NEWSLETTER
Javy Baez, as you well know by now, is nicknamed “El Mago.” The Magician. He earned that nickname by virtue of doing things on the field that transcend our ability to describe them each time without ultimately shaking our head and saying, “That’s just El Mago.”
Usually, those are incredible plays that don’t actually defy explanation. And, although we, of course, have an earthly explanation for what happened when Baez got picked off last night, it’s nearly impossible to explain how Baez’s mere presence seems to consistently to throw PROFESSIONAL baseball players completely out of whack.
Hence, this is about as “El Mago” as it gets:
Javy fans will enjoy this one. pic.twitter.com/IsdHBQe2by
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 1, 2018
Baez simply takes off for third base long before the pitcher was even delivering his pitch – Javy bein’ Javy – but, despite appearing dead to rights, Baez evades the out by somehow causing Nick Kingham to be unable to throw the ball remotely close to his defender just 60 feet away.
Don’t ask how he made the elephant disappear, don’t ask how he pulled your card out of his back pocket, and don’t ask how he makes big league defenders totally forget how to play the game. It’s all just a sublime illusion. Don’t try to explain it or you’ll ruin the fun.
