Javier Baez (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
I’m sitting here watching the Cubs and Pirates game on Thursday, with the North Siders leading, one-to-nil, and looking at a potential three-game sweep. Suddenly I do not believe what my eyes just saw.
Chicago catcher Willson Contreras is on second with two outs. Javier Baez hits what looks to be an inning-ending ground ball to third. The throw from Erik Gonzalez pulls the inexperienced first baseman, Will Craig, toward home. He decides to just tag the approaching Baez. That’s when the Cubs shortstop assumes his secret identity: El Mago!