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CHICAGO — Not only has Javier Báez improved his performance on the field, but he's also helping as a mentor in the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, sharing valuable advice to younger players.
It's a lesson learned over 12 years in the big leagues.
The 32-year-old — who won the World Series in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs — encourages his teammates to be themselves on the field. That means not being afraid to make in-game mistakes on offense or defense.
He tells them to play with freedom.
Celebrate Father's Day with our commemorative Tigers book!
"We already play with a lot of pressure," said Báez, hitting .270 with six home runs and a .733 OPS in 51 games. "To go out there and be ourselves — play like we do, make mistakes like we do and make adjustments like we do — is the best thing we can do to get better every day. You learn something every day. But you also want to do something to help the team every day."
MORE ABOUT HIM: Javier Báez is turning into star player Tigers once expected
Everybody makes mistakes.
But Báez knows they're never on purpose.
That's why he wants his teammates to continue playing free.
"We don't want to make errors," Báez said, "but when we do, we got to be honest to ourselves and realize why we missed it or how we missed it, and then just make the adjustment and keep moving."
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
In July 2021, the Cubs traded Báez (with reliever Trevor Williams and cash considerations) to the New York Mets for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed hitting center fielder selected as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Nearly four years later, Crow-Armstrong is one of the best players in baseball in his third season with the Cubs. The 23-year-old is hitting .281 with 15 home runs and an .881 OPS in 60 games, along with 21 stolen bases.
"I have been seeing the type of athlete he is," said Báez, who returned to Chicago on Monday, June 2, for a series between the Tigers and White Sox at Rate Field. "He's a really good athlete."
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Javier Báez returns to Wrigley Field with Tigers, thinks 'every day' about 2016 Cubs
In Chicago, Crow-Armstrong is believed to be the best athlete to wear a Cubs uniform since Báez.
"If they say it, then it's for a reason," Báez said.
They have similarities in the way they play the game, highlighted by flashy defense, sharp instincts on the bases and a free-swinging approach at the plate.
It's no surprise Crow-Armstrong considered Báez one of his favorite players growing up.
"It feels great, honestly, that people look up to me, even in not my best moments," Báez said. "That's what I tell young guys. Not to copy — but take some stuff from the players that they look up to and just do it yourself with your style. If it works, you got to keep using it."
[ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER!Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ]
Crow-Armstrong is the only MLB player on pace this season for 40 homers and 40 steals, doing his part in guiding the Cubs to a 37-22 record — second-best in the National League.
The Tigers are 40-22, best in the American League.
There will be a clash between the Tigers and Cubs in an upcoming three-game series at Comerica Park, but Báez is already eyeing a World Series showdown.
"I feel great for the Cubs that they're playing really good baseball too," said Báez, who played for the Cubs from 2014-21. "But honestly, I'm just trying to stay healthy myself, trying to play the whole season. Hopefully, we play against them in the playoffs."
Parker Meadows — the Tigers' everyday center fielder — returned from the injured list for Monday's game, making his season debut. The return of Meadows (and Wenceel Pérez) pushed Báez back to the infield after two months in center.
The Gold Glove-winning shortstop had never played center in his professional career, but he looked like a mainstay while providing much-needed stability at the position.
"Mentally, all my career I knew I could play outfield," Báez said.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Báez will primarily play shortstop and third base, but he could see action in the corner outfield positions, especially in late-game situations.
"There were a couple of guys that started the year on the injured list," Báez said, referencing Meadows, Pérez and Matt Vierling. "I don't want to say that was good for us, but it would've been different if they would've started the year and then got hurt during the season. Coming back, they're only going to make the team better."
Left-hander Tarik Skubal — the reigning AL Cy Young winner — owns a 2.26 ERA with seven walks and 99 strikeouts across 75⅔ innings in 12 starts. The 28-year-old is trending toward repeating as the Cy Young winner, which would make him the first AL pitcher to do so since Pedro Martínez in 1999-2000.
Báez praised Skubal.
It's clear he respects him.
"It's fun to see what he does," Báez said. "It's kind of boring sometimes when you're playing defense. But the way he prepares. He's a monster, honestly. Every day that he pitches, and every off day, he's here in the clubhouse doing something — in the weight room, lifting, doing something. He prepares really good for the success that he's having."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of “Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!” by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez helps teammates, likes Pete Crow-Armstrong
Continue reading...
It's a lesson learned over 12 years in the big leagues.
The 32-year-old — who won the World Series in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs — encourages his teammates to be themselves on the field. That means not being afraid to make in-game mistakes on offense or defense.
He tells them to play with freedom.
Celebrate Father's Day with our commemorative Tigers book!
"We already play with a lot of pressure," said Báez, hitting .270 with six home runs and a .733 OPS in 51 games. "To go out there and be ourselves — play like we do, make mistakes like we do and make adjustments like we do — is the best thing we can do to get better every day. You learn something every day. But you also want to do something to help the team every day."
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MORE ABOUT HIM: Javier Báez is turning into star player Tigers once expected
Everybody makes mistakes.
But Báez knows they're never on purpose.
That's why he wants his teammates to continue playing free.
"We don't want to make errors," Báez said, "but when we do, we got to be honest to ourselves and realize why we missed it or how we missed it, and then just make the adjustment and keep moving."
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Watching Pete Crow-Armstrong
In July 2021, the Cubs traded Báez (with reliever Trevor Williams and cash considerations) to the New York Mets for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed hitting center fielder selected as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Nearly four years later, Crow-Armstrong is one of the best players in baseball in his third season with the Cubs. The 23-year-old is hitting .281 with 15 home runs and an .881 OPS in 60 games, along with 21 stolen bases.
"I have been seeing the type of athlete he is," said Báez, who returned to Chicago on Monday, June 2, for a series between the Tigers and White Sox at Rate Field. "He's a really good athlete."
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Javier Báez returns to Wrigley Field with Tigers, thinks 'every day' about 2016 Cubs
You must be registered for see images attach
In Chicago, Crow-Armstrong is believed to be the best athlete to wear a Cubs uniform since Báez.
"If they say it, then it's for a reason," Báez said.
They have similarities in the way they play the game, highlighted by flashy defense, sharp instincts on the bases and a free-swinging approach at the plate.
It's no surprise Crow-Armstrong considered Báez one of his favorite players growing up.
"It feels great, honestly, that people look up to me, even in not my best moments," Báez said. "That's what I tell young guys. Not to copy — but take some stuff from the players that they look up to and just do it yourself with your style. If it works, you got to keep using it."
[ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER!Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ]
Crow-Armstrong is the only MLB player on pace this season for 40 homers and 40 steals, doing his part in guiding the Cubs to a 37-22 record — second-best in the National League.
The Tigers are 40-22, best in the American League.
There will be a clash between the Tigers and Cubs in an upcoming three-game series at Comerica Park, but Báez is already eyeing a World Series showdown.
"I feel great for the Cubs that they're playing really good baseball too," said Báez, who played for the Cubs from 2014-21. "But honestly, I'm just trying to stay healthy myself, trying to play the whole season. Hopefully, we play against them in the playoffs."
Stepping up for Parker Meadows
Parker Meadows — the Tigers' everyday center fielder — returned from the injured list for Monday's game, making his season debut. The return of Meadows (and Wenceel Pérez) pushed Báez back to the infield after two months in center.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Gold Glove-winning shortstop had never played center in his professional career, but he looked like a mainstay while providing much-needed stability at the position.
"Mentally, all my career I knew I could play outfield," Báez said.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Báez will primarily play shortstop and third base, but he could see action in the corner outfield positions, especially in late-game situations.
"There were a couple of guys that started the year on the injured list," Báez said, referencing Meadows, Pérez and Matt Vierling. "I don't want to say that was good for us, but it would've been different if they would've started the year and then got hurt during the season. Coming back, they're only going to make the team better."
Respect for Tarik Skubal
Left-hander Tarik Skubal — the reigning AL Cy Young winner — owns a 2.26 ERA with seven walks and 99 strikeouts across 75⅔ innings in 12 starts. The 28-year-old is trending toward repeating as the Cy Young winner, which would make him the first AL pitcher to do so since Pedro Martínez in 1999-2000.
Báez praised Skubal.
It's clear he respects him.
"It's fun to see what he does," Báez said. "It's kind of boring sometimes when you're playing defense. But the way he prepares. He's a monster, honestly. Every day that he pitches, and every off day, he's here in the clubhouse doing something — in the weight room, lifting, doing something. He prepares really good for the success that he's having."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of “Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!” by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez helps teammates, likes Pete Crow-Armstrong
Continue reading...
