Adam Wainwright (Tommy John surgery) threw live batting practice Friday for the first time this spring. Wainwright threw both fastballs and offspeed pitches to Tyler Greene and Matt Adams during the roughly 11-minute session. He was pleased with his command and said that he was throwing with a little more intensity than he had in recent side sessions. "Each time I throw, I let my body do it naturally," said Wainwright. "I'm not trying to force anything. I'm out there just going through my delivery and my arm. Whatever comes out of it is what's going to come out of it. Today, I noticed there was a little more something there then there was before." Wainwright hasn't had any issues with his surgically-repaired elbow thus far and appears on track for exhibition action.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) threw a 33-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. The rehabbing right-hander, according to MLB.com's report, said "he feels closer to regular-season ready than he normally does at this point in camp." Wainwright, who missed the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery, has not yet suffered a setback. "I certainly feel good," Wainwright said. "I'm a very positive thinker. It's the only way I roll. Guys are coming back [from Tommy John surgery] in 10 months sometime, so there's no reason to think 12 months is too soon." Wainwright very well may be a good value in mixed leagues, based on where he's been going in preliminary fantasy drafts. Monitor his progress this spring.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, manager Mike Matheny and the coaching staff will discuss the pitching plan for Adam Wainwright (elbow) on Saturday. Wainwright has said that he doesn't want to be treated any differently from the other pitchers in camp, but the Cardinals will consider modifying the plan if it's in his best interests. The rehabbing right-hander threw 40 pitches to live hitters Thursday morning and hasn't had any issues with his surgically-repaired elbow.

Adam Wainwright threw 40 pitches to live hitters Thursday morning in Cardinals camp. Waino broke the workout into 20-pitch sessions to simulate two innings of work. He reported no issues at all with his surgically-repaired right elbow and continues to progress toward normalcy. "I really don't feel like I've missed a year," Wainwright told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It feels like I'm stepping back into something that is comfortable. It feels natural."

Cardinals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Adam Wainwright (elbow) will start camp on the identical program as the rest of the starting rotation. In other words, he'll have no restrictions as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. Wainwright was an early arrival to the Cardinals' spring training complex last month and is already throwing to hitters. We'll know a lot more once he starts pitching in games again, but all signs are pointing toward him being ready for the start of the season.

Adam Wainwright (elbow) has resumed facing hitters since reporting to the Cardinals' spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida last month. Wainwright, who missed the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery, has thrown about every third day since arriving to camp and estimates that he's throwing his fastball about 90 percent effort. "I just feel really good," said Wainwright. "I feel strong. I feel ready to go. It's one of the things where the power of understatement can be really great. But at the same time Cardinal fans should know that I'm feeling pretty danged good." Barring any setbacks, it appears that he'll be able to reach his goal of being ready for Opening Day.

Tom Ackerman of KMOX 1120 AM in St. Louis is "hearing good things" about how Adam Wainwright (elbow) has looked thus far at the Cardinals' spring training complex. Wainwright has already been in Jupiter, FL for over two weeks and Ackerman said he experienced no discomfort during a side session Thursday while throwing fastballs, sinkers, changeups and curveballs at 90 percent. It's clear that Waino is progressing ahead of schedule and, barring any setbacks, will have no trouble getting up to full speed before Opening Day.

Adam Wainwright will head to the Cardinals' spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida on Thursday. What a show-off. Kidding aside, Wainwright is well ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and looks to be on track for the start of the 2012 regular season. Pitchers and catchers aren't expected to report for another month, but the 30-year-old right-hander is likely chomping at the bit after sitting out the entire 2011 campaign.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Friday that Dave Duncan will not return as pitching coach in 2012. Duncan stepped down Thursday so that he could attend to his wife Jeanine as she continues her treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to remove a brain tumor last August. His eventual return hasn't been ruled out, but Derek Lilliquist will serve as the club's pitching coach in 2012.

The Cardinals have named Derek Lilliquist as Dave Duncan's replacement as pitching coaching. The Cards have officially said that Duncan is only taking a leave of absence from the team due to family matters, but it sounds like if he returns it will be in an advisory role. Lilliquist filled in for Duncan for a period of time during the 2011 season so that Duncan could be with his wife, Jeanine, who underwent brain surgery in August. Former minor league pitching coordinator Dyer Miller will take Lilliquist's spot as the new bullpen coach.