Jake Fox on Baseball Prospectus Radio

I subscribe to the Baseball Prospectus Radio podcast and, when I updated it yesterday, an interview with Jake Fox popped up as the most recent episode. I(Right now, it's the first link on the page provided.)

Of particular interest, Jake recounts that he repeatedly pleaded with Iowa Cubs manager Bobby Dickerson to play third base - especially after Aramis Ramirez's injury - but was basically stonewalled.

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That's ridiculous that the organization stonewalled him...

There’s absolutely no reason that your best hitter in AAA (who’s blocked at 1B by two guys) wasn’t allowed to try to play 3B in AAA once our best hitter in MLB got hurt for 2-3 months.

The organization clearly dropped the ball on this one. Either they failed in not demanding that Fox play some 3B, or they failed in not realizing that it was worth a look. There’s no excuse for the best available bat in the minor leagues not getting his defensive audition until warmups in the majors.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

I agree.

I mean, who knows, the organization might say that Fox is so bad defensively that it would have been a waste of time to even try him at third base. But, c’mon, is Jake not an athlete? Seems to me that they should’ve at least given it a try. Isn’t that what the minor leagues are for?

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Someone with the major league club...

… should have ORDERED Dickerson to play Fox at 3B. To me, refusing that should be a fireable offense.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 9, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Which makes me wonder...

was there no intention to try him at 3B from the top?

Either the team failed to properly communicate orders, or the team failed/refused to see the obvious need, or there was blatant insubordination.

I have to believe it’s one of the first two, but but I’m not sure which is the case. I am sort of inclined to believe it’s the second one. But ANY of the options is an unacceptable mistake by the organization at some level.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

It seems to me the 2nd one is the most obvious and probably what happened...

… but you’re right, if it’s the first or third, that’s a really bad indictment of either Dickerson, or Hendry/Piniella, or both.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 9, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

The second is also a bad indictment...

as it suggests that they either can’t or refuse to identify a problem and potential solution.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

The buck stops with Oneri Fleita and Jim Hendry

Fleita has been absolutely brutal. How he maintains employment is beyond me.

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little messed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

by BLou on Jun 9, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, which is it?

Either Fox has no position on the field, or Hendry/Fleita/etc are to blame for not trying him at 3B.

You’re sort of having your cake and eating it too. If it’s so obvious that he can’t play 3B, then it’s not Hendry/Fleita/etc’s fault for not trying him there. If it’s their fault for trying him there, then you can’t be certain that Fox can’t play 3B.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Well...

The Iowa Cubs is a roster chock full of relic journeymen. Therefore I hardly see how 3rd base could have been blocked for Jake Fox to try his hand in. If Fleita and company really think Fox has a projectable bat, then they needed to find a way to get him a position to play. But they didn’t do that. I sure the heck hope Bobby Friggin Scales wasn’t the reason why Jake Fox couldn’t grab everyday playing time at 3rd base. Can Fox even play 3rd base? Odds are no. But at least you are putting a legitimate interesting player at the position instead of wasting time on a 31 year old journeyman in Scales.

Fleita is a joke. Can somebody name any prospect who he has had a direct positive impact on.

by BLou on Jun 9, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

So you choose option A...

that it’s the organization’s fault, and that maybe Fox can play 3B (and he may be terrible at it). I agree with that viewpoint.

Just wanted to clarify, as you have conflicting statements in this fanpost.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Right.

It’s not Oneri Fleita’s place to decide whether Jake Fox should play 3B at Iowa. That’s the decision of the major and minor league managers, and maybe Jim Hendry.

I don’t see how Fleita can be blamed for that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 9, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm not sure how Fleita got tossed in there...

I think this is a mistake by one (or more) of three people: Hendry, Piniella, and the AAA manager. And quite possibly it suggests a lack of communication between two (or more) of those people listed above.

by SouthernCub on Jun 9, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions

How does Lou Piniella get roped into this?

His exposure to Fox was via spring training. He also doesn’t run the Cub minor league system or manage the Iowa ballclub.

by BLou on Jun 9, 2009 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

But, he needed a major league 3B.

And there was a guy hitting great at Iowa, who wanted a shot at playing 3B there. The Iowa Cubs are there to develop players for the major leagues. If major league management tells them to do something, Iowa does it or their management could be fired for insubordination.

Lou dropped the ball here.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 10, 2009 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions

He talks with Hendry...

Hendry basically does what Piniella wants him to do. He’s a manager’s GM – he goes out of his way to get exactly what the manager asks for.

Piniella is not insulated from the day-to-day operation of the organization. He’s involved. I’d venture to guess that he speaks with Hendry on the “state of the union” at least a few times a week.

by SouthernCub on Jun 10, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions

But what a great attitude this guy has

In spite of airing some dirty laundry, he sounds committed and excited to contribute.

Another bad mark for the organization though.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jun 9, 2009 10:53 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, he talks a good game.

And this raises another interesting aspect to the interview: Jake does make it clear that he won’t be particularly surprised if he’s traded.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Some motivation the Cubs gave him, huh?

But Fox can and should be successful in the AL. I’m a big advocate of shipping him to Minnesota for some of their juicy, young talent. (That sounded really durrty…)

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jun 9, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe Hendry will showcase Fox in the upcoming series.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe Hendry will showcase Fox in the upcoming series.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe if I keep saying it, it will really happen.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

You think Fox might be showcased...

In the upcoming series? : )

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jun 9, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

HAHAHAHA

So that’s why you have 30,000+ posts… Sneaky…

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jun 9, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

Funny!

by MattHaggard on Jun 9, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Cinci Fielding Practice

I didn’t see Fox take fielding practice at 3B at all over the past weekend. He was only in the outfield (granted he started Saturday’s game in the OF).

However, Trammel was working with Blanco some at third.

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Jun 9, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions

I swear, it's like Fox is superman and third base is kryptonite.

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 daver on Jun 9, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

He may have been working at third base

before batting practice, earlier in the day.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jun 9, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I saw

Jake Fox taking grounders at third base before the game that rained out in Atlanta. I’m hoping they have him do it every day…

by srwilly on Jun 9, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions

What a further condemnation of the orginaztion as a whole.

As stated above, as soon as ARam went down, we should’ve looked inward (and other places) to see what replacements we could find. And for Fox to get one start at third before getting called up and then have to learn before the games with Trammel is another indictment of the horrible approach this organization has.

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Jun 9, 2009 2:00 PM CDT reply actions

sentiment

echoed

far and away my biggest frustration with this organization is that each level seems to operate independently of the others. There is no fundamental philosophy with which the entire organization follows

this is obviously the case if Pineilla was willing to give Jake ground balls at 3B and let him work with Trammel while the AAA manager won’t…. just like Fox’s approach where at AAA he was apparently told to work on taking more walks and plate patience and upon being called up to the bigs was told “we brought you up here to swing the bat”

if it weren’t for the familial tie i have to this organization i think i would’ve abandoned it by now. Nearly every move they make and every way they handle situations I believe they should have done the opposite

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 9, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Jake Fox has no role to fill on the Cubs

I’m sorry, but I can’t get excited on any level for a guy who has zero position on the field. There is no place to play and/or hide Fox on the field.

by BLou on Jun 9, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions

Jakes back to Iowa

Thank God he’s gone. It’s funny when the guys on WGN announce the lineups that Jake Fox is in right field, and they hope no one hits it to him. How can a guy go through the minor leagues and be such a liability defensively? Enough of the experiments. Obviously, if he ain’t got all the tools, then we’re all fools for believing his agent or some “Scout”. HIT, THROW, FIELD , smile at the camera, don’t do drugs. It’s that easy.

"It was a wise Man that invented Beer" (Plato)

by LarryCubFan on Jun 10, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions