Cards to start Spring Training on Feb. 14

ST. LOUIS -- Officially, the countdown can now begin.
The Cardinals announced reporting and workout dates for Spring Training on Friday. For those of you counting the days -- or hours or minutes -- to the start of spring, the date to circle on your calendars is Feb. 14. Love of the game will be rekindled on Valentine's Day.
Workouts for pitchers and catchers start the following day, Thursday, Feb. 15. The remaining players report on Monday, Feb. 19, with full squad workouts beginning on Feb. 20. The first spring game for St. Louis is a Feb. 26 exhibition contest against Florida Atlantic University. Grapefruit League play begins on Feb. 28 against the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium.
For most of Major League Baseball, the report date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 15. However, the Cardinals and Mets begin the 2007 season on Sunday, April 1, a day earlier than the majority of the league. Thus, St. Louis begins Spring Training a day earlier.
Additionally, the Cards announced the dates and players for this year's Cardinals Caravan. Caravan No. 1, Jan. 11-12, will feature Randy Flores and Skip Schumaker, among others. Caravan No. 2 will be on Jan. 13-14 and will include Chris Duncan, Adam Wainwright, John Rodriguez and Tyler Johnson. Set for Jan. 13-14, Caravan No. 3 will feature Anthony Reyes, Aaron Miles and Brad Thompson. Finally, Caravan No. 4 will run on Jan. 11-12 and will include Josh Hancock, Josh Kinney and Chris Narveson.