FORT MYERS, Fla. — After Brad Thompson has had a particularly difficult inning or just returned from a disastrous at-bat, Aaron Miles will eye the righthander from down the bench. Thompson knows he’s watching, waiting … for the fume.

It just hasn’t been there this spring.

“OK, I like it,” Miles tells him. “I like it.”

Thompson admits he’s been known to be a bit hotheaded on the mound or in the dugout. His body language can be telling after a bad pitch, a home run or a particularly frustrating inning. Coaches have mentioned that a hurdle for Thompson in the past has been bottling his emotions, maintaining his poise and not letting a blip cause him to seethe and implode.

That’s what Miles watches for, Thompson said. If he’s given up a home run and come back into the dugout, the infielder will study the righthander to see if this is the time he goes roman candle.

“I bring that upon myself,” Thompson said. “It’s a constant battle for me. I don’t want to lose that (fire). I want to make it work for me. I want to look confident and be confident. Hunch my shoulders and they know they’ve gotten to me.”

Grimace and smolder and they know he’s on tilt.

Thompson had his slow burn working Monday as he cinched his hold on the fifth-starter spot with five innings and the victory against the Minnesota Twins. The righthander got ground balls from the first four batters he faced and struck out the next two. In the third inning, the Twins connected for two doubles and two runs (both earned) off the righthander. But that was it.

There was no hunch, no fury. Just Miles-approved cool. And then recovery.

Thompson retired six of the next seven batters he faced to end his day.

The righthander called every start an audition, knowing that he’s only taking out a sublet on a spot in the rotation. The Cardinals expect as many as four starters to return to the rotation this season, three by June. And Thompson has been on this bull before, bucking from a relief role to starting rotation and back. Such versatility is an asset. So why being a starter has helped him keep his cool and being a reliever has stressed attacking hitters with his best pitch — that sinker — being both is what will keep him in the majors.

“It gives me a chance to have a job on two levels,” Thompson said. “All these guys are going to come back. The fact that I can throw out of the bullpen helps me keep a job. … I’m one of the guys, fighting for the last few spots. Versatility helps me. It’s soemthing that hopefully that versatility will keep me in the game awahile, whether it is as a starter or a reliever. The ultimate goal is to have a job, a big-league job.”

***

The Cardinals’ 8-4 victory against the Twins at Hammond Stadium was their fourth consecutive, and the team is unbeaten in seven. They have scored at least five runs in nine of their previous 12 games, and they’ve won eight of them. On Monday, manager Tony La Russa was delight by the team’s 6-for-16 show with runners in scoring position and seven two-out RBI. The Cardinals first five runs were on two-out hits.

***

Meanwhile back in Jupiter: Joel Pineiro returned to the mound and threw 34 pitches over two innings for the Triple-A affiliate. KTRS’s John Marecek provided the text-message updates and the data: 13 pitches in his first inning, a perfect inning; 21 in his second inning; 18 strikes; two strikeouts.

***

Nearly a week after he was assigned to the minor-league camp Colby Rasmus continues to get plenty of big-league appearance, enough that he might just lead the Grapefruit League in walks. Rasmus walked for the 13th time this spring Monday. But it’s not where his legs are taking him that is curious — it’s where the Cardinals keep bringing him.

Asked La Russa today what the motivation is behind bringing Rasmus back for so many big-league games when the idea of sending him out was to get him playing time.

“The most important thing is the big-league club,” La Russa said. “Whenever he’s getting A-game experience, obviously that’s a good thing for him and for the club. He’s not coming up here and sitting. He’s playing.”

The decision here is two-fold:

• Rasmus has been impressive this spring and they like having him around.

• Rasmus is not on the 40-man roster.

“Because he’s not on the roster, he doesn’t have to stay down there,” La Russa said. “That works to our benefit.”

La Russa sees Rasmus as a late-game defensive replacement at the big-league level this spring, a pinch hitter and more than just a guy who can take a walk. His recurring return to the majors though is not a sign of a renewed consideration for the opening day roster. But it does reveal just how close Rasmus came to making the big-league roster. It wasn’t anything he did. It was all the other outfielders refusing to yield.

So Rasmus will take his big-league innings like his walks. Whenever he gets them.

“He’s got a good eye,” La Russa said. “He is impressing. And when he swings, he’s impressive.”

***

Could Mizzou have a second No. 1-ranked team in the same school year? Could this one hold onto it more than a week? The Tigers’ baseball team trounced nationally ranked Baylor this past week and surged to No. 2 in the recent Baseball America Top 25. It’s the program’s highest ranking.

Tim Jamieson’s team held Baylor to two runs all weekend, starting with back-to-back shutouts and finishing by 10-running the Bears on Sunday. (Baylor was ranked 14th last season.) All the Tigers’ Sunday starter — equivalent of a No. 3 starter, say, in pro ball — Kyle Gibson struck out before the game was called because of MU’s 12-2 lead.

Baseball Prospectus has the Tigers ranked No. 3 after the weekend sweep.

***

Pitching coach Dave Duncan and the Cardinals’ minor-league staff have already discussed how Triple-A Memphis will juggle three closers in their bullpen. Jason Motte, Chris Perez and Mark Worrell are all ticketed for the Memphis bullpen, and all three have closing on their minds. Worrell is a former Minor League Reliever of the Year and he has been a closer for the Cardinals at the organization’s three highest levels. Perez is the hyped as the closer-of-the-future and he has been, except when he was setting Motte up this spring for saves. Combined they have 134 saves in their pro careers:

• Motte … 19

• Perez … 47

• Worrell … 78

Wanting to develop all three — possibly Worrell as a righty specialist — the Cardinals will focus less on who gets the ninth and more on who gets the innings. All three will be used in multiple-inning situations, pitching two at a time, even if it means some good old-fashioned two-inning saves.

“When they come up here, that’s what they’re going to be doing,” Duncan said. “This will get them prepared for the role and they’ll be more prepared for when we need someone. How many prospects come up and close right away? That just doesn’t happen, so it’s better for them to pitch multiple innings, get more chance to work on their pitches and be ready for how we’ll use them at first.”

***

Speaking of Baseball America: Colleague Joe Strauss – yes, the famous one; no, not the Austrian composer – asked me recently to take an audit of some of the recent prospect lists. Specifically we looked at 2001, the list that would have featured Albert Pujols before his record-setting rookie year. Check out the names and the rankings on that stacked Top 100 (players in italics have been or are Cardinals):

1. Josh Hamilton, of, Devil Rays — Set to breakout, now with Texas.
2. Corey Patterson, of, Cubs
3. Josh Beckett, rhp, Marlins — Finished second in Cy Young.
4. Jon Rauch, rhp, White Sox
5. Ben Sheets, rhp, Brewers — One of the finest arms, when healthy.
6. Sean Burroughs, 3b, Padres
7. C.C. Sabathia, lhp, Indians — Beat Beckett to Cy Young.
8. Ryan Anderson, lhp, Mariners
9. Ichiro Suzuki, of, Mariners — The world’s all-time hit king?
10. Nick Johnson, 1b, Yankees
11. Carlos Pena, 1b, Rangers — Slugging first baseman for Tampa Bay.
12. Vernon Wells, of, Blue Jays
13. Roy Oswalt, rhp, Astros
…
22. Hee Seop Choi, 1b, Cubs — Was it his shoulder that ignited the feud?
24. Austin Kearns, of, Reds
27. Alfonso Soriano, ss, Yankees — Still has 40-40 potential? 30-30?
…
30. Kurt Ainsworth, rhp, Giants – Got to hold his Gold Medal in 2000.
31. Jimmy Rollins, ss, Phillies — Talked his way into an MVP last year.
…
33. Adam Dunn, of, Reds — My bet for Strauss’ pick in writers’ HR pool.
35. Brad Wilkerson, of, Expos
36. Joe Crede, 3b, White Sox
38. Jack Cust, of/1b, Diamondbacks — Blossomed as Oakland’s DH.
39. Bud Smith, lhp, Cardinals
40. Jacob Peavy, rhp, Padres — 40th? Seriously? Triple-crown pitcher.
42. Albert Pujols, 3b, Cardinals — Ditto. Save “hitter” for “pitcher”.
43. Aubrey Huff, 3b, Devil Rays
46. D’Angelo Jimenez, ss, Yankees
47. Brett Myers, rhp, Phillies
…
54. Marcus Giles, 2b, Braves
55. Michael Cuddyer, 3b, Twins
56. Kevin Mench, of, Rangers
…
62. Alex Cintron, ss, Diamondbacks — If not Choi, was this culprit?
67. Brandon Inge, c, Tigers
68. Carlos Zambrano, rhp, Cubs — Still finding stars, even this far down
…
71. Francisco Rodriguez, rhp, Angels
72. Carl Crawford, of, Devil Rays — Quite a tandem to locate in the 70s.
…
75. Abraham Nunez, of, Marlins — Not the Cardinals former 3B.
…
80. Joel Pineiro, rhp, Mariners
81. Ryan Ludwick, of, Athletics
82. Xavier Nady, 3b, Padres
…
88. Danys Baez, rhp, Indians
89. Adrian Gonzalez, 1b, Marlins — Underrated for the Padres.
…
91. Miguel Cabrera, ss, Marlins — Richest man on the list, and next is …
92. Jason Marquis, rhp, Braves
…
97. Adam Wainwright, rhp, Braves

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