With Ryan Ludwick predicted to miss at least the rest of the eight-game homestand, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa faces a question he has trended toward answering one way in his managing career: Play the precocious rookies or turn to a veteran for help? La Russa has the option to platoon left-hander Jon Jay and right-hander Allen Craig for Ludwick's right-field spot, or he can plug in veteran Randy Winn for several games while Ludwick recovers from a calf strain. Jay has been on fire since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis in early July, hitting .519 and slugging .889 in nine games this month. Craig was on a similar tear in Memphis, hitting .308 with a .520 slugging percentage while driving in 65 runs in 67 games. Winn has hit .246 with a .333 slugging in 27 games since being signed by the Cardinals in early June. For at least one day, La Russa turned to the veteran outfielder, inserting Winn in the five-hole against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley on Friday. http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/ne...12291564&vkey=notebook_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
