The Resurgence of Jon Jay

When the Cardinals traded David Freese and Fernando Salas, to get Peter Bourjos and Randal Grichuk, Mike Matheny called Jon Jay to let him know that he would still be playing center field. That phone call was not necessary. Jay came into Spring Training competing for the job in center, and he got off to a so-so start. Bourjos got off to, by Cardinal standards, a mediocre start. Jay stayed consistent throughout the first part of the season, heating up towards the All-Star Break.



Only coming to our knowledge a few weeks ago, Jay played the second half of the season with a sore wrist. In order to still play almost everyday, Jay lightened his pregame workload, message to Jon Jay: DO NOT CHANGE THAT! Jay was the most productive hitter in the National League for much of the second half of the season, He was far and away the MVP of the league for the second half, if there was such an award. Jay ended up being the lone player on the Cardinals' roster to hit above .300.



If anybody learned anything from Jay's situation, it is never overlook Jon Jay. He will never win MVP, or make the flashy plays every game, but he will make the plays he needs to make, and he will get the big hits, when the team needs him to. If you are a baseball writer, and you vote for MVP, next year, before you automatically vote for Clayton Kershaw, at least take a look at Jon Jay. What you find may surprise you,