Fox movin' on up!!
by TheRiot4Life on May 27, 2009 9:00 AM CDT
172 comments
I am close friends with Jake's brother and got the text from him last night that Jake got the call. He will be with the big club today or tomorrow, but he was told to pack his bags for Chicago. Thought I'd give the inside scoop seeing as how it's not posted anywhere officially just yet.
One thing you all should know about Jake Fox - he's one of the hardest working guys I know - and is a great guy in general - Hopefully his hot-hitting continues!!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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And what's the corresponding move?
Freel released? Scales back down?
Hot hitting or not, Fox is going to be a PH. I’m not so sure that helps us with versatility.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
Or maybe Cotts will be released....
…that I wouldn’t have a problem with.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on May 27, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions
or Patton returned to Colorado
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
God I hope it's goodbye to Aaron Miles...
Though I’ve got a feeling that Freel is going to suddenly be “injured.”
Miles isn't going anywhere
Though I share your frustration with the guy.
Seeking confirmation on this...
… it’s contrary to what I heard last night.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
A source.
You’ll understand if I keep that source private.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Not necessarily.
The information could have been correct when I heard it — and then the situation changed afterwards. People in baseball do change their minds, you know.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
All I know...
…is that I got a text from Jake’s brother saying that he talked to Jake and he’s being called up.
Gotta love the Ragin' Cajun!
by TheRiot4Life on May 27, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Someone.....
needs new sources………:)
by timeforachange2009 on May 27, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Or, the source's information...
… was correct at the time I heard it, but circumstances changed AFTER that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It was.....
a joke!!!!!!! Things change.
BTW, do you think this means that Soriano is moving to 2nd?
by timeforachange2009 on May 27, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
Lou hinted at it. Soriano offered. Maybe they’ll try it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Noooooooo!!!
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
I heard a report on the Score Soriano has been taking ground balls at 2nd before games so maybe they’re looking atseeing if he could play some there.
Jay is our Quarterback. I REPEAT JAY IS OUR QUARTERBACK. Did I mention we have a Quarterback who happens to be named Jay?.
by puckishcubsfan on May 27, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions
wow that would be terrible
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 29, 2009 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Please
no . . . the Cubs defense could turn into a circus if Sori moved to 2nd and Fox playing in left.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
It could.
But they’d score a ton of runs. All they’d need is for the pitchers to strike everyone out.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I agree.....
BUT why else would you bring him up.
He does not fit as a pinch hitter.
Also, with the news that ARAM is going to be out another 6-8 weeks, this may be their attempt to replace his offense.
by timeforachange2009 on May 27, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Just heard it on ESPN 1000
Bruce Levine is reporting that Fox will be called up, corresponding roster moves to be announced later today…
My guess is that it's Scales or Freel.
Lou seems obsessed with keeping the 12th pitcher he doesn’t use.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I suppose they could cut the cord on the Patton experiment.
If they could trade him somewhere, that’d be what I would do.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
On the other hand
Throwing two shutout innings with that much rust is not unimpressive. Just sayin’
Scales is clearly the easy move to make, unless another phantom injury pops up.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Then Scales
He can be sent down. Freel would have to be released unless he agreed to go down which he might.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 27, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Perhaps but cutting guys we owe money to
is getting a bit silly. You can bring Scales back if Freel continues to suck.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 27, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Freel has shown NOTHING
How long do we wait for him to “continue to suck”?
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on May 27, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Freel has only played in a handful of games
let’s give a couple weeks before we say he is useless. Remeber he was on the DL before the cubs acquired him and Captain Lou has not given him much of an opportunity.
Reminds me of Alfonseca in 2003
It reached a point where the Cubs were better off paying Alfonseca his millions to sit at home and eat Funyuns. We’re not quite there, yet, but we’re going to reach that point with Miles sooner or later.
As for Freel, it would be the O’s who would be paying him to sit at home, for the most part. So that helps.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Good call on the Funyuns
Alfonseca loved those because he could grab more of them with his extra fingers.
"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"
It is a sunk cost
its already paid for.
So with that out of the way, (we cant do anything about the money after) what is the best move for the cubs, take the things you cant change out of the equation that are already done.
No Tweet from Gordo
he must be slacking off :).
Don’t we face a few more left handed pitchers in this series with the Pirates and the next with the Dodgers? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fox getting some starts at third or the outfield.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
If he starts at third
Let’s hope Soriano’s hamstrings are in good shape. He’ll be running into shallow left a lot to get balls Fox missed.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Fox starts in the outfield if Sori plays second base
Which as indicated above would be a defensive adventure to say the least.
And I believe this is
The first time that a brothers sisters boyfriends mom was accually right
it helps that...
….I removed the sisters boyfriends mom from the equation…LOL
Gotta love the Ragin' Cajun!
by TheRiot4Life on May 27, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
How bad is Jake Fox's D?
I asked this in another topic, but it’s more appropriate here.
I keep hearing how he’s awful on D. What is it? Lack of range? Is he just a big doofus out there? Does he "Ronny Cedeno" his throws? Bad arm? What?
lol
I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com
by digitalbenjamin on May 27, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know any details...
…but the phrase “notch above horrific” has been thrown around quite liberally.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions
ESPN Chicago
reporting the same. No indication as to the corresponding move.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
DFA Miles please
please please please
I understand this is next to impossible
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
He's got a two-year contract...
… with about $4 million left on it. No way, unfortunately.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Thought this was pretty funny....
from an espn chat yesterday
Tim (Chicago): Is there a worse player in baseball than Aaron Miles? Giving him a 2-year deal may have the worst move of Jim Hendry’s career.
Rob Neyer: Umm, yeah. Guy has one good year as a part-timer and Hendry gives him $5 million. What a country, eh?
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
sadly, Hendry has apparently never heard of the "Career Year" phenomenon
soooooo many contracts over the Hendry era have been based on the player having the best year of his career the season before
by WanderingWanderer on May 27, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
The problem is when the career year produces a
76 OPS+. You have to be freaking kidding me. I’m gonna go puke.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
well we got 2 this year; Miles and Bradley
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
big difference
Bradley has shown that he can hit his whole career, the Miles has fewer career homers than Carlos Zambrano.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
true ...
though it is looking like we overpaid for Milton.
Well after two months of 2007 people wanted to run Soriano out of town
while he is slumping right now, that contract doesn’t look so bad.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
it kinda reminds me of the Moises Alou signing
Alou wasn’t much good for the 2002 Cubs. But he had a good year in 2003 and a great year in 2004.
Here’s hoping Milton turns the corner faster than Moises did.
If Milton produces like Alou did
That will be a nice little contract.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
I'm thinking it looks more like the Burnitz deal.
Post below, but basically, the same pattern of overpaying for trailing returns, especially for LH corner OF.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Let's not be so harsh on the Bradley deal...
the guy has been injured and the was no way for hendry to know that when he made the offer he did.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions
I think.....
we all should be harsh on the Bradley deal.
There were other less expensive options available.
I am not worried about his lack of production (I think that will come). I am more concerned about the money he was paid and if it will limit Hendry from making moves.
by timeforachange2009 on May 27, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
I was being sarcastic of course...
figured the “how could Hendry know if his injury history” inference was clearly an indicator.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
The Bradley deal is more like the Burnitz signing.
Jeromy Burnitz, like Bradley, was signed coming off of a massive offensive season in a bandbox of a home ballpark. In fact, Burnitz was coming off of a string of something like 5 30-HR, 100 RBI seasons.
Both were left-handed right fielders. Burnitz was, of course, a massive disappointment (although, granted, we weren’t expecting much and it was obvious to everyone but Hendry that he was pretty much done.)
Bradley, through two months, has been an even bigger disappointment. Obviously, there’s a lot more time to turn it around. Unfortunately, the investment is a whole lot bigger.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I'm willing to be more patient with Miles..
He’s got the highest career batting average of any veteran on the roster – tied with ARAM at .285, and has never hit less than .268. He also hit 314 last year and is only 32, and has WS experience, hitting .364 in the 2006 Series. Remember how bad edmonds was in SDO before he came to the Cubs at about the same time, but had a slow start? We let Miles go, and he will go somewhere else and hit while we pay his salary. After 98 at bats, I’m willing to wait before sending a guy like this to the scrap pile. No way.
by DisCUBbobulated on May 27, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, he's been sent to the DL.
We’ll see where he goes from there.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
This is good satire
You don’t seriously think Miles is good do you?
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
I didn't say whether or not he was "good".
I did some research on what his numbers say about him. And, to me, his numbers say not to release him. I completely support your right to have a different point of view, but I’m not going to fold on these cards until much later in the year.
by DisCUBbobulated on May 27, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you're putting WAY too much empasis on batting average.
That said, it’s highly unlikely Hendry cuts a guy making almost $5 million.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
The complaint on BCB about Miles = "He can't hit"
So BA seems an appropriate point to make, especially considering he’s only made one error this year for the Cubs, stolen 3 bases without getting caught, etc. I agree he’s overpaid, but considering you can’t reverse that, the discussion has to be whether he’s worth having on the team. ANother point, he’s a career .300 hitter with RISP. Don’t mistake me as saying that Miles is next Ryne Sandburg, but I think his worthlessness has been overstated.
by DisCUBbobulated on May 27, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Hitting is a matter of value.
This is why OPS is generally regarded as being a better measure of offensive value than batting average, because guys who can get on base at a good clip and slug their way past first base are simply more valuable than slap hitters like Aaron Miles who inflate their batting averages with often-inconsequential singles.
When you couple that with the fact that Miles really isn’t a good defender – even in 3579.1 innings at his natural position, second base, he’s turned in below league average UZR numbers of -5.8/-1.9 – the sad truth (as I see it) is he just doesn’t give the Cubs any value they couldn’t have gotten out of a league average replacement (a la Bobby Scales or Andres Blanco). So, from a purely strategic perspective, he really is, for the most part, “worthless.”
That doesn’t mean he can’t, technically, play the game at the major league level. But his contract appears to be a pretty big mistake.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
All of your reasoning...
suggests trends predating the decision to sign him – which I appreciate (I don’t like the “he played like crap last week so let’s cut him” reactions). That’s interesting, and though I’m still getting the gist of UZR numbers and some of the other correlative statistical analysis now being used, there must have been some independent reason why they signed him. Perhaps it comes down to an “intangible” they thought they saw in him, be it the WS experience, “competitiveness”, or clutch hitting – none of which helps when he’s not a noticeable exception to a teams lack of competitiveness and clutch hitting. Anyway, thank you for a thoughtful reply – you did a lot more to influence my thinking than the standard “what are you stupid? Miles sucks” reply.
by DisCUBbobulated on May 27, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I'm generally not a big fan of saying any player "sucks."
The one positive I have read about Miles is he has a good contact rate, so he can be useful in advancing runners, scoring runs from third with less than two outs, etc. Honestly, if he were a good defender, I’d probably stick up for him – that’s really all I look for in utility guys anyway. But, as mentioned, he doesn’t appear to bring much to the table there either (and he’s really only a second baseman to begin with). I think you’re right in that his intangibles (experience, attitude) probably did play a big part in Hendry’s decision to sign him.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
So, this UZR rating expands on "errors"
To include ranginess – do I have that right? So, from a pure defensive standpoint, who would you use to form our infield – seems like this Blanco kid might have some talent there?
by DisCUBbobulated on May 27, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, from what I understand...
…UZR is a defensive rating system that takes into account a wide variety of factors including range and errors. Basically, it measures runs saved defensively relative to a league average fielder at a given position. So positive UZR numbers are good, negative ones bad.
The catch is, a player needs at least 1,000 innings at a given position to provide enough data for a fairly accurate assessment. So, for Blanco, he’s had only 286 innings at SS at the major league level (with the Royals in ‘06), so it’s hard to say definitely (according to UZR, at least) how good he is. Andres is, however, regarded as a typical no bat, all glove kinda player, so he should be good defensively – as that’s his primary value.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Gotta say it...
But what if his starting at catcher at Iowa for a few games was more than just filling in for a light roster…? What they’re concerned Geo isn’t going to start hitting, and want another option available? I hope that’s just me being paranoid…
if your paranoia is right
the ledge will need to be expanded
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Interesting
Seems Geo was starting to come around, but nothing wrong with trying Fox out at catcher for one game.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
I think there's a lot wrong with it
And I really hope it doesn’t happen… although the rest would be ok for him, Hill has proved serviceable with the bat, and Geo is still a great defensive catcher and calls a very, very good game.
It never hurts to have more options
If Geo has hurt feelings, maybe he should hit above .205.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
This could also be a showcase for a trade
If he’s really coming up, maybe the Cubs just want to prove the guys for real to move him to a club like the Mets who are in need of a first baseman and have many marketable options available for trade (Jose Reyes, please… j/k I love the riot). But the last rumor I heard was Nick Johnson for that Parnell kid they have who throws 100 mph…
While Miles, Freel or Cotts
should go before Miles, he has options and is the cost effective choice.
However, Scales will be back unless he starts hitting .200 in Iowa.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
huh?
While Miles, Freel or Cotts should go before Miles,
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I figured one of them was to be Scales
just didnt know if it was the first Miles or the second MIles
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Miles should probably go twice, just to make sure he's gone.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
LMAO
good call
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
claimed by Daytona Cubs?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Going the extra Miles?
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
Great one, Al.
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
Also interesting ...
“Other moves are possible,” according to ESPN. I assume that means “other moves” beyond clearing a spot for Jake.
Like maybe
getting rid of Cotts and replacing him with someone who isn’t Cotts?
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
works for me
I was thinking more like a trade … ?
I love "someone who isn't Cotts"'s stuff!
That guy can hurl.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Right?
I am also quite fond of:
-“someone who is less injury prone than Bradley”
-“someone who does choke up on the bat as much as aaron miles and still can’t touch an 87 mph fastball”
-“someone who wasn’t the worst option to replace an emerging Kerry Wood closer”
and of course I cannot forget…
-“someone who coaches third that actually has eyebrows”.
Sorry, I do like Quade but the eyebrow thing just plain creeps me out!
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Leave Wendall Kim out of this dammit!
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Someone ought to start a fanpost with this theme...
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on May 27, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
These kinda post....
is what makes BCB special. Nice job!!!!! rec’d
I didn't get the players I wanted in the offseason!! Hopefully I get what I want in the Regular Season---The World Series Trophy!! Go Cubbies!!
So anything else concrete on this?
Aside from the link on ESPN, which doesn’t really say much… they also said Peavy to the Sox was “for sure” so I take them w/ a grain of salt lately…
Peavy had one thing
that Fox does not, a not trade clause (It would be an odd circumstance for a player to request a “no call up clause”).
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
hehe
“Going to the Cubs would be a great opportunity,” Fox said. “But my family and I are really comfortable in Des Moines. We love it here. So this is where we’re going to stay.”
I was merely talking about how that network
tends to “jump the gun” so to say in order to drive traffic to their site… sorry for mentioning the name there.
Posted this in the other thread...
But Miles to the 15-day DL, Andres Blanco called up, Fox up, Waddell up, and Cotts and Scales down to AAA. I like these moves, let’s see what the new guys can do.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on May 27, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions
Is Miles actually hurt?
Or is the MLB DL turning into the NBA injured list?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I doubt it...
Just clearing a roster spot.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on May 27, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
his feelings might be hurt
does that count?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Wait, we have Andres Blanco?
I mean, I remember that we had the guy NOW. Was Hendry aware of this? He must have been! Andres Blanco used to be one of the Royals top “glove” prospects – he made the bigs for the first time at like age 20, and scouts thought he had upside.
Then he completely flamed out and forgot how to hit, and they gave up on him, and we got him from KC for nothing. Then he suddenly started hitting at Iowa this year (.314/.349/.451), after a 2007 where he posted a pretty empty .285 average. And he’s still only 25.
Doesn’t he do absolutely everything that Aaron Miles can do, with the added advantage of being a way better SS and (maybe) being able to field 3B in a pinch? And he’s 7 years younger, and costs $2.2M less?
I guess what I’m getting at is, if we absolutely, postiively had to trade Ronny Cedeno, (which is not a big loss in and of itself), why not replace him with Andres Blanco, another no-bat former prospect glove guy capable of playing SS and making the MLB minimum?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
This logic thing
you are trying to employ will be lost on the two headed HendryLou monster.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
The Aaron Miles deal will probably go down as one of the great mysteries in Cubs history.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions
MILES FOR MVP
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
MVP = mysteriously valued player
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Scales is sick
not going to put him on the 15 Day DL, and he has options. This keeps the bench from being short
that is just my opinion
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I'll repeat here as well
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, goodbye aaron miles, hopefully your shoulder heals sometime in November.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
670 The Score just said
what CubsBullsBears said
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Yeah, but what does this have to do with Brian Roberts?
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Naturally we are showcasing Fox and Blanco
I’m sure Adam Jones and Brian Roberts will come back in a two for two swap.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
dop we spin Peavy for DeRo?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
You really run the best blog, Al
Not to brown nose, but I’ve been hitting up some of the other SBNation blogs and BCB is far superior to everything else out there… we’re like the Rolls Royce of SBNation…
Cotts all over again?
Waddell, 27, joins the first major league roster in his nine-year professional career. He is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER/16.2 IP) in 18 relief appearances, limiting right-handed batters to a .205 average (8-for-39) while lefties have batted .346 (9-for-26) off the southpaw.
I win my bet on Bobby Scales not getting 5 more hits, thank you very much
I would have preferred Stevens to Waddell. Waddell is not going to be good.
Miles goes to the DL with phantom injury. Blanco provides depth at shortstop. Meh.
Fox up….WHERE DOES HE PLAY?!?! The guy is horrific defensively anywhere you put him. What was the quote that scout said???
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
What was the bet again?
Five more hits from when? He has nine total. In a mere 42 PAs, he put up a nice .838 OPS. Great story, decent cup o’ coffee. We’ll see what the future holds for The Substitute.
I’d agree that none of these moves particularly excite me. I’m hoping Blanco sticks as a strong defender at SS.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Bobby Scales ain't squat
I made the prediction last week in the face of the ridiculous drooling around here over a career minor leaguer. Scales has now officially had his Crash Davis major league moment and can go back to a life of obscurity in Triple A. Yeah, I get sick and tired of the fawning over aging journeyman around here.
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
Geez, I hadn't really noticed...
…but since his two-hit game on 5/14 – a game I attended! – he’s had precisely one hit. He did draw five walks in that period, though. Also, FWIW, the Cubs were 4-10 in games Scales played in.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 27, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
is there anything in life you are not negative about?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Technically, I don't think your "bet" is complete...
Scales is four hits away, and may very well be called back up. I agreed with you that Scales doesn’t have a long-term future, but I still think he’ll get four more hits as a Cub. This demotion doesn’t end the debate, as much as you’d like it to do so.
Blanco is a defensive upgrade from Miles and nothing more. It’s a slight upgrade over a useless player.
Fox will likely be the RH pinch hitter. They’ll give him a look at 3B, and they’ll likely realize it’s a bad idea. He’ll then be a pinch hitter RH backup to Lee, and maybe platoon in the DH role with Hoffpauir against AL teams.
Two hits away now...
Perhaps it’s a good thing you didn’t put money on it.
Again, I agree that Scales is probably not someone to follow long-term. But saying he wouldn’t get five more hits seemed pretty silly at the time, and it’s looking more silly now.
Degrees of Separation Small World Stuff
I just found out my wife’s secretary is Jason Waddell’s father’s stepmother. The entire family is thrilled he’s been called up. I didn’t have the heart to say they better quickly book a flight if they hope to see him pitch in a Cub uniform.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
Wow, that's about six degrees of separation in one person.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I thought this was about CHAD Fox.
Silly me.
"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott
Kindly explain to me where Jake Fox is going to play
He is 3rd on the depth chart of 1st baseman. And saying Jake Fox is a legitimate 1st baseman is a BIG stretch. Again, Jim Hendry suffers from the delusion of believing the Cubs play in the American League. So now our bench is clogged with two players in Hoffpauir and Fox who have ridiculously little versatility while Freel is a whole level of awful onto himself.
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
cubs
moves id like to see.miles trades.good luck.freel??play him or release him. and mikey fontenot please start hitting.you had a 2nd base job given to you and you lost it. a shame .
Fontenot didn't really "lose" his second base job.
Aramis got injured and Lou flipped Mikey to third. And, yeah, a Miles trade would be nice – but it’s highly unlikely given the length and amount of the contract given to this decidedly marginal player. And, as you probably know by now, Freel is injured – but Lou was playing him.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 28, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
did anyone see this on Fox?
http://insider.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=greyminorachievements090527
“And he’s done all this despite getting mixed signals from the organization. He told the Des Moines Register that when he was demoted to Double-A last June, his Triple-A manager Pat Listach told him he needed to work on being more patient, yet Cubs manager Lou Piniella told him something different this spring. “‘Son, I didn’t bring you up here to big-league camp to watch pitches,’” Fox said Piniella told him. “He said he wanted me swinging the bat.”
so we have a manager contradicting the organizational philosophy either with Listach or Pineilla…. terrific
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 28, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions
Interesting article.
And, yeah, it’s more than a little frustrating to see a team’s management contradicting itself that way. I suppose Lou might justify the statement by saying he’s looking for SLG not OBP from Fox. But I’d rather see a guy get on base if he’s not getting pitches to hit. Easier said than done, of course.
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by dat cubfan daver on May 28, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions
not saying Lou is wrong
just saying there’s clear inconsistency in the organizational approach and THAT is what has bothered me about the Cubs for years
We should have a top down philosophy that is implemented across every level with regards to hitting, pitching, defense, base-running, etc and the managers at ALL levels should be on the same page
I think this is a big reason we’ve struggled to develop players internally. They’re being taught different things at different levels. Again, Lou’s approach might be the right one and Listach is off base, but regardless of what approach is better, there needs to be consistency if this organization is ever going to be among the elite. Look at Boston, Minnesota, etc those teams preach the same things at every level and they brand themselves with their approaches.
The Cubs need to do the same thing
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 28, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
They do, but...
… when they bring in an outside veteran manager like Lou, you can imagine he has “his” way of doing things.
Not necessarily defending this, just sayin’.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
that's my issue
it makes NO SENSE to have an entire organizational body aligned one way and then a manager with a completely different style
its the head operating differently than the body
and probably one of the reasons so many of our younger players get called up and then all of the sudden things are being changed with their swing or their approach or their delivery and we have so many issues with young players performing the way they have at the minor league levels.
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 28, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
There are a lot of teams that do that, though.
The Cubs aren’t the only one.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
not many successful ones.....
the organizations that have had sustained success are ones that hire managers that FIT their organizational philosophy
Think of it from a business standpoint, would you have the person managing your best talent have a completely different methodology than the rest of your business? It wouldn’t make any sense
Its one of the things i love about Mark Cuban. In his recent podcast with Bill Simmons he talks about how everyone made fun of him for doing things differently in the NBA than had been done before when he was spending millions on developmental staff for the last few bench players, etc… and he just responded saying he was going to run the Mavericks just like he has every other business he’s had.
Just doing what everyone else is doing doesn’t make it right. Just because the Cubs have plenty of company in terms of an inept organizational hierarchy, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be critical
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 28, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Fox
has limited usefulness due to his inability to play position in the field. The best spot to put him would be LF, but that spot is spoken for. Fox is a born DH stuck on a NL team.
by lookingdeadred on May 30, 2009 10:49 AM CDT reply actions
fox
we all know who our dh will be in a couple of weeks.too bad because if this guy can really hit mlb pitching we,re really shortchanging ourselves.
Fox is shortchanging himself...
by not being able to play a position defensively.
That said, the team should have been working him at 3B in Iowa as soon as Ramirez went down and a hole arose.
by SouthernCub on May 31, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
We're shortchanging ourself...
…on the opportunity to watch opposing hitters bunt for hits at a unprecented rate.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 31, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
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