(AUDACY) Cubs shortstop Javier Baez earned Gold Glove honors in 2020, but you wouldn't know it watching him on one particular play against the Brewers on Monday evening. Baez delivered one of the worst throws you'll see a big league shortstop make, sailing his throw way over first base on a Billy McKinney chopper to lead off the bottom half of the seventh inning.
Baez did well to scoop it, but with McKinney jetting down the line, perhaps he should've kept it in his pocket. Of course, that's not what Baez did. If it was a few years ago, Baez could've taken someone's head off in the stands, but instead his errant throw harmlessly caromed off the infield netting, preventing a Chuck Knoblauch incident in the Miller Park peanut gallery.
McKinney was credited with an infield single on the play and awarded second on the throwing error by Baez, his second of 2021. The Cubs escaped the inning without further incident, but the Brewers went on to win 6-3.
Baez, who's slated to hit free agency after this season, plated two of Chicago's three runs in the losing effort. It's been a tough start for the Cubs, who have strung together just 49 hits in the early going,the second-fewest of any team in history through its first 10 games. Of course, with 94% of the season still to go, the slumping Cubs still have plenty of time to right the ship.
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