St. Louis Cardinals Roster Report 2009-05-02

The Cardinals committed a league-high 20 errors in their first 19 games -- five by new SS Khalil Greene -- but they generally overcame any defensive deficiencies by batting .299 for that period and leading the league in slugging percentage and on-base percentage besides having the second-ranked earned run average.

--LF Chris Duncan, plagued by a herniated disc in his neck last year and a sports hernia the year before, seems to have recaptured his stroke. Duncan cracked his third homer among three hits on Friday and manager Tony La Russa said, "He's legit if he's healthy. Now we've got to keep him healthy."

Duncan, who hit only six homers last year, said, "I've got my confidence back. I lost a lot of confidence last year."

--1B Albert Pujols started May much the way he ended April. In the first month of the season, Pujols had eight homers and 28 RBIs. On the first day of May, he had three hits in four at-bats, including his ninth homer. Pujols had been six for 33 on the road this year before going seven for 10 with two homers.

--SS Tyler Greene's second game wasn't as impressive as his first. After getting a key infield hit in his major league debut Thursday, Greene fanned three times in four at-bats and didn't take charge on a popup which dropped for a double between him and LF Skip Schumaker in the eighth inning. Regular SS Khalil Greene may be about to return from a right forearm strain.

--RHP Blaine Boyer, who finished the game, reeled off a perfect inning for the second night in a row, throwing in the 90s and featuring a good breaking ball.

--INF Brendan Ryan, who suffered a left hamstring strain while running out a foul grounder Wednesday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

--SS Tyler Greene, a first-round draftee in 2005, was brought up from Class AAA Memphis. Greene picked up his first major league hit and stolen base Thursday.

SS Khalil Greene (sore right forearm) didn't play April 29. He appeared as a pinch hitter 30.

INF Brendan Ryan (left hamstring strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 30.

RHP Chris Carpenter (torn left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He is likely out six to eight weeks.

3B Troy Glaus (right shoulder surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He didn't heal as quickly as was hoped, and he may not play before July.

LHP Jaime Garcia (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He likely will miss all or nearly all of the 2009 season.