Chris Carpenter, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

May 8, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By James Eberspacher and Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Ryan Dodson

The St. Louis Cardinals ended the 2006 season the best possible way a team could, as World Series champions. Hopefully for the Cardinals' sake, they enjoyed the offseason on top of the world. That's because this season hasn't started off so well. With manager Tony La Russa being arrested for DUI, the death of reliever Josh Hancock and first baseman Albert Pujols starting the season in a 1-for-17 slump and after the Cards were swept in the opening series after being outscored 20-2 by the New York Mets, you wouldn't think it could get any worse. That is, unless the ace of your staff finds himself out for most of the season.

The Cause

Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter was on the mound for baseball's Opening Night, a game that put the World Champions on center stage versus the Mets. The 2005 Cy Young winner was absolutely rocked in that game; he gave up nine hits, five earned runs, one walk and one bean ball in only six innings. Not only was Carpenter given the loss, he felt swelling and discomfort in his right elbow following the game. Carpenter was given anti-inflammatory medication to relieve the swelling. Unfortunately, the condition returned following a bullpen session.

Carpenter underwent a MRI to determine the cause of the discomfort in the elbow. Cardinals head team physician Dr. George Paletta diagnosed the condition as arthritis and an impingement in the right elbow. The Cardinals did not elaborate on the condition, but did state there is "no evidence of an acute ligament injury." The Cardinals then put their ace on the 15-day disabled list.

Carpenter began a throwing program about a week and a half after he hit the disabled list. After a series of bullpen sessions, he reportedly felt very good. In fact, he was expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday, May 7. However, Carpenter suffered a setback during his rehab program. During an exam Friday, May 4, Dr. George Paletta, the Cardinals' medical supervisor, found recurrent swelling, stiffness and loss of motion. Carpenter will have arthroscopic surgery on his elbow this week. He will miss at least three months.

The Solution

It's hard to fill a hole left by a guy who has compiled a 36-13 record, 12 complete games (seven shutouts) and a 2.96 earned run average over the last two seasons. However, that's exactly the unenviable task the Cardinals have while Carpenter sits on the DL.

Pitcher Randy Keisler was recalled from the Cardinals' Triple-A Memphis club to take Carpenter's spot in the rotation. He lasted only three starts before he was optioned back to Memphis at the end of April.

It appears that the club will instead turn to reliever Brad Thompson, at least for the short term, to be the club's fifth starter. Thompson has only started one game in his career. In it, he allowed four hits and two earned runs in two innings. That's not a promising line.

A bigger issue is that the rest of the rotation has been terrible during Carpenter's absence. So far, starters Kip Wells, Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright have done little to solidify a staff that has undergone many changes in the offseason. Wells is 1-6 with a 6.59 ERA. Reyes is 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA. Wainwright is 2-2 with a 5.60 ERA. Meanwhile, starter Braden Looper's move to the rotation has paid early dividends. He has posted an earned run average of 2.66 and tossed 26 strikeouts in 44 innings. He has pitched extremely well. The Cardinals, with famed pitching coach Dave Duncan, have a history of turning nothing into something. Regardless, this may be too difficult a task to overcome.

Fantasy Implications

Obviously the news of Carpenter hitting the DL was hard to swallow for fantasy owners. It's even more disheartening to find out that he's gone for much of the season. It is hard to lose what is likely your best pitcher and continue to stay competitive with the best teams in your league. If you aren't all that deep or simply want some help, then you are going to have to scour the waiver wire for a decent arm.

Thompson is obviously not a fantasy option. Even if Keisler returns to the team in a starting role, he's not either. Looper's performance has made him the lone fantasy option in the rotation at this point. If he is still available in your league, consider acquiring the right-hander.

Another option that may be available to you is New York Mets starter Oliver Perez. Perez's upside is tremendous – always has been – but when he is off, he will blow up your fantasy pitching staff in a bad way. Perez has started off the year strong, with a 3-3 record, a 3.48 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings of work. Perez could supply the strikeout rate that the void of Carpenter has left on fantasy teams.

Finally, an option to consider, if he's still available, is San Francisco Giants starter Tim Lincecum. He was recalled to start Sunday, May 6, against the Philadelphia Phillies. Lincecum gave up five hits, five walks, five runs and two home runs in 4 1/3 innings of that game, disappointing owners that jumped on him immediately. However, the right-hander was 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 31 innings for Triple-A Fresno this year. Lincecum could also assist fantasy owners with their strikeout rate, if he remains part of the rotation. He was filling in for starter Russ Ortiz (elbow), who was recently placed on the disabled list. Lincecum owners can probably chalk up that first outing to inexperience, but remember that he has had control problems that must be addressed before he can be successful at the major league level.

Those are some solid options for your fantasy squad while you are without Carpenter. There is plenty of baseball left, and fantasy owners have to be prepared to be without their top hurler for the rest of the season. Carpenter could be back as early as August, but it will probably take him a few starts to return to form. By then, it will likely be too late for him to have a positive impact on your fantasy season.

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James Eberspacher

James Eberspacher has been Commissioner of a "high performance" fantasy football league since 1994. He has created an entertaining and challenging league by designing a unique scoring system and a creative sense of writing and style. He has been a KFFL Contributor since 2003.

Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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