With a new set of coaches for the Chicago Cubs in 2018, being aggressive on the bases was reinforced heading into the season. The team stole a lot of bases in spring training, but Javier Baez has taken the mentality to the next level.
It helps that Baez has been hitting the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first two games of their four-game series, but Baez is pushing the limits of aggressiveness running the bases. First, there was Thursday’s base-running journey that ended in another electric slide at the plate.
Jon Lester hit a ball up the middle and thanks to some magic spin on the ball it squirted into shallow center field. Baez started the play at first, but he wasn’t content by simply going to third base.
THE #CUBS ARE BACK pic.twitter.com/AgYJPwW3Al
— Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast (@PinwheelsIvyPod) April 6, 2018
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Baez was at it again Friday night, tying the game at four by once again testing the Brewers’ defense. On a hard hit ball to the right-center field gap, Baez probably shouldn’t have tried to go for a triple, but he did. The result? A game-tying, little-league home run.
The most exciting player in baseball strikes again. pic.twitter.com/fotekrPASp
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 7, 2018
There’s a fine line between reckless and aggressiveness. Baez is tip-toeing that line, but making it work to his advantage and the Cubs will most certainly welcome it.
