Cards 3B Freese could begin rehab soon
July 30, 2010
ST. LOUIS (AP)—St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese(notes), who has beenout the last month with ankle and toe injuries, could begin a rehab assignmentsoon.
Manager Tony La Russa said Friday that Freese was close to being ready toplay but had yet to run at 100 percent. La Russa was confident the rookie, whois batting .296 with four homers and 36 RBIs in 70 games, would be back in thelineup by mid-August.
“He’s making a lot of noises about being very close,” La Russa said. “Ourtraining staff wants to make sure he does stuff step by step before he goescrazy. But it’s all working really well for him.”
Pitcher Kyle Lohse(notes) is set for a second rehab start Saturday with Triple-AMemphis after forearm surgery in late May. La Russa indicated the right-handermight need one more minor league appearance after that before rejoining theroster.
A day ahead of the trade deadline, La Russa wasn’t overly optimistic morehelp was on the way.
“It’s getting pretty late,” La Russa said. “I just don’t know, and Idon’t ask.”
The Cardinals were a half-game behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati afterdropping five of seven. They were 34-16 at home and 22-30 on the road.
“It’s just lately that we’ve not been good on the road, that hasn’t beentrue all of the 2010 season,” La Russa said. “We can change that the next timewe go on the road.”
Freese has a bone bruise on his right ankle and his rehab was complicatedwhen he dropped a weight that broke his left big toe during a workout at BuschStadium on July 18. He was hoping to head for the minors at the end of theweekend after running Thursday without problems.
“The ankle feels good; the toe feels all right,” Freese said. “I can’twait to get back. It’s been frustrating this past month.”
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