Tigers Bench Javier Báez After Repeated Baserunning Mistakes

Javier Báez, the shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, left the field against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night after making two straight base-running mistakes.

Tigers Bench Javier Báez After Repeated Baserunning Mistakes

After the second inning, Báez was removed after being doubled off at the second base as a result of losing count of the number of outs. After having a delayed start out of the batter’s box while watching what he believed to be a home run, he legged out a double off Toronto’s Chris Bassitt in the top of the second inning, marking his first extra-base hit of the year.

In the Tigers’ subsequent at-bat, Akil Baddoo lined out to the centre field, although it seemed Báez was unaware that this was only the second out of the inning. He ran on contact and didn’t tag up before advancing to third, running into a double play to end the inning.

As he made his way back to the bench, Báez was clearly agitated.

Báez said that because he was hitting sixth, lower in the lineup than normal, and thought he was Detroit’s third hitter of the inning, he lost count of the outs.

“My mind is everywhere right now,” Báez said. “I’m just trying to focus on my hitting and my timing and other stuff.”

After the inning, Báez and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch made a brief trip to the clubhouse. Báez signalled the conclusion of his night by emptying his pockets of sunflower seeds, taking his jersey out of the truck, grabbing his glove, and returning to the clubhouse.

“Obviously we’ve got to show respect to the game,” Báez said. “He took a decision and I respect that. He’s the manager and we’ve got to respect what he does.”

It was “very rare” for Báez to make such a mistake, according to Hinch.

“He’s one of the better baseball minds on our team,” Hinch said. “It’s a big move because we take a potent bat out of our lineup.”

Baez was replaced at shortstop by Nick Maton, who moved from third, and Jonathan Schoop came in at third. Game score: 3-1 in favour of the Tigers.

Báez currently has a career-low .122 batting average, with eight strikeouts, five hits and no home runs in 41 at-bats.

 

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