Baez putting on show for Cubs on playoff stage

Javier Baez is putting on quite a show for the Chicago Cubs. And he just might be turning these playoffs into his personal stage.

Whether he’s hitting a game-winning home run or making some spectacular defensive play, Baez has been hard to miss in these playoffs. And he’s a big reason why the Cubs are in the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.

“I’ve got a job to do,” Baez said. “I’m not surprised. I know what I can do. I know what this team can do. I’m just having fun right now and obviously trying to win.”

It must be fun to be Baez these days.

The Cubs came into the postseason with the best record in the majors and their sights set on their first championship since 1908.

They knocked out San Francisco in four games in the NL Division Series in no small part because of Baez’s play at the plate and at second base. They open the NLCS against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Saturday, and if they take out Los Angeles, a franchise defined more by curses and heartbreak will go to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

On a team loaded with stars, Baez has been putting on quite a show in the postseason.

He hit the winning home run off Johnny Cueto in the opener against the Giants and the go-ahead single in the ninth in Game 4.

On defense, playing mostly second base, it was as if the Baez highlight reel was on a nonstop loop with no shortage of diving stops and lightning quick tags.

Even when he was chewing gum in the dugout Baez managed to amaze. Take this gem from Game 4 of the NLDS.

The gum popped out after Baez put it in his mouth, but what happened next was about as impressive as any play he made in the field. He juggled it a few times, finally snagged it with his right hand. Baez pointed at a trainer as he was about to put it back in his mouth, then looked the camera, and grinned.

“I saw the camera,” Baez said. “I didn’t know if he got it or not, but I caught it.” No surprise. After all, the 23-yearold Baez has been catching just about everything that comes his way this season. And if that’s not enough, he also hit .273 with 14 homers and 59 RBIs in 142 games.

That’s a big jump considering he struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats .169 after he debuted for the Cubs in 2014. But his swing is more compact now. He closed his stance and cut down the big leg kick he had when he first arrived.

Now, he’s looking like a breakout star.