JUPITER, Fla. — Still bothered by muscle discomfort in his ribcage, Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan will remain in Florida after the team leaves for its two-game trip to Springfield, Mo. The club is packing a couple different options as insurance.

Ryan had to cut short his work in the batting cages Wednesday, manager Tony La Russa disclosed Thursday morning. Ryan is allowed to participate in activities “as tolerated”, and he had no hesitation during baserunning drills this morning. But the Cardinals don’t want to foul up his status by having him appear in either of the games this weekend in Springfield.

He will stay in Florida and play in the minor-league scrimmages this weekend so that if he has a setback, the Cardinals can put him on the disabled list and back date to March 21. If he were to appear in either of the games in Springfield, his 15-day DL clock would reset to that game.

“There’s a decision to be made after he’s played Saturday and Sunday,” La Russa said. “We have to see if he’s 100 percent.”

D’Angelo Jimenez figured to be the Cardinals backup option if Ryan is unavailable for opening day, but a new name has entered the picture as of this morning. Rico Washington, a utility infielder from the Cardinals’ minor-league camp, is with the team today, has been with the team sporadically over the past week and will travel with the team to Springfield tomorrow. Washington offers an alternative to Jimenez, one with minor-league options still available.

Washington has appeared in three of the past four games and four of five. He enters Thursday’s game hitting .357, slugging .429 and holding a .438 on-base percentage. He spent 54 games in Triple-A Memphis last season and is a natural third baseman, something the Cardinals may be looking to add in Ryan’s absence because Aaron Miles can handle the middle infield role.

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Also staying back in Florida when the team leaves are the usual suspects — rehabbing pitchers galore, like Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Matt Clement, etc., etc. — and Braden Looper. The righthander will make his next appearance down here Sunday, La Russa said. He’ll possibly pitch in a minor-league scrimmage.

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Sure, now he insists it was all a joke, but do you think La Russa will give credit where credit is due now that he’s officially named Skip Schumaker his leadoff hitter. Blog it to death? Ha.

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Cesar Izturis’ defense figures to be a polarizing issue for the coming season. Only Albert Pujols’ elbow has been dissected more this spring. (Perhaps a poor choice of verbs, that.) Well, having just heard from the Skillet Faction in a previous blog comment, here’s one for the Golden Faction:

Just a few innings ago Marlins’ outfielder Josh Willingham singled off Kyle Lohse. The next batter, reanimated Jorge Cantu, scalded a grounder up the middle. That is when …

• Izturis skedaddled to his left …

• Dove …

• Extended …

• Gloved the ball  behind second base …

• From his back, he underhand flipped it to Adam Kennedy at second …

• Watched as Kennedy spun a double play.

Judging Izturis’ defense out of a box score, especially an early-March box score, is a mistake. His hesistance at short has vanished. The new guy can play the field.

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