(THE SAMPLER) JUPITER, Fla. — It’s an off day for the Cardinals here at Roger Dean Stadium, and that means no baseball is being played on this side of the campus. No major-league baseball that is. The minors are in full swing on the backlots. So, it is with that in mind that today’s snapshots from spring training begins with a minor-league story.

A quick note: There will be two posts here today, back to back. One is long (The Filibuster — on batting the pitcher eighth; you have been warned), and then there is this one (The Sampler).

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Mike Matheny, the former Cardinals’ catcher turned guest instructor, had heard about the clubs’ rising catching prospect, Bryan Anderson. Heard about how he was considered one of the finest prospects in the organization, about his .302 average at age 19 in Low-A, or how as the youngest everyday player in the Texas League last summer he hit .298, was a member of the Futures Game and was lauded as an All-Star on a pennant-winning team.

Matheny knew all that. But that’s all hitting. Kid’s a catcher, right?

“He’s a good hitter, and a lot of times good hitters are going to be labeled as offensive-minded people,” Matheny said. ”You always wonder what their mindset is. But he has a passion for the position.”

It’s been weeks since Matheny left camp, but his instruction continues.

Anderson was one of the handful of catchers who soaked up everything the Gold Glove-winner said. Matheny would meet with the catchers early in the morning, and he would stress everyday how they had the most responsibility of any player on the field and that meant they had the responsibility to put in more work than any player on the field. Anderson was a devoted pupil.

The prospect doesn’t have the classic mechanics of a catcher, but his pitchers say he calls a good game and they trust him. Matheny worked with him on his preparation and also “softening his game” behind the plate. They drilled on footwork. And they also discussed how to scout for, develop and maintain a game plan.

Anderson said the other day that he used to get done with a game, shed his pads, slide into his street clothes and head home. No more. Matheny suggested he started riding the bike after a game to give his legs the stamina they’ll need for August.

More than a fan of Anderson’s, Matheny wants to be a mentor.

The Cardinals former catcher has a place not too far from Springfield, Mo., where Anderson will return this season for Double-A. Matheny plans to check in often on the protege.

“His offense is going to progress him through the (minors) just fine,” Matheny said. But with the position of catcher, “it’s just the mental discipline that comes with someone kicking him in the butt, and I like to kick.”

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Closer Jason Isringhausen is ditching his attempt to throw a split-finger fastball. To limber up his fingers for the pitch, Isringhausen walked around the clubhouse with a softball wedged between his index and middle finger. Pitching coach Dave Duncan encouraged him to try it in bullpens, and Ryan Franklin taught him the grip. It worked well for him during batting practice and bullpen, but come games Isringhausen isn’t pleased with the action on the pitch. It hasn’t been an effective alternative to his changeup.

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Brian Barton uses a 35-inch, 33-ounce bat, a long and hefty model for a player of his build. “He uses that, and the ball jumps,” manager Tony La Russa said. Barton said he started using the longer bat when he stepped a bit back from the plate but wanted to maintain his ability to drive the ball the opposite way. Barton’s swing has been described as one that will hold up well over the course of a season because it is balanced enough and covers enough of the strike zone that he won’t go into prolonged stretches of pulling the ball or poking it to right.

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A couple tidbits from Kevin Goldstein’s prospect report at Baseball Prospectus had ties to Missouri or the Cardinals. The latter name, you will recall, was the NCAA home run champ the Cardinals took in last summer’s draft and could not sign — or, more precisely, would not sign at the demanded price because they weren’t convinced how his power would translate to wooden bats.

Aaron Crow, RHP, University of Missouri: It was a weird line to be sure. Don’t take that as a bad thing, as the right-hander, already considered by some to be the top college arm in the upcoming draft, had the best start of his career, striking out 15 in a seven-hit shutout against Toledo in which he did not walk a batter. Still, a line like 9 7 0 0 0 15 immediately has one … anticipating a pitch count in the 140s. However, he threw just 107 pitches, including 87 for strikes. … Crow whiffed 15 and still averaged just 3.45 pitches per batter. With mid-90s heat, a wipeout slider, and (obviously) excellent control, Crow is moving up draft boards.

Kyle Russell, OF, University of Texas: Last year, as a sophomore-eligible draftee, Russell led NCAA Division I in home runs. … (The Cardinals) were unable to sign him, not because they didn’t try, or didn’t want to; they just didn’t feel he was worth seven figures because of his loopy swing and propensity for strikeouts. Returning to college for his junior year, Russell had seen his stock drop significantly, hitting just one home run in 51 at-bats as part of a bizarre .255/.480/.373 line that includes 18 walks and 17 strikeouts. Sure, he’s getting pitched around, but at least as this point, with last year’s holdout, he cost himself hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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The moves made yesterday (reassigning Colby Rasmus, optioning Joe Mather) all but cement the following as the Cardinals’ 13 position players headed north (presented as a depth chart):

• Catcher: Yadier Molina, Jason LaRue

• First base: Albert Pujols

• Second base: Adam Kennedy, Aaron Miles

• Shortstop: Cesar Izturis, Brendan Ryan

• Third base: Troy Glaus

• Left field: Chris Duncan, Brian Barton

• Center field: Rick Ankiel

• Right field: Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick

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And it’s an off day, so time to check on a few former members of the flock. Scott Rolen is hitting .292/.433/.542 in a dozen games for the Blue Jays this spring. He has four extra-base hits in 24 at-bats, but his only RBI is himself, on a solo home run. David Eckstein has six RBIs (four coming on his grand slam) and is batting .172/.273/.345 in 12 games for the Jays. Also in Toronto’s spring training is Hector Luna. (Heck, it’s nearly an infield of former Cardinals. Toronto too stocked to give John Mabry a call?) Luna is .250/.250/.250 in 12 at-bats with four strikeouts.

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