Why Don't You Take A Holliday Too While You Are At It?

Holliday will be sidelined from the gym and from playing left field for the Cardinals while recovering from an appendectomy procedure that took place Friday.   

Cardinal fans didn't think that the Baseball Gods would be able to outdo themselves after ending co-ace Adam Wainwright's season before it started.  First a paper bag of dog poop (yes I indeed called the shit, poop) was put on the Cardinal's doorstep.  Today however, to top off the prank (on April Fool's Day no less) the Baseball Gods decided to light the bag of poop on fire, ring the door bell and run away.  The Cardinal faithful quickly rush to the door, luckily we have our work boots on, and stomp out the flames.  Now what though?

In Holliday's case, the organization seems optimistic that he can return sooner because the surgery was less invasive.  It is not an emergency appendectomy, and his appendix is only slightly inflamed. At least the malady was caught early so that he won't be in any real danger.  I am no medical expert, but it could have been much worse, and a scene such as this could have been the result.  A 2 week recovery time would be the best case scenario, and Holliday's surgery has already been completed.  Realistically he will be out at least 4 weeks so that he can fully heal.

In his place the Cardinals will use Jon Jay (L/L) and Allen Craig to platoon left field.  I think that Jay will be the one that gets most of the starts.

So who is Jon Jay?  Well he is not as great as the John Jay who was a founding father and the first Supreme Court Chief Justice, but Jo(h)n still has managed to hold his own.  In his first season he hit a solid .300, .359 OBP and 4 HRs in 287 at bats last year.  Those stats and the 2 first names give Jon Jay a lot of upside.  Of course no one can replace Holliday, but hopefully his absence won't be as negative if Jay can put up numbers like last year.  

Many Cardinals fans thought Jay would be able to step into the right field spot before the team signed Berkman.  Now Jay will get another shot with regular starts.  Jay also actually had a higher avg. vs. lefties than righties (.308/.297), but had 33 at bats.  Don't worry that is as technical as we will get.  He turns just 25 this month, and I think he will be an asset to the team for years to come if given the opportunity to play.

So lets hope for a speedy recovery for Holliday and that Jay makes the most of his opportunity.  Finally if your fantasy team needs a 4th OF you might look at adding Jay, who should get ample chances to hit in runs batting behind the heart of the order.  At the very least you should get a solid avg. and strong OBP.  Hell he is already 1 for 1 on the season.