JUPITER, Fla. • The hope that longtime coach Jose Oquendo would be off his crutches and able to contribute come opening day ended Sunday as the Cardinals announced that he would take a medical leave of absence.
Manager Mike Matheny said his staff is preparing and has been restructured as if Oquendo will miss the entire season.
Oquendo had surgery on his right knee during spring to clear up a persisting injury, one that he also had addressed this winter with surgery. As recently as this past week, he expected to be able to be off the crutches — if only to make the trip from the dugout to the third base coach's box, as he has for nearly two decades with the team.