Javy Baez made the outstanding look routine.
Again.
This time, Baez utilized a behind-the-back, no-look tag within the ninth inning to assist protect the Cubs’ 6-5 win over the Padres. The play had a sellout crowd buzzing and the Padres asking for a video overview as a result of – come on – no one makes that play.
Well, nearly no one.
“It’s Javy we’re talking about, so yeah,” Albert Almora Jr. mentioned. “Every chance he gets, I think he’s able to make an out.”
Baez additionally offered the heroics on the plate with a three-run homer within the fourth that gave the Cubs the lead for good. He bailed out a slew of sloppy performs by the crew and lifted the Cubs to their seventh win in eight video games for the reason that All-Star break.
Anthony Rizzo drove in a pair of runs and elevated his hitting streak to 11 video games. Craig Kimbrel notched his sixth save.
Yet it was Baez’s defensive gem that dominated the postgame dialog.
If you missed the play, don’t fear, it’s certain to point out up on Baez’s profession spotlight reel.
There was one out within the ninth when Wil Myers of the Padres tried to steal second base. Cubs catcher Victor Caratini popped out of his stance and fired a tough throw, however the ball sailed up and away to the proper of the bottom.
Any typical infielder would have settled for catching the ball and stopping it from going into right-center subject.
Instead, Baez refused to give up the stolen base. In a fluid movement, he prolonged his glove to make the catch and swiped his glove down and behind his again, all with out trying, to tag Myers on the again of his foot as he slid head-first into second.
Replays confirmed that Baez made the tag simply earlier than Myers’ fingers touched the bag.
Was it his biggest defensive play but?
“It’s right up there,” Joe Maddon mentioned. “That’s just who he is.”
Like Almora, Maddon believed that Baez might make the play as he watched Caratini’s throw sail up the road.
“I would bet if you talked to Javy, he was calculating that whole thing,” Maddon mentioned. “He thought, ‘I saw the ball going up the line, I thought if I get to it, I come straight down, I can get him on his leg somewhere.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
Maddon was appropriate.
Baez mentioned he envisioned how he would apply the tag the second he noticed the throw veer proper.
“I’ve practiced this before,” Baez mentioned. “Obviously, I don’t want to run into him, so I’ve got to be careful with where I go to get the ball. I tried to stay out of his lane. (It’s) not giving up on the play, I guess.”
Either that or it’s magic.
But the phenom referred to as “El Mago” made it clear that such performs are the results of willpower and exhausting work, not some inexplicable drive. Yes, he has a present, however he won’t permit himself to calm down and get by on pure skills alone.
Much like how gamers take batting apply to refine their swing, Baez routinely seeks out drills to enhance his tagging.
“I work on my tags inside with the machines – especially when I get a new glove, to break them in and stuff,” Baez mentioned. “I like doing everything inside. I don’t really go out there (to practice tagging). But I practice the throws when they’re coming in, and if it’s a bad throw, where I should get (my feet) and where the runner’s coming in his lane.”
So what felt higher? His go-ahead residence run or his unbelievable tag?
“Both,” he mentioned.