JUPITER, Fla. — One of the first things St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said to the writers after test-driving his yuks-yuks on a St. Louis morning radio show was a defense of his decision to ditch the pen-and-pencil crowd for the mic jockeys.

“My wife wants me to dispel the rumor I’m humorless,” he explained.

He then went on to talk about Colby Rasmus batting ninth, and — after some initial uncertainty — insisted he was serious that the prospect would be a natural fit for the most over-discussed and ruthlessly dissected spot in the Cardinals’ lineup.  Completely serious. But that’s not all that was seriously said or done today as we near the end of the first week of spring training.

A sampler …

La Russa on Brendan Ryan and his chances of turning heads and winning playing time at either of the open positions in the infield: “He could play no second all spring long and play second on Opening Day.”

La Russa on Skip Schumaker and finding a place in the lineup for him: “He’s our leadoff hitter. That’s one of the reasons he’s so important to us.”

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Former Cardinals Reggie Smith visited camp this morning as a representative of X-Bat. He is promoting new technology that allows the bat company to discover the ideal grip width for every hitter. Smith said that grip width affects the position of the hitter’s hands, and the position of the hitter’s hands affects his balance, and his balance affects how he hits and so on … Smith called it “the cutting edge of bat manufacturing” and “the next step we’ll all be taking.” Upon his arrival he was reminded that he was the last Cardinal to hit a home run in an All-Star Game.

That was in 1974.

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La Russa likened Schumaker’s arm strength at second to Fernando Vina’s and Mark Grudzielanek’s.

“He’s better,” La Russa said. “He’s already got Albert’s attention.”

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Adam Wainwright said he plans to unleash a new pitch on the league this season. He’s already got a nickname for it: “The Devastator.” He declined to divulge any details about the pitch — even whether it was a fastball, a curve or the cutter that he continues to tinker around with as a tighter, faster cousin to his slider. Nope, the definition of “The Devastator” will have to wait until he uncorks it.

“If the hitter gets a piece of it,” he grinned, “I’ll let him rename it.”

***

Pretty sure Wainwright was joking. He got through his first live batting practice as expected. Good life on his fastball; still working on his changeup. He would like “to be a little more solid with my off-speed stuff right now,” he said. There’s time.

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Yadier Molina got his World Baseball Classic mask in the mail today. It’s blue with the WBC logo and has his former number painted on it, No. 41.

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Some other online outlets for tidbits from camp:

• Brett Wallace and the Bucket Shot
• The Cardinals Commercials conclude filming
• The constant Tweeter feed.

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David Freese and the other infielders have been working early in the morning with coach Jose Oquendo. One lesson Oquendo has stressed to the third baseman: “Your best friend is your backhand. A backhand is you best friend. Learn to use it.”

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The L-screen hasn’t been that popular this spring, with very few — if any that I can recall — pitchers using it during the live batting practice sessions. The hitters have done well considering their are leaping directly from the cage into live BP fairly early for spring training. One hitter has certainly gotten the pitchers’ attention: Albert Pujols, of course. It’s not that he’s hitting well or even hitting hard, it’s where he’s hitting. Pujols likes to work on staying inside the ball and on pitches that are up in the zone — as many are this time of spring — that means lacing the ball up the middle. He nearly skulled Joel Pineiro the other day and skipped one back at Blake Hawksworth.

That prompted Todd Wellemeyer to announce that he’ll go without the L-screen “unless I’m pitching to Albert.”

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