Confident Báez puts on Opening Day show

ARLINGTON, Texas – Javy was just being Javy. That’s what Jon Lester, Kris Bryant and several Cubs teammates said over and over Thursday night about Javier Báez.

Javy being Javy is a brilliant thing if you love the Chicago Cubs because Baez has been one of the best players in baseball since last season, as he showcased with his power in a 12-4 victory over the Rangers on Thursday at Globe Life Park.

Although the silky Puerto Rican shortstop had already won a World Series title and been a National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, he didn’t truly settle into superstardom until he began to control his emotions under pressure in 2018.

In control of his emotions under pressure, Báez made a run at the NL MVP Award last year. He finished second to the Brewers’ Christian Yelich.  It’s way too early to even begin discussing the 2019 MVP race, but that didn’t stop a Chicago reporter from asking about the individual honor after Báez became just the third player and the first from the NL to hit multiple home runs in an interleague game on Opening Day.

“Sure, obviously I was super excited for what I could do last year,” Báez said after hitting two home runs while going 2-for-5 with four RBIs against the Rangers. “This year also I’m focused on seeing the ball better, swing at pitches in the zone. Obviously, what I’ve worked on has worked out.”

Just in case they hadn’t paid attention last year while he did his damage in the Senior Circuit, the Rangers got to see first-hand the form that Báez displayed while producing an NL-leading and career high 111 RBI in 2018.

The Cubs’ beloved “El Mago” also set career highs in home runs (34), doubles (40), triples (nine) and slugging percentage (.554) in 2018.

Báez drilled his first home run of the season with a shot to left field in the fourth inning off Rangers lefthander Mike Minor, cutting the Cubs’ deficit to 2-1.

He added a three-run blast to right field during the Cubs’ six-run rally in the fifth inning.

“Let Javy do Javy,” Lester said, “and good things happen.”

The two home runs matched the number of bombs Báez hit over 18 games Grapefruit League games.

Báez, 26, now has five multi-homer games in his career. He also became the first Cubs player to hit multiple home runs on Opening Day since Corey Patterson had two on March 31, 2003.

Báez was 10 and living in Puerto Rico when Patterson last accomplished the Opening Day feat.

“We all know what he can do,” Bryant said. “We have a front-row seat every day, so it doesn’t surprise any of us. It’s just a matter of him getting experience and maturing and realizing what to swing at and what not to swing at.

“You saw today. He took 2-2 in the first at-bat of the season. That says a lot about how far he’s come.”

Báez grounded out to third base in his first at-bat of the season. As Bryant, noted, though, he had a plan and was patient enough to try to execute it.

That approach is what garnered him his first All-Star nod in 2018, his fifth season in the majors.

Báez was the ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft, immediately following another Boricua shortstop; Cleveland selected Francisco Lindor eighth in that draft. Despite making his major league debut on Aug. 5, 2014, Báez didn’t become a big league regular until the 2016 season.

Báez became a cult figure well before becoming a fixture in the Chicago lineup. He has emerged as part of a powerful trio of young Puerto Rican shortstops with Lindor and Houston’s Carlos Correa.

Correa, the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year, and Lindor, a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, all earned All-Star nods before Báez.

The other two young, Puerto Rican All-Star shortstops were arguably rated higher until last season.  Lindor’s 23.8 Wins Above Replacement over four seasons dwarf Báez’s 11.9 WAR over five. Correa also has a higher WAR at 18.1.

Báez is surging now, though. He has settled among the game’s best players now that he is in control of himself at the plate.

“In situations under pressure I wasn’t controlling my emotions, and I would fall into their plan,” he said of opposing pitchers. “Now it will be different. I have a plan each time I go on the field and to the plate, and obviously I have to let them come to me.”

Javy being Javy has had a much different meaning since the start of the 2018 season. He’s eager to build on that recent success, as was clear while he helped the Cubs pound the Rangers on Opening Day.

“Last year I started hot pretty early,” he said. “This year the first game I hit pretty good, so hopefully I just keep it going and try to make my adjustments when the season is going.”

His teammates definitely believe in him. Even if it’s unrealistic to expect multiple-home run games from Báez, his teammates weren’t caught off guard by his outburst on Opening Day.

“Not surprised at all,” Cubs second baseman David Botte said. “That’s Javy being Javy. That guy’s a superstar.”

Featured Image: Cooper Neill / Major League Baseball