"Maybe being a former player, Matheny doesnt see huge need to get the vets alot of playing time early in spring."

Hummel:

The Cardinals, enduring aches and pains for Rafael Furcal, Lance Berkman and Carlos Beltran — and, of course, Chris Carpenter — haven't had their club on the field for any game in the first 11 days of exhibition play.
That situation isn't likely to correct itself much in the next week or so as the Cardinals have several long trips from which some veterans will be absent. But starting next Wednesday, after the Cardinals return from a two-day stay in Orlando, Fla., they will have nine of their final 11 Florida games in Roger Dean Stadium and another only 30 miles away.
It is then, said manager Mike Matheny, that he intends to have his lineup on the field. Until then, he feels there is no rush to play his veterans daily.
"They've got to feel right first," Matheny said. "I can't make them feel right.
"Maybe that's the kind of season we have ahead of us, just making sure guys are right."
Matheny reminded reporters Wednesday that "this team played 30 days longer than a lot of other teams last year. To discount that would be a mistake. Trying to push these guys through something right now doesn't make sense to me.

tkihshbt wrote:

This is good strategy from Matheny.

Sounds like Matheny is saying that it isnt strategy at all when he said, "They've got to feel right first," Matheny said. "I can't make them feel right."

TLR teams seemed to start the season strong and then wear out in the grind.  Maybe going easier in spring would have helped that or maybe they just wouldnt have started as strong.  It seemed twice a mid-season trade resparked the team to the point of a ring.  Even if it isnt planned I think a slow start by these guys can workout best.