It appears shortstop Brendan Ryan, who had right wrist surgery Feb. 9, will be able to play in exhibition games sometime around March 21. But manager Tony La Russa said that didn't necessarily mean he would be ready for the regular season two weeks after that.
"Once he's strong and ready, he's got to take enough at-bats where he's got his timing," La Russa said. "He can't rush in there for four days and say, 'Hey, I'm ready.' And all of a sudden he hits .210."
Ryan said he "can't imagine" not being ready to start the season.
"I never saw myself not ready for opening day," Ryan said. "That's what I'm shooting for. But if there's a chance of risk, I'm not going to be stupid."
While Ryan gradually is rounding into form, veteran Julio Lugo will see much of the time...
This type of outing was what St. Louis was hoping for when it signed Brad Penny to a $7.5 million, one-year contract in the offseason. Penny threw four shutout innings to help the Cardinals beat the winless Washington Nationals 6-4 on Wednesday. "He was nails," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.
Willie Davis, a speedy center fielder who collected two World Series rings, three Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star during his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died. He was 69. "He was beloved by generations of Dodger fans and remains one of the most talented players ever to wear the Dodger uniform.
On a tough day for the Minnesota Twins, third base prospect Danny Valencia provided something positive. Valencia hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, and the Twins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Tuesday after learning All-Star closer Joe Nathan has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow.
Josh Beckett made his second start of spring training, and Red Sox pitchers kept the St. Louis Cardinals hitless into the seventh inning. But it was Boston's young hitters who pulled out the win on Monday. Che-Shuan Lin's one-out single in the ninth scored Josh Reddick after Reddick doubled in the tying run, and the Red Sox beat the Cardinals 7-6.
Marlins ace Josh Johnson started earning his $39 million contract Saturday: He struck out Albert Pujols looking to end a perfect first inning. Making his first start since signing his four-year deal in January, Johnson allowed two earned runs in two innings in Florida's 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Brad Penny's debut in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform was rocky, yet he was pleased with his first outing of the spring. Penny pitched two innings, allowing three runs and six hits in the Cardinals' 7-3 loss to a New York Mets' split squad Friday. Three of those hits were soft flyballs that landed just beyond the infield.
