Chicago Cubs' Baez enjoying the upgrade
Javier Baez walked into the new Chicago Cubs clubhouse Friday and did at least a double take.
"I pretty much got lost," he said. "It's amazing. It's different. Way different."
The Cubs activated Baez off the disabled list and optioned infielder Munenori Kawasaki to Class AAA Iowa.
Baez had been on the DL since Opening Day with a bruised left thumb. In his four-game rehab at Iowa, he went 4-for-15 with a homer. He batted .289 (22-for-76) with 6 doubles, 1 home run and 4 RBI in 28 games with the Cubs last year.
Baez's return to the active roster gives manager Joe Maddon some flexibility in getting one or two of his regulars a day off this weekend. Maddon said he would use Baez "all over the place."
The 23-year-old Baez was the Cubs' first-round draft choice in 2011. Entering Friday, he had 80 games of big-league experience, batting .201 with 10 homers and 119 strikeouts in 289 at-bats.
"It's about making adjustments," he said. "These last couple of years have been up and down."
Here's to you:
Joe Maddon spoke highly of Munenori Kawasaki, even though the Cubs sent him to Iowa.
"I talked to him yesterday," Maddon said. "I wanted him to know, and I've said this before and I'll say it again: He's recognized for his entertainment value, but this guy's also a really good major-league baseball player. He's a very good infielder. He works a good at-bat. He runs the bases well. He's fast.
"We love having him here. He absolutely is a force multiplier. He makes us better. He will be back at some point. He handled it like a pro.
"Last night was probably the first time I shared a glass of wine with somebody I was sending down. We cheered. We toasted each other. It was a very warm moment. It was actually a very tasty moment."
Honoring Jackie:
Both the Cubs and Rockies honored the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the modern-day color barrier by having each player wear No. 42 on his back. Robinson made his big-league debut April 15, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After Friday's game, Joe Maddon spoke on behalf of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
This and that:
Third baseman Kris Bryant committed 2 errors in a game for the first time in his career Friday. … Kyle Hendricks suffered the first loss for a Cubs starting pitcher this season. The starters are 7-1. … The Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez has hit safely in his last 20 games, dating to Sept. 23 of last season.