Chris Carpenter talking about his neck/shoulder/nerve issues

Chris Carpenter has spent the past few weeks strengthening his shoulder and preparing for a throwing program. He said his neck and shoulder feel great, but the true test will come when he picks up a baseball.  In 2004, Carpenter was sidelined with a similar nerve-related injury late in the season and didn’t pitch against the Red Sox in the World Series. 

“Just a lot of rehab right now. We’re taking our time,” he said. “There was a neck issue that affected the nerves in my arm. With my past history, we’re slowing everything down and getting everything working properly ... To be honest with you, with everything that’s gone on in my career, I’m playing with fire all the time. I’m OK with it. You deal with injuries in this business. You never want an injury to end your career, but you deal with it all the time in this business. Fortunately, we have great trainers and doctors that get you back on the field.”

Asked if he’ll be ready to pitch in the 2012 postseason, he said, “I think I’ll be back before that, to be honest with you. I just can’t answer that question until I start throwing again.”

Tony Plush wasn't invited on this trip

World Series champion Chris Carpenter caught this lunker, a peacock bass, on a recent trip to Brazil with fellow Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. The All-Star excursion included elite angler Skeet Reese and former Blue Jays reliever B.J. Ryan. They returned home with tales of anacondas and alligators.

Photo courtesy of Chris Carpenter

Cy Young winners, anacondas and alligators

Just got off the phone with Chris Carpenter, who returned home from an incredible hunting and fishing trip to Brazil and the Amazon. Carpenter, Roy Halladay and B.J. Ryan were part of a group led by famous angler Skeet Reese, and, boy, do they have stories to tell. BFF’s Carpenter and Halladay, who’ve combined for three World Series titles and 11 All-Star appearances, dueled in the National League Division Series before planning an off-season adventure of a lifetime. Highlights:

• They slept on a houseboat for seven nights, spending most of the day fishing for peacock bass.
• They hunted in the rainforest, shooting caiman (alligator-like creatures), and met a native who'd just been attacked by an anaconda.
•  The snake bit the man in the butt and tore the motor off a 14-foot canoe. Read Skeet's epic tale here.
• From Skeet: "Me and Doc came across a local, sitting bare naked on a tree by the river. He was fishing in the river for tropical fish to sell for aquariums when he got attacked by an anaconda."
• They ate alligator and turtle. They showed a Winter X Games dude, Ryan McCullough, how to fish like a champ.
• More Skeet, LOL: "The snake apparently bit him on the ass but he was able to free himself before the snake wrapped him up."

Picture in the back row are Chris Carpenter, B.J. Ryan and Roy Halladay, who recently embarked on a fishing trip to Brazil. Skeetreeeseinc.com Photo

Granite State Baseball Dinner

Chris Carpenter won the live auction for a Steven Tyler signed guitar, bidding $3,000, and Oscar Gamble no longer has the afro. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is one shy dude with nice boots, and Chanty Sok from "The Fighter" was at the head table. The pics:

Chris Carpenter (Cardinals) and Brad Zapenas (Cubs)

Chris Carpenter and Tareah Gray

"The Fighter" movie stars Mickey O'Keefe, Chanty Sok
and Tareah Gray. Note Mickey's firm grip. 

Anthony Gose, Chris Carpenter

Pirates LHP Jeff Locke and Yankees RHP Jordan Cote

Tom Raffio of Northeast Delta Dental gave that $1,000 check to Anthony Gose for Fisher Cats excellence and charitable work.

Nine Heidi Watneys and a DH Heidi Watney

Brad Zapenas, Stud Baseball Player, Jordan Cote.

Last post on Chris Carpenter for a while. Promise. You know the Cardinals team meeting in August that has been referenced several times now? Well, Carpenter keeps downplaying it, but World Series MVP David Freese said last night that it was the Cards' turning point. 

"I sit here right now, and I still can't believe that we actually did this. I keep thinking about mid-August, the mood of the team, kind of the disappointment of what was going down," Freese told the media after World Series Game 7. "Carp said, 'Let's get together and talk about some things.' You know, most importantly we said that the fans deserve for us to make a run at this. You get 3 million plus for the last however many years consecutively, and that's incredible, so they deserve this just as much as anybody else."

Wow. That may not sound genuine if you've never been to St. Louis, but, trust me, there's a real love affair between the fans and players. Both sides fulfill each other's need. It's a symbiotic relationship, like the clown fish and coral.

Redbirds: Carpe Diem, one more time

Former New Hampshire high school All-State hockey player, magazine cover boy, Cy Young Award winner, Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 World Series champion ... and 2011 World Series Game 7 winner:

Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals ace improved to 9-2 (3.05 ERA) in 15 career postseason starts. That's now three World Series wins for Carpenter, including a scoreless eight-inning performance against the Tigers in 2006.

As we were saying ...

Chris Carpenter will start Game 7 of the World Series tonight. I had this story yesterday after confirming with a source that had direct knowledge of the plan: a uniformed member of the Cardinals ... a pitcher.

Roger Ebert's got nothing on TLR

Love how the managers and media are working together on this one. Here's the situation: Tony La Russa enters the press room at Busch Stadium to talk about the World Series. You can't really ask the St. Louis manager about Chris Carpenter pitching a potential Game 7 -- which is a good story -- because the Cards first need to win Game 6. What to do? Talk "Moneyball."

"Good acting. I mean, I was offended because of what the book represented and how a lot of those guys were portrayed," La Russa told reporter before Game 6. "I knew a few of those guys as scouts. It strains the credibility a little bit. (The A's) win 20 in a row, qualify for the playoffs, go two up on the Yankees, and there wasn't anything in the movie except a brief about Miguel (Tejada) and Eric (Chavez), three starters, Billy Koch. It was about a couple of trades and turning Scott (Hatteberg) into a first baseman. That club was carried by those guys that were signed and developed the old-fashioned way. That part wasn't enjoyable. It's a nice story but it is not accurate enough."

Carpenter will start World Series Game 7*

THE WARRIOR is preparing for another start. I have confirmed that Chris Carpenter will pitch on short rest and take the mound for Game 7 if the Cardinals are able to extend the series. The New Hampshire native first teased reporters today during a workout at Busch Stadium, saying, "I think everybody is available for the rest of the year, don’t you? Whatever (manager Tony La Russa) needs me to do.”

It's now definitely a plan. He will start on three days of rest if St. Louis gets there.

How great is Ron Washington? Each time the Texas manager answers a question in a press conference, it makes you realize why his players love going to battle for him. On Wednesday, he was asked, "Since Tony La Russa is a hanging out with Bill Parcells, Rick Carlisle and Bobby Knight, who do you get to hang out with?"

Wash: "I get to hang out with (coaches) Mike Maddux, Jackie Moore, Gary Pettis, Dave Anderson, (Scott) Coolbaugh, and my team. That's it."

When asked about "Moneyball," Washington managed to give credit to the A's front office and simultaneously poke fun of the movie. I love this:

"To me, it was a great movie about a general manager that was hamstrung as far as dollars go, and he had to find players and put them together under a formula that he thought would work ...You know, I realize they didn't mention (All-Stars) Eric Chávez, Miguel Tejada, (Barry) Zito, (Tim) Hudson, (Mark) Mulder, but that wasn't what it was about."

Tremendous!

Chris Carpenter: "There was a lot of angst."

When the Cardinals were 10-1/2 games back on Aug. 26, following a sweep by the Dodgers, Chris Carpenter stepped forward and gave the team a tongue lashing. This is a story about true leadership. The Red Sox should take notes:


"We just weren't playing well. We didn't look good when we were playing, and it wasn't just me that felt something needed to be said," Carpenter told the media before World Series Game 4. "It was about continuing to play hard, doing the best we can. At that time, Milwaukee was doing their thing ... and there was a lot of angst in what was going on in our clubhouse with the race, with our team, and the expectations of what we had. We didn't want to lose those expectations, even though everybody had written us off. We might not catch Milwaukee, we might not catch Atlanta, but let's go ahead and do everything we can to, one, not embarrass ourselves because we have a great ballclub.


"Let's not embarrass our coaches that worked their butts off to help us win. Let's not embarrass our organization and our fans. Let's at least make it look respectful. And that was it. A few other guys spoke, and we started playing better."

World Series postgame: Chris Carpenter

I've been covering Chris Carpenter during my 17-year career and never seen him mesmerize a press corps like he's doing this postseason. More insightful answers after Game 1, on catcher Yadier Molina:


"I read a book called 'The Blind Side,' and they talk about the left tackle covering the quarterback's blind side, and if it wasn't for the left tackle, he wouldn't have the time to get that pass off to make the quarterback a star or that wide receiver a star, because he's not doing his job. That's what Yadi is -- secretly behind the scenes. He just makes it that much easier.


"He makes me be able to go out there and do the things that I do with zero concern, knowing that he is just on the same page and doing the same things that I'm doing, studying hitters, studying our game plan, knowing that he prepares, knowing all the information that he keeps inside, paying attention to what each at-bat is all about. He's phenomenal."

Chris Carpenter surpasses Bob Gibson

CARPE DIEM! New Hampshire native Chris Carpenter picked up another postseason win by defeating the Rangers, 3-2, in World Series Game 1. That's now eight postseason wins, tying with Mariano Rivera for the most among active pitchers. 

The win also moves Carpenter ahead of St. Louis Cardinals great Bob Gibson for most all-time in club history. (I know what you're thinking: Gibson didn't have the NLDS or NLCS. He made nine postseason starts.)


Regardless, Carpenter (13 starts) has shut down the Phillies, Brewers and Rangers in a clinic on the mound. Game 1 was a chilly 40-something degrees, and the ace adjusted by commanding two-seam fastballs with Maddux-like movement. Other pitchers struggled with their off-speed stuff because the cold baseball felt slick. 


"Carp" didn't throw a deuce until his 31st pitch. And how about the Trinity High graduate diving into first base to make the out. Gamer.

CHRIS CARPENTER dives into first base and gets the out
 after catching a throw by Albert Pujols.  Reuters Photo

"That ball in the first, I think we need to work on that one next spring," Carpenter said in postgame. "It was just an instinct. He threw that ball, it was a little out of my reach and I dove. I was like 'I'm going to go get it, and it turned out to work out."


BIRD FEED: Rangy Albert Pujols was tremendous at first base, making an impact with his glove instead of his bat ... Mad scientist Tony La Russa did it again, successfully pinch-hitting for Carpenter and having Allen Craig drive in the go-ahead run.


Lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski became the first ex-Fisher Cat to play in the World Series. "Zep" struck out a pair of righties to end the 7th.

Chris Carpenter focused on Game 1

I had a really nice talk with Chris Carpenter's dad, Bob, and his high school coach, Eddie Poisson, while working on this feature story. It's amazing how much focus young Carp showed at an early age:

“Let me tell you a story,” said Bob Carpenter, who coach Chris through Little League and into Babe Ruth. “He got invited to a Brockton (Mass.) invitational as a senior and pitched against juniors and seniors in college. There were people and scouts everywhere. After the game, I said, ‘Can you believe how many people were watching you?

“He said, ‘I never saw them. All I saw was the glove. I didn't even know who was hitting.' That's when it donned on me, when I realized how he goes about pitching.”

You know how the Brewers have tried agitating Carp? They failed. Zack Greinke said “a lot of guys on our team don't like Carpenter.” Last month, Nyjer Morgan tossed a wad of chewing tobacco in Carpenter's direction, inciting a bench-clearing incident.

“(The Brewers) tried to chirp and chirp and get to him, but he's too focused to get the out. None of that other stuff matters,” the father said.

In 2003, an assortment of elbow and shoulder injuries nearly ended Carpenter's career. Released by the Blue Jays, he signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals and spent the entire season on a comeback mission.

“It goes back to his determination and drive,” Poisson said, in the New Hampshire Union Leader. “After the Blue Jays let him go, he sat down with his wife and cried and said, ‘What's the next step?' Next thing you know, the Cardinals gave him one more shot.”

Chris Carpenter on The Machine:

CARDINALS ACE Chris Carpenter reflects on the great Albert Pujols, who has handled a contract season and distractions with class and professionalism.


"I've been very fortunate to watch this guy play for the last nine years. When you're that type of player at that level, there are expectations from you, me, I'm sure his family, his kids and friends. I mean, the expectation level for what he's supposed to do is unbelievable ... Every year, you can't believe the things that he does, the games that he has, pressures that he deals with, the distractions coming into this season: a free agent, how much money is he going to get, best player in baseball, is he going to be here, is he not going to be here. But he comes in, just like the same old Albert, and works hard in spring training, starts off a little slow, everybody is questioning whether or not it's because of his contract situation. 


"No, he continues to grind, he continues to play, and continues to do the things that amazes every single one of us. That's who he is. He's an exceptional player, exceptional hitter. He's got the mind of stone. Nothing bothers him no matter what situation he's in. And that's what makes him great."

NLCS Game 3: Carpenter matches Gibson

CARDINALS ace Chris Carpenter, making his 12th postseason start, nailed down another win Wednesday night as the Redbirds took the upper-hand of the NLCS, winning Game 3 at Busch Stadium, 4-3.

The Brewers, likewise, sent their ace to the mound, but Yovani Gallardo gave up all four runs. Carpenter passed Matt Morris for the most starts by a St. Louis pitcher in the postseason. He also picked up his 7th postseason win, tying the great Bob Gibson.


"When people talk about you in the same sentence as Bob Gibson, it's pretty neat. And Bob Gibson, he's a Hall of Fame guy that's a super stud. I've done OK, but I'm not Bob Gibson," said Carpenter, who labored for five innings, allowing three runs on six hits.


Just yesterday, Carpenter was saying how much he needs to enjoy the moment, referencing to the epic NLDS  do-or-die matchup against Roy Halladay.


"That's what's so fun about this game and pitching. You got out there, you have guys on the other side grinding out at-bats, pressuring you all night long. You have a few infield hits, a couple broken bats, and the next thing you know, you're in trouble every single inning. You never know."


For the record, Gibson made nine postseason starts compared to Carpenter's dozen. Gibson went 7-2 (1.89 ERA) in the postseason, and now Carpenter stands at 7-2 (3.10 ERA). 

On the air with Lobie and "Jackie Boy"

TUNE INTO 107.7 FM "The Pulse" at 4:05 p.m. today as I join Jack Heath on "New Hampshire Today" to discuss the NLCS and New Hampshire native Chris Carpenter. Earlier today, I was on the air with Bob Lobel and talking Scrabble, cell phones, and, yes some ALCS.

Despite what Jack Heath says, I didn't spend my spring training trip floating around the pool with a laptop. LOL. Here is a picture from a Blue Jays-Pirates game. I commandeered a golf cart and took a break while waiting for an interview with Jeff Locke.