Chris Carpenter left spring training camp today because of neck issues

JUPITER, Fla. — Right-hander Chris Carpenter was a non-participant in workouts on Friday, instead spending part of the day undergoing another evaluation for persistent neck stiffness. The club is not expected to provide another update on Carpenter’s status until this weekend. For now, he remains listed as day-to-day.

Carpenter already skipped a side session earlier this week because of the issue. He was then tentatively scheduled to return to the mound on Friday, but instead was sent to see a specialist. The right-hander said he first felt the stiffness when he threw live batting practice on Saturday. That was Carpenter’s second batting practice session of Spring Training.

The Cardinals never announced when Carpenter would make his Grapefruit League debut, purposefully leaving flexibility in his schedule so that he could take ample time to build up his arm. Asked on Thursday to elaborate on Carpenter’s schedule, manager Mike Matheny described it as “still fluid.”

“We’re just kind of waiting and seeing,” Matheny added. “We’re just kind of watching and seeing when it seems right.”

Last year, Carpenter had a successful season after making only three spring appearances.

There was a chance that Carpenter would make his first start early next week, though that now seems unlikely since he hasn’t thrown in several days. Even if Carpenter’s first Grapefruit League start doesn’t come for another week, he would still have time to make four starts before the beginning of the regular season.

St. Louis has penciled Carpenter in to be the team’s Opening Day starter on April 4 in Miami. The 36-year-old righty is coming off a season in which he pitched a career-high 273 1/3 innings, including the postseason.

Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals belts a hit in Spring Traning

It was a loss that will undeniably affect the St. Louis Cardinals. Losing one of the best first basemen that baseball has ever seen.  But there is hope! Matt “Patch” Adams is the future of the position for the Cardinals.  He is making the most of his invitation to spring training.

Matt Adams was the Cardinals minor league player of year last season.  One of his biggest assets is his offensive prowess.  He hit over 30 home runs last season playing on the Cardinals AA team.

Matt’s highlights of spring training so far include a grand slam, and a very respectable batting average.

If he continues to build his defensive capabilities, we may see Adams get a chance to start this season. Although it is projected he will most likely be a part of the 2013 Cardinals team.