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CHICAGO – If Javier Baez, the most popular player of the Chicago Cubs, had not raced enough before, then he will have to take up his duties full-time while his teammate Addison Russell will be on administrative leave after his departure. accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife.
Melisa Reidy-Russell detailed the allegations of abuse during her marriage to Addison Russell, which led to the Major League Baseball dropping the Cubs.
How does Joe Maddon use his referees without precise and precise numbers to play a significant role in Chicago's progression in the playoffs.
After five decades spent at the kiosk, the oldest baseball announcer withdrew with a legacy that no one can be neutral.
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Baez played this position on the outside this season while Russell was injured, but with the Cubs in a tight division race, the team still relies on the 25-year-old. Is there any doubt that he is ready for the task?
"We are lucky that Javy is able to do it as well," said manager Joe Maddon before the Cubs' 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. "He could be the best total league shortstop right now, if you want to rate it, he's among the top five, top five among all baseball players, even if he's not there." a lot played. "
This is praise, which would seem crazy to any other player. How can you call someone who started the season in second base one of the best shortstops? In fact, Baez also played a third base, as his MVP candidacy will depend in part on voters who will recognize how he played the three positions.
Of course, these same voters will notice his bat. He hit his 34th home race on Saturday and his three points scored gave him 110 on the season. So think about it. The best offensive player in the Cubs now plays the most important position, without the alignment giving him much help. The Cubs called the Triple A shortstop Mike Freeman – who worked at Clemson – after learning that Russell was on administrative leave. But it's not as if Freeman was going to see the field a lot. It's time for Baez to shine in the short term.
"At this time of year, with lots of things to do, we find this energy," said Maddon about potentially playing Baez at every round.
Baez added, "I just have to use my arm to play again every day."
The absence of Russell changes the dynamics of Maddon in defense, but not dramatically. You can thank the novice David Bote for that, because his defense in third and second position is not much inferior to that of Russell and Baez.
"Without Addison, he shows up differently at the end of the game," admitted Maddon. "[But] you do not think twice when you put Javy's name in the short term. "
On Saturday, Bote started at third base and later in the game. Daniel Murphy was second while Kris Bryant came out of the league to play third. When Russell was there, Maddon would simply have Baez in second place and Russell run out. The new style of work that Maddon had to use is not so bad. Bote provides little drop.
"He's a very good second baseman," Maddon said of Bote. "We mostly saw him in third position, and when we left the camp, I was told he was an outstanding second baseman.
"Addison is still one of the first shortcuts of the game and when you can put Javy [at second] and put Bote in third place, you like that too. But Bote to the second, alongside Javy, I'll take it. "
All of this works because Baez is just good at the game of baseball. After his home race in Saturday's first heat, he made a mistake on a long throw from the hole, but moments later he shot his first shot in the same spot.
"It was a stupid mistake," Baez said. "I had time to put my feet up and I did not do it."
You could excuse him because he has been wearing the Cubs for most of the season and he will now have to do it at a short stop without much rest. Of course, the sooner the Cubs win, the sooner he can get up. After Saturday's victory, they lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 2½ games.
"They have to pay attention to us, not us," Baez said. "If we do that, we should be good."
And Baez should be good for more than a few MVP votes. Although the Cubs and Brewers compete for honors, two of their stars do the same. Baez and Christian Yelich traded MVP shots all month. The division and the price are in the last week. We know who the Cubs are.
"When you add multiple positions to a guy, I think that changes my vote for sure," said Saturday's pitcher Jon Lester. "Javy has been great for us."
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