St. Louis Cardinals -- Pujols to Return this Week?

Jason Isringhausen said Albert Pujols, sidelined with a right oblique strain, could return to the Cardinals in the Detroit Tigers series starting June 23. Cardinals hat on. "We should get Albert back in Detroit," the Cardinals' closer said after Sunday's game. "That should help take the load off Scott Rolen and Juan Encarnacion." Weinberg said Pujols, the Major League leader in homers (25) and RBIs (65), is feeling better.

"He is progressing," Trainer Weinberg said. "He is satisfied today and took some ground balls and played catch, did some running and hit in the cage. What we will do is repeat it tomorrow during the off-day. He will start hitting off the coaches on Tuesday."

The St. Louis Cardinals are playing pretty well considering their key offensive player has been out. After Sunday's win, the team is 8-5 without Pujols and is batting .297, tops in the National League and second-best in the Majors.

Date

Sun 06/18/06, 11:02 pm EST

JuTMSY4Legend

1242 days ago

Score 3

Sad fact is, this team could probably go to the world series w/o pujols. And now they have the best player in the game back. For the love of god, please let this guy be clean. He will save the game...

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The sharkDraft Pick

1241 days ago

Score 1

They need Pujols back badly. They have played well without him (thank you, Scott Rolen) but the World Series would be a tough sell without Albert.

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ChristofMVP

1241 days ago

Score 1

The NL is as weak as I have ever seen it. Pujols is not needed by the Cards until August.

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Mdg270

1241 days ago

Score 1

not only scott rolen, but encarnacion has picked it up in pujols absence...this is going to turn out to be good for the cardinals because it forced the rest of the team to play ball instead of relying on one man, even if he is the best player in baseball

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ChachiOSUDraft Pick

1241 days ago

Score 0

I just hope they don't rush him back too soon.

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All~In~ChicagoVarsity

1241 days ago

Score 0

All you guys make great points and I agree the Cards shouldn't rush Pujols back to quickly because we will need him come time in August. It's great to still be on top, but as the season progresses it's going to get tough. Last thing I and all other fans want to see is a relaps of the injury. It's a right oblique injury which makes it better for him since most force of swinging and throwing is put on his left side. BUT again...we need to let him get 110%. I don't want to see him try swinging for the fences in practice this week or next just because they are gitty to get him back out; only to see him back on the DL.

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CardsDeck

1241 days ago

Score 1

It was said by the Cardinals training staff that this is one of those injuries where he's going to feel like he can go because he's pain-free, but in reality, the muscle is still weak and isn't healed yet. Our division is weak - the Reds are fading fast - Houston isn't putting it together, and obviously the Cubs suck. I hope and pray that the Cardinals management and training staff don't give in to Pujols' pleas to be reinserted to the lineup ASAP. Make him sit until we can be assured he's 100%. We need him MUCH more in the playoffs than we do in this regular season.

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All~In~ChicagoVarsity

1241 days ago

Score 0

Agree...We don't need him right now, and the record books will wait. I could see him obtaining the BRI and HR records for a season by 2010. Buy who knows, we'll see. If he screws himself up bad now, he's really going to have it tough.

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