JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Mike Matheny fields the question that comes pretty much on a daily basis with the dexterity of the four-time Gold Glove catcher he used to be.

He insists there is no point trying to replace Tony La Russa. Just like there’s no point trying to replicate Albert Pujols’ bat.

What Matheny promises is he’ll work nonstop to keep the St. Louis Cardinals among baseball’s elite. He isn’t interested in comparisons with La Russa, who retired just a handful of wins away from being the second-winningest manager in history.

Matheny says he sees no sense of satisfaction with players who won the World Series last fall, noting that most reported well ahead of Friday’s first full-squad workout.