PADRES NOTES: Barrett activated, expected to start Sunday

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Saturday, May 24, 2008 8:11 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The Padres got a reprieve from all the recent bad news as Michael Barrett was activated off the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

The catcher, who has missed 41 games since spraining his right elbow in San Francisco on April 7, was joyously dancing around the clubhouse after taking early batting practice.

Colt Morton was optioned to Double-A San Antonio to make room for Barrett, who went 7-for-10 with four RBIs this week in rehab games for Triple-A Portland and Single-A Lake Elsinore. The veteran will start Sunday and get the majority of playing time with Luke Carlin serving as the backup.

"Initially, I didn't think I was coming back this year," said Barrett, who noticed an improvement in his health when the team arrived in Florida earlier this month. "The change was drastic. I don't know if it was the heat or what, but it made some huge progress."

Barrett said a positive that arose from suffering the injury is he now has a better understanding of the preventive maintenance he needs to perform to stay healthy. The 31-year-old referred to exercising and maintaining his strength and taking better care of himself ---- things he didn't have to do as a younger player.

"I'm at the point of playing smarter," Barrett said, "and doing my work. I have to get here early. ... It's something I've got to be mindful of and stay on top of for quite some time."

Said manager Bud Black: "The reports were so good that we activated him. ... His elbow is good. He's confident in his health."

Peavy held back

It was originally believed that Jake Peavy would resume playing catch on Saturday, but that plan was nixed following a meeting with team doctors on Friday. Black noted that the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner's elbow is improving, but doctors can't fully clear him.

"There's still a little discomfort when he goes through a few of the stress tests," Black said.

Peavy said he was "hanging in" as he struggles with not being able to get out and compete. He won't perform any baseball activities until he's cleared, which could come after a follow-up MRI on Tuesday. Black said if Peavy doesn't begin throwing by this week, he will require a rehab assignment before returning.

"It's still tender," Peavy said. "Everybody wants to get back out there, but you have to listen to your body."

Short hops

C Josh Bard (high left ankle sprain) said he was fortunate he didn't suffer a worse injury on Wednesday. Bard also spoke with St. Louis 1B Albert Pujols, who offered his apologies for his part in the play, though Bard said the gesture was not necessary because it was a clean play. ... C Luke Carlin has thrown out three of seven would-be base stealers through Friday. ... Beginning with Randy Wolf on Thursday, followed by Shawn Estes and Wil Ledezma, the Padres have started three left-handers consecutively for the first time since Aug. 25-28, 1992, when Jim Deshaies, Craig Lefferts and Bruce Hurst pitched.