St. Louis Cardinals: Spring Training Recap Days 9 & 10

With just three full days until the St. Louis Cardinals’ first Spring Training game, we talk Carlos Martinez, Minor League pitching prospects, more rule changes, and Yadier Molina.

St. Louis Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez is expected to face live hitters some time this coming week, as he works to build arm strength in coming back from a shoulder strain that cost him the 2015 postseason.

While the Cardinals will open their Spring Training slate with an exhibition match up with the Florida Atlantic Owls on Wednesday, Martinez is anticipated to face live hitters for the first time on one of the back fields at the Cardinal’s Spring Training site in Jupiter, FL.

Both Manager Mike Matheny and Martinez acknowledged that the 24-year-old right-hander was behind schedule compared to the workload of other starters, but still anticipate Martinez being ready for Opening Day.

“I know it’s behind as far as the timing of everybody else, but I don’t see it as being behind in the big scheme of things (as far) as having him ready to pitch at the beginning of the season,” Said Matheny.

Pitching prospect Luke Weaver has caught the attention of all the right men

Both Mike Matheny and General Manager John Mozeliak have been impressed with 2014 first-round pick Luke Weaver so far this spring.

After a sluggish start to his professional career, Weaver has looked “fresh” and seems to be making major strides since right arm tightness hampered him ahead of 2015.

“Catching my eye is a good statement about him because he has… I think it starts with the stuff. The stuff looks good. The composure looks right. He’s going about it the right way. He’s coming in here and getting all the work done and doing all the little things right. There are some things to be excited about, but he has a lot of room to grow” said Cards’ Manager Mike Matheny in an interview with MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch.

Weaver could be the next impact Cardinal starting pitcher, following the likes of former first rounders Michael Wacha and Marco Gonzales.

Cardinals Second Baseman Kolten Wong has some questions about rules changes for 2016

Rule 6.01(j) will go into effect this year, largely in reaction to injuries suffered by Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang last September and Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in the NLDS that resulted from “take out” slides at second base.

The rule will make the “neighborhood play” reviewable, and Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong thinks that that is counter-productive to ensuring middle infield safety.

“This neighborhood play is going to have us thinking the whole time that we’re going to be taken out,” said Wong.

Under the new rule, middle infielders will need to make sure that they remain on the base prior to throwing to first on double play turns. If they do not, video replay could overturn converted double plays.

With Major League Baseball announcing additional rule changes that eliminates 20 seconds worth of dead time between each half inning as well as a 30-second limit for mound visits, one has to wonder how much time the “neighborhood rule” could add to games with the prevalence of double plays in the game today.

Yadi receives pitches for the first time this spring

Fully padded-up, Yadier Molina participated in his first fielding drills behind the plate since undergoing that second thumb surgery last December.

While the pitches that he received were far from full-effort tosses that he would see in regular game action, Yadi’s most recent developments are vital first steps in his effort to be ready for Opening Day.

Yadi is expected to be cleared to begin catching side bullpen sessions very soon, and is expected to begin rotating in for live batting practice work shortly as well.

Seven weeks removed from undergoing a second procedure on his left thumb, Yadi shed the cast that he was wearing on his left hand in early February and will continue to wear a splint on that left thumb when catching.

The ultimate goal is to avoid a third thumb procedure and subsequent time missed in the process. While the Cardinals prefer a more cautious approach to Yadi’s return, the long-time Cardinal backstop has made it clear that an Opening Day return is his main goal.

That’s what I want, that’s my goal” said Molina when addressing being ready for Opening Day.

Next: Spring Training Recap Day 8

The Cardinals plan to have Yadi’s Opening Day status determined some time in mid-March. Stay tuned for updates on the Cardinal catcher’s progression as we move through the spring.