But Oquendo, who has watched most of the Cardinals’ games on television this year, said he could sense something lacking in the club from time to time.
Oquendo said he had been asked to stay longer by some of the players. But he has other assignments, to tour the organization.
In the two starts preceding Wednesday’s game, Cardinals pitchers had thrown only 117 and 119 pitches for nine innings, or an average of 13 per inning. Maddux says he is satisfied with 15 an inning, or 135 for a game.. . . Infielder Jedd Gyorko, who went on the injured list, probably prematurely, with a back issue, is taking ground balls and running the bases and should be back next Wednesday when his 10-day IL stay is up.