04-22-2009, 10:49 PM
From Jim Callis, the minor-league guru guy on Baseball America:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Iowa's Jake Fox is the hottest hitter in the minors. Through 11 games, Fox leads all minor leaguers in runs (14), hits (22), homers (<b>seven</b>), RBIs (22), extra-base hits (13), total bases (50) and slugging percentage (1.087), all while batting a cool .478.
Unfortunately for Fox, he's not going to get much opportunity with the Cubs, for whom he went 2-for-14 in 2007. A catcher when Chicago made him a third-round pick out of Michigan in 2003, he's defensively challenged at first base, third base and in the outfield. He'd be better off with an American League club that could DH him. He's also a righthanded hitter, which won't help him get platoon at-bats. Though some club officials believe Fox would have at least 25-homer power in the majors, the Cubs have no spot for him and haven't been able to find any takers for him.
Jack (Toronto): Jim, do you think the Cubs would miss much if they went with a Jake Fox / Micah Hoffpauir platoon at 1B instead of Derrek Lee? Also, is Fox that bad of a catcher?
Jim Callis: They'd probably get similar production, less average but more power, and it would be a lot cheaper. The chances of this happening without Lee are next to nothing, though. Fox is a pretty bad defender anywhere, and he has no chance to catch in the big leagues other than in an emergency.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Iowa's Jake Fox is the hottest hitter in the minors. Through 11 games, Fox leads all minor leaguers in runs (14), hits (22), homers (<b>seven</b>), RBIs (22), extra-base hits (13), total bases (50) and slugging percentage (1.087), all while batting a cool .478.
Unfortunately for Fox, he's not going to get much opportunity with the Cubs, for whom he went 2-for-14 in 2007. A catcher when Chicago made him a third-round pick out of Michigan in 2003, he's defensively challenged at first base, third base and in the outfield. He'd be better off with an American League club that could DH him. He's also a righthanded hitter, which won't help him get platoon at-bats. Though some club officials believe Fox would have at least 25-homer power in the majors, the Cubs have no spot for him and haven't been able to find any takers for him.
Jack (Toronto): Jim, do you think the Cubs would miss much if they went with a Jake Fox / Micah Hoffpauir platoon at 1B instead of Derrek Lee? Also, is Fox that bad of a catcher?
Jim Callis: They'd probably get similar production, less average but more power, and it would be a lot cheaper. The chances of this happening without Lee are next to nothing, though. Fox is a pretty bad defender anywhere, and he has no chance to catch in the big leagues other than in an emergency.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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