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Looks like utility man Jake Fox has cleared waivers.
He has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He is expected to report there this weekend.
So he will stay in the organization.
There was some thought that the Pittsburgh Pirates might try to claim him, since their top three catchers are injured. But Fox is viewed as an emergency catcher and nothing else. So the Pirates, and everyone else, passed.
He gives the Orioles a solid bat in the minors now.
A Baltimore native, Dan Connolly has been covering sports for 14 years, and baseball and the Orioles for 10 seasons, including the past six with The Sun. His first year covering baseball on a daily basis was Cal Ripken Jr.'s final season as a player. It's believed that is just a coincidence.
Steve Gould is an assistant sports editor for The Sun, overseeing Orioles coverage. The Columbia native joined The Sun as a sports copy editor in 2006 after graduating from the University of Maryland.
Peter Schmuck has been covering baseball for a lot longer than Steve Gould has been on this earth. He is now a general sports columnist, but has been a beat writer covering three major league teams (the Dodgers, Angels and Orioles) and also spent a decade as the Sun's national baseball writer. If you want more of his insight on the Orioles and other sports issues, check out his personal blog -- The Schmuck Stops Here.
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Comments
This isn't very surprising news. Jake Fox isn't good enough defensively to play catcher and doesn't have enough of a bat to be valued as a DH. I like him as a utility guy, but he's a tough guy to fit onto a 25-man roster. Best of luck to him in the 757!
Posted by: Andrew | June 10, 2011 1:30 PM
It's funny (in a sad, ironic sort of way) that the Orioles always fret about trying to clear a player through waivers and when they finally do it, no one ever seems to value the player enough to place a waiver claim.
Posted by: malbie | June 10, 2011 2:07 PM
As an Os fan that lives in Pittsburgh, I was hoping that the Pirates would claim Fox. I'd like to see what he could do if he got regular at bats.
Not to be negative, but no O is on a pace to hit .300 30 100 this year.
Who should be our All Star? We only get one. Probably Jones - best stats and that catch. It's always easy to take the best P: either Jake or Zach, Then there is c Wieters w/ the great defense.
Posted by: The Big E | June 10, 2011 2:15 PM
Big E, re: "Who should be our All Star?"
As you said, you have to figure it will be Adam Jones. It's too bad Zach B hit that lull or he would have had a decent shot.
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Jeff Z's reply: If I was going top four All-Star candidates on June 10, I'd say in this order 1. Jones; 2. Wieters; 3. Britton; 4. Jim Johnson. The reality is they'll probably only get one All Star
Posted by: Jeff K | June 10, 2011 2:26 PM
This is a little off topic, but I found the following article about developing pitchers very sobering.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/06/10/yankees.pitchers/
Made me lose just a little bit of hope. And reconsider how much money we should throw at Dylan.
Posted by: BA Ray | June 10, 2011 2:44 PM
Fox has precious little patience and/or discipline at the plate. Unless you've got talent off the charts, like a Vlad,for example, that kind of approach almost guarantees that you'll be an easy out most of the time.
Posted by: cliffdweller | June 10, 2011 5:08 PM
That's probably best for Jake. He needs the regular at bats. I would not be surprised if he is brought up again this year due to injuries and/or trades. A lot of things can happen between now and the end of the year. Unless the Orioles are in the playoffs, Guerrero and Lee wont be around next year unless the Orioles are in the playoffs. There could be more opportunity for Jake with the Orioles. Does he remain on the 40 man roster?
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Jeff Z's reply: No, one of the points of DFA'ing somebody is to take him off the 40-man roster.
Posted by: Wbalfan99 | June 10, 2011 5:26 PM
Fox never was or likely will be a backup Catcher. The O's in their infinite wisdom forced him into that role because their 25 man squad included 2 DH's & 3 SS's and NO backup Catcher. O's said he could only make the team as backup Catcher after 10 Spring HR's meanwhile Itzuris had team made as 3rd SS -- I guess because he was a nice guy?? Then Buck with one of worst hitting teams in MLB couldn't find AB's for Fox. Lee with worst MLB average (.057) with runners on base, Andino with his 2 RBI's, Reynolds with his 170 BA, Scott @ .220 just couldn't sit for a day so Fox a solid utility guy with some power gets thrown under the bus. Lee meanwhile rolls along never getting dropped from 3rd spot, only getting 3 rehab AB's & being activated despite looming bereavement leave --Buck treats his like the '2nd coming ..'
Posted by: Don I | June 10, 2011 8:14 PM