FanHouse JoelPiniero

It's doubtful that the second best team in the National League needs good news, but the Cardinals are getting it anyways Monday afternoon as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Chris Carpenter will throw off of a mound either today or tomorrow and could return as early as May 23. This will be the first time the former Cy Young winner has thrown in almost a month, since injuring his oblique against Arizona on April 14.

At this point, it's hard to get excited about any potential return point for Carpenter until it actually happens. He looked great all spring and pitched very well in his first two starts this season before his injury, but he's still only made eight appearances since the 2006 World Series. An oblique injury is theoretically less threatening than the arm problems he's faced, but it's still keeping him off the field.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Remember not too long ago when Pedro Martinez was the most dominant pitcher in baseball? His rise started way back in 1997, in his last season in Montreal, but where he really took off was in Beantown.

The seven seasons Pedro spent pitching for the Red Sox in Boston were pretty amazing. He went 117-37 while there, and aside from his 3.90 ERA in 2004, he never had an ERA over 2.89. Think about that for a second, and while you're doing that make sure you remind yourself that Pedro only missed a significant amount of time once in his time in Boston, making only 18 starts in 2001 (and going 7-3 with a 2.39 ERA in those starts).

How many other pitchers have been dominant over that length of time? Bob Gibson from 1963-70? Sandy Koufax? Sandy had some good seasons while with the Dodgers, but I would only say he dominated in his final four years there.

No, Pedro was the greatest pitcher I've ever seen, and I say was because the Pedro we've seen pitching for the Mets the last few seasons is not the Pedro I remember.

Will he be able to rekindle the spark tonight?

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

San Diego Padres (29-38) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (31-34) - 3:35PM Est.

As much of a disappointment as the 2008 season has been for the San Diego Padres, looking at the big picture, things aren't nearly as bad as they seem. They've won five of their last six games, and even though they're still nine games under .500, they play in the NL West so they're still alive.

The Diamondbacks have plummeted back to earth after starting out so hot this season, and the Friars find themselves only 6.5 games out of first place. If San Diego's offense could ever manage to consistently score some runs, the Padres could find themselves right back in the thick of things.

Of course, it's entirely possible they could do it without their offense as they get their ace back on the mound this afternoon. Will Jake Peavy's return be the spark the Pads need?

In general, most baseball fans respond to the early-season unexpected in the same way: with a shrug and an, "it's early." That's fine to an extent, but when does that stop? I'm asking, particularly in regards to the NL Central where the Cardinals sit up top with a 20-12 record and the Brewers sit at 16-15, almost as close to the 12-19 Pirates as the division leading Cards. Clearly, anything can happen from this point on in the season, but is it still "early?"

Honestly, I don't know that it is. The Brewers have some serious problems that can't be glossed over by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder finding their missing swings. Their rotation was dangerously thin before Yovani Gallardo got hurt, and now they've got no real #2 to step up behind the oft-injured Ben Sheets unless Manny Parra finds his stride. The bullpen is just as suspect, with Eric Gagne leading the league with five saves. You can say it's early, but we're almost to the quarter pole and this team has some real problems.

So what about Cards? 20-12 is nothing to sneeze at, but much of their early season success has come with Todd Wellemeyer, Kyle Lohse, Joel Piniero, and Braden Looper doing good impressions of league average starters. How likely is that to continue? It can't be that likely, can it? These guys, and the Cards, are coming back to earth.

Do you hear that? It's actually the sound of Cubs' fans smiling. I didn't even know you could hear people smile until now.