Worth noting

• Matheny said the organization still does not have an expected spring debut date for top prospect Oscar Taveras. The Cardinals continue to wait for Taveras to stop instinctively favoring the ankle that he did not have surgically repaired last season. Staff members sat down with Taveras to show him video that shows there is still some hesitation to push off his right ankle.

"He's anxious to get going, and that's exactly how we want him to be," Matheny said. "He's done a lot of work to get to the point where he is right now. In his mind, he's not favoring it. So it's a tough conversation. We're trying to do what's best for him. And what's best for our club, too, is to have a player who is completely ready to go before he goes out there and starts learning bad habits or makes himself more susceptible to an injury."

Taveras is scheduled to take the bus trip to Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday.

• The Cardinals will keep center fielder Peter Bourjos off the field through at least Thursday as he deals with what Matheny described as right leg tightness. Bourjos last played on Sunday and alerted the medical staff to some tightness after coming out of that game.

"They're testing him out," Matheny said. "He has good strength, which is always the sign that we're not looking at anything major. But it was a little tender. We're just staying away from pushing him."

• The Cardinals and Marlins played a "B" game on Wednesday morning on one of Miami's practice fields. The Cardinals used the scrimmage to find playing time for several non-roster players participating in Major League camp. Four pitchers who recently participated in the organization's STEP (Spring Training Early Program) initiative -- Rob Kaminsky, Dixon Llorens, Michael Mayers and Scott McGregor -- appeared in the game.

• The Cardinals had a closed-door meeting with union chief Tony Clark and other representatives from the Major League Baseball Players Association on Wednesday morning. Clark and company wrapped up their visit to all of the Florida camps with the stop in Jupiter, Fla. He now heads to Arizona to meet with the remaining clubs.

• Yadier Molina made his first start of the spring behind the plate on Wednesday. The Cardinals delayed Molina's first start as catcher in an effort to reduce the number of innings he catches this month. The organization's hope is that innings saved now will be innings Molina can add to his regular-season load.

• Reliever Jason Motte, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, threw another high-intensity bullpen session on Wednesday. He continues to move closer to being ready to throw to batters in a live batting practice setting.