Back in January, Lance Berkman was one of the best-shapers. That is, he was one of those guys who came out of the offseason claiming to be in or near the best shape of his life. Berkman had been working out in preparation for a return to the outfield with the Cardinals, his new team, but so far in the early going, that transition's not going so well.
Lance Berkman Dealing With Calf Injury, Elbow Soreness
From the beginning, the Cardinals wanted to take it easy on Berkman’s left knee, which has been through a couple surgeries. But after participating in a few outfield drills, Berkman developed elbow soreness that has limited his activity. And then on Thursday, he was scratched from the lineup with tightness in his left calf, and he’s again out of the lineup on Friday.
It’s still very early in March, but Berkman’s already dealing with a few bumps and bruises, which doesn’t bode very well for his immediate future in the outfield. Berkman hasn’t been a regular outfielder since 2004. Since then, he’s spent the overwhelming majority of his time at first base, and it’s not like he’s a slender, athletic guy. Everybody knew this would be a difficult change, and while it’s too soon to definitively call it a mistake, one can’t help but worry about these little physical obstacles. They can add up, and they can cause a guy to struggle.
The Cardinals aren’t too concerned about Berkman’s current maladies. They’ll hope that he can shake them off as he works into shape.
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