Mulder to miss extra month

The prognosis for the pitcher's return remains open-ended.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder is expected to miss another month with a shoulder injury.
"I'd be very happy if he was pitching then," trainer Barry Weinberg said Friday. "So far, he's progressing."
The prognosis for Mulder's return remains open-ended after his latest visit with Dr. George Paletta, the team's orthopedic consultant, on Thursday.
For now, the Cardinals have set up a throwing plan for Mulder based on how he feels each day.
On the positive side, Weinberg said Mulder has improved range of motion and decreased pain. The injury has been described as rotator cuff irritation and impingement in the left shoulder.
"I think he's moving forward," manager Tony La Russa said. "I guarantee you as soon as I've got something mapped out, because he's so important, it'll be there for everybody."
Mulder won 16 games last season, his first with the Cardinals. He's been on the 15-day disabled list since June 21, the day after he gave up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to the Chicago White Sox and is 6-5 overall with a 6.09 ERA.
Mulder has had little to say about his climb back, minimizing daily work as just that.
"Really, there's no program," he said. "It feels a lot better."
The Cardinals have two additions to a rotation that was stable for a season-and-a-half, with rookie Anthony Reyes taking Mulder's spot and Jeff Weaver replacing Sidney Ponson, who was released and signed by the Yankees.
First start
Weaver is scheduled to make his first start on Monday against the Braves.
Left-handed reliever Randy Flores, was unavailable on Friday after undergoing an MRI exam for elbow soreness. Flores hoped that rest would solve the problem and he didn't mentioned the injury before Thursday, the day after the All-Star break ended.
"It just became something I wanted to ask about," Flores said. "The All-Star break did not provide an immediate solution. We'll figure out something shortly."
Weinberg didn't think Flores would have to be placed on the disabled list.
"He's just got some tenderness in his elbow," Weinberg said.
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