Cards' Motte cautiously tests arm for second consecutive day

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals closer Jason Motte threw for the second straight day as a deadline neared for determining whether he could pitch with a partially torn ligament in his elbow.

"I woke up this morning and didn't take a step back," Motte said Sunday. "It felt good. If it didn't feel good I don't think we'd have moved forward."

The team said in early April that if Motte's condition hadn't improved by the beginning of May he likely would undergo reconstructive surgery. Motte said he felt fine after throwing from 60 feet, increasing the distance about 15 feet from the first day while still not "heave-hoeing it."

"I'm not in there like it's midseason or like I normally would be this time of the season, like you know, chucking balls," Motte said.

He planned on playing catch again today unless there was a setback but realized that he'd need significant progress soon.

"If it's June and I'm not chucking, we need to do something," Motte said.