Desperate Cardinals Call Larry Bigbee to St. Louis

With center fielder Jim Edmonds missing time due to post-concussion syndrome, the Cardinals are so much in need of help that even ailing Larry Bigbee has been summoned from Springfield. Bigbee, who underwent surgery for an umbilical hernia June 8, has twice failed to complete rehabilitation assignments at AAA Springfield due to acute abdominal pain, leaving his ability to reappear this season in doubt. By appearing in St. Louis, Bigbee is more accessable by the medical staff that performed his surgery, plus trainers who must evaluate Bigbee's potential to return to the Cardinals lineup. It remains to be seen whether Bigbee will need yet another rehabilitation session. Once a prized prospect in the Texas Rangers organization, Bigbee has missed time due to injuries or other ailments eight times since 2003, and has been virtually cast off by Baltimore and Colorado. Now nearly 29, Bigbee has come to be regarded as something of a journeyman -- journeyman of the trainer's room.