Hello again everybody. Can Jake Fox (Johnny Bench) please get a start behind the plate? All the guy does is hit, and for as bad as everyone says he is defensively he does an adequate job anywhere the Cubs seem to put him. Give him a start behind the dish so we can have that bat in the lineup. Thank you. If they would have put him at 3B as soon as Aramis Ramirez went down instead of going with Fontenot/Miles/Freel, I guarantee that their record wouldn't have been as bad as it was during that stretch. More of this discussion in a bit...
Another quality win last night for the Northsiders as Zambrano pitched 7 innings of 1 run, 3 hit baseball, and the bullpen gave the Cubs six scoreless innings. For as bad as that bullpen was in April, they have become one of the main STRENGTHS of this ball club. Even with Guzman and Gregg not available last night, they didn't miss a beat throwing Aaron Heilman, Jeff Stevens and Jeff Samardjiza out there after Carlos Marmol shut down the Astros. Now we get Ryan Dempster back starting tonight after his broken toe had him on the DL...I predicted in yesterday's entry: "There's No Crying in Baseball!" that the Cubs will take three out of four in this series. Well that obviously means that you're going to lose one. I think that tonight is the night that the Cubs' winning streak comes to an end with Roy Oswalt on the bump for the 'Stros. Prove me wrong Demp.
Whenever anyone lobbies for a guy like Jake Fox (a "late bloomer" out of the minor leagues) to get more playing time or to be included in a trade for some kind of need on your particular baseball team, all of the so-called "experts" on sports radio/newspapers immediately call the guy a "meatball" and dismiss his ideas because NO ONE that's any good spends that much time in the minor leagues. Well, that's simply not true. Try WATCHING a baseball game or two instead of burying your head in all of the saber metrics and you'll SEE that there are guys all around baseball that just took a little bit longer to develop than others. Of course, there are many examples of guys who get called up to the big leagues after a long tenure in the minors, enjoy a good three weeks and then are never heard from again (Bobby Scales). No question about it, but a lot of times you can SEE the difference with the old fashioned "eye test" between the "cup of coffee" guy, and the potential "everyday player."
Fox turned 27 years of age last week. He had a stint with the Cubs back in 2007 (2 for 14, 1 RBI) but wasn't heard from again until this season. At AAA Iowa this year, Jake Fox played in 46 games (roughly 1/4 of the season). In that amount of time he hit .409 with 17 HR and 53 RBI! I'm not the greatest at math, but multiply those numbers by four (not quite, I know...just relax) and that's an unheard of type of season. Since being called up, and given very sporadic amounts of playing time (92 AB's in 36 games), Fox is hitting .315 with 5 HR and 21 RBI. Not only has is playing time been inconsistent, he hasn't been able to get comfortable at a position either. He's played 15 games at 3B, 5 in LF, 5 in RF, 3 at 1B and 2 games behind the plate. You expect a guy to perform at a high level, yet you play him twice a week and when you do put him in the lineup, it's at a different position every time. Not easy, me thinks.
Now I'm not saying that Jake Fox is a future Hall of Famer. All I know is that the Cubs weren't getting any production out of third base. Then finally, Piniella said "screw it," put Fox at third, he hit, and the team started winning. Right now the Cubs are getting ZERO production from Koyie Hill behind the plate (offensively), and very little production from Fontenot/Baker at second base. How long will it take Piniella to realize that today's game is about hitting? Look at Boston/Philadelphia/LA Dodgers...yes, they do have solid pitching, but it's those OFFENSES that carry those teams to pennants, not wasting all of your time worrying about who plays a better defensive second base. You deal with the defensive shortcomings of Manny/Soriano/Pierzynski/the entire St. Louis Cardinals defense minus Molina, because you want their BATS in the lineup.
Play Jake Fox somewhere everyday, or trade the man while you can still get something for him. Yes, sports radio/newspaper "experts," he DOES have value. There are several guys who were older than Jake Fox before they started playing everyday. Some of them are pretty damn good players. You still don't believe me? Here are just a few:
Raul Ibanez, Phi - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 29 back in 2001. At 37, he's batting .308 with 26 HR and 74 RBI. (1 time All-Star).
Nelson Cruz, Tex - Still hasn't played 100 games in a season (he will this year) at the age of 29. He's batting .269 with 24 HR and 56 RBI. (1 time All-Star).
Ben Zobrist, T.B. - Still hasn't played 100 games in a season (he will this year) at the age of 28. He's batting .301 with 18 HR and 54 RBI. (1 time All-Star).
Ryan Ludwick, STL - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 29 back in 2007. At 31, he's batting .271 with 17 HR and 63 RBI. (1 time All-Star, 1 time Silver Slugger).
Luke Scott, Bal - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 29 back in 2007. At 31, he's batting .281 with 18 HR and 53 RBI.
Mark DeRosa, STL - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 28 back in 2003. At 34, he's batting .266 with 18 HR and 57 RBI.
Jack Cust, Oak - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 28 back in 2007. At 30, he's batting .232 with 16 HR and 50 RBI.
Casey Blake, LAD - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 29 back in 2003. At 35, he's batting .274 with 12 HR and 58 RBI.
Nyjer Morgan, Was - Still hasn't played 100 games in a season (he will this year) at the age of 29. He's batting .303 (stealing 1st) with 2 HR and 31 RBI to go along with 30 SB's.
Skip Schumacker, STL - Played 100 games in a season for the first time in his career at the age of 28 back in 2008. At 29, he's batting .304 with 3 HR and 24 RBI.
There are countless other good Major League players who were older than Jake Fox before they finally got their shot to play everyday. Don't buy into the "sports radio cliches" of "there's a reason why he's just starting to play at the age of 26/27, he's not that good." I agree with you. There is a reason. He wasn't good enough back when he was 21...but he is now. Watch a game.
Thanks for checking out my blog, I don't like to talk strictly sports like I've done the past two entries, but it's hard for me to get past how the Cubs are finally playing like they were expected to play. We'll get back to drama/advice/farts, etc. tomorrow (unless they win again :) Hit me up on facebook or in the comments section of this blog. Right now I'm listening to "You're Wrong" by NOFX. I agree with 99% of this song, but I just can't get away from meat...it's so delicious. Drinks of Choice: beef broth :) Big softball game today, highlights tomorrow.
I'm out.
Webby
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