Rays/MLB

Reigning Cy mellows out

A relaxed Chris Carpenter is using the spring to get his arm in shape and work on his golf game.

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published March 14, 2006

LAKE BUENA VISTA - The reigning National League Cy Young winner lounges comfortably on a leather clubhouse couch, talking about his kids and his golf game.

Chris Carpenter is relaxed, knowing his status as the Cardinals' No.1 starter makes spring training mostly meaningless, a chance to prepare his right arm for the season.

At 30, a year after winning 21 and dominating hitters with his cerebral style, Carpenter is the grizzled, award-winning veteran.

Tanned, with a wisp of facial hair below his lip, Carpenter plays lots of golf with his fellow pitchers, including 24-year-old Adam Wainwright, a former Braves first-round pick with two innings of major-league experience.

"The best part about it is not to play golf with him," Wainwright said. "It's to sit in the cart and pick his brain. You try to learn a little bit about pitching."

Wainwright, selected 29th overall in 2000, hasn't had a quick ascent. But he knows Carpenter wasn't always a Cy Young winner.

In his first six seasons with Toronto, Carpenter went 49-50. In two seasons with St. Louis, after missing the 2003 season with shoulder problems, Carpenter has gone 36-10.

"I just asked him what the difference is between him in Toronto and him now," Wainwright said. "He said he's stronger mentally now. He said he doesn't have the stuff he used to, but mentally he's way, way better."

Carpenter appeared in midseason form Monday afternoon against the Braves, pitching four shutout innings and allowing two hits. His teammates play the Yankees today at Legends Field, the Cardinals' first visit to Tampa since they left St. Petersburg in 1998.

"I feel stronger every time out," Carpenter said. "My arm is getting in shape, so that's all that matters."

Carpenter seemed to overpower Atlanta's hitters, but he nearly cut off a reporter who asked him about velocity.

"I really don't care how hard how I throw," he said.

Brandishing his "mental approach" last season, Carpenter won 13 consecutive decisions from June to September. He finished with a 2.83 ERA, fifth in the NL.

Carpenter says last year is history, but his fellow pitchers remember. Starter Mark Mulder, coming off his first season with St. Louis after five with the A's, said he was struck by Carpenter's ability to focus and dominate.

"It was like nothing you've ever seen before," Mulder said. "I was with (Barry) Zito when he won the Cy Young (in 2002), and Carp was unbelievable."

He has been willing to tutor other pitchers, too. He helped Wainwright with his sinker last season, telling the younger pitcher to start his windup on the first-base side of the rubber.

Since then, Wainwright has been able to drop the pitch into the strike zone.

"He's there and he's not a real big conversationalist, but if a younger guy has questions, he's certainly willing to share his knowledge with them," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "He's a very stable force in the clubhouse."

It helps that Carpenter is healthy, making his scheduled starts and getting ready for the season. He was okay last spring, too, but he had missed the 2004 playoffs, including the World Series, with nerve damage in his right biceps.

Starting pitcher Jeff Suppan said he did not think Carpenter let the memory of the injury bother him. But last March, he was just five months removed from missing the playoffs.

"I'm sure he had concerns," Suppan said. "He wasn't talking about it. It's something that, as a pitcher, I don't think you talk about things like that. You let it lie. It's more of an internal thing."

Carpenter will likely be a workhorse again; he pitched 2412/3 innings last season, tied for second in the NL.

But for the rest of spring training, expect him to slowly prepare for the season, help younger pitchers and work on his golf game. He's not bad on the links, either.

"As a whole he hits it pretty good," Wainwright said. "He hits it pretty far."

[Last modified March 14, 2006, 00:55:10]