Rumors Foreshadow Justin Duchscherer 's Trade?

Given Athletics General Manager Billy Beane's penchant for dealing his coveted pitchers -- 2008 standout Justin Duchscherer in all probability will be the next to go if the latest rash of MLB rumors can be believed.

With the July 31 trading deadline fast approaching, the 6-foot-2, right-handed curveball specialist will be in his walk year next season, and Beane is unlikely to agree to an extended contract at $8-10 million or more a year when negotiations intensify over the winter.

Beane has been highly successful dealing established pitchers, Joe Blanton's trade to the Phillies being only the latest in a string dating back to the spinoffs of former Oakland stars Tim Hudson to Atlanta and Mark Mulder to St. Louis.

Duchscherer, 30 -- known a "Duke" to his friends -- has been held back at various points of his career by a successive string of injuries and has been used primarily as a bullpen shortman since joining the Athletics. But he is currently in the midst of a career year as a starter.

With a record of 10-5, Duchscherer has a .144 ERA over his last 10 games, all of which were quality starts, including a complete game shutout.

Dave Duncan to Work Mark Mulder Miracle Plan

With Todd Wellemeyer and Adam Wainwright the latest Cardinals pitchers to go on the disabled list, coach Dave Duncan has been asked to rush injured Mark Mulder back into action, no small task given the fact the Mulder has lost 5-6 mph off his fastball and has been repeatedly hammered in a number of minor league rehabilitation starts.

Still, the Cardinals are running out of bodies, so Mulder will be brought back -- perhaps as soon as Tuesday -- with the benefit of a special, Dave Duncan miracle plan that calls for a crew of orderlies from the Barnes Jewish Hospital Trauma Center to stand by to unload Mulder out of the back of the ambulance, place him onto a gurney and roll him out to the mound.

Because Mulder will be a pitch count of, oh, say seven, he will dispense with pregame warmup tosses in order to save his stamina to go deeper into the game. Catcher Yadier Molina will be given the responsibility of placing the ball in Mulder's hand and closing his fingers around it, then pointing him in the direction of the plate.

An extra supply of new balls will be on hand because it is expected that Mulder will quickly dirty and scuff them as most of his pitches will hit the dirt about 10 feet in front of the plate. Communication between Mulder and the dugout will be strictly limited to hand signals to the third base coaching box, as Manager Tony LaRussa's two mound visits must be used to check Mulder's pulse, replace his intravenous saline solution bottle and wipe the spittle from the front of his uniform.

At the conclusion of Mulder's appearance, the Cardinals will attempt to persuade the Triple A Memphis Redbirds to take him back, a difficult task because the Redbirds have already twice sent him back to Double A Springfield.

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Mark Mulder Regresses in Rehab Start

Continuing his struggle to come back from rotator cuff surgery, Cardinals lefty Mark Mulder appeared to take a step backward Tuesday in his fourth rehabilitation start, a 10-5 loss to offensive-minded Triple A Salt Lake at Memphis.

After making progress in his previous outing for Double A Springfield, Mulder strained to reach the high 80s with his fastball, clocked at a full 5-8 mph slower than his normal speed when healthy. Though Mulder never has been an especially hard thrower, he depends on modest velocity in order to achieve movement on his pitches.

Boobirds were evident among the 13,496 fans watching as Mulder surrendered two homers, nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits before being lifted in the fourth inning. Mulder walked one, struck out one and hit a batter while staying under the same 80-pitch limit set for him in his previous three outings. Once again, slightly more than half his offerings went for strikes.

Though Mulder was somewhat outside the strike zone, he often found his mark and was generally able to keep the ball down, even if some pitches were in the dirt, wide or inside.

Perhaps suffering what for him would be an early season dead arm, Mulder will likely need two more starts or more before returning to St. Louis perhaps by mid-May, barring a setback.

Mark Mulder Eyes Memphis Promotion

Injured Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder -- having recovered discernible velocity on his fastball after just three minor league rehabilitation appearances -- is anticipating a promotion to Memphis and a probable return to St. Louis no later than mid-May.

Mulder struggled somewhat with command as he threw 49 of 84 pitches for strikes in a five-inning, 12-4 victory in his most recent outing for Double A Springfield at Tulsa. But he found he was able to exceed the 90 mph threshold with regularity as he struck out five batters while walking four.

Mulder garnered outs on seven infield grounders while giving up four runs on six hits. Increased velocity was the likely cause for Mulder's wildness in the first inning, when he allowed the first five batters to reach base.

It was the 30-year-old lefty's second appearance against the Drillers last week, having beaten them the previous Sunday when he threw six innings without giving up a run, though he relied mostly on breaking balls and other offspeed pitches in that appearance.

"I am 10 times happier with this outing that I was about my last one against these guys," Mulder was quoted as telling the Tulsa World. "I was wild, but my arm and my delivery worked so much better..."

Barring regression after coming back from rotator cuff surgery, Mulder likely should need no more than three appearances before returning to St. Louis, and could return sooner. Mulder is expected to make his next outing Friday, with an announcement being awaited Monday as to whether he will appear at Springfield or Memphis.