CINCINNATI • Considering the renewed life they saw from him throughout spring training, the Cardinals expected veteran Jhonny Peralta to give them a lift, at least early this season.
What’s happened instead is about to become a roster riddle.
“It is hard,” general manager John Mozeliak said when asked about the role in which the former All-Star has been placed. “Unfortunately, it’s a little bit of a Wally Pipp scenario. Jedd Gyorko has played so well. You think about our club and where we are offensively, Jedd has been our most productive hitter.”
Peralta, 35, scored two starts this past weekend at Wrigley Field while Gyorko was on paternity leave and only added to his frustrating season with a single hit.