Wake Up Babe, There's A New Compilation Of Javier Baez Sucking At Baseball!
If you've read my blogs or watched my videos, you know I tend to overexaggerate. I am nothing if not hyperbolic. But I would argue that I've actually undersold how terrible of a hitter Javier Báez is. I could probably write about six blogs a day breaking down every awful swing this guy has on a nightly basis. Last year, there was a seven-minute compilation that somebody made of Javy chasing junk. It's usually that slider away in the left-handed batter's box that gets to him. That's been the case this year, though this year, the fastball right around his face seems to be very enticing for him.
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What's so bizarre is that I'm usually a person who defends the strikeout. Hitters are better than they've ever been for the most part. But the reality is that pitchers are also tougher than they've ever been. They throw harder than they ever have, and spin rates are higher than we've seen before. It's a tough game. Even some of the best players in the world strike out a lot. I can deal with that if you're making up for it by hitting for power or showing off some semblance of ability to hit situationally. Aaron Judge strikes out a lot, but he also has the ability to slap the ball when he needs to. Javier Báez does not.
Even if you're not a Tigers fan, how can you watch these compilations and not get angry? I would argue the way Javier Báez plays the game of baseball when he's at the plate goes against everything that has ever been taught. It's zero patience, discipline, and ability to help the next man in the lineup. It's selfish baseball. God, I'm angry as I write this. What is it about this guy? There's something about how he plays the game of baseball that gets under my skin more than anything. And by the way, we have four more years of him on the books.
I would love for somebody to do a brain scan on Javier Báez. You will never convince me that he is incapable of not chasing these pitches. He chooses not to. That's what's so frustrating. If you're going to expand the zone, you better be damn sure that every so often, you're capable of making magic, kind of like what Javy was able to do when he was in Chicago. This is why I've started to develop a contempt for Cubs fans. I love the Cubs, but you created a monster. The way he plays baseball was never sustainable, and now we're stuck with them. Thanks a lot.