Jupiter, Fla. ? One good thing about Jim Edmonds’ recuperation from offseason shoulder surgery: It’s giving the St. Louis Cardinals a chance to give the multitude of candidates for the left field job more playing time.

The center fielder, coming off an early December operation, is taking things one small step at a time this spring. Saturday, the team was aiming for a debut sometime in the next week.

“What we need to do is get him in there so we can pace him properly,” said manager Tony La Russa.

Edmonds took some batting practice swings earlier in the week and faced a handful of major league pitches for the first time when Woody Williams, recovering from shoulder tendinitis, threw Friday. So far Edmonds has not been pleased with his progress.

“I’m having a hard time imagining playing right now,” Edmonds said. “I just try to come in every day and make progress, and whenever they want me to play, I’ll play.

“I’m doing all right, but it’s hard to imagine what game speed is going to take.”

At any rate, trainer Barry Weinberg said it was close to being a baseball decision on Edmonds’ return rather than a physical issue.

“He’s doing good, he’s progressing fine,” Weinberg said. “He can do what he can tolerate, but we don’t want to make him vulnerable, going from soft toss to a game.”

The progression for Edmonds: more batting practice, then perhaps a simulated game, then game action.

“It’s just about strength and pain, I guess,” Edmonds said. “No concerns. I’m just trying to get better and there really is no secret and no timetable.”

Edmonds endured a pain-filled second half of the 2003 season after aggravating a shoulder injury in the home-run derby contest before the All-Star game. He had 39 home runs and 89 RBIs, his second straight year below 100 RBIs.

He batted .275, a 36-point dropoff from 2002, and played 137 games, his lowest total since coming to the Cardinals in 2000.

This after a banner first half. His 28 homers at the break was tied for second in the NL, earning him a second All-Star selection and a start in center field.

“It’s no fun, whenever you’re hurt and you have to try to go out and perform,” Edmonds said. “I’m just hoping I can get healthy and play and that’s about it.”