We could probably categorize our favorite defensive highlights into more than a few buckets. But the big ones, to me, are something like “smooth as silk” and “reckless abandon” – though they go by many names.
The former is chock full of highlights from guys like Javy Baez and Addison Russell, who slip and slide and pop and glide all over the infield, making defensive stops like smooth jazz. And the latter is when guys like Kyle Schwarber or Albert Almora barrel after a ball or towards a wall at full speed, crashing and bashing into inanimate objects and over fences like heavy metal.
But no one is just one thing. And yesterday, Javy played with some reckless abandon:
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1004193614447009792
Not only did Baez track that ball a good quarter mile, he actually completed the catch and held onto it as he flipped head over heels (#love #thatphrasesisbackwards) and into the laps of the fans in row one – who may have spilled some beer, but were clearly more than happy with the overall experience.
Speaking of which, when I saw this play, I really experienced the hero-complex, imagining myself perfectly catching Javy and bouncing him back onto the field so he wouldn’t get hurt (and then all of Wrigley Field cheering for both of us, kind of like a reverse Steve Bartman), but maybe another time.
For now, just know that Javy Baez remains an absolute must-watch defensive player, who can slap a fat bass line in a club or head-bang with an axe … and make it all sound good.