Part II: DeRosa returns to Wrigley

If a strained left wrist hadn't landed Mark DeRosa on the 15-day disabled list, he might have found out this weekend just how beloved he still is by Cubs fans.

He is, after all, a hated St. Louis Cardinal now.

While DeRosa won't be able to help his first-place teammates this weekend at Wrigley Field against his former team, he'll be in the visiting team's dugout for the second time in less than a month.

"I know it's got to be a little odd, but I didn't leave the Cubs to go to the Cardinals on my doing," said DeRosa, who spent two seasons with the Cubs before being dealt during the off-season to the Cleveland Indians for three minor-league pitchers.

"So hopefully (the Cubs fans) give me a break."

When the likable DeRosa played at Wrigley Field June 19-21 as a member of the Indians, appreciative Cubs fans greeted him with repeated standing ovations when he walked to the plate.

The following weekend, he was traded to St. Louis, which opened a four-game series with the Cubs at Wrigley on Friday.

"It's kind of weird," DeRosa said. "I heard the names of all the teams that I'd potentially be going to and the Cardinals were one of them. I remember turning to my wife and saying, 'Wow, that would be odd to go play there.' But it's been great, the week to 10 days I've been here. It's been a good situation for me."

Coming off a career year last season in which he posted 21 home runs and 87 RBI, DeRosa hit .270 with 13 homers and 50 RBI in 71 games for the Indians. He went hitless in his first 9 at-bats as a Cardinal before his wrist, which he tweaked while swinging the bat, forced him to the disabled list.

He's expected to come off the DL immediately after the all-star break.

"We were really excited to acquire him," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It's been a tough break for him and for us. We've had our share, but there probably isn't any (team) that hasn't had any adversity, so you just deal with it. We're hoping (next Friday) he's 100 percent ready to go. We need him."

"I'm excited to be here, to be honest with you," DeRosa said. "I'm obviously disappointed I won't be able to play (this weekend), but it's one of those things where I find myself on a last-place team (with Cleveland) and within a couple of days I'm in first place in the NL Central battling against the Cubs. It's a good spot for me to be."

At least the rumors of him coming back to the Cubs have ended, right?

"I'm a free agent at the end of the year," DeRosa reminded. "Who knows. I had a blast playing here."