Belisle optimistic about recovery

Cardinals relief pitcher Matt Belisle has been in mentor in the bullpen. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.comCINCINNATI • The way his right forearm seized on him and restricted the motion of his elbow told Cardinals reliever Matt Belisle something more sinister than a cramp happening, and it was through follow-up exams that he learned the reason.

The ligament injury was rare, he said, and in need of attention.

“There’s a line that I understand pretty clearly in my career, and this is one I couldn’t go any further on,” Belisle said. “It’s not something we can pitch through. They confirmed that when we looked closer at the joint and what was going on. I couldn’t put myself at risk for…