Cardinals Notebook: Roster cuts shape Cardinals infield

JUPITER, Fla. - The Cardinals made four cuts following Thursday's game, including a notable one that clarified the backup infield competition. Non-roster invitee Ramon Vazquez was reassigned to minor league camp, enhancing the chances for Matt Carpenter to make the Opening Day roster. Carpenter, a 2009 13th round draft pick out of TCU, went 2-for-4 Thursday to raise his average to .385. "I know the season he had last year and the recommendations from the guys that played with him," said manager Tony La Russa. "But I didn't think he'd be this far advancedHe has a nice approach. He has a good eye. When he swings, the ball's usually in the strike zone. He's been impressive." With Nick Punto out until May, Vazquez, Dan Descalso and Carpenter were competing for the open spot on the bench. With Vazquez getting reassigned to minor league camp, Descalso and Carpenter are now battling for one spot. Tyler Greene will make the club as the other backup infielder Catcher Bryan Anderson and outfielder Adron Chambers were optioned to Triple-A Memphis and outfielder Amaury Cazana was reassigned to minor league camp as well. The moves bring the Cardinals down to 40 players in camp, which includes two players who will open the season on the disabled list, Punto and Adam Wainwright. LAIRD LEAVES WITH HAMSTRING TIGHTNESS Backup catcher Gerald Laird left the Cardinals' 5-2 loss to the Florida Marlins Thursday after the second inning with tightness in his left hamstring. The tightness occurred after Laird lunged for first base while hurrying down the line after hitting a ball to shortstop in the second inning. The ball was thrown wide of first by Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez and a run scored on the play. Laird caught the bottom of the second inning before alerting trainers of the tightness. He could have stayed in the game but said the trainers told him to play it safe and come out of the game. "Just got a little tightness in my hamstring," Laird said. "I have to stop lunging for the bag like that. I was running to first and I kind of lunged and it just got a little tight. "I've pulled both of them in the past so I know. It was a little tight but it feels a little better now. It's just one of those precautionary things. I feel fine right now." SALAS MAKING CASE FOR BULLPEN SPOT The one factor that has kept the Cardinals from officially naming Kyle McClellan as their fifth starter is the same one that kept him in the bullpen despite pitching well last spring. The Cardinals must find someone to replace McClellan, a key reliever the past three seasons, in the bullpen. And with two weeks left until opening day, young Fernando Salas is making a case to be that guy. After having success during several different stints with the big league club last year, Salas has been even better this spring. The right-hander has allowed just one hit in seven innings this spring over six appearances and hasn't allowed a run. He has five strikeouts and just two walks. For someone trying to make the team, Salas has done just about everything he can possibly do. "Experience is a great equalizer," said manager Tony La Russa. "I think he's definitely feeling more like he's a big leaguer. He's pitched very well this spring. Last year he got his feet wet in some really critical situations. He's a guy we kept calling on and we were in contention, so he knows he's highly regarded." Salas was the closer for Triple-A Memphis for a good portion of the season and was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Game. He posted a 3.52 ERA over 27 games with the big league club last year while shuttling back and forth between Memphis and St. Louis. Through translator Jaime Garcia, Salas said the experience he gained last year has been a big boost this spring. "I feel a lot more confident coming into camp knowing how it is to pitch in the big leagues and what to expect," Salas said. "I know everybody in the clubhouse a little bit better too. It's helping a lot and I just feel a lot more confident than last year. "So far things have worked out like I planned. I'm throwing all my pitches for strikes and able to get ahead in the count and that's what every pitcher wants. I'm happy. I feel really good. I'm healthy and my arm feels really good." Asked if he thought he had done enough to make the team, Salas said, "I don't think about that. That's not my decision. I'm just going a day at a time and getting ready." Salas and Miguel Batista appear likely to make the club as the replacements for McClellan and Blake Hawksworth, who was traded to the Dodgers for Ryan Theriot in the offseason. INFIELDER PUNTO BEGINS SWINGING AND THROWING Infielder Nick Punto took a significant step in his rehab from surgery to repair a sports hernia this week when he began hitting off a tee. After practicing through the nagging pain the first few days of camp, the first-year Cardinal had surgery 21 days ago for a sports hernia. He began taking a few cuts off the tee and played catch at 60 feet on Tuesday. "I think for me it's a huge step," Punto said. "When you get on the field and you start doing baseball activities, you start to feel like an athlete and you start to feel good. It was just a few swings off the tee but it's a start and it's nice to be able to make these progressions and not having any bad days right now. "We might be a little bit ahead of schedule, which is always good." Punto was signed by the Cardinals this offseason to be a backup at second, short and third. He figured to see significant playing time all over the field. The 10-year big league veteran played the last seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins. The switch-hitting Punto is expected to miss 8-12 weeks, meaning he could return sometime in May. "It really is just day by day," Punto said. "You can't do too much because you don't want to have bad soreness. You're going to have muscle fatigue because you haven't worked out and lifted weights with your legs in three weeks but as long as its' not painful then that's a good thing and right now I'm pretty pain free." Punto said he will begin jogging in the next few days.