So how good can Mike Fontenot be?

[RammyFanny]

I checked out his line from last year, and it was psurprisingly good(somewhere around .300 with a .370ish OBP). This year he is absolutely raking with 6 HR's already and an OBP over .400. After seeing what an older guy (for a minor leaguer) like the Riot can do (27), i'm definately not counting out a guy like Fontenot (26). I know he plays positions that we have, but can he project to be a valuable MLB'er like Theriot has proven to be? And if anyone has a little extra information on his hitting approach, it would be welcomed. I see for being only 5'8 he's got some pop.

[Flames24Rulz]

The major criticism has been his defense.

 

I believe he can be a solid utility player off the bench. That would be the perfect role for him IMO.

[CubColtPacer]

From all I've heard and read, Fontenot would be a good backup option at 2B for a team with 2 backup infielders where the other backup can play SS. That's his biggest problem-he can't even be considered for a starting job in the major leagues at his age unless he gets a random chance to play regularly (an injury or a Theriot like situation last year). It's a little trouble to put him on the bench, because he really can't play SS on a major league level, and so is really confined to 1 position-which for a backup, you better hit really well if you can only play a position not named C, SS, or CF.

 

If the Cubs were ever to figure out their OF situation and drop an OF and pick up a 2nd backup IF, Fontenot might be a good option to come up and be a pinch hitter/backup 2B to pair with Izturis or Theriot as a backup, but 2 of the 3 of Theriot/Izturis/Cedeno will have to be with the big league club as they are the only SS's.

[mhuber92211]

didn't he play a lot of 3B last year?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Unfortunately, with Theriot already on the roster, Fontenot is probably redundant(he's a worse defender and hits for more power). Maybe if we had somebody like Tejada(great player, great durability) at SS we could use both of them on the same bench.

[Iceblink]

More LSU players = good.

 

I hope Fontenot gets his shot. He was more highly thought of than Theriot coming out of college because he had more of a live bat. He won't have as many chances to get on the field due to the glove being a little rougher. However, if he gets a shot and the bat comes through, he can do enough to stick on a club as a role player.

[davearm]

The major criticism has been his defense.

 

I believe he can be a solid utility player off the bench. That would be the perfect role for him IMO.

Actually from what I've read, what's kept Fontenot out of the bigleauges is his inability to be a viable utility player -- not enough defensive flexibility (or plain old defensive ability either).

 

For a long time the conventional wisdom was that he'll either make it as an everyday player because he hits enough to put up with a subpar glove, or not make it at all.

 

Now FWIW, he's getting the chance to dispel that notion by playing a bunch at 3B. Not sure how well that's going though.

[mg420]

The major criticism has been his defense.

 

I believe he can be a solid utility player off the bench. That would be the perfect role for him IMO.

Actually from what I've read, what's kept Fontenot out of the bigleauges is his inability to be a viable utility player -- not enough defensive flexibility (or plain old defensive ability either).

 

For a long time the conventional wisdom was that he'll either make it as an everyday player because he hits enough to put up with a subpar glove, or not make it at all.

 

Now FWIW, he's getting the chance to dispel that notion by playing a bunch at 3B. Not sure how well that's going though.

 

actually he's been playing at ss several games too.

[wekse]

he played at SS while the Cubs were here in Nashville...didn't look too bad out there....his arm is a lot stronger than i once thought.

[Guest]

he played at SS while the Cubs were here in Nashville...didn't look too bad out there....his arm is a lot stronger than i once thought.

 

Really? That's interesting - he had started playing 2B more in previous seasons because his arm wasn't strong enough, supposedly. That's good to hear.

[wekse]

he played at SS while the Cubs were here in Nashville...didn't look too bad out there....his arm is a lot stronger than i once thought.

 

Really? That's interesting - he had started playing 2B more in previous seasons because his arm wasn't strong enough, supposedly. That's good to hear.

 

yea, he made a couple of nice plays...one where he ranged into the hole to get the runner at first.

[mg420]

so who's going to stick at ss & 2b? if cedeno gets back on track in iowa, they have theriot, cedeno, fontenot & epat. time to trade derosa imo.

[jersey cubs fan]

so who's going to stick at ss & 2b? if cedeno gets back on track in iowa, they have theriot, cedeno, fontenot & epat. time to trade derosa imo.

 

If Cedeno gets back on track and if Patterson continues to develop and if Theriot shows he can handle regular duty all year then I think you can discuss trading DeRosa. But that's not happening right now.

[mg420]

so who's going to stick at ss & 2b? if cedeno gets back on track in iowa, they have theriot, cedeno, fontenot & epat. time to trade derosa imo.

 

If Cedeno gets back on track and if Patterson continues to develop and if Theriot shows he can handle regular duty all year then I think you can discuss trading DeRosa. But that's not happening right now.

 

perhaps it's not happening right now but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be. i think that jones, blanco, izturis, derosa, miller and eyre should all be gone by the all star break.

[TruffleShuffle]

so who's going to stick at ss & 2b? if cedeno gets back on track in iowa, they have theriot, cedeno, fontenot & epat. time to trade derosa imo.

 

If Cedeno gets back on track and if Patterson continues to develop and if Theriot shows he can handle regular duty all year then I think you can discuss trading DeRosa. But that's not happening right now.

 

perhaps it's not happening right now but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be. i think that jones, blanco, izturis, derosa, miller and eyre should all be gone by the all star break.

 

So the Cubs are just going to eat at least $10M in salary? Because aside from Jones and DeRosa, nobody wants those guys.

[Guest]

By the way, Fontenot was named the PCL player of the week for last week:

 

Pacific Coast League

Mike Fontenot, Iowa

.581 (18-31), 12 R, 5 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0 SB, 1.129 SLG

It's hard to get much hotter than Fontenot has been lately, as the 5-foot-8 infielder has hit safely and scored in each of his past nine games, and driven in a run in his past seven. The 26-year-old collected four hits on both Tuesday and Sunday, and went 3-for-4 with a home run, two triples and five RBIs against Fresno on Wednesday. Fontenot is hitting .368 on the season, good for third in the PCL.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

2 things that are really getting old:

 

1. Mention of the $300M offseason spending

2. Fontenot's height

[the splendid splinter]

I was reading thee Internet before last yrs rule 5 draft " INSIDE THE IVY" where Wilken said that Fontenot was his top underdog and thought that the Cubs might lose him last yr in thee Rule 5 draft. Glad we didnt

[Abe Frohman]

And if anyone has a little extra information on his hitting approach, it would be welcomed. I see for being only 5'8 he's got some pop.

 

I can tell you this about Theriot/Fontenot as far as hitting approach. Hate to be a "name-dropper," but one of my best friends played at LSU with these guys, and we did some going out back in the day.

 

Spent a good 20 minutes or so talking with Theriot about hitting, and he and I both were talking a lot about the Ted Williams book "The Science of Hitting." He mentioned that Fontenot was also a fan.

 

Both guys have been, IMO, tough outs in college and in their professional careers. Theriot mentioned the importance of getting on base because it translates into scoring runs. It was a good talk.

 

So, I think both guys are looking for ways to work the pitcher into giving them a pitch to hit. Theriot has always relied on speed and OB% to cause his damage, as Fontenot had a more pop and would sometimes jump on the first pitch. Mike hit 17 HR as a freshman at LSU, which I think was a school record. He has good power for a little guy, and that guy ain't tall.

 

That's my two cents.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

his OPS is 3000

[rabidawg900]

I think that we should mold Theriot and Fontenot in to one.

 

Call him whatever you want just make sure his last name ends with ...ot and the t is silent.

[NCCubFan]

Call him whatever you want just make sure his last name ends with ...ot and the t is silent.

Fonriot. :D

[mul21]

I think that we should mold Theriot and Fontenot in to one.

 

Call him whatever you want just make sure his last name ends with ...ot and the t is silent.

 

I really don't think you can mess with THE RIOT, though. It's just too good of a nicname.