Card's Carpenter To Have Tommy John Surgery

The Cardinal's ace pitcher Chris Carpenter will miss the rest of 2007 and part of 2008 after he undergoes Tommy John surgery to replace an elbow ligament. Carpenter suffered an injury on opening day and later had bone spurs removed from his elbow. After a July 8th rehab start, Carpenter suffered stiffness and swelling in the elbow, eventually leading to the TJ diagnosis.

It's another blow to a team that got hot at the right time to sneak into the playoffs and win the World Series last year, then let most of their rotation leave as free agents. The Cardinals personnel moves the past two seasons have been puzzling. After a ten year run as a playoff contender every year the Card's owners appear to be going for profits instead of wins. Coupled with the decline of the Astros and the permanent suck-fest known as the Pirates, and the always in disarray Reds, that leaves only the Cubs and Brewers to fight for the division crown the next few years.