What do we do? C - Jake Fox?

by EJThunder on Jul 12, 2009 11:03 PM CDT

Hey all,

TheRiot4Life's fanshot the other day on Jake Fox at new positions got me thinking....

I don't know about anyone else but I feel like after watching tonights game, maybe we need to think about starting Jake Fox at catcher in the Washington series after the break.

Yeah, he's had limited experience at the plate, but I don't know if this team should start out the 2nd half of the season with good ol' Koyie Hill. Sure, the guy's a great story but he's a below average offensive guy at-best, with above average defense--one of the main reasons he is on this roster.

There will be the argument "whatever we get from out catcher, especially Koyie, is an added bonus". Well the way this team has played offensively, we need all the help we can get. Geovany's injury hurts that much more because of the way his bat was starting to come around--driving the ball with authority, plus, his defense was improving also.

So the question is: Is it worth risking a little defensive prowess (Will there be THAT much of a noticeable difference?) at the catcher's position to get Jake's bat in the lineup? There doesn't seem to be any FA catcher available that would be of better help than what we have in Koyie or any minor leaguer we bring up. Plus, we sure as hell shouldn't be trading for one at this juncture. Another thing that might need to be taken in to consideration is that if Jake DOES begin to catch on a regular basis, would his offense begin to suffer?

What's your take? Eh?

Poll

Jake Fox starting at catcher for at least 2 games in the Washington Nationals series after the break.... So?

Yes. I'd rather have Jake out there instead of Koyie or a minor-leaguer.

17 votes

Yes. Jake's bat needs to be in the lineup--period.

53 votes

No. Let's bring up a minor leaguer to platoon with Koyie.

0 votes

No. Jake's defense (or potential lacktherof) will hurt the Cubs more than his bat will help.

23 votes

93 votes | Poll has closed

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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Comments

If we can put Sean Marshall in LF

Fox can catch a game.

And it goes to show Lou might consider doing what it takes second half to win a game.

by ak123 on Jul 12, 2009 11:06 PM CDT reply actions

I couldn't believe it.....

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jul 12, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I had to run an errand and DVR the game

Whenever I DVR a game I always FF through the Cubs pitching and watch them at-bat. When I saw Lou walk out there and pull this I Rewound it three times. I didn’t know to be in shock or laugh. But hey, this is the sort of thing I want to see Lou doing. It might have been strange, very unconventional but it worked.

by ak123 on Jul 12, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions

If the bases weren't loaded....

I would like to have seen what would happen if Ryan (was it??) hit it toward him.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jul 12, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Just as much of a chance

of him catching as Milton Bradley does every time in RF :)

by ak123 on Jul 12, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh and you know

That 1/3 inning switch is going to prompt at least 2 posts on here asking why Fox can’t be moved to 2B. And you know what? They’re right. If Lou is willing to try that in a must win situation, there isn’t harm is putting Fox at 2B for atleast an inning. What’s the worse that can happen? We lose another game?

by ak123 on Jul 12, 2009 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions

or why not pitch Fox for an inning

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

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 13, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

He looked remarkable comfortable at catcher

i was impressed.

as lou might say, he looked really “catcherish”.

I don’t have any problems spotting Koyie with Jake while Soto heals. He struggles… just put Koyie back in.

Anything that keeps Bam-Bam’s bat in the line up is golden with me.

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas

by Allie on Jul 12, 2009 11:47 PM CDT reply actions

I was happy to see him look so comfortable.

But I was also happy to see Hill do pretty good in game 2 after that many innings over the last few days

by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 12, 2009 11:56 PM CDT reply actions

If Jake Fox could catch

they never would have moved him off of catcher in the minors.

Fox is an emergency catcher only. I’d expect to see Chris Robinson promoted from Iowa after the All-Star break. Or maybe they promote Clevenger, but I think Robinson is more likely.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 13, 2009 2:46 AM CDT reply actions

of course

“they” said the same thing about his 3b abilities.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

and corner OF ability

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

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 13, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

also

his ability to do heart surgery. He’s not Jake Fox, he’s Buckaroo Banzai, and he stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Or maybe he's MacGyver.

“Gimme a safety pin, some duct tape and a wad of used chewing gum!”

Works feverishly.

“I am now a major league catcher!”

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 Jul 13, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Fox catching

Fox had to catch a couple of games in the minors this season. On May 18, he caught against Salt Lake and had two passed ball and two stolen bases off of him. He did throw out one runner trying to steal third, but that was a slow first baseman going on a busted hit-and-run play.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 13, 2009 2:52 AM CDT reply actions

If you are talking Jake spotting Koyie

by maybe starting a game and being a late inning switch guy, I could see the Cubs ponder that. They can live with Jake for part of a game. I don’t see them ever giving him 2 starts in a series, though. He never showed the instincts as a receiver, despite decent athleticism. Furthermore, his bat was inconsistent when he was a receiver.

AzPhil over at TCR has suggested that Chris Robinson will get called up. I could see that, but I could also see Clevenger and maybe a darkhorse of Welington Castillo. Castillo’s had some ridiculously poor luck offensively this year, and at the end of the day, you gotta improve. But most reports suggest his defensive consistency has improved. I know Jake fancies himself a catcher, but as anything regular (which 2 games in a series would be), don’t see it.

My honest guess? They’ll tell Robinson to fly up, but they won’t actually call him up. They’ll give Koyie a twirl with Jake as the emergency catcher. If something happens, they’d activate Robinson the next day.

by toonsterwu on Jul 13, 2009 3:13 AM CDT reply actions

Robinson won't be called up.

The Cubs are working on a deal to acquire a major league catcher. I hope that happens.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 13, 2009 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Do you know who it 'might' be Al?

by cubsnlinux on Jul 13, 2009 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes.

But I cannot say.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 13, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions

i bet its miguel loivo

or yorvit torrealba.. the atter would drive santo nuts

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42

by fischisgod on Jul 13, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

deep goat strikes again?

by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 13, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

and update on it

even without a name, is it in the works, has it fallen off, come on Al, Enquiring Minds Want to Know

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

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 13, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't have any info other than...

… I heard this rumor yesterday, it was being discussed and worked on. I have no new info today.

I cannot reveal names. I do think if it happens we’ll all be happy.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 13, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Let's just hope...

…it’s not Michael Barrett!!!

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 13, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

two words

nyjer morgan. he’s not that good, but he’s fast. just what the cubs need is a bloop hit leading to a runner on third and none out in the first inning.

i wish jake the best at the plate or in the field. i wish our second basemen/shortstops/catchers were two years more developed in the minors.

by tim815 on Jul 13, 2009 7:44 AM CDT reply actions

Fox should be showcased as much as possible

So we can get as many AL prospects as possible.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 13, 2009 8:29 AM CDT reply actions

Fox did pretty well

last night catching. I think he can do it.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

What are your thoughts on VMart?

Sounds like Indians are having internal discussions about possibly trading him.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jul 13, 2009 11:38 AM CDT reply actions

Jake Fox vs. Lloyd McClendon

Fox is a solid #3 catcher, whom you wouldn’t mind putting into a game for an inning when the other team has 6-7-8-9 coming up. Those of us who remember 1989 remember lumbering Lloyd, who was the same kind of catcher.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 13, 2009 6:42 PM CDT reply actions