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After being asked to describe the latest theatrics of All-Star Javier Baez, teammate Willson Contreras smiled while delivering an accurate summation.
“We call him ‘El Mago’ for a reason,” said Contreras, referring to Baez’s Spanish nickname that translates to “The Magician.” “I love this guy. He’s got the best instincts in the game, and what he did tonight was awesome.”
Baez applied his instincts and talent to reach first base safely in the second inning of the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Dodgers after swinging at a pitch several inches outside the strike zone.
Baez hit a grounder toward David Freese, who was playing about 20 feet off the first-base line but had plenty of momentum as he charged the ball.
After noticing that Freese was near the foul line with the ball, Baez took advantage of Freese’s momentum by slowing down quickly and cutting to his left. Freese swiped at Baez while running into foul territory but missed the tag and allowed Baez to dive to first safely for a hit.
“If I would have kept going, (Freese) was going to run me over,” Baez said. “He’s a big dude.”
Baez recalled Billy Hamilton pulling off a similar move with the Reds several years ago.
“That was the first thing that came to my mind, is stop,” Baez said. “See a reaction. (Freese) couldn’t stop. He kept going. And I know I didn’t leave the foul line. It was everything good.”
Baez said he’s cut inside the foul line before, but only after an errant throw from an infielder to first base.
“It’s just something that comes to me, a reaction,” Baez said.
Manager Joe Maddon said third-base coach Brian Butterfield compared Baez to Bears Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers because of his shifty moves.
“It was Javy-esque, Javy-like,” Maddon said. “I’m here, then I’m gone. Pretty entertaining.
“There’s no fear in his game. He sees things in advance, and he’s fearless.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts protested that Baez was out of the base line, but Maddon thought the play “looked kind of clean” after watching a replay.
Baez’s heads-up play occurred two days after admitted he didn’t hustle on a deep drive to right-center that eventually went for an RBI triple in the sixth inning of a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
“I hit a fly, and it was sunny,” Baez recalled. “The outfielder almost missed the ball and I barely got to first. “(The coaches) came to me, and they’re right. They told me about the sun in Chicago, and I should run.
“It only makes me better. They don’t want to show me up. They just want to make me better, and it’s true.”
Twitter @MDGonzales
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