Joe Strauss On 1380 AM With Monday Spring Training Tidbits

• There was still concern over Albert Pujols' elbow, one of the main reasons he pulled out of the WBC.
• Pujols shut down for a week or so in January because of discomfort.
• Ryan Ludwick deal done, meet in the middle with incentives.
• Team wanted to get salary arbiration out of the way so it wouldn't cause any problems.
• Skip Schumaker took grounders with Jose Oquendo and Joe Pettini. Working on his foot work.
• Chris Carpenter looking better each day. Couple more bullpen sesions before throwing batting practice.
• Josh Kinney and Brad Thompson looking real good.
• Jason Isringhausen willing to come to camp on a minor league deal with invite to camp.
• Isringhausen has been in contact with Dave Duncan and his agent has talked to John Mozeliak.
• Bringing Izzy in could cause some problems among the younger pitchers.
• There's always a possiblity to move one of the outfielders.
• Schumaker is on the team whether or not he makes it at second.
• Many reasons to send Colby Rasmus to Triple-A Memphis to start the 2009 season.
• Joel Pineiro may not go to WBC (but it's up in the air), LaRussa would prefer he stay in camp and get into a groove with team.
• World Baseball Classic has become more important to the Caribbean countries than the Caribbean Series, because more countries are involved.
• Pujols took the leadership role with commenting on the organization making moves.

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