ST. LOUIS — Three days after Fernando Tatis injured his groin, the St. Louis Cardinals are not sure when the NL's RBI leader will be able to play again.

        Tatis, batting .375 with six homers and 28 RBIs, was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. The Cardinals called up first baseman-outfielder Larry Sutton, who was hitting .270 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 23 games at Triple-A Memphis.

        Tatis was injured making an awkward throw after fielding a grounder by Bob Abreu Saturday night. He busied himself as best he could Tuesday perusing shoe catalogs.

        “I can't do anything,” Tatis said. “Maybe this will help take my mind of it a little bit.”

        The Cardinals were awaiting results of an MRI, and Tatis knew it would be bad news.

        “It's the same as it was the other day,” he said. “It's real sore. I can't even move. I can't even breathe very well.”

        The Cardinals don't expect Tatis to return when his 15 days are up. He could be out until the All-Star break.

        “He's going to be out for a while,” manager Tony La Russa said. “We'll just take care of him.”

        Craig Paquette will get the bulk of playing time at third base during Tatis' absence. Paquette has been something of a 10th regular player and was batting .246 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 57 at-bats, seventh-most on the team.

        “He's been looking for playing time,” La Russa said. “Unfortunately, not this way.”

        Placido Polanco, a backup infielder who was batting .349 with three homers and seven RBIs in 43 at-bats, also could get some work at third.

        Sutton, 29, will be used primarily as a pinch hitter. He had appeared a good bet to make the team in spring training, where he batted .385 with two homers and 11 RBIs, before the Cardinals acquired Jim Edmonds.

        Like Edmonds, Sutton is a left-handed hitter. He also had a minor league option remaining.

        “I don't know what was going on with the front office or anything like that,” Sutton said. “I did what I could. Our team was just so strong, especially with the acquisition of Edmonds.”

        Sutton didn't mind the demotion, because it allowed him to play every day at first base. With the Cardinals he was the backup behind Mark McGwire, which to him was like “playing behind Hercules.”

        Sutton can play all three outfield positions as well as first base, which he likes the most.

        “I enjoy it more because you're more in the game, you're in almost every play,” Sutton said.

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