Cubs manager Joe Maddon bestowed some of the highest praise on infielder Javier Baez on Thursday when he compared his defense to that of shortstop Omar Vizquel (11 Gold Gloves) and second baseman Roberto Alomar Jr. (10).
"Javy plays that game right there," Maddon said Thursday, two days after Baez's defense and offense helped lead the Cubs to the National League Division Series title. "Sometimes people might criticize the fact he can be flashy. However, that's something I would never want to coach out of him. I want him to make better judgments regarding the mental component of the game. The physical side of it, he does things that are unique."
Maddon said he hasn't given strong consideration to moving struggling Addison Russell out of the fifth spot and moving Baez up from No. 7.
"The threat there is Javy won't be Javy," Maddon said of Baez, who batted .375 in the NLDS (compared to Russell's 1-for-15 performance). I like what's going on right now. I still have a lot of faith in Addison."
Maddon said he wouldn't have lifted Russell for a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Tuesday's comeback victory over the Giants if Willson Contreras _ who hit a two-run, game-tying single _ wasn't available.
