There is no denying it, Mark Mulder has been a big bust since we traded for him back in December of 2004. Even though he did win 16 games in 05, I got the feeling that he wasn't the same pitcher that we traded for. Manny have speculated that he was damaged goods when we got him which is very likely (Damn you Billy Beane!!). After all, his velocity was down a few mph's. After watching his latest comeback attempt end so abruptley, I've become obsessed with when he first actually hurt his shoulder. I started to look back at his Oakland days. Man, a 6'6 lefty who has great control and won 21 games back in 2001(his first full year in the BIGS). Flash foreword to his last year in Oakland, 2004. Mulder was having a great season. He started in the All-Star game and was the favorite to win the CY Young with 17 wins and 7 starts left. His next three starts he pitched poorly, 12  earned runs in 19 innings getting the no decission in all three. HIs last 4 starts of the season he got shelled. He let up 20 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings. To recap thats 7 starts, 32 earned runs in 34 2/3 innings....not too hot. he ended up pitching a total of 223 innings that year so it could have been due to fatigue.

Since Mulder is probably done, I look back at 2005 and I really miss watching his big curve ball. That thing would start at the hitters head and end up in the dirt sometimes. Thats what made Zito and Mulder famous, the YACKER!! 06 was a very odd season. Everyone had high expectations for him since it was his walk year. Everyone knows guys play their ass off because if they play great that year, say hello $$$$$(Hello Adrian Beltre). I've been reading reports that he started having back trouble about 1 month into the season. The Cards could have chose the skip him in the rotation or just put him on the DL.  They chose to pitch through it and it is of my opinion that he began altering his pitching mechanics to favor his back better which meant that he was adding the extra stress to his shoulder. With added stress to his shoulder, he blew it out. When they finally figured out what was wrong,rotator cuff, I was amazed that he was "pitching with a shoulder impingement, inflammation of the rotator cuff and slight fraying of the labrum." In pitching terms, that was his death wish. The scariest injury out of those is the dreaded fraying of the labrum. Unlike Tommy John surgey, this procedure has never been very successful which means NO CUREl. They say only about 5% of players who get it will ever pitch effictvely again. If I would have known this when they first reported it, I would have never had faith in him to come back effictively. Some people even had the gall to think he could be an ace again. They put him on the DL for two months but when he came back, he was getting lit up and he felt more pain. This time he got surgery and his contract had expired. He turned down similar offers by the Indians and Rangers but decided to return to show the Cardinal faithful what he could do while healthy(or maybe just to make that trade with Oakland that much more painful.) He came back in September of 07 right when the Birds were in the playoff hunt. He sucked it up again and looked odd when he pitched, weird hitches in his delivery that are not normal. They did another MRI and decided he need additional cleanup surgey. By that time every Cardinal fan was doubting if Mulder would ever play again.

08 was the worst. Mulder doubted his shoulder. The Cardinals doubted him. The fans doubted him. He was expected to be ready for Opening Day, well.......that didn't happen. He began on the DL for the first two months and then began a rehab assignment. Every time out he seemed to get rocked and then he went on the DL again because his shoulder hurt when he threw from that arm slot. He then found the infamous LOWER ARM SLOT. He came off the DL and pitched a game and was great. This was the first time we heard any encouraging signs about him. New arm slot = New pitcher. Next start not so good. That smart decision would have been let him work it out in the minors and prove he can be a major league caliber pitcher. If he can't get guys out at triple A hes going to get destroyed in the BIGS. Well we soon found out that the Cards were going to promote him to start a game at Kansas CIty. Then the idiot hurts his back picking up luggage. That back messed up his rotator cuff which is why he is in this situation. Why can't the Cards just have a personal message therapist around him at all times? Well, they give him some time then call him up on and he pitched his first game of relief on June 30th. He pitched a score less 9th with a big lead, we had hopes he could be a lefty specialist for a while since Flores and Villone have been awful. The next relief appearance LaRussa decided to throw Mulder into the fire with men on base while the Cards had a one run lead. He got lit up and sat for a while. LaRussa then decided to start him against the Phillies. This was by far the stupidest decision I have ever seen by our manager. If he didn't hurt his shoulder while throwing, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley were going to hit line drives off his face and put him on the DL. He showed signs of hope when he struck out Rollins on what appeared to be a great changeup down and in but turned out to be the final blow in his shoulder. Mulder said that was the pitch he felt his shoulder grab on. He then touged it out and threw 4 balls to Victarino. With Victarino on first Mulder tried a pickoff attempt. When I saw him do it live it looked really wierd. The announcers noticed it and the replayed it over and over. HIs arm bent in a really wierd way then threw a submariner to Pujols.  I too think he did additional damge to the shouder doing this but I have not heard LaRussa or Mulder say so themselves. He walked Utley on four then signaled for Larue to come out their and talk to him. Larue told the ump what happened and the ump signaled for LaRussa and the trainer. Mulder left the game and his career is probably over.

I will miss you a lot Mark Mulder and I wish you the best in life. You probable have a smokin hot wife your still only 31 and you have made about 30 million dollars in your career so I don't feel too sorry for you. You seemed to really love the game of baseball and I do feel sorry that because of injury, you will no longer be able to perform the game you love.

My best advice for you is to take 2,3,4 maby even 5 years off. If your arm some how heals(Which has been know to happen...Troy Percivil) try a comeback. Hes only 31 now . The thing the Cardinals screwed up on him was not giving him enough time to heal.  If they would have waited a couple more months, his rotator cuff might have healed up. Ohh well. See you in 5 years Mark Mulder!!!!!!!

Questions for Mulder: 1)When did you first injure your shoulder?

2)Did you not tell the Cardinals right away that you were hurt in 2006 becuase you were about to hit the free agent maket or did you not know you were hurt?(Healthy Mulder after 2006 nets him at least a $100 million contract)

3)Do you think you can become the next Rick Ankiel(Not being serious)

Side note:If he did come back as position player, what position would he play?