Jake Fox In the Clubhouse
by Scout Hoffman (seniorbeisbol@gmail.com)
http://www.profantasybaseball.com/
The Cubs made a handful of roster moves this morning to try and shake up their slumping ball club. The three players brought up were Andres Blanco, Jason Waddell, and Jake Fox. Blanco and Waddell will likely provide no fantasy impact unless you are playing in a 'Chicago Only' fantasy league. Jake Fox on the other hand is a bit of a curious story.
Fox is a third round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2003. He has spent the last seven seasons toiling in the Cubs minor league system, even getting a three game cup of coffee with the big club in 2007. At 26 he is a bit old to still be considered a prospect, but there are reasons he has not made it to the big leagues prior to now.
Fox certainly can hit, but his defense has been a bit of a liability. He has played nearly everywhere on the diamond over his minor league career. Fox started as a catcher, but has since spent time at both corner infield and outfield positions. Usually when a guy is asked to play five different positions it means that he is not very good at any of them.
It will be interesting to see where Lou Piniella puts him in the line-up. He has not caught on a regular basis for a few years, so I doubt he will be subbing for the slumping Geovany Soto. First base is already a logjam with Derrek Lee healthy (for now) and Micah Hoffpauir proving worthy of steady at-bats. Third base is not a place where you want to put a guy who has some glove troubles, just ask Milwaukee about Ryan Braun or Mat Gamel. As for the corner outfield spots, Milton Bradley is finally starting to hit and Alfonso Soriano has been the Cubs most consistant hitter this season. Piniella has mentioned on occasion that Soriano could find his way back to the infield, but that would make the Cubs arguably the worst defensive team in the Major Leagues.
Take a look at the numbers that Fox has put up in AAA this year and you will see why Piniella will need to find some at bats for the 27 year old slugger. Through 40 games, Fox is leading all of the Minor Leagues in HRs (17), RBI (50), and average (.432). His 2008 numbers of 31 HR / 105 RBI / .287 avg prove that these numbers are not a fluke.
Fox smacked an RBI double today in his only at-bat as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th, so it looks like he took his hot bat to the bigs. It would not surprise me if he is being called up to showcase his hitting for a future trade to the American League where he can settle in as a career DH.
I would wait to see if Fox gets some regular at-bats prior to picking him up off the waiver wire, but if he can find a place to play in the field he could provide some offensive punch for the remainder of the season.
Fox is a third round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2003. He has spent the last seven seasons toiling in the Cubs minor league system, even getting a three game cup of coffee with the big club in 2007. At 26 he is a bit old to still be considered a prospect, but there are reasons he has not made it to the big leagues prior to now.
Fox certainly can hit, but his defense has been a bit of a liability. He has played nearly everywhere on the diamond over his minor league career. Fox started as a catcher, but has since spent time at both corner infield and outfield positions. Usually when a guy is asked to play five different positions it means that he is not very good at any of them.
It will be interesting to see where Lou Piniella puts him in the line-up. He has not caught on a regular basis for a few years, so I doubt he will be subbing for the slumping Geovany Soto. First base is already a logjam with Derrek Lee healthy (for now) and Micah Hoffpauir proving worthy of steady at-bats. Third base is not a place where you want to put a guy who has some glove troubles, just ask Milwaukee about Ryan Braun or Mat Gamel. As for the corner outfield spots, Milton Bradley is finally starting to hit and Alfonso Soriano has been the Cubs most consistant hitter this season. Piniella has mentioned on occasion that Soriano could find his way back to the infield, but that would make the Cubs arguably the worst defensive team in the Major Leagues.
Take a look at the numbers that Fox has put up in AAA this year and you will see why Piniella will need to find some at bats for the 27 year old slugger. Through 40 games, Fox is leading all of the Minor Leagues in HRs (17), RBI (50), and average (.432). His 2008 numbers of 31 HR / 105 RBI / .287 avg prove that these numbers are not a fluke.
Fox smacked an RBI double today in his only at-bat as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th, so it looks like he took his hot bat to the bigs. It would not surprise me if he is being called up to showcase his hitting for a future trade to the American League where he can settle in as a career DH.
I would wait to see if Fox gets some regular at-bats prior to picking him up off the waiver wire, but if he can find a place to play in the field he could provide some offensive punch for the remainder of the season.Labels: Jake Fox, Scout Hoffman