CHICAGO _ Cubs second baseman Javier Baez is naturally left-handed. At least, that's the story he's been fed over the years by his brothers, who say they taught him to play the game as a righty. This way, he could play shortstop growing up, just as they did.
"I don't believe it," Baez said recently. "But I do everything left-handed. I write and eat left-handed, and I can hit a little bit."
That may provide at least a partial explanation for one of his uncanny talents on a baseball field. When it comes to applying lightning-quick tags, few in baseball are smoother than Baez, who catches the ball with his dominant hand.
"I'm a lefty and I can do better things with my left hand," said Baez, whose defensive wizardry helped propel the Cubs to the World Series. "I catch the ball with my left hand, so it's really easy for me."
He makes it look really easy. Earlier this season, a fan compiled a collection of Baez's greatest hits. The breathtaking reel is set to "The Blue Danube" waltz. It features behind-the-back swipe tags despite impossible angles, tags on errant throws pulled down just in time, tags applied at exactly the time that the ball is caught.
Though it is not considered one of the five tools, Baez has showcased the game-changing ability of his impeccable timing, body control and sleight of hand. For potential base-stealers, success and failure often is separated by mere milliseconds.
Every advantage counts. "I've never seen a guy tag like him," catcher David Ross said. "I've never paid attention to the tag. I don't know that many people have ever asked me about a guy's tagging ability, and I've been asked this year more than ever. He's probably gotten me, I would say, 10 to 15 out. That's a ton when we're talking about throwing out guys."
