GatewayRedbirds.com

Q: What year is it?
A: Ty Wigginton

Is there anyone in the world that didn't see this with Carp? I think everyone here figured he needed surgery months ago right after this thing started. No not the Cardinals, let's waste another year of an aging pitcher then give him a surgery that could possibly keep him out much of the next year if not all of it. How can such a giant organization suck this bad with injuries?

Q: What year is it?
A: Ty Wigginton

Not to put this on you alone, but I seriously hate this meme. I don't see why a bunch of fans who haven't seen so much as an X-ray would have any substantive input about what to do with a major league pitcher, or why anyone would assume that team and outside physicians don't know what they're doing. The player has a good deal of input too, I suspect.

The Cardinals and co-ace Chris Carpenter on Monday discussed a second shutdown and possible season-ending surgery due to continued nerve-related shoulder problems that again arose following the pitcher's most recent side session.

The club scrubbed Carpenter's scheduled bullpen session Monday and has no timetable for Carpenter's next session, according to a club source. Carpenter visited a Dallas-based specialist last Thursday to discuss his alternatives as he confronts thoracic outlet syndrome, a rare condition that compresses nerves and blood vessels in a region between the collarbone and rib cage.

Afflicted with neck pain and shoulder weakness during spring training, Carpenter continues to experience intermittent symptoms after committing to a three-month program of rest and exercise designed to strengthen his right shoulder. Initially optimistic, Carpenter has dealt with weakness after throwing batting practice to teammates in Kansas City June 22 and last Friday's session in the Busch Stadium bullpen.

The club offered no explanation why it called off Carpenter's Monday session. Manager Mike Matheny remained vague when asked about the matter following Monday night's win over the Colorado Rockies. General manager John Mozeliak could not be reached for comment this morning.

Carpenter, 37, acknowledged last Friday that he would continue to throw until it became clear there was no hope of soon returning to the Cardinals' rotation. Carpenter said if he reached such a point he would consider other options. Surgery is among them.

Resistant to surgery when the same condition forced his shutdown in August 2008, Carpenter has been told he likely requires the procedure to extend his career.

Surgery would require removal of his first rib, the release of scalene muscles in his neck and freeing the nerves that make up his brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves that runs from his neck beneath his collarbone to his shoulder. Carpenter has pitched with numbness in his right forearm since the 2008 episode but has not appeared in competition since working an industry-most 273 innings last season.

Standard rehab for such surgery is six months, meaning Carpenter must decide on having the procedure this month in order to recover before next spring training.

Mozeliak indicated last month that the club would need clarity regarding Carpenter's direction by July 1. Once optimistic of Carpenter's return to the mound in May, Mozeliak has remained measured in his most recent projections.

I'm feeling good. I can see the mound coming.

You wanted the glamour of a space walk and gerbil experiments, so deal with the combustion and shrapnel.