JUPITER, Fla. — When Colby Rasmus dug in against the crafty veteran in Tuesday’s game, the Cardinals’ could-be rookie outfielder had a simple plan.

“Just trying to work the count,” he said, grinning. “Get a good pitch to hit.”

Of course, the purpose of the coach-pitch game is to have plenty of pitches to hit and plenty of action for the defense. Many of the Cardinals’ younger players and non-roster invitees squared off in the annual coach pitch game, a scrimmage with all-time pitcher Dyar Miller on the mound and plenty of action in the field. In his first at-bat of the game, Rasmus raked a home run over the right field fence.

The home run came on the same day Rasmus was a topic during the Tony talk.

Each morning, as the players stretch in the outfield here at Roger Dean Stadium’s backlot, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa meets with the attending media for questions. Earlier this week this session netted the info about Barry Bonds, as well as La Russa’s new Sugar Ray Leonard movie project. It can be a varied session. With games nearing — Wednesday vs. SLU, Thursday vs. Mets — the talk Tuesday drilled down on how La Russa sees Rasmus and how he will audition leadoff hitters.

Not entirely unrelated questions.

For really the first time, La Russa said Rasmus could see time at all three outfield spots, though the organization views him as a center fielder. It’s all about playing time, La Russa said. The manager also allowed for the possibility that Rasmus would be an asset to the major-league club even if he’s not the starter.

“If Colby can help us win and at the end of the year have 250 at-bats, and somebody would argue that it would be better for him to have 500, there’s a hell of a chance he’ll be with us if he can give us a better chance to win,” La Russa said. ”If he gives us the same chance to win and he gets 250, then you send him to the minor leagues.”

A lot of the (media) attention of camp so far has been diverted elsewhere. Look! Matt Clement is long tossing. But wait! Juan Gonzalez is hitting. Hold on! Anthony Reyes just whiffed a batter with a high fastball. See that? Check out the crowd Kyle McClellan and Clayton Mortensen are getting. And over there! Cesar Izturis and Adam Kennedy are spinning double plays while Brendan Ryan scoops backhands. Is somebody monitoring Albert Pujols’ elbow?

Games means Rasmus’ audition begins its public phase.

“I don’t see that many,” Rasmus said when asked if he noticed the eyes on him through the early workouts of spring. “Every time I (put that kind of pressure) on myself it has negative results.”

Rasmus reached the top five in the Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect, which was announced Monday. (He topped three Cardinals ranked. The others were No. 85 Bryan Anderson and No. 97 Chris Perez. The list grows a bit if you include all of the players once drafted by the Cardinals, but that’s been another blog … ) 

La Russa was asked if Rasmus toes a fine line between playing like he belongs but not acting like it.

“You can think you belong here without saying it,” La Russa said. ”It’s good to have confidence, you just don’t want to wear people out with it.”

In the coach-pitch game, Josh Phelps hit an opposite field home run. Ryan, playing shortstop for Team Walker, had a snazzy, leaping play on a bad hop — as described to me by MLB.com’s Matthew Leach – that led to Ryan creating my new favorite word:

“It trampolined on me,” he said.

Brilliant.

Ryan took ground balls at second base Tuesday, and during the simulated games — coach pitch and the magical, mystical pitching machine — he has been among the most exceptional defensive players.

Team Walker had a two-run cushion on Team Matheny headed into the final batter of the scrimmage. A runner was on first and Nick Stavinoha (pride of LSU, former long snapper) mashed what observers called the hardest hit ball of the game. The wind said otherwise. Amaury Marti tracked it down at the fence in left to preserve a 4-2 victory and assure Team Matheny served Team Walker refreshments.

Orange slices and juice boxes, I think.

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SLU will start righthander Chris Merrick against the Cardinals in Wednesday’s exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium. The game is being broadcast on the official Web site — www.stlcardinals.com — with Mike Claiborne and Bob Ramsey on the call.

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Sorry about the late posting of this here blog. The P-D Blogs and the P-D online system as a whole had a little, bitty problem today. It got the gunk. That made access to the blog difficult and posting one impossible. Wanted to apologize. But check back to the Cardinals page Wednesday for our newest element of our ever-expanding coverage of spring training and the local nine.

It’s about to, ahem, trampoline on you.

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The Cardinals’ minor-league minicamp for pitchers will begin Wednesday. The former first-rounder who the team looked at Monday will be in attendance. The team worked to finalize a deal with Kris Honel, the 16th pick of the 2001 draft, on Tuesday.

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As mentioned earlier in the blog, La Russa said the pitcher will be batting eighth in spring training and during the season. He’s sold on the idea of having a “second leadoff”. Going to write a bit more about that for tomorrow’s paper, but check out the difference in the pitchers hitting performance last season, pre- and post-Crazy 8.

PRE … .191/.217/.242

POST … .210/.248/.240

The numbers that stand out are those in the middle. A big difference in OBP. I believe you could even say it trampolined.

***

After a short day at the office (the Cardinals purposefully scheduled an early end to workouts Tuesday), Skip Schumaker hit the cage for some extra curricular work. Naturally, the new pitching machine was there. Schumaker said they took some sizzling fastballs and then worked on curveballs, anything to leave the day with a good swing to remember.

Schumaker said he also likes going to cage to watch Albert Pujols hit. It can be as disheartening as it is enlightening, he joked. When he watches, he has one of two reactions:

1. Quit. No way to ever hit that good. It’s over. Hand in your pine tar.

2. Look at what’s possible if he keeps working at it. Bring on the callouses.

He doesn’t mean popping 40 bombs or driving in 130. He means improvement, refinement and a technically sound swing. That’s what takes him out to the cages on a day like Tuesday.

***

Former Cardinals catcher and Gold Glove winner Mike Matheny said his good-byes today, his last day as a guest instructor in camp. Matheny has been working with catchers — including early morning sessions with them — but also holding court with pitchers and talking shop with the veterans. One good bye fits with what is, so far, one of the most intriguing springs.

“You’re going to have a big year,” Matheny said, clasping hands with this Cardinal. “You watch. You’ll see.”

The Cardinal on the other end of the handshake — Anthony Reyes.

“There is no reason he won’t have success,” Matheny explained when asked about what prompted that glowing farewell. ”Sometimes you just need that new face, new voice to encourage you. I’ve watched him. This kid can throw. He’s just had a rough go of it, and sometimes you can’t explain that. Most guys go through it at some point. … He made mistakes and people capitalized on them every time. Your confidence gets down and you try to reinvent the wheel. I think he’s through it and he’s learned his lesson and he’ll be a better pticher for it.”

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