来源: http://tinyurl.com/33j4ag Cards Notes: Pujols excels with extra rest By Derrick Goold ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 03/13/2008 JUPITER, FLA. — As planned, Albert Pujols has seen fewer at-bats in games this spring, but that hasn't slowed how he prepares his swing for the season. Pujols entered Wednesday's game with a .875 slugging percentage, the highest number in the National League this spring, and he added to it with a two-run home run against the Marlins. The homer was his fourth of the spring, and it continued what he has described as his "good vision" at the plate. "I'm seeing the ball really well," Pujols said, adding that he has used his extra days off to work in the cage. "I try to take advantage of those days off and take that extra swing. If I'm going to be greedy with my extra swings, that's the day that I really want to take it." Usually among the leaders in at-bats during spring training, nine players have as many or more this year than Pujols. The purpose: protecting his elbow. A team doctor said Pujols is "completely asymptomatic" and has had no trouble with the torn ligament in his right elbow. But he and the team have made the decision to curtail spring activities and not tempt trouble. Pujols is a believer that rest will tame the injury, which has been the same since 2003 but caused him discomfort late last season. "This is something that I will play by ear, and so far it's good," said Pujols, whose slugging percentage spiked to .926 after Wednesday's game. "I want to play the next 10, 15 years (without) needing surgery. I'm paid to play. If I can walk, I can run, and I'm going to go out there and play." STRETCHING FRANKLIN It worked well enough last year that the Cardinals have decided to condition Ryan Franklin as if he was a starter this spring. And, no, that doesn't mean they'll consider him to patch any of the ruptures in the rotation. "That bullpen strength helped us survive a long time (last season) and I don't see our bullpen being as strong without him," manager Tony La Russa said. Franklin pitched 1 1/3 innings Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits. The first pitch he threw was ripped for a home run and La Russa called him "out of whack." He threw 31 pitches. The plan has been to get Franklin up toward 50 pitches in an outing and then have him shrink his pitch count into tidy one-inning outings by the end of this month. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said building Franklin as a starter worked well for the setup man last season: "We want to do it like last season, to the extent we can find him innings." KINNEY'S ANNIVERSARY Today is the one-year anniversary of Josh Kinney's elbow surgery, and he continues to grind steadily toward a return to games. Kinney threw 50 pitches from the mound Wednesday and said he "mixed in some breaking stuff. (But) didn't really let one loose." The standard recovery from Tommy John surgery like the procedure Kinney had is a year, but Kinney busted his elbow during rehab, setting him back a few months. He expects to throw a simulated game and face hitters before camp breaks. "My arm feels good, strong," Kinney said. "There's still room to throw harder, but I don't feel like I'm throwing salad up there. For now, I'm where I want to be. A month from now, I hope to be better." DINE WITH PUJOLS Pujols and Florida outfielder Luis Gonzalez will take two fans and six of their friends out to dinner, part of a plan to raise money for the family of a local Palm Beach County firefighter who was killed in a shooting earlier this month. The players will host two fans March 20, a day that will include tickets to the game and dinner with the two All-Stars. The day will be auctioned off at MLB.com, and the two highest bids will get the dinner date. All proceeds will go to Ray Vazquez's widow and their five kids. On March 3, a gunman walked into a Palm Beach-area Wendy's and began firing, killing Vazquez and wounding four others. EXTRA BASES Chris Carpenter continued progressing in his rehab from Tommy John surgery with a second light throwing session on the mound Wednesday. He said everything continues to "progress nicely" — his mantra this spring. … Clayton Mortensen, a 2007 draft pick, is confirmed as the starter for Friday's game against the LA Dodgers. [email protected] | 314-340-8285 --

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