Although Albert Almora Jr. (and again) got most of the defensive attention yesterday, I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a good-old-fashioned fantastic Javy Baez defensive play before today’s game kicks off:
Just keep hitting it to @javy23baez.
Really, it's fine. pic.twitter.com/HjodDdNBS0
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 14, 2017
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To be sure, that’s a terrible read at first base by Joc Pederson, who either didn’t have a sense of how that ball was fading, or didn’t have a sense of how silly good Javy Baez is. When a ball like that is hit near Baez, you simply have to assume you’re not going to be able to first to third no matter what, so just play it safe. Pederson did not, and Baez made him pay with that quick turn-and-throw athleticism. Bonus points on the great dig and stretch by Anthony Rizzo.