Cards Notebook: Freese still limited

By B.J. Rains FOXSportsMidwest.com Feb. 25, 2011 JUPITER, Fla. -- With just three days left before the Cardinals play their first spring training game, third baseman David Freese still isn't going 100 percent in running drills. But that appears to be by design. The Cardinals are taking extra caution with Freese this spring, knowing the ultimate goal is to have him 100 percent by the regular season opener on March 31 and not the first few spring training games next week. How much Freese plays in games beginning Monday remains to be seen, but manager Tony La Russa said he does expect to see his third baseman get some playing time early on. "I think he's feeling really good," La Russa said. "He's feeling so good that we really want to keep maintaining this careful, work him, back him off, but he's feeling really well. Today, tomorrow, Sunday, that's when you start asking the questions and start formulating those lineups for the first few days. I've already done Yadi so it starts from there and when I get around to third, I'll ask him and trainers. "I feel like he will play some of the first games. He's really feeling well. But he's feeling so well that if it means keeping him out a week to be more certain, that's OK with me. I think he's practicing at playable speed as far as running." Freese had offseason surgery on both ankles and has missed large parts of the past two seasons with injuries to them. While Freese says he is physically 100 percent, he hasn't gone full speed on the bases yet during drills because frankly, he hasn't needed to. The third baseman expects to see sparse playing time early on as he continues to build towards March 31. "We're really optimistic," La Russa said. "The only thing, the decision was made and so far its good, is we're trying to stay ahead of issues by if he takes ground balls for two days, the third day he may not take them and it's not because he couldn't. It's just we want to keep him active and he's been burnt enough to where he's night fighting it and he knows this is all for good." Freese hit .296 with four home runs and 36 RBIs in 70 games last season before injuring his ankle rounding third base in early June. He eventually landed on the disabled list and was lost for the season. Lohse upbeat after another solid session The season-ending injury to Adam Wainwright didn't do anything to change the mindset of Kyle Lohse. He already knew he needed to pitch well for the Cardinals to have a chance to be successful in 2011. But while Lohse may not admit it, the Cardinals are more in need of him returning to his pre-injury form now than ever before. With Wainwright and his 20 wins lost for the year, the Cardinals need to pick up additional victories wherever they can find them. "I thought I was an important piece to the puzzle before," Lohse said. "You don't really change anything. We're all in here working to be our best, regardless of who is in and who's out. I'm not going to change my mentality, which coming in was to go out and be as good as I could and win some games." Lohse faced hitters for the second time Friday and again looked impressive on the hill. The right-hander faced a group of hitters including David Freese, Allen Craig, Jon Jay, Colby Rasmus and Dan Descalso. He showed good command and kept the ball down for much of his 40-pitch session, causing pitching coach Dave Duncan to walk by a group of reporters and say, "He's going to be alright," after he was done. "I went at it pretty hard the first one and just building up, getting used to a hitter being in there," Lohse said. "Nothing really changed from the first one to the next one, just getting used to making pitches with guys standing on. "It was alright. I was up a little bit more than I would like with my fastball and a couple sliders but for this time of year, I'm not going to complain about a few that were up. The ball felt like it was coming out good and that's all you can expect right now." Lohse is 10-18 with a 5.54 ERA in two seasons with the Cardinals since signing a 4-year, 41 million deal on the final day of the 2008 season. He will have a final live batting practice session on Monday and a light bullpen on Wednesday before starting Friday in Kissimmee against the Astros. Punto injury opens door for Vazquez Ramon Vazquez figured to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the big league club when camp opened. An injury to Nick Punto may have changed things. Punto will miss the next 8-12 weeks with a sports hernia, opening the door for Dan Descalso, Tyler Greene and Vazquez to compete for two spots on the Cardinals bench. A similar player to Punto who can play second, short or third, Vazquez has moved himself more into the discussion the last few days. "I just have to look at it like nothing happened," Vazquez said Friday morning. "Keep my mind set the way it was when I got here when he was healthy. I still have to go out there and produce and show them that I can be a good fit and help them and produce. Hopefully it works out." The 34-year-old Vazquez is a nine-year veteran for six different teams. He last played in the major leagues in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-handed hitter has a career .254 average with 22 home runs and 176 RBIs in 696 games. "It all depends what they are looking for," Vazquez said. "Obviously they signed me for a reason and I think I can be a good fit here. I think I can help them in a bunch of different ways. Hopefully I can put it together like I had in my mind before I signed and come and produce and show them that I am healthy and can still play at this level. "I'm a left-handed hitter off the bench and can pretty much go out there anywhere in the infield. I can play second, short, third, I have played some first base before but I don't think we need a first baseman. They can throw me in there anywhere they want. My game has never changed. Get guys over, do the little things, and play good defense. That's what my whole career has been like. I think I can help. The way Tony uses his bench a lot throughout the year, I think I could be a good fit." Vazquez would have to be added to the 40-man roster if he were to make the club. Tyler Greene appears to have a leg up on one of the bench spots, putting Vazquez and Descalso in a likely competition for one spot. Rumblings from today's practice Some odds and ends from the Cardinals workout today in Jupiter Lance Berkman took batting practice Friday but was held out of defensive and running drills as a precautionary measure. Berkman had a bum knee last year and the Cardinals are wanting to be proactive to make sure he stays 100 percent. Miguel Batista struggled with his command during his live batting practice session. Batista threw a pair of pitches that brushed Albert Pujols back off the plate. A spot in the Cardinals bullpen "is his to lose" according to manager Tony La Russa but the right-hander didn't look at his best Friday. Batista, who is also being considered for the open rotation spot, missed his location on several pitches. The Cardinals worked on sliding Friday. A few pads were placed in left field and players took turns running and sliding on the pads. Coaches made sure the players had the right technique and form as they slid. Friday was the first day of full infield-outfield practice. Known as 'pregame' on the schedule, outfielders worked on throwing to second, third and home while the infielders worked on cutouts and relays. The infielders then took a full infield practice, working on double plays and other situations. A season-ticket holder event Saturday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium has thrown a wrench into the Cardinals plans. The Cardinals usually have coach-pitch scrimmages on the two days leading up to their first game, but will have to adjust Saturday's schedule to be done in time for the players to appear at the function. La Russa said the players will take batting practice and take ground balls and fly balls inside Roger Dean Stadium Saturday so they can get familiar with their home park before playing their Monday. The Marlins host the University of Miami there on Sunday. Tony La Russa hasn't decided on a lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins but expect a good portion of starters to be in the lineup. The skipper said he will ask around the next few days to see who is ready for game action and who may need another day or two. Third baseman David Freese may not play for a few days.