JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals left fielder Reggie Sanders was diagnosed with appendicitis on Thursday and will undergo surgery. Sanders reported to the team's camp on Thursday morning complaining of stomach pain. He was evaluated by the Cards' medical staff and diagnosed with acute appendicitis, necessitating the operation.

Cardinals head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg said it's too early to know how long Sanders might be out of action, but the recovery time in previous cases has been in the neighborhood of two weeks. Curt Schilling missed almost that long in 2003. Cardinals utilityman Eduardo Perez was able to pinch-hit roughly a week after his appendectomy in 2003, but it was two weeks before he was able to play in the field.

Roger Cedeno took Sanders' place in the lineup, batting sixth and playing left field in the rain-shortened game.

Morris unconcerned: At some point, something had to go wrong for Matt Morris. The right-hander has made remarkable progress in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, hitting all his scheduled steps and pitching well the whole way.

Morris hit something of a speed bump on Thursday, though, giving up three runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. Several balls were hit hard, including David Newhan's first-inning double, a two-run homer by Sal Fasano and a triple to the wall by Luis Matos. Still, Morris was glad that the troubles were of the giving-up-runs variety, rather than the feeling-sore variety.

"If you're looking at results, obviously they're not as good as you'd like," he said. "But I actually felt better out there. I felt like I had some more whip, more juice -- and I think that was part of my problem, too. Last week I didn't know what I was gonna have, and I stayed within myself and tried to make pitches. Today, I was like, 'Wow, it's coming out good.' And I think I let that mentality get into my head, and I just tried to juice up a couple times ... or more than a couple times. It goes to show that if you feel a little better, you probably have to concentrate a little more."

It was Morris' second appearance of the spring. In his first, he twirled two impressive shutout innings against the Mets. His next scheduled start should come Wednesday against New York at home.

Outfielders, pitchers cut: St. Louis trimmed six players from Major League camp Thursday: outfielders Reid Gorecki, Skip Schumaker, Raul Gonzalez and Brandon Berger, and right-handers Jimmy Journell and Evan Rust. Berger, Gonzalez and Schumaker have been reassigned to minor league camp, while Gorecki, Journell and Rust were optioned to the minors.

Journell and Rust each pitched three scoreless innings before being sent out, with Journell, in particular, enjoying a strong spring.

"He's just got to show health and consistency," said La Russa.

Schumaker, a non-roster invitee who spent most of last season at Double-A Tennessee, impressed in his first big-league camp. He went 5-for-16 and played effective defense. Berger also caught the team's eye with flashes of power. All four outfielders at least held their own.

"All the young outfielders that we talked to, that's one reason why we've got eight wins," La Russa said. "Because they played well."

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Lincoln still sitting: Mike Lincoln, whom the Cards would love to have in their bullpen mix, is still restricted from throwing. The right-hander sustained a bone bruise in his surgically repaired right elbow and has been held out for more than a week.

Lincoln said he expects to be examined by head team physician Dr. George Paletta Friday or Saturday. It will be determined then whether he'll be permitted to start throwing again. Lincoln underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last summer, but this condition is believed to be unrelated to the ligament replacement.

"I just think he pushed it too hard," said La Russa, "and he's having to get back to where he's not sore."

Ank goes deep: The curtain was lifted on Rick Ankiel's career as a minor league batter on Thursday, and the debut was a success. Playing for Class A Quad Cities against the Marlins' Greensboro affiliate, Ankiel had two hits, including a first-inning leadoff home run. Ankiel served as the designated hitter for the Swing. He's expected to play in the outfield in a minor league game on Friday.

Let's talk ball: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was in no mood to discuss Thursday's congressional hearings on steroids in baseball. At the end of La Russa's customary morning briefing with reporters, he was asked if he would be paying attention to the day's events.

"We've got a game at 1 o'clock, which I'm worried about," said La Russa. "Anything else?"

When a follow-up question was attempted, the skipper ended the session.

For what it's worth, the television in the Cards clubhouse was tuned to the NCAA tournament rather than the hearings.

Bits and pieces: The Cardinals donned green jerseys and caps in honor of St. Patrick's Day on Thursday. ... Ray King is expected to return to game action Friday. He had been sidelined with muscle soreness near his left shoulder. ... Saturday's game against the Dodgers will be televised on KPLR, TV-11 in St. Louis.

Coming up: The Cards will be the "visiting" team Friday against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Start time is 12:05 p.m. CT, and Mark Mulder is scheduled to start against Florida's Al Leiter. On Saturday, the Redbirds host the Dodgers, with Jeff Suppan taking the mound against Edwin Jackson.