Jake Fox Needs More At-Bats
Cubs' big slugger needs more at-bats
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Jake Fox can hit the ball. On this Cubs team, that's good enough.
Jake Fox is a fun guy to watch hit. Sure, he can't hit a curveball to save his life, and we're pretty sure he's resolved to never swing at anything that isn't 93 mph and up, but when Fox gets around on a fastball -- and he does so often -- it's like he's playing beer league softball. Everything is a home run threat. Fox isn't exactly Barry Bonds when it comes to technique, either, making his home run swings even more entertaining.
But in the past few weeks, a funny thing has happened. Jake Fox is not just a good situational hitter -- his glove work isn't the best, either -- or a good platoon member the perfect DH to have on an NL team playing interleague ball. Fox has proven himself a good enough hitter to warrant serious attention as a slugger full-time. He's been that good.
Since June 21, Fox has had 20 at-bats. In those at-bats, he's managed to get 10 hits, five of which went for extra bases. Fox drove in nine runs. Interleague play was good to Fox, including in a particularly big game last Thursday at Detroit. The problem with Fox? His glove work. Lou Piniella is rightfully not emamored with Fox's haphazard style, and Fox has agreed with Piniella's hesitance thus far.
But the Cubs are now at a juncture in their season when risking the occasionally ugly play at third base is worth it. It's worth having Fox's bat in the lineup. The Cubs don't have a lot of options, frankly. They need to start hitting the ball better, and soon, and Fox is one of the few players that can do so. He needs to be in the lineup.
Piniella seems to be coming around on the notion, and thank goodness. It would be a shame to waste an offensive monster -- even if only temporary -- thanks to defensive reputation. Beggars can't be choosers, eh?
Eamonn Brennan is a Chicago-based writer, editor and blogger. You can also read him at Yahoo! Sports, Mouthpiece Sports Blog, and Inside The Hall, or at his personal site eamonnbrennan.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Copyright NBC Owned Television Stations
Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 4:00 PM CST
