Reports of Fox's demise a bit premature

MESA, Ariz. -- Chad Fox wants to make one thing clear right from the start.

He doesn't blame former Cubs manager Dusty Baker for hurting his elbow in 2005 and possibly ending his pitching career for good.

"I'm so sick of hearing that," Fox said Sunday. "I'm a grown man. If there was something wrong with me, then that's my stupidity. I've heard that from other reporters. I've heard that from other people, and I'm so sick and tired of hearing it.

"Really, I've left that rest because Dusty had nothing to do with that. It's in God's hands, and that's how things were to play out that night, whether it was that night or six weeks from then or another year. No way will I ever point a finger at anyone."

More important for Fox is he's throwing a baseball again with authority and is attempting a comeback as a nonroster invitee to Cubs camp.

The 37-year-old right-hander has logged time in eight big-league seasons, winning a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 2003. In 214 games, all in relief, Fox is 10-11 with a 3.57 ERA and 6 saves.

He compiled much of that record with a right elbow that still has three screws in it, the result of it being not only strained, but broken, in 2000.

Fox thought the end had come in April 2005, when he pitched in 11 games for the Cubs, including four straight over five days from April 13-17.

The elbow finally blew when Fox heard a pop on April 25 after throwing a slider. He walked off the field thinking he was done for good. But he never blamed Baker, who has a reputation of working his pitchers hard.

"He shared tears with me that night," Fox said. "He felt as bad as I did. I'm not that type of player. It's easy to sit here and blame. Come on. Let's be real. Let's look at the situation and all that with my elbow. It was just the way it was going to happen, and it had nothing to do with Dusty Baker."

The Cubs placed Fox on the disabled list, and he eventually went home to The Woodlands, Texas, outside of Houston. There, he spent quality time with his wife and three children while operating Legends Sports Complex, which features a large training facility for athletes in many sports.

This past winter -- quite unplanned, according to Fox -- he discovered the elbow was feeling fine and that maybe, just maybe, he could pitch again.

"About three months ago is when I decided to do this," he said. "It was as clear as could be. I was working with a high school kid, throwing with him. I said, 'Oh, this is pretty good.' So I let a couple go, just trying to prove a point with the kid. On my ride home, it was as clear as God was saying, 'This is the path.'

"My wife, my kids, no one knew. I didn't even know. Going into that day, I had no clue that I was going to go home and tell my wife at 9:30 that night, 'I think I can pitch again.' So I called my agent about 10 o'clock that night. He said, 'I don't think you're crazy. I've seen it happen all the time. I see it ever year. Someone takes some time off. They come back, and they're successful.' "

The Cubs, Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds watched Fox throw this winter.

"Chad and I had a real good relationship when he was here," said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry. "A couple weeks before we signed him, Alan Hendricks, his agent, and I talked, and he said, 'Foxy's thinking it's pretty good.' I said, 'When it gets close, we'll look at him, and why not?' "

"I sent (scout) Jim Crawford to see him in Houston. He said, 'Man, he threw about 93 (mph) today with a good slider.' Chad told me, 'Jim, I just want to give it one more shot. I think I'm OK. I think I've got a chance.' He wouldn't have made the call if he didn't think it was legit."

Fox said he heard the same things from the scouts.

"The scouts were like, 'No wonder you want to pitch again. You look incredible,' " he said.

Fox admits to a feeling of unfinished business as he competes for a job as a setup man. But he said he's not here just to be here.

"I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't think I could compete at the big-league level," he said. "Regardless of how much time I missed, that's behind us."