Worth noting

• Jason Motte is scheduled to face hitters for the first time during a live batting-practice session on Friday. Motte has spent the past few weeks increasing the intensity of his bullpen sessions so that he could move onto this next phase in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

• Allen Craig started at first base on Thursday, marking the first time this spring that he has played anywhere but right field. Craig is projected to open the season as the Cardinals' starting right fielder, though he will also get playing time at first base again this year. It was his primary position in 2013. Jon Jay made his first spring start in left field on Thursday.

• MLB Network has announced that it will televise nine of the Cardinals' games over the first month of the season, including four against division rivals Cincinnati (April 3, April 7) and Pittsburgh (April 4-5). For a full listing, visit the broadcast plan.

• Matheny spent some time in the early morning working with the organization's Minor League catchers. During the tutorial, Matheny explained and demonstrated the organization's new philosophy of not having its catchers block the plate. The change was made in conjunction with Major League Baseball implementing new guidelines regarding home-plate collisions.

"I didn't get any rolling of the eyes or any of that stuff, but I know some of them are disappointed in, 'Why do we need to do this?'" Matheny said. "I was dumb enough to think the exact same thing when I was a player, and I would be exactly where they are. We're just trying to save them from themselves at this point and create, what I believe, is going to happen at some point in the game eventually anyhow."