Cubs And Pirates React To Insane Javier Baez Play

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez is the talk of the sports world after pulling off a Houdini act on the base paths to somehow get a run across for his team during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

It (obviously) helped that the Pirates played the whole thing like a bunch of idiots, and chased Javy between first and home instead of just stepping on the first base bag to end the inning. But it was truly an incredible play, nonetheless.

Check it out:

Javy Baez is a magicianpic.twitter.com/PSXBHZzQMx

— Awesemo (@Awesemo_Com) May 27, 2021

Javier Baez Just Had One Of The Most Unbelievable Baserunning Plays I’ve Ever Seenhttps://t.co/cXVZF5tMLD

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) May 27, 2021

[sportsbookaffiliates]

After the game, Baez talked about what was going through his head during the play.

BAez: “My first thought was to go headfirst, pretty much out of the baseline but the throw got there so early. I was just trying to make Willy score even though there were two outs.

“When I called safe, I remember that I had to go to first. I was pretty tired.”

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 27, 2021

Baez: "I'm pretty good at tagging and not letting people tag me.”

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 27, 2021

Manager David Ross chalked the whole thing up to Javy being Javy.

More #Cubs manager David Ross on Javy Baez's shrewd baserunning play that turns a routine out into two runs. "Only Javy disappears on the basepaths. He really is a magic act.''

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 27, 2021

For the Pirates, manager Derek Shelton honorably took the blame for the whole thing, saying he’s responsible for making sure first baseman Will Craig knew that all he had to do was touch the bag in that situation.

Derek Shelton: "That's on me. Bag hasn't moved in 140 years. Our guy has to know the rule. That's on me."

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) May 27, 2021

Pitcher Tyler Anderson also tried to take some of the heat off of Will Craig, saying Pirates players should have been yelling for him to step on the bag.

Tyler Anderson said no one was yelling 'go to first' or anything. Said it was quiet. Team is def taking some heat off of Craig

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 27, 2021

While the Pirates certainly exposed their ineptitude, we can also marvel at what Javier Baez is able to do on a baseball field.

It’s probably safe to say that we’ll never see a play like this ever again.

Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!