Javier Baez

Javier Baez Responds to Critics ‘Tripping' After Cubs' Win

Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez was one of the team’s best players against the San Francisco Giants, and although he may have rubbed some people the wrong way during the series, nothing seems to be bothering him after the Cubs’ victory.

In Games 1 and 2 of the series, Baez stayed near home plate and admired a couple of prodigious hits, including his Game 1 home run and a Game 2 shot that stayed in the park and ultimately resulted in him being thrown out at second base.

In Games 3 and 4, his defense took over, as he made several dazzling plays and emotionally celebrated each and every one of them.

For those who took offense to his actions, Baez spoke in no uncertain terms about how he felt about his critics.

“If you’re tripping because I took a little time coming out of the (batter’s) box, if you’re talking trash to me, if you want to boo me, I don’t care,” he said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “I have a clear mind. It’s only because I’m doing damage.”

Doing damage is exactly what Baez did during the National League Division Series. In the series, Baez had a home run and two RBI, but he was one of only a handful of Cubs that got a hit in every game, and his clutch hitting resulted in two game-winning RBI, which came in Games 1 and 4.

The latter RBI came on a base hit against Giants reliever Hunter Strickland, as Baez slashed a single up the middle to give the Cubs their margin of victory on Tuesday night.

When asked about the pitch that he hit from Strickland, Baez offered some advice for pitchers who are going to face him through the remainder of the postseason.

“The last pitch was a fastball – you can’t throw that pitch to me,” he said.

Baez will get an opportunity to put his bat where his mouth is when the Cubs begin the National League Championship Series on Saturday night, with either the Washington Nationals or the Los Angeles Dodgers taking the field in opposing the Cubs.

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