Javier Baez had a really nice game in Sunday’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. The next time the Cubs take the field, Javier Baez might have a not-as-nice game. Such is the life with a player that possesses both enormous upside and fundamental flaws in his approach and his mechanics. Just when you think he […]
Tag: Javier Baez
Javier Baez Has to Be More Than a Defensive Stud
The 2016 postseason ended pretty well for the Chicago Cubs, but the amazing World Series run might not have been bigger for any player than second baseman Javier Baez. Throughout much of the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series, Baez’ elite baseball talent and athleticism was on full display. Whether it was the beautiful bare-handed plays, […]
Is This the Start of Ben Zobrist’s Decline?
Good old Ben Zobrist. You always know exactly what you’re getting from him: great patience, solid average and power, and the kind of positional flexibility that helps Joe Maddon sleep at night. His TAv has been over .280 for six straight years; his wRC+ has never been below average since he became a major league […]
Time for Javy Báez to Hit the Reset Button
Let me preface all of this by acknowledging that we’re barely two weeks into the 2017 season, and with sample size in mind, it’s extremely difficult to make too much of an assertion about a lot of things at this point. This isn’t meant to be a hot take or a panicky one in any […]
Javier Baez on the Bases
In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Javier Baez looked unstoppable on the basepaths, and a hyper-aggressive Baez is one of the most exciting things to watch. After stealing second and third in the sixth inning of Puerto Rico’s 6-5 win over the USA, the Cubs infielder danced down the line as if he were going […]
Javier Baez and Playing the Game “The Right Way”
Allow me to step on my soapbox for a moment here. I am tired of folks screaming about baseball and “the right way” to play it. Whether it’s old school players and coaches who had the game pass them by years ago or traditionalists who still believe that RBIs are indicative of a player’s ability […]
A Playing Time Nightmare
Perhaps you saw the ending to Puerto Rico’s Tuesday night victory over the Dominican Republic in the second round of the World Baseball Classic. Perhaps you witnessed Javier Baez make another improbably good and unreservedly fun play. Perhaps you even questioned the veracity of that play’s result. But then again, perhaps you didn’t. For those […]
Javier Baez vs. the World (of Projections)
If the 2016 postseason was Javier Baez’s introduction to a national stage, then the 2017 season figures to be the Year of Javy. With his glove and his instincts, as well as his overwhelming power, allowing him to ascend to that point last fall, we’re likely to get our largest look yet at Javy Baez […]
Cactus Catchup: The Rotation Returns and Baez Departs
The World Baseball Classic began on Monday, which means that a few players will be absent from Cubs camp going forwards, most notably Javier Baez. The versatile infielder will suit up for Puerto Rico in the tournament as part of perhaps the most exciting double-play partnership of the competition with Cleveland’s star shortstop Francisco Lindor. […]
Don’t get too attached to Ian Happ
During the rebuilding years, an essential part of being a fan of the Chicago Cubs was falling in love with the current batch of prospects and following their progress through the minors with almost as much (or more) fervor as the big league team. While there isn’t quite the embarrassment of riches down on the […]