Jon Jay making impact with Cards

This spring, Jon Jay had a chance to really complicate matters in the outfield because he was left-handed (complimenting the right-handed Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwick) and he's a high-average contact hitter.

Well, things did not work out nearly as he planned.  Jay struggled the majority of the time...did not do all that well defensively...and had to watch as guys like Allen Craig and Nick Stavinoha tore the cover off the ball game after game after game.

The end result was Jay getting sent back to AAA several days before camp ended.  It wasn't the way things were supposed to go.

But he responded the old fashioned way.  He did exactly what he was SUPPOSED to do in spring...in Memphis.  Jay hit in just about every single game played for the Redbirds and stole 7 bases to boot.

Combine that with the slow start that Allen Craig got off to in St. Louis and the switch was quite obvious.

Craig demoted to AAA.  Jay promoted to St. Louis.

And, what do ya know, Jay has continued what he did in the minors here in the big leagues.

Through Friday's game one against the Pirates, Jay has 5 hits in 13 at-bats (already 4 more hits than Craig had in 3 weeks of games).  He's hit the ball hard.  He's gone the other way.  But, most importantly, he's shown the ability to hit while coming off the bench.

That's something that Craig could not do.  He is someone who needs to play everyday and get consistent at-bats.  Jay is able to not start a game, yet pinch hit late and still put together a productive AB.

Throw in the fact that he's a true outfielder (as opposed to Craig) and him being left-handed (the only non righty bat off the bench at the moment, with Felipe Lopez on the DL) and the need for Jay in St. Louis right now is pretty big.

As Tony says, whoever plays the best plays the most.  Jay is playing among the best of the guys off the bench.  And that's why he'll continue to play the most.



(101espn.com)