St. Louis shuffled their pitching rotation again this week. The Cardinals placed Steve Kline on the DL Thursday with a triceps injury and called up Jose I. Rodriguez. Then on Friday they called up Jason Simontacchi and demoted Josh Pearce. They plan to activate Bud Smith from the DL today and send Rodriguez back to the minors. Today is the first day that Smith, on the disabled list with inflammation in his rotator cuff, is eligible to return.

Kline has led the league in appearances the last three years, though he shared the title in 2000 with Kelly Wunsch. Consequently, its rather unsurprising that he's having arm problems. Kline was shut down for 10 days following his placement on the disabled list. On a positive note, maybe this will mean he'll be able to spend Mother's Day with his wife, who gave birth to their first child, a daughter, in mid-April. He's expected to be out a total of 3 to 4 weeks provided he's able to begin a throwing program sometime next week.

Simontacchi was called up to spot start for the Cardinals on Saturday and his performance in that start has since caused several observers to wonder from where he came. In 7 IP Saturday, he had a 4:1 K:BB with 5 H and 1 HR allowed. He threw 98 pitches, 60 for strikes, with a 14-6 G-F.

He was drafted by the Royals out of Albertson College in Idaho with their 21st round pick in the 1996 draft. He didn't pitch particularly poorly in A ball but Kansas City released in July of 1997. He spent 1998 in the independent Frontier League, before the Pirates signed him in 1999. However they too released him at the end of the season. He played for Rimini of the Italian professional league in 2000, and he was also able to pitch for the Italian Olympic team as his great-grandparents emigrated from Italy. He spent the 2001 season at AAA Edmonton after signing with the Twins, who released him after the season, allowing him to sign with St. Louis.

His AAA numbers indicate that he needs to work on allowing fewer hits while striking out more batters, as he had a H/9 of 12 with only 5 K/9. However his control and command were very good with a 3.6 K/BB and only 1.4 BB/9. He'll likely receive another start, though how long he remains in the rotation depends on the recovery times of the other St. Louis starters. The Cardinals may have caught a real break if the 28-year-old can continue to pitch well for them, as their rotation has been stretched very thin this season.

Pearce started three games for the Cardinals, pitching between 4 and 4.2 innings in each. In 13 IP, he had a 1:8 K:BB and allowed 20 H including 1 HR. He definitely appears to need a full season at AAA, and after his performance in the majors, I doubt that St. Louis will recall him this season unless they become very desperate.

Rodriguez is a left-handed reliever drafted by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the 1997 draft. He received a short call-up in 2000, but spent last season in AAA. The 27-year-old generally has good skills though he does walk a few too many batters. If Kline's arm problems continue, Rodriguez may receive more significant action this season, as Mike Matthews is currently the only lefty reliever on the team. Les Walrond is the only other lefty reliever on the 40-man roster.

St. Louis did sign LHP Jason Jacome to a minor league contract on Saturday. The 31-year-old has bounced between AAA and the majors for the last eight seasons, spending 1999 and 2000 in Japan. He's primarily worked as starter in the minors but is normally used as a reliever in the majors. His 11 H/9 in the majors are a few too many but his other skills are fairly solid.

Houston placed T.J. Mathews on the DL, called up Nelson Cruz and Hipolito Pichardo, and sent down Brad Lidge on Saturday. Mathews has a strained right biceps and doesn't plan to throw for the first week he's on the DL. However, he does believe that he will be ready to return as soon as he is eligible to come of the disabled list.

Cruz and Pichardo have both been on the DL. Cruz was suffering from shoulder fatigue, possibly the result of not being able to participate in most of Spring Training due to a right hamstring injury. First a sore left Achilles and then a tender right elbow bothered Pichardo during Spring Training. The elbow caused him to start the season on the disabled list, but after several weeks of slow rehab he appears ready to return.

Lidge, who we mentioned yesterday was called up when Adam Everett was demoted, will return to AAA to work on his starting skills. The 25-year-old righty only made two appearances for a total of 2.2 IP while with the Astros. He struck out two and only walked one but allowed 6 hits. Prior to this season he hadn't pitched above AA, and he only made 5 starts at AA last season due to a shoulder problem, so he really needs the additional minor league time if he is going have success as a starter. His performance in the minors to date shows considerable promise.

Nate Teut, discussed Sunday, was sent down that evening following his Saturday start. The Marlins called-up Blaine Neal to replace Teut on the roster. The 24-year-old spent most of last season at AA with a brief major league call-up. He's a right-handed reliever with a "future closer" tag. He has solid skills and has progressed though the minors without any hold ups, though his strikeouts did fall off a bit at AA last season. In 13.1 IP at AAA Calgary, Neal posted a 10:6 K:BB with 13 H and 1 HR, along with 4 Saves in 12 Games. I think he probably needs to further prove himself at AAA before he's ready for the majors, but he should be may to handle a small role in the Florida bullpen now.