Cards find solution within thanks to Piscotty's pop

If not for the emergence of Scott Piscotty, St. Louis Cardinals general manger John Mozeliak might have felt a different urgency as last Friday's trade deadline approached.

But Piscotty has been money since the team called him up, and now he's proving invaluable as a left field fill-in for Matt Holliday, who is back on the DL with the same injury that put him there more than a month ago.

As St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Jeff Gordon pointed out, after an ugly strikeout in his first major-league at-bat, Piscotty has settled down nicely, going 14 for 34 with four doubles and five RBI. In his last eight games he is 12 for 26, and he's hit safely in every game he's started.

His versatility to play first base or the outfield is a nice commodity for manager Mike Matheny. With the trade deadline acquisition of Brandon Moss, who Gordon rightly points out was not acquired to replace Holliday but rather as an upgrade over first baseman Dan Johnson. 

That the Cardinals could reach into their farm system is paying dividends on the field and also saved the club a prospect or two at the deadline.

(h/t St. Louis Post-Dispatch)