Fox looking like he wants to stay
Jake Fox is making his case to stay and play.
Fox, who's in his second stint with the Cubs this year, doubled, homered and singled in Friday's 5-4 victory over the White Sox. He also picked up 5 assists while playing a flawless third base, a position the Cubs were reluctant to let him try.
To put Fox's performance into perspective, he's making the major-league minimum salary. For that, he has gone 15-for-38 (. 395) in 17 games with 2 homers and 11 RBI. Right fielder Milton Bradley, in the first year of a three-year, $30 million deal, has 5 homers and 16 RBI in 56 games. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano, in the third year of an eight-year, $136 million deal, has 14 homers and 30 RBI in 67 games.
"I like his bat, put it that way, I really do," manager Lou Piniella said of Fox. "We'll see where we use him. But how can you not put his name in the lineup every time you have a chance, because he's earned it?"
Fox, a former catcher, said his athletic skills and fielding drills with coaches Alan Trammell and Ivan DeJesus have helped.
"I would like to think so," he said. "A lot of credit goes to Trammell and Ivan because they've been awesome. I think it's nice for them to see that their hard work is paying off, too.
"It's great to know I can do anything I put my mind to, because coming into this, nobody knew whether I could do this or not, including myself."
Freel plays: Ryan Freel took over in right field for Milton Bradley after Lou Piniella sent Bradley home. Freel just came off the disabled list, and he made it sound that the club was unhappy with him for injuring his hamstring, based on a conversation he said he had with an unnamed team official.
"I know I probably made some people mad around here with what happened with my injury," he said. "You aren't going to be able to be more upset than I was about the whole thing. I was in tears upset, just beside myself - I didn't get hurt on purpose."
Getting there: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez took full batting practice for the first time since dislocating his left shoulder in early May. The Cubs will know more after the weekend about when they can sent Ramirez on a minor-league rehab and when he can return to the roster.