JUPITER, Fla. — The last time the Cardinals’ rostered players weren’t in spring training by now, Jose Oquendo still was a player. The Cardinals’ minor league instructor was preparing for what would be his final big-league season with the Cardinals in 1995 when the players were on strike against the owners.
Now the times have changed, along with the site — from St. Petersburg on the west side of Florida to Jupiter. Again, there are no big-league players on campus as the owners have locked out the players, But, as he has for years, Oquendo still is hitting ground balls in February and March — only they're being smacked to minor league players.