Walk this way? Cubs free swinger Javy Baez seeks better pitches, not walks, in effort to improve

“I’m the same guy,” Baez says. | John Antonoff photo

MESA, Ariz. – It happened again Sunday, quietly, with one out in the third inning and a runner on first, against a minor-league pitcher in the Seattle Mariners system.

Javy Baez walked.

Big deal? Maybe not.

But that’s four this spring for the free-swinging power hitter. Compared to three in June. And two in July. And five in August.

And if it’s something he can add to his game this year with any regularity, imagine the places that .321 on-base percentage and .865 OPS over the past two All-Star seasons might go.

“Yeah, but I’m not going to look for it,” said Baez, who drew those four walks in 13 plate appearances this spring. He had 28 in 561 last season.

“I’m just trying to see the ball; I’m not going to look for a walk,” said Baez, the National League’s MVP runner-up in 2018 – who is expected to bat third this season behind Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

“I’m the same guy.”

That showed in his first trip to the plate Sunday, when he swung at all six pitches he saw, eventually lining a rocket single into center, and in his third trip, when he homered.

That’s also what his manager wants to hear.

“Javy is at a point now where he is an established veteran and professional,” David Ross said. “He’s working on some things for sure. You can see the mindset working. But we do revert back to our tendencies as players, right?

“I don’t ever want to take Javy away from his free-swinging abilities,” added Ross, who acknowledged Baez might draw a few more walks just as a function of trying to have better at-bats. “His unpredictability at the plate is what’s so scary when you’re catching or on the other side.”

Homecoming

Former Cubs manager Joe Maddon makes his first appearance Monday against the Cubs as Angels manager since being fired after arguably the best five-year run by a manager in franchise history.

The Angels play the Cubs at Sloan Park in the afternoon half of a day-night, split-squad doubleheader for the Cubs, with many of the regulars expected in the lineup for the home half.

“I think we’ve talked about Joe a lot this spring and probably more than he wants us to talk about him,” third baseman Kris Bryant said. “It’s natural because he’s a big part of the success here. Hopefully, he gets a warm welcome from everybody because he might deserve it more than anybody here.”

Said Ross, who played for Maddon in 2015-16 before retiring: “I’m excited. He lifts me up when he’s around – his energy who he is, just the way he carries himself. It’ll be fun around here. A lot of the boys will be excited to see him. A lot of great memories with him and me around here. Can’t wait to talk to him, give him a big hug and see him.”

Joe Maddon