Major League Baseball

Cardinals' Penny placed on DL

Published May. 22, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Cardinals pitcher Brad Penny was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strain his upper back, although the team believes it's a minor injury.

``It was good news,'' Mozeliak said. ``I wasn't handicapping it either way but I was optimistic and hopeful and it seemed to work.''

Right-hander P.J. Walters was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Mozeliak said the 25-year-old Walters, who had been scheduled to start Saturday in the minors, could get a start while Penny is out.

Walters is 1-0 with an 0.48 ERA in three starts, allowing one run in 18 2-3 innings with 23 strikeouts and three walks. An 11th-round pick in 2006, he was 0-0 with a 9.56 ERA in eight games with one start last year for St. Louis.

``He's had phenomenal success early on, and should be rewarded for that,'' Mozeliak said. ``It happened to fall on his day as well.''

Penny hit a grand slam off Joel Pineiro to snap a third-inning tie, his first homer since 2003 and only the 11th grand slam by a pitcher in franchise history. Minutes later he threw a couple of warmup tosses before the team called a halt to his outing.

Manager Tony La Russa said pitching coach Dave Duncan immediately noticed that Penny's delivery was way off and ``he was yelling, 'Don't throw anymore.'''

Penny said Duncan told him, ``Don't be stupid.''

``The first day it didn't feel that good, the second day it felt a little better and it was gradually better,'' Penny said. ``I didn't feel it at all in the bullpen.''

Mozeliak said he hadn't had a chance to speak with Penny.

``At some point I think we'll look into it,'' the general manager said. ``But it is somewhat of spilt milk at this point and lesson learned, I hope.''

Walters' infant daughter died in early April and he missed part of spring training dealing with the situation.

``It definitely has put some things in perspective, as far as everything,'' Walters said. ``It allows me to concentrate at the same time. I've learned to focus on the things that are important at that moment, and not something that might be important in 10 years.''

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball