JUPITER, Fla. — It might have been while they were doing kickboxing or speed boxing, or maybe pulling another lug up a hill, or possibly darting up stadium stairs. Whenever it was and however badly they wanted to hurl or plunge their screaming muscles into a vat of ice, the three major leaguers knew one thing when trainer Jim Moss barked, “OK, just one more.”

He was lying.

“His ‘one more’ is full of (marbles),” Cardinals outfielder Skip Schumaker said. “He’s a really good motivator. He yells at you. He pushes you for more, and that is really good for me in the offseason.”

Moss, a member of the LA County SWAT team, has been working with Schumaker for the last four offseasons. This past winter, Schumaker invited two teammates to join him — pitcher Anthony Reyes, who wanted to get in shape for a pivotal year, and Jim Edmonds, who according to those close to him has something to prove before calling it a career.

Edmonds, upon arriving at San Diego Padres spring training, spoke about working out with Moss to the North County Times this past weekend and offered a description of the workouts:

“Just shy of torture.”

Schumaker said the focus of the work Moss does with the players is core strength, cardio and … well, fortitude-testing. A standard day could include intervals on a treadmill, sometimes set at a 45-degree incline; squats; a round of boxing; then off to a hill or to a football stadium for more sprints and running. Schumaker said it was ”always fresh, always nonstop.”

Reyes did the boxing workouts and “five minues it, I almost wanted to throw up.”

The righthander also thought a 6-minute mile was a quaint part of his past, but Moss got him in gear and “now I’m doing them warming up.” His best is a 5-minute, 45-second mile. Moss would run it with him, pushing him the entire way — and then Moss would leaving Reyes to catch his breath while joining in the sprint work with the two outfielders.

“He has a screw loose,” Schumaker joked. “He’s just crazy.”

Several years ago, Schumaker was working with the same trainer in the LA area that Troy Glaus used. One of the assistant trainers at that time was Moss, and Schumaker struck up a relationship with the aspiring SWAT member. He said the varied and “brutal” workouts have helped him increase his strength, but also his quickness and agility. Even if the workouts are unorthodox, from time to topic.

Because Moss is on call, the workouts could be at 7 o’clock at night, or 9 in the morning. He could have to leave in the middle of a session. Duty calls.

Reyes took advantage not only of Moss’ trainer, but also of his profession. The righthander, one of the slickest operators of a XBOX on the team, donned an entire SWAT outfit — gas mask and all — and went through one of the training houses. He fired a sniper rifle at a target that simulated a hostage situation, and he fired handguns. Schumaker has gone with Moss to the range before, as well.

But then it’s back to the boxing ring or weight room, back to the Muay Thai and dreaded treadmills.

Back to where one more does not mean one more.

“I’ve come into spring feeling great each year,” said Schumaker, who has made the opening day roster the past two seasons because of his spring performance. “My big thing is to have no regrets. There’s a small window for me to do whatever I can this game and I need whatever edge I can find. I’ve got to get in the best shape I can. And working with (Moss) really does wonders for me.” 

*** 

Position players are supposed to report today, and many made their first appearances of camp: Troy Glaus slugged a few home runs and caught up with pal, Adam Kennedy, during a backlot batting practice. … Brian Barton, the Ruel 5 outfielder, took cuts off a tee, arriving shortly after the team took to the field for workouts.  … Scott Spiezio clocked in early Monday morning. … Shortstop Cesar Izturis unpacked a Pittsburgh Pirates bag this afternoon, and non-roster outfielder Nick Stavinoha set up his locker a few minutes later. 

That leaves two players yet to report: Jarrett Hoffpauir and Juan Gonzalez.

***

Quotable. Manager Tony La Russa on Barton: “I know if we’re playing a board game where IQ is important, I’m getting him on my team.”

***

Two of the pitching prospects that draw internal raves from the Cardinals threw to hitters Monday — lefty Jaime Garcia and righthander Clayton Mortensen. Garcia learned after his session from a veteran catcher that he’s tipping his curveball, which happens to be his best pitch. Mortensen learned after his session that pitching coach Dave Duncan is delighted by his sinker.

The lanky righthander allowed sparse contact and no base hits during his throw to hitters. When he was done, just three baseballs dotted the field. One was behind the mound. One was toward first base. And one had been scalded out toward right-center field, right in the second baseman’s range. Duncan told Mortensen after that all he has to do is throw the sinker for a strike because it won’t be hit well.

Asked about the sinker afterward, Duncan said: “Whoo.”

***

Homework assignment for an industrious reader: Mortensen was just drafted last summer and already earned an invite to major-league camp. The Cardinals believe he could be in the Triple-A rotation sometime this season, and that helped him get the rare invite for a just-drafted pitcher. How rare?

Well, that’s the question: When was the last time a pitcher came out of the draft and into major-league camp the next spring?

Possibly Rick Ankiel in spring 1998.

***

Ankiel recalled that spring Monday, saying he remembers getting the call to come over from the minor-league camp to throw in one of the major-league games. It was against the Dodgers. On his way over there, an LA farmhand yelled to him that Eric Karros was going to take him deep.

Ankiel laughed as he told the story because that’s exactly what Karros did.

***

Speaking of Ankiel: La Russa said that the former pitcher came to him and told him how eager he was to play center, that he was going to be the starting center fielder. Ankiel apparently was one of four players, La Russa said, to stake a claim to that position. Considering he told us that he had not yet spoke to Barton and Colby Rasmus wouldn’t be so bold, the math didn’t quite add up to La Russa’s quip.

• Sure, Ankiel, one.

• Schumaker, two.

• Ryan Ludwick, three.

• Four?

“Izzy,” La Russa said, revisiting his newest vet to needle (apparently in the absence of Edmonds). “He’s got the power. I hope he’s serious. I’d love to see him here around 2 o’clock, and hit him an hours worth of fungoes.” 

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