Minor League Roundup

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=38409:date=May 16 2009, 10:42 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ May 16 2009, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38407:date=May 16 2009, 08:12 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ May 16 2009, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38403:date=May 16 2009, 09:56 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ May 16 2009, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38292:date=May 16 2009, 08:49 AM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ May 16 2009, 08:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38290:date=May 16 2009, 10:41 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ May 16 2009, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=38284:date=May 16 2009, 05:20 AM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ May 16 2009, 05:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Perhaps most interesting of all: Jake Fox played 3B last night.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Interesting.
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Of course, if it works out and he's moderately serviceable there, then the Cubs look utterly retarded for not doing it sooner.
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Why? <b>They looked at him a ton at 3b and Spring Training</b>, and he was awful. He's now hitting so well that they're considering it, but they've made the right decision to not have him as a part of the team up until the Aramis injury at least. With, Scales, Fontenot, and Freel, do we really need him? I think we're going to score plenty enough runs still. Now with interleague games coming up soon though, he definitely has more value.
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That's exactly what I'm saying. If it turns out that he can, in fact, be serviceable (and not awful) at 3B, the Cubs will look like idiots for not carrying him on the roster in the first place, and for not giving him a heck of a lot more time at 3B sooner. I doubt he'll suddenly be able to play there if he couldn't before, but if he can, it was a gaffe not to find that out sooner.
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But do you really think they couldn't tell with their own eyes if he was good enough to play there? They watched him take groundballs everyday for over a month there. They watched him butcher plays in the games there. If he could've played it well at all, he would've made the team out of Spring Training.

They gave him every shot they could. They've moved him all over the field, trying to find a position for him and he hasn't been able to handle any adequately. If he improves, that's great, but he hasn't been good enough to carry as a third baseman yet.

If you bring him up to play there, it's a panic move that should only be made if the offense is really struggling which hasn't been the case. We're 11-7 with Aramis, 10-7 without him. I think we should go with what we have until we're struggling to score runs. Fontenot, Scales, and Freel are much better defensively there than he is, and they should all be able provide enough offense to get by for a bit.
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I take no position regarding whether or not he SHOULD be given a chance at third with Ramirez out. All I'm saying is that if it turns out he can do it, the Cubs look stupid.

Thing is, if they could tell that he couldn't cut it there, as you said, then why are they trying him there again? They obviously WANT him to be able to play there, and now that there's some sense of urgency - however strong - they're going to try him at 3B again. And if now, suddenly, he can do it, after months/years of thinking he couldn't, they'll look stupid. That's all I'm saying.