Relief staff adds early uncertainty

ST. LOUIS -- Two words say it all about the Cardinals' rebuilt bullpen: Kiko Calero.

The one-time Royals castoff, who is awaiting his major league debut at age 28, is just one of the many new faces that the NL Central champions will be counting on to hold the line. St. Louis also has three pitchers who missed all of last season with injuries -- Cal Eldred, Russ Springer and Lance Painter.

With closer Jason Isringhausen starting the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a setback in his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, the four right-handed relievers currently active combined for 11 innings last season. All were by Dustin Hermanson, returning to St. Louis after a lost, injury-plagued season in Boston.

"It feels like I never left, really," Hermanson said. "I don't have much memory of Boston and I'm trying to block that whole year out."

The bullpen looks nothing like the pre-spring training projections. Calero, targeted for the rotation in Triple-A Memphis, and Springer, coming off a shoulder injury that knocked him out last season and signed to a minor league deal, beat out offseason acquisitions Joey Hamilton and Al Levine.

Both were released in the final week of spring training even though they were guaranteed a total of $900,000.

The new ensemble struggled in the opener before Steve Kline, the lone holdover at the start of the season, nailed down the save by getting two outs on four pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in an 11-9 victory Monday. But general manager Walt Jocketty is confident this group, which if nothing else is extremely well-rested, will hold its own.

"We've got three quality left-handers and the right-handers are all guys, with the exception of Calero, who have had success," Jocketty said. "They just haven't pitched in a while."

Manager Tony La Russa usually bristles at suggestions a player is a pleasant surprise. In the case of Calero, 28, he wholeheartedly agrees.

Calero, who signed as a minor league free agent, is 65-36 in seven minor league seasons. He expected little in spring training, and the Cardinals expected little of him.

"Very honestly, no," Calero said. "I hope I do good."

While Hamilton and Levine were struggling, Calero put up seven shutout innings in spring training. He gave up only two hits, impressing enough to overcome the track records of others.

"It's part of being down there (in spring training)," manager Tony La Russa said. "We watch real closely."

The turning point was a 1-0 game against the Expos when Calero followed an effective outing from starter Brett Tomko. Then in a three-inning stint in an intrasquad game on March 19, "he carved us up," La Russa said.

"He's tough to run on and he's got four pitches," the manager added. "He's earned a chance."

Words to cherish for Calero, whose real first name is Enrique.

"When I signed, it was my dream to make the big leagues," he said. "I'm here and I hope to stay the whole season."

Calero has been a starter throughout his minor league career, which makes him a perfect fit for this bullpen. Eldred, who made his first appearance since April 2001 in the opener, and Hermanson both made their names as starters.

It may take some time to adjust to their new roles. Eldred, for instance, retired none of the three batters he faced in the ninth in the opener, surrendering a two-run home run to Richie Sexson. The Cardinals also will use an assortment of pitchers in the closing role until Isringhausen is ready -- perhaps in mid- to late-April.

Nobody seems to know who's supposed to be the designated stand-in, and the role likely will shift depending on which teams they're facing.

"I'm sure they've got plans," Hermanson said. "But maybe they're keeping us in limbo for a reason."

Isringhausen was scheduled to pitch at Class A Peoria on Tuesday night in the first of perhaps 8-10 rehab assignments. He's basically back on a spring training-type regimen after hitting a setback in his rehab in mid-March.

"I like our bullpen," Jocketty said. "And it'll be a lot better when Izzy is back."