DOWNTOWN — Cardinals reliever Josh Kinney was thrilled to describe a winter that included his engagement to a gal from Springfield, Mo., and a successful bear hunt as “normal.”

“Been nice,” Kinney said at the Warm-up. “No rehab. That’s different.”

Kinney missed all of the 2007 season and most of the 2008 season after needing Tommy John surgery to repair the elbow that helped the Cardinals to their World Series win in 2006. He made a strong return to the majors in September, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals comforted that Kinney can be counted on as part of the deep group of righthanded relievers. Kinney said this winter his elbow has responded well to the normal prep of spring training. Last year at this time, he wondered what it would feel like to throw a breaking ball. This year, he’s already thrown a few breaking balls.

He also bagged a bear.

A Pennsylvania native who described himself as a “cold-weather guy” this afternoon, Kinney revels his chances to disappear to a cabin and do some hunting. (Manager Tony La Russa should stop reading here.) He’s nabbed himself a couple bears with a bow in years past, and got a black bear this winter. When discussing his winter hunting trophy, Kinney was asked if he shot the bear. And that prompted the line of the Warm-up:

“No I wrestled it,” Kinney said. “Trying to test the new elbow out.”

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A close second was Joe Mather’s take on how many positions he may play this spring. Mather played five different positions in the Florida State League — starting as a shortstop, moving to third and then first and finally, because of injuries around him, to left field and right field. He’s bring three gloves to Jupiter for spring training and if that means playing a little middle infield, the slugger with the power-forward frame is game:

“I’d like to play second,” he said. “I think that would be a blast.”

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Off to see GM John Mozeliak meet the masses …

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