Jake Fox

[Lance]

Didn't Fox play a decent 3rd base today? I know he didn't do anything at the plate, but by decent, I mean he made all of his routine chances at 3rd? I wasn't watching all that closely.

[ruby23]

I don't think he can hit anything but a fastball though.

[Scarey]

Fox with the walk off take!

[kbwsb]

I think we have to find a way to keep this guy up here after interleague play ends. He can obviously hit anything thrown to him, and we need offense badly.

This is gonna sound completely absurd, but...oh forget it. But it has to do with a former All-Star 2nd baseman.

[jeffy]

<!--quoteo(post=46582:date=Jun 26 2009, 11:15 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jun 26 2009, 11:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think we have to find a way to keep this guy up here after interleague play ends. He can obviously hit anything thrown to him, and we need offense badly.

This is gonna sound completely absurd, but...oh forget it. But it has to do with a former All-Star 2nd baseman.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Fox needs to be our every day number 3 hitter, at least for now. He played a fine 3rd base today too.

I say just keep him at 3B until Aramis comes back, then depending on how Bradley's doing then and if Fox is still hitting, put him out in RF.

[Ace]

The problem for Fox is the 12 pitchers. It's very hard to keep both Fox and Hoffpauir on the roster when you've only got 5 bench spots to work with, and the Cubs are completely committed to keeping Miles and Freel.

[alpha]

<!--quoteo(post=46608:date=Jun 27 2009, 09:20 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 27 2009, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The problem for Fox is the 12 pitchers. It's very hard to keep both Fox and Hoffpauir on the roster when you've only got 5 bench spots to work with, and the Cubs are completely committed to keeping Miles and Freel.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If Fox keeps hitting like this, the Cubs will have to make a choice of either releasing Freel or going with 11 pitchers. I really don't think sending Fox down would be an option now.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=46608:date=Jun 27 2009, 09:20 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jun 27 2009, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The problem for Fox is the 12 pitchers. It's very hard to keep both Fox and Hoffpauir on the roster when you've only got 5 bench spots to work with, and the Cubs are completely committed to keeping Miles and Freel.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think the Cubs are married to Freel.

[rok]

I think Freel is gone once Aramis comes back. I'd rather keep Blanco anyway.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=46626:date=Jun 27 2009, 11:23 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jun 27 2009, 11:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think Freel is gone once Aramis comes back. I'd rather keep Blanco anyway.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ditto completely, but I'm not convinced the Cubs will agree.

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Weekly Rundown: Barcalounger-athletic is what you call Chicago's Jake Fox

By Brad Evans

Known as the Sacagawea of fantasy primers, the Weekly Rundown guides head-to-head owners through a forest of obscure stats and exploitable matchups in an attempt to help solve lineup conundrums. While reading, keep in mind matchups are subject to change due to managerial moves, unforeseen injuries and Mother Nature's influences.

LEADING OFF

The quintessential National League DH, Jake Fox(notes), is an offensive powder keg cursed with an iron glove.

Equipped with the speed of a three-toed sloth and the agility of a brick, he has lived a nomadic existence in the field over his entire professional career. Experiments at catcher, left field and both corner infield positions have yielded adventurous results to say the least. Due to his well-documented defensive inefficiencies, the slugger's Ruthian bat has rotted away in storage.

But for a Cubs squad struggling offensively, Fox has been a godsend in Interleague play.

In his second tour of duty with the senior club this season, he's split time between right, third and DH in recent days. The increased opportunities have ignited the 26-year-old's bat and Chicago's sputtering offense. Since June 21, he's collected 10 hits, including five extra-base knocks (2 HR, 3 2B), and nine RBIs in a mere 20 at-bats. More astonishingly, despite his horrendous defensive reputation, he's yet to commit an error in 38 innings.

Though still wavering on whether or not to give Fox regular playing time until Aramis Ramirez(notes) returns in roughly 2-3 weeks, Lou Piniella is warming up to the idea:

"Fox swings the bat. He's going to have some not-so-pretty at-bats. The kid's got some bat speed and he's swinging it. I'm going to let him play whenever I can get him in there. It's refreshing to see somebody go up there and powder river the ball {Noise note: "Powder river" in terms of striking a baseball has no known origin. I'm guessing Lou manufactured the phrase after watching Eastwood westerns late one night on WGN or learned it in his "rocks for jocks" class while a student at Tampa University.), it really is."

Further Lou reflection on the youngster:

"We're looking for offense anywhere we can get it, and that's why you see him over there. If we were scoring more runs, we probably wouldn't get that liberal. We've got Ramirez coming back here in the next couple of weeks. So Fox can make a statement. If he wants to stay here the rest of the summer, it's OK with me.''

The egoless corner infielder is 100 percent supportive of his manager's uneasiness.

''He's in the business of winning ballgames, that's his job, to put the best team out there to win a game. I would be apprehensive to put me out there also. I'm grateful for the fact that he feels comfortable enough to put me out there. He took the chance to put me out there, and it was a big risk. Now I've shown him I can go out there and do it.''

Bottom line: Fox's offensive firepower outweighs his defensive downside. When the Michigan product plays, he rakes. He desrves to be in the lineup every single day until Ramirez regains full strength. It's taken the stubborn Piniella an eternity to see the light.

Fox's aggressive approach (2.6 BB%), low contact rate (68.2 CT%) and fly-ball heavy profile (0.93 GB/FB) do not support a long-term BA over .300. However, the Playstation numbers he posted earlier this year at Iowa suggest otherwise. Because he's likely to net at least 4-5 starts against pitching challenged Pittsburgh and Milwaukee this week, the 12 percent-owned Bald Bomber is worth streaming in 12-team and deeper mixed leagues. But understand once Ramirez is activated, he's destined to return to a pinch-hit role.

Fearless Forecast (next two weeks): 38 at-bats, .315 BA, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->