Fox at 3B is coming (maybe)...

[Clem Fandango]

At the very least, he'll probably spend a week at DH during Interleague play.

 

I have no feel for Fox's infield defense. Being a converted catcher, the throw from third shouldn't be an issue. The challenge, clearly, will be mobility and getting his body set up accordingly to make throws to 1B. Having Lee to throw to should help a lot.

 

Will Lou pull him the first time he makes an error ?

 

From what I've heard, it's not his arm that's the problem. It's his glove.

 

Apparently he can't catch the ball behind the plate or in the field.

 

That's what I don't understand, how can you be a catcher your entire high school and college career and all of a sudden not be able to catch the ball behind the plate? From what I've heard he would drop routine strikes, is that true? How do you just lose the ability to do that after being in that position for close to a decade?

[illiniguy]

At the very least, he'll probably spend a week at DH during Interleague play.

 

I have no feel for Fox's infield defense. Being a converted catcher, the throw from third shouldn't be an issue. The challenge, clearly, will be mobility and getting his body set up accordingly to make throws to 1B. Having Lee to throw to should help a lot.

 

Will Lou pull him the first time he makes an error ?

 

From what I've heard, it's not his arm that's the problem. It's his glove.

 

Apparently he can't catch the ball behind the plate or in the field.

 

That's what I don't understand, how can you be a catcher your entire high school and college career and all of a sudden not be able to catch the ball behind the plate? From what I've heard he would drop routine strikes, is that true? How do you just lose the ability to do that after being in that position for close to a decade?

Probably the same way a guy can forget how to throw strikes.

[Clem Fandango]

At the very least, he'll probably spend a week at DH during Interleague play.

 

I have no feel for Fox's infield defense. Being a converted catcher, the throw from third shouldn't be an issue. The challenge, clearly, will be mobility and getting his body set up accordingly to make throws to 1B. Having Lee to throw to should help a lot.

 

Will Lou pull him the first time he makes an error ?

 

From what I've heard, it's not his arm that's the problem. It's his glove.

 

Apparently he can't catch the ball behind the plate or in the field.

 

That's what I don't understand, how can you be a catcher your entire high school and college career and all of a sudden not be able to catch the ball behind the plate? From what I've heard he would drop routine strikes, is that true? How do you just lose the ability to do that after being in that position for close to a decade?

Probably the same way a guy can forget how to throw strikes.

 

Throwing strikes is a lot more difficult than not being able to catch a ball. That can be the result of improper arm slot, injury, overthrowing, etc. All he has to do is hold his glove up, move it a few inches to a foot at a time, sometimes not at all, and squeeze the mitt. How do you do that for so long and then just not be able to do it anymore? Throwing the ball accurately I get, but catching a ball?

[CubColtPacer]

At the very least, he'll probably spend a week at DH during Interleague play.

 

I have no feel for Fox's infield defense. Being a converted catcher, the throw from third shouldn't be an issue. The challenge, clearly, will be mobility and getting his body set up accordingly to make throws to 1B. Having Lee to throw to should help a lot.

 

Will Lou pull him the first time he makes an error ?

 

From what I've heard, it's not his arm that's the problem. It's his glove.

 

Apparently he can't catch the ball behind the plate or in the field.

 

That's what I don't understand, how can you be a catcher your entire high school and college career and all of a sudden not be able to catch the ball behind the plate? From what I've heard he would drop routine strikes, is that true? How do you just lose the ability to do that after being in that position for close to a decade?

Probably the same way a guy can forget how to throw strikes.

 

Throwing strikes is a lot more difficult than not being able to catch a ball. That can be the result of improper arm slot, injury, overthrowing, etc. All he has to do is hold his glove up, move it a few inches to a foot at a time, sometimes not at all, and squeeze the mitt. How do you do that for so long and then just not be able to do it anymore? Throwing the ball accurately I get, but catching a ball?

 

I don't think he lost anything. I just don't think it was bad enough to get him moved in college.

 

It wasn't like he was dropping every 3rd pitch. But his defense was also nowhere near major league level. And as he moved up the levels and people started to get more and more movement on their pitches, that just contributed to the problem.

[Clem Fandango]

Ahhhh, gotcha.

[rynefan]

Just out of curiosity, and because I don't know, what position did he play in high school?

 

He was a catcher in both high school and college.

 

OK, thanks. Guess that doesn't help us much. We could always use a decent pitcher! :confused:

[Vanilla Ice]

Got at least an inning at 3rd tonight (hopefully goes extras?)

[17 Seconds]

i don't care anymore. i'd rather lose a game on a fox error than watch these same hopeless trash bags go 0-4 while the cubs lose 2-0. at this point im just asking for an entertaining game. this offense is flat out unbearable.

[CyHawk_Cub]

i don't care anymore. i'd rather lose a game on a fox error than watch these same hopeless trash bags go 0-4 while the cubs lose 2-0. at this point im just asking for an entertaining game. this offense is flat out unbearable.

 

Yeah, at least Fox bungling plays in the field could be funny... not scoring is not so funny

[abuck1220]

the dodgers are probably not the team you want to begin this experiment with. pierre and furcal will have three bunt hits each with fox at 3b.

[jersey cubs fan]

the dodgers are probably not the team you want to begin this experiment with. pierre and furcal will have three bunt hits each with fox at 3b.

 

Hey, if the Cubs can hold them to one base at a time that would be nice.

[abuck1220]

well, they're both going to steal 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) each time.

[KingCubsFan]

I was at the game last night, and it's a miracle Fox was able to throw it to Scales at second after watching his warmup throws. The first one sailed over Lee's head and nearly took out someone in the first row.

[CUBZ99]

I was at the game last night, and it's a miracle Fox was able to throw it to Scales at second after watching his warmup throws. The first one sailed over Lee's head and nearly took out someone in the first row.

 

The pressure on the guy is tremendous. Not only does he have to constantly hear about how bad his defense is, he also knows that with Lou, if he makes one mistake he is probably going to sit on the bench for the rest of his call up.

[dew1679666265]

I was at the game last night, and it's a miracle Fox was able to throw it to Scales at second after watching his warmup throws. The first one sailed over Lee's head and nearly took out someone in the first row.

 

To be fair, Fox was probably quite nervous in his first ML appearance of the year. He didn't look too bad on the one play he made.

[Tracer Bullet]

I was at the game last night, and it's a miracle Fox was able to throw it to Scales at second after watching his warmup throws. The first one sailed over Lee's head and nearly took out someone in the first row.

 

The pressure on the guy is tremendous. Not only does he have to constantly hear about how bad his defense is, he also knows that with Lou, if he makes one mistake he is probably going to sit on the bench for the rest of his call up.

 

It's possible it could be jitters from getting on the ML field for the first time in a while. I'm sure everyone's sailed a warmup toss over the 1B head at some point. But this has the potential to be a disaster. Which could at least be funny.

[TruffleShuffle]

I was at the game last night, and it's a miracle Fox was able to throw it to Scales at second after watching his warmup throws. The first one sailed over Lee's head and nearly took out someone in the first row.

 

The pressure on the guy is tremendous. Not only does he have to constantly hear about how bad his defense is, he also knows that with Lou, if he makes one mistake he is probably going to sit on the bench for the rest of his call up.

 

well he pretty much made his own bed in that regard. guys who are scouted to be average or better fielders will get the benefit of the doubt. lou wouldn't stop using andres blanco if he makes an error at short (he'll stop using him because he can't hit). pretty much everyone agrees that fox is a horrendous fielder.

[badnews]

I think it is a great way to escalate the rivalry with the Brewers. Mat Gamel at 3rd vs. Jake Fox, who is the worstiest of the two defensively.