What's the point, Lou?

[Sammy Sofa]

Jake Fox can't hit like 2007 Ryan Braun. He probably plays worse defense than 2007 Ryan Braun, too.

 

We cant possibly know that unless Fox get the same kind of playing time as Braun did in 2007, and its pretty clear at this point that thats not going to happen, so we'll never really know.

 

The Cubs aren't going into this Fox thing cold. He's been in the organization trying to play third base (among other positions) for 6 years. They should know at this point whether or not he can play the position.

 

I was refering more to the hitting part.

 

You honestly think there's a good chance that Fox is as good a hitter as Ryan Braun?

[dew1679666265]

Jake Fox can't hit like 2007 Ryan Braun. He probably plays worse defense than 2007 Ryan Braun, too.

 

We cant possibly know that unless Fox get the same kind of playing time as Braun did in 2007, and its pretty clear at this point that thats not going to happen, so we'll never really know.

 

The Cubs aren't going into this Fox thing cold. He's been in the organization trying to play third base (among other positions) for 6 years. They should know at this point whether or not he can play the position.

 

I was refering more to the hitting part.

 

I'm not sure exactly how well Fox will hit, but the chances are incredibly slim that he'll hit anywhere near what Ryan Braun - one of the best young hitters in the game - is capable of.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Jake Fox can't hit like 2007 Ryan Braun. He probably plays worse defense than 2007 Ryan Braun, too.

 

We cant possibly know that unless Fox get the same kind of playing time as Braun did in 2007, and its pretty clear at this point that thats not going to happen, so we'll never really know.

 

The Cubs aren't going into this Fox thing cold. He's been in the organization trying to play third base (among other positions) for 6 years. They should know at this point whether or not he can play the position.

 

I was refering more to the hitting part.

 

I'm not sure exactly how well Fox will hit, but the chances are incredibly slim that he'll hit anywhere near what Ryan Braun - one of the best young hitters in the game - is capable of.

 

Maybe, maybe not. We'll never know, at least as long as hes in the NL because he'll never be an everyday player. He clearly figured something out in the offseason during winter ball.

[Tracer Bullet]

Maybe, maybe not? Come on.

 

How are you so sure that he "clearly figured something out" - based on 40 games in AAA? I'll grant you that he's not striking out in 25% of his PAs, and his K/BB ratio isn't 15/1, which is a start.

 

He's mashing the ball in 40 games. But it's 40 games in AAA at 26. Maybe he figured something out and he's improved. But Ryan Braun level?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Maybe, maybe not? Come on.

 

How are you so sure that he "clearly figured something out" - based on 40 games in AAA? I'll grant you that he's not striking out in 25% of his PAs, and his K/BB ratio isn't 15/1, which is a start.

 

He's mashing the ball in 40 games. But it's 40 games in AAA at 26. Maybe he figured something out and he's improved. But Ryan Braun level?

 

He also mashed it at winter ball and spring training. Hes probably not a Ryan Braun. More likely, hes a Greg Vaughn at best for an AL team, but you never know. If we can give him some DH spots during interleague, and he performs, hopefully we can get something for him.

[dew1679666265]

Maybe, maybe not? Come on.

 

How are you so sure that he "clearly figured something out" - based on 40 games in AAA? I'll grant you that he's not striking out in 25% of his PAs, and his K/BB ratio isn't 15/1, which is a start.

 

He's mashing the ball in 40 games. But it's 40 games in AAA at 26. Maybe he figured something out and he's improved. But Ryan Braun level?

 

He also mashed it at winter ball and spring training. Hes probably not a Ryan Braun. More likely, hes a Greg Vaughn at best for an AL team, but you never know. If we can give him some DH spots during interleague, and he performs, hopefully we can get something for him.

 

I'd put his upside somewhere around a Russell Branyan type player. He's always been a good hitter, but he's never shown anywhere near the ability to be an offensive force.

 

I think he'll be a nice player for an AL team, but barring a spectacular improvement I don't see Ryan Braun numbers.

[Sammy Sofa]

The closest Fox will ever be to being Braun is when he misses an easy grounder at 3rd and the shot to his nads makes his eyes bug out.

[Vanilla Ice]

Maybe, maybe not? Come on.

 

How are you so sure that he "clearly figured something out" - based on 40 games in AAA? I'll grant you that he's not striking out in 25% of his PAs, and his K/BB ratio isn't 15/1, which is a start.

 

He's mashing the ball in 40 games. But it's 40 games in AAA at 26. Maybe he figured something out and he's improved. But Ryan Braun level?

 

He also mashed it at winter ball and spring training. Hes probably not a Ryan Braun. More likely, hes a Greg Vaughn at best for an AL team, but you never know. If we can give him some DH spots during interleague, and he performs, hopefully we can get something for him.

 

I'd put his upside somewhere around a Russell Branyan type player. He's always been a good hitter, but he's never shown anywhere near the ability to be an offensive force.

 

I think he'll be a nice player for an AL team, but barring a spectacular improvement I don't see Ryan Braun numbers.

Russell Branyan minus a whole lot of defense, maybe

[dew1679666265]

Russell Branyan minus a whole lot of defense, maybe

 

I was referring mainly to offense with that comparison.

 

Outside of the defensive difference, I don't think the Branyan upside is too far-fetched. Obviously, the question still remains whether or not he'll reach that upside.

[Three Finger]

It seems plainly counter-productive to a young player's development to have him warming the bench at all, but especially when he is playing well. He would be better served remaining in AAA where he can get at-bats than watching from the bench. Might as well just buy him season tickets and leave him off the roster if they're not going to play him.

[CubColtPacer]

It seems plainly counter-productive to a young player's development to have him warming the bench at all, but especially when he is playing well. He would be better served remaining in AAA where he can get at-bats than watching from the bench. Might as well just buy him season tickets and leave him off the roster if they're not going to play him.

 

Jake Fox has no development left in him. His future is as a bench player, so how does it hurt to have him as a bench player right now? It's not like they aren't trusting him in pinch-hitting situations. He's getting his at-bats, but he's getting them the way he likely will get them for most of his career..1 a day.

[Three Finger]

It seems plainly counter-productive to a young player's development to have him warming the bench at all, but especially when he is playing well. He would be better served remaining in AAA where he can get at-bats than watching from the bench. Might as well just buy him season tickets and leave him off the roster if they're not going to play him.

 

Jake Fox has no development left in him. His future is as a bench player, so how does it hurt to have him as a bench player right now? It's not like they aren't trusting him in pinch-hitting situations. He's getting his at-bats, but he's getting them the way he likely will get them for most of his career..1 a day.

 

You really think the occasional pinch hitting in a high pressure situation or a throwaway at bat late in a dugout is the way to use a 26 year old? There is always time for more development, and he gets little out of it. He needs to go through the motions of being a starter. If he's not starting two or three times a week he ought to be elsewhere. Or, if the Cubs don't think he's good enough to start, find a team that does.

[CubColtPacer]

It seems plainly counter-productive to a young player's development to have him warming the bench at all, but especially when he is playing well. He would be better served remaining in AAA where he can get at-bats than watching from the bench. Might as well just buy him season tickets and leave him off the roster if they're not going to play him.

 

Jake Fox has no development left in him. His future is as a bench player, so how does it hurt to have him as a bench player right now? It's not like they aren't trusting him in pinch-hitting situations. He's getting his at-bats, but he's getting them the way he likely will get them for most of his career..1 a day.

 

You really think the occasional pinch hitting in a high pressure situation or a throwaway at bat late in a dugout is the way to use a 26 year old? There is always time for more development, and he gets little out of it. He needs to go through the motions of being a starter. If he's not starting two or three times a week he ought to be elsewhere. Or, if the Cubs don't think he's good enough to start, find a team that does.

 

The Cubs have been trying to find a team who thought he was good enough to even be a consistent bench player since this past winter. There has been very little interest from any other club. Jake also still carries the label as being uncoachable from his history in the minors. That combined with his terrible defense makes him a poor fit for pretty much every team.

 

I really don't see how his defense is going to develop. It hasn't developed in a variety of positions over the last 4 years..another couple months isn't going to make much of a difference. If he's going to stick in the major leagues, it's either going to be as a pinch-hitter, a DH, or possibly a 1st baseman for a team who is desperate.

 

Let's put this another way. This should be Jake Fox's last option year. If he stays in the minors all season, he has to either be traded (without options, you wouldn't get anything for him) or he'd have to make the major league team next year out of spring training. If he's going to have to make the major league team as a pinch-hitter next year, what's the problem with bringing him up as a pinch-hitter this year?

[Three Finger]

It seems plainly counter-productive to a young player's development to have him warming the bench at all, but especially when he is playing well. He would be better served remaining in AAA where he can get at-bats than watching from the bench. Might as well just buy him season tickets and leave him off the roster if they're not going to play him.

 

Jake Fox has no development left in him. His future is as a bench player, so how does it hurt to have him as a bench player right now? It's not like they aren't trusting him in pinch-hitting situations. He's getting his at-bats, but he's getting them the way he likely will get them for most of his career..1 a day.

 

You really think the occasional pinch hitting in a high pressure situation or a throwaway at bat late in a dugout is the way to use a 26 year old? There is always time for more development, and he gets little out of it. He needs to go through the motions of being a starter. If he's not starting two or three times a week he ought to be elsewhere. Or, if the Cubs don't think he's good enough to start, find a team that does.

 

The Cubs have been trying to find a team who thought he was good enough to even be a consistent bench player since this past winter. There has been very little interest from any other club. Jake also still carries the label as being uncoachable from his history in the minors. That combined with his terrible defense makes him a poor fit for pretty much every team.

 

I really don't see how his defense is going to develop. It hasn't developed in a variety of positions over the last 4 years..another couple months isn't going to make much of a difference. If he's going to stick in the major leagues, it's either going to be as a pinch-hitter, a DH, or possibly a 1st baseman for a team who is desperate.

 

Let's put this another way. This should be Jake Fox's last option year. If he stays in the minors all season, he has to either be traded (without options, you wouldn't get anything for him) or he'd have to make the major league team next year out of spring training. If he's going to have to make the major league team as a pinch-hitter next year, what's the problem with bringing him up as a pinch-hitter this year?

 

I have no problem with that assessment if that is actually what the plan is for him. If its his destiny to make the roster as a pinch hitter, then let him pinch hit, but if your intention is to use him as a full time player in the future it seems counter-productive to have him warming the timber.

[dew1679666265]

I have no problem with that assessment if that is actually what the plan is for him. If its his destiny to make the roster as a pinch hitter, then let him pinch hit, but if your intention is to use him as a full time player in the future it seems counter-productive to have him warming the timber.

 

That's the point, though. Primarily because of his defense Fox is extremely unlikely to be a regular on a National League team. Should he stay a Cub, his future is as a bat off the bench.

 

If he ends up traded to an AL team, however, his bat might be good enough to be a starting DH. But a team has to be willing to bite on him first.

[Vanilla Ice]

Jake Fox is never going to be a starter on the Cubs