http://kuso.cc/Vqc By Joe Strauss ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/06/2006 Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols says he hopes for an aggressive recovery from a strained right oblique muscle that landed him on the disabled list for the first time in his six-year major-league career, but cautioned that the nature of the injury could inhibit his return for up to six weeks. "Only God knows. I leave everything to him. When I feel good, then I'll be ready," the reigning National League MVP said two hours before the Cardinals' series opener Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Cardinals medical supervisor Dr. George Paletta said a "reasonable" estimate of Pujols' absence would be four to six weeks based on an initial examination and an MRI exam performed Monday. "I would say a fair estimate is a month to six weeks," Paletta said. "We can always remain optimistic that it'll be sooner. And if it is sooner, it's great for everybody. But this is not the type of injury we want to rush. Because this is the type of injury where you can do more damage." The team's medical staff confirmed Monday that Pujols suffered a Grade III strain, or complete tear, of the right oblique when he made a quick move toward Aramis Ramirez's second-inning foul pop Saturday. "It could be two weeks. It could be three, four, five or six," Pujols said. "But whatever week it's going to be, I'm going to take my time. I don't want to come back too soon." Speaking to reporters for the first time since suffering the severe strain during Saturday's second inning against the Chicago Cubs, Pujols compared the sensation to being "shot in the back." He pulled up abruptly when he heard as well as felt a "pop" in his right side. "The ball landed right by me," he said. "I didn't care about the ball. I don't care if the ball was fair. I wasn't going to catch it. I was more worried about the pain. It was painful. "It's something you don't want to go through. It still bothers me a little bit. But it's better now than it was yesterday, and it was better yesterday than it was Saturday." A four-week absence allows for Pujols' return around July 1. The longer period would make him unavailable until after the All-Star break. Pujols said he found it difficult to sleep Saturday and Sunday night but felt better Monday. "When you don't get any sleep, your whole body feels (bad). But that's how I feel," Pujols said. Pujols said he still finds it uncomfortable to stoop or to put weight on his right hand and acknowledged that he probably won't swing a bat for the next two weeks. "Today my understanding is he's got more movement today than he had yesterday,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ``But that doesn't tell me he's going to be back 14 days from now. You just don't know." La Russa added that he had little stomach for "this day-to-day soap opera about Albert's this or Albert's that. He's unavailable for at least two weeks." Referring to Pujols' improved mood [em dash] the first baseman could be heard whistling as he walked from the trainer's room to the clubhouse Monday afternoon [em dash] La Russa thought, "Those things tell me maybe we'll catch a break and it may be a few days less than it could have been." Head trainer Barry Weinberg said Monday's MRI would serve as a "point of reference" should the player's recovery stall and another exam become necessary. Monday's exam confirmed part of Pujols' internal right oblique muscle had detached from his 11th rib, according to Paletta. Admitting that he took his hardest swing of the season while striking out the inning before, Pujols expressed relief he had suffered the injury in the field rather than at the plate. "I'm glad it didn't happen swinging. That would be worse," said Pujols, who leads the major leagues with 25 home runs and 65 RBIs. "It would be scary coming back knowing I did it swinging, because then I wouldn't want to take a swing. Knowing that it didn't happen swinging, I'm going to just come back and be 100 percent and be aggressive. I'm not going to baby this thing; I'm going to be aggressive with it." Though La Russa wanted no part of the speculation over how much time Pujols may miss, he admitted to initial pessimism. "I said . . . I'd be happy to get him back at the All-Star break. That's the most pessimistic." La Russa and general manager Walt Jocketty discussed the situation and potential trade remedies with Cardinals general partner Bill DeWitt Jr. before Sunday's series finale against the Cubs. On Monday, La Russa played down the notion that the Cardinals may want to veil any estimates of Pujols' down time while pursuing outside help. "In the baseball industry, if you have a rib or an oblique thing, there's a certain time frame people know as your period. You're lucky if it's three weeks. And if it's real severe, it's six to eight weeks. That's what you're going to get," La Russa said. "All I know is if we take care of him and don't rush him back, an important half of the season is still waiting for us. We're not going to rush him." Pujols said the injury would not prevent him from maintaining his weight work; however, the club will encourage him to remain in St. Louis rather than accompany it on its upcoming trip to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. As for when he might resume baseball activities or attempt a rehab assignment, Pujols had no answer. "The doctors don't know. Barry (Weinberg) doesn't know. It's only my progress and how I feel every day," Pujols said. "My best doctor is God. I'm going to leave everything to him. Hopefully, I'll feel great in 10 days and go rehab down the minors. . . . It has to be day to day because it's an injury you don't want to come back from too soon. You want to take your time. I'm going to have 15 days without doing anything. I'm pretty sure it can't get worse. It's just getting better." The Cardinals' current predicament follows a season in which they won 100 games despite the extended absences of third baseman Scott Rolen and corner outfielders Reggie Sanders and Larry Walker. Rolen did not hit a home run after suffering a shoulder injury May 10. Sanders broke a leg in the first game after the All-Star break. Walker endured several absences because of a herniated disc that forced his retirement after the NLCS. "I think we're in the same situation," Pujols said. "I think last year we were in a tougher situation. We had Reggie out. We had Scott Rolen out. We had Walker out. We had three guys in the starting lineup. This year it's just myself. I think we have the same chance as last year and the year before to win 100 games." --

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