05/23/2005 8:05 PM ET
Notes: Rolen making progress
Third baseman back with Cards after missing road trip
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen saw his teammates -- and reporters -- on Monday, the first time he had gotten any face time with either since his shoulder surgery on May 13.

He was considerably more pleased to visit with the former than the latter, but he took time to discuss his rehabilitation from a sprained left shoulder. Rolen sustained the injury in a collision with the Dodgers' Hee-Seop Choi. The six-time Gold Glover, who skipped the Cardinals' recent three-city road trip, said that he's encouraged by his progress in rehab.

"It's coming along pretty well," Rolen said.

Rolen's timetable for a return to action remains unchanged at about four to six weeks. Head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg said that by undergoing surgery to clean up some damage to his left labrum, Rolen probably cut down the time before he can return, rather than increasing it.

"The surgery created a situation where he could get his range of motion back quickly," Weinberg said. "That was the smartest thing he did and probably expedited the time of his recovery. I think if he had to deal with the ongoing issue, it would have been more annoying and irritating, and it would have taken longer for that to heal. Now he doesn't have it there."

Rolen is doing approximately an hour of shoulder work per day. For the time being, he's working on improving his range of motion and strengthening his shoulder. It's not yet time for him to begin baseball activities.

"It kind of limits itself a little bit," Rolen said. "I do whatever I can. I don't think that I can go out and swing a bat. That's stupid, trying to do something like that. But washing your hair, lifting your arm, reaching things on the top shelf, if it hurts you they say don't do it. If it doesn't, go ahead. So I use it whenever I can."

Ankiel activated: The Class A Swing of the Quad Cities announced Monday that Rick Ankiel has joined the club. Ankiel has been sidelined since May 7 with a back injury.

The former pitcher started the season at Double-A Springfield, and is expected to return there before long. However, he will first go to low Class A Quad Cities in order to get his swing straightened out and get back into game shape.

Lincoln progressing: Weinberg said Monday that right-hander Mike Lincoln is expected to throw off a mound before this week's series against Pittsburgh is over. Lincoln underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last summer, but sustained a setback during Spring Training. He hasn't thrown from a mound since spring.

"We'll have to see what his first throw is, but it's probably a 15-to-20 pitch, mild, light effort," Weinberg said.

There is still no timetable for Lincoln's return to game action. He will have to build up for quite some time before he even goes on a rehabilitation assignment.

Three million: The Cardinals announced on Monday that they have already surpassed 3,000,000 in ticket sales for the 2005 season. According to a release from the club, the Cards are ahead of their pace from the 2000 season, when the team record was set with 3,333,073 tickets sold. The 2005 season will be the seventh time in eight years, and ninth time overall, that the Redbirds top 3,000,000 in paid attendance.

Edmonds gets a day: Jim Edmonds finally received a day off on Monday, more than a week after he first came down with a left ankle sprain. Edmonds played every game of the team's recent road trip, but on Monday night, So Taguchi took his place in center field against Pirates lefty Dave Williams.

"He was really active on the trip," said manager Tony La Russa.

Minor moves: The Cardinals have acquired a couple of players with Major League experience to play in their Minor League system. Right-handed reliever Vladimir Nunez was traded from Texas to the St. Louis organization for a player to be named later.

Nunez will pitch for Triple-A Memphis. Nunez, 30, is 20-32 with a 4.83 ERA in 230 career big league appearances.

"You're always looking to add depth in pitching," La Russa said. "If a guy is available, you take a shot."

In addition, the Cards have signed first baseman Juan Diaz to play at Double-A Springfield. Diaz, 31, has been a slugger throughout his Minor League career, with a lifetime slugging percentage of .521. He went 2-for-7 in four games with the Red Sox in 2002.

Today in Busch history: On May 23, 1998, the Cardinals unloaded on the Giants for 15 hits, including five for extra bases, in an 11-10 win. Brian Jordan had four hits, two of them doubles, Ray Lankford went deep ... oh, and Mark McGwire went 3-for-4 with two homers, a walk, four RBIs and four runs. The long balls gave McGwire 23 in the Cards' first 47 games. Thanks to Project Retrosheet for the information.

Baby 'Birds: Memphis lost a doubleheader on Sunday against Portland, 6-5 and 4-2. Adam Wainwright had a rare rough start in the second game, allowing four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked one and gave up a pair of home runs. Raul Gonzalez had a homer and two doubles on the day, and Chris Duncan homered, singled, and walked twice. ... Aaron Herr and Diaz each had two hits and two RBIs in Springfield's 6-5 loss to Arkansas. ... Chris Lambert pitched six shutout innings for Class A Palm Beach in a 5-2 win over Lakeland. Matt Dryer had three hits and three RBIs, and John Santor went deep. ... Quad Cities rallied for six runs in the eighth inning to make a winner in relief, yet again, of Kevin Ool (9-0 -- yes, nine wins and no losses, all in relief). Mike Ferris went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs, and Juan Lucena added four hits.

Lambert picks up player of the day honors thanks to another strong game. The right-hander, who was the Cardinals' first-round pick in last year's draft, struck out six, walked three and allowed six hits. He's now 7-1 with a 3.02 ERA, 42 Ks, 15 walks and four homers allowed in 47 2/3 innings.

Coming up: The Cardinals continue their homestand Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT. It's Jason Marquis against Kip Wells in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.