* I'm a tad surprised that Taveras isn't further along in his rehab; he hasn't started running yet. But again, I attribute that to extra caution. What's important is making sure that he's 100 percent healthy and ready to go by the start of the regular season. There's no reason to risk a setback. If Taveras has problems with the ankle in spring training, then yeah, it will raise questions and anxiety.

* The Cardinals don't have to push it for another reason: they have Allen Craig in right, Peter Bourjos and Jon Jay in center, Matt Holliday in left, and Shane Robinson in reserve. The acquisition of Bourjos changed the dynamics here; the Cardinals don't have to fast-forward Taveras to the majors. If it benefits him to get 200 at-bats (or whatever) at Memphis, that's fine. Anything to help him be fully prepared when he reaches the big leagues.

* Last season the Cardinals were hoping that Taveras could play center field early in his big-league career, until his body completely filled out, at which time he'd be relocated to a more natural position in RF. The Cardinals weren't sure if Taveras could handle center; that's why they put him there at Memphis. To give him training at the position. To see what he could or could not do.