By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Feb. 21, 2016, 9:51 pm CT
The latest developments from a busy Sunday down in Jupiter, Florida for the redbirds…
Mike Matheny talks to reporters at Spring Training (@Cardinals)
CARDS SHUT DOWN PITCHER WALDRON
The Cardinals have shut down non-roster invitee pitcher Tyler Waldron (not to be confused with Jordan Walden) indefinitely due to an impingement in his right shoulder, manager Mike Matheny told reporters, including MLB.com’s Barry Bloom, on Sunday.
Matheny said the right-hander will go into a rehab program, and when asked how long that might be, responded: “We don’t know.”
Waldron, 26, missed his bullpen session on Saturday, the third day of Spring Training for Cardinals pitchers and catchers. After spending the first five seasons of his career in the Pirates’ farm system, Waldron made 46 appearances for AAA Memphis last season, pitching to a 4-6 record with a 4.74 ERA over 76 innings.
MATHENY SAYS ‘NOTHING SET IN STONE’ IN LINEUP
Speaking to reporters, including MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch, on Saturday, Mike Matheny said that no decisions regarding the lineup have been made and he will toy with numerous possibilities this spring to gauge their effectiveness and find the best one.
“We have nothing set in stone right now,” Matheny said. “We’ll throw guys out there, see what we see, and then try to put together the best one through nine that we can come up with. We have a lot of time here to draw it up, and a lot of different tests we can use through Spring Training to figure out how it might come together.”
“I don’t want to come in here with preconceived ideas,” the Cardinals manager also added. “It’s not fair to these guys in there. We tell them we have certain things we want to work on all winter … and for me to already have it in my mind that no matter what they do, this is what I want to see, I don’t think that’s fair to them.”
Read more from Langosch’s full story at MLB.com.
Carlos Martinez throws alongside Mike Leake this past week. Photo: Brian Stull / STL Baseball Weekly / Twitter
CARDS EASING MARTINEZ INTO ACTION, STILL CONFIDENT IN PROGRESS
Although most Cardinals pitchers at camp completed their second bullpen session of the spring on Sunday, young right-hander Carlos Martinez was not among them, as the team continues to ease him back into action after a shoulder strain prematurely ended his 2015 season, Brian Stull of STL Baseball Weekly reports.
“He’ll be off here today,” Matheny told Stull Sunday morning. “He won’t be throwing off the mound. He’ll be doing everything else with the guys. Once again, just kind of tempered back–but everything he’s done up to this point has responded extremely well. All positive feedback.”
Stull writes that the team has been consistent in regards to sticking to a medical plan for Martinez to be ready for the start of the season, and the 24-year-old will continue to throw bullpens for the time being.
MORE FROM STL BASEBALL TODAY…
Matheny tabs Wainwright for fourth straight Opening Day start | Chris Brown, STL Baseball Today
RECOMMENDED READS
Cardinals hoping Randal Grichuk makes a name for himself | Mark Saxon, ESPN
Goold: Cardinals consider who could be Yadi’s heir | Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Walden out to ‘prove I can still pitch’ | Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
2016 Cardinals Preview: Manager Mike Matheny | Bernie Miklasz, 101Sports.com
Leake embracing Cards’ ‘common goal’ | Barry Bloom, MLB.com
TOP TWEETS OF THE DAY
Cards draft spots move up one with Orioles signing of Gallardo. Cards now have the 24th, 33rd and 34th picks in June draft. #STLCards
— Rob Rains (@RobRains) February 21, 2016
Brandon Moss had his first day of batting practice and it was powerful. @KSDKSports @Cardinals pic.twitter.com/TGSdZdhGep
— Frank Cusumano (@Frank_Cusumano) February 21, 2016
Holliday on being the oldest Cardinal: "I didn't fall down and break a hip today so that's a win for me". #STLCards
— Jim Hayes (@TheCatOnFox) February 21, 2016
Yadier Molina with some words for new relief pitcher Seung-Hwan Oh. #stlcards pic.twitter.com/OrJPuo7mHd
— David Solomon (@solomonsside) February 21, 2016
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