ESPN Buster Olney Blog

A few years back, "American Idol" had a contestant named Sanjaya Malakar, and when he sang it was evident that he probably was not the most qualified candidate. But he was different and he was quirky and liked unusual hairstyles and he got a lot of attention week to week. In time, as better singers moved along, the fact that he was not the strongest candidate became something of an attraction for voters wanting to subvert the "American Idol" culture.

Radio host Howard Stern asked his listeners to support Sanjaya, and some Web sites implored voters to dial in for him. So week to week, Sanjaya survived on the "American Idol" stage, until finally being voted off.

Which takes us to the All-Star candidacy of Manny Ramirez.

He is not the most qualified candidate in 2009; he is not among the 10 most qualified candidates. In fact, given that he'll miss most of the first half because of his 50-game suspension for the use of a banned substance, he'll probably go into the All-Star break with far fewer homers than Adam Dunn, Jay Bruce or Justin Upton, less run production than Brad Hawpe, Nate McLouth or Andre Ethier.

But he is different, and he is quirky and his hair is an adventure, and in the past he's been a great hitter. He is attracting voters who wouldn't mind turning the All-Star voting upside down, and his candidacy is drawing lots of attention online.

"Vote for Manny," posts FanIQ. It Is About The Money, Stupid is endorsing Manny thusly: "If you understood that the 'Vote For Manny' is one part satire, one part sarcasm, one part grandiose hopes that the rules of the game will somehow change to make sense … feel free to read on even though you already get it." I don't quite follow the logic of how voting for Ramirez sends a message to commissioner Bud Selig, but hey, it seems to work for some folks.

All of this (plus Ramirez's performance on the field in the last two months of last season) will make Manny a very formidable candidate in the weeks ahead. If you are waiting to see if the commissioner is going to step in and say, with some fair logic, that all players suspended for the use of banned substances or performance-enhancing drugs are ineligible for baseball's midsummer classic, well, that almost certainly is not going to happen. Such a policy would have to be collectively bargained between the owners and the union.

But there is still hope for Major League Baseball that Ramirez won't be part of the All-Star festivities, because he has bypassed the event in the past for various reasons. In past years, folks with other teams have privately sneered at Ramirez's excuses for skipping the All-Star Game; this season, they would probably appreciate his discretion.

The Cubs add a Fox

Jake Fox put up some of the greatest minor league numbers you will ever see while at Triple-A Iowa this year: A .423 batting average and 33 extra-base hits in 149 at-bats, with 50 RBI in 40 games. "He's pretty much the hottest hitter I've ever managed," said Iowa manager Bobby Dickerson over the phone Wednesday.

Fox, 26, was promoted to the big leagues and presumably, sometime in the days ahead, he will get a chance to play, although it is unclear where he might play. He doesn't have a natural position, although Dickerson said he "has a passion" for getting better defensively. Fox has mostly played first base this year, and he has played third and in the outfield in the past. He's even caught.

But what he does do, when he gets hot, is rake. "Everything he hit for us was legit," Dickerson said. "He is about as locked in as any hitter I've ever seen. If he can continue to do that, and continue to do the things that made him successful for us, he can help any club."

What Fox needs to do is prevent his swing from getting too long, and not chase pitches out of the strike zone. "He was aggressive, but he was also taking his walks," Dickerson said. "He hit plus-plus fastballs, and we saw him hit breaking balls and changeups. He hit all of the pitches."

Iowa played a game in Colorado Springs, Dickerson recalled, and the wind was gusting, creating almost impossible conditions for the hitter. Fox drove a ball through the wind so far that when it passed over the foul pole, the ball was fair, and it landed to the foul side of the pole by about 30 feet, Dickerson estimated. "I hope he gets a chance to help us," said Dickerson, referring to the Cubs organization.

One rival talent evaluator's take on Fox: "Not an every-day guy, but a guy who could come up when hot and give a little lift to a team. But he lacks a position. I'm sure the Cubs are looking for someone to add some punch to the lineup, and he is the best option in Triple-A. Maybe he's like Jonny Gomes."

We'll see. He describes himself as short and fat.

Moves, deals and decisions

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