningest pitcher in the majors over the previous five seasons.

The shoulder problems figure to cost him a big contract because he's due to become a free agent for the first time after the season. Mulder said he just wants to pitch.

"Obviously, I know it's bad timing, but I don't care," Mulder said. "I'm not that type of person. I'm not losing anything. I'm losing competing on the field, and that's harder than anything else."

Manager Tony La Russa scratched Mulder for his next scheduled start Sunday, but consistently refused to look beyond that. He also declined to name a rotation replacement for the left-hander.

"I think what we're going to do is we're going to concentrate the next two days on the Florida Marlins," La Russa said before the second game of a three-game series against one of the surprise teams in the National League. "There's no reason to look ahead."

Among the options are rookie Anthony Reyes, 4-6 with a 4.73 ERA with St. Louis before being sent to Class AAA Memphis earlier this month. Reyes was due to start Friday in the minors.

The Cardinals also could trade for another pitcher and have been mentioned as one of the teams interested in acquiring David Wells from Boston.

After his quick exit against the Marlins, Mulder said something was "obviously not right." He also said his shoulder was noticeably better in the first of three rehab starts, but the impingement slowly returned after that, affecting his arm slow and velocity.

Mulder rehabbed for nearly two months before making his return.

"Obviously, I didn't rush back, we did the steps. And as far as the rehab, I did it how I should," Mulder said. "I did exactly what we tried to do and maybe it just didn't work."