Coming off a torrid three-game stretch on the road against the Dodgers, Cubs infielder Javy Baez asked manager Joe Maddon if he can just play all his games in Los Angeles for the rest of the year.
“We were on our way to the airport and Javy comes up to me all sad,” said Maddon. “‘Hey coach,’ he says, ‘after the series I just had in Los Angeles, do you think I can just stay and play baseball here?'”
Added Maddon: “Unfortunately, I had to break it to him that the rules didn’t allow that and that he’d have to come back to Chicago with the team to take on the Twins tomorrow.”
Maddon added that he did briefly consider leaving injured ace Yu Darvish behind with his former club, but thought that wasn’t fair to anyone.
“I try really hard to be a good guy,” said Maddon. “How could I do something like that to Yu? Maybe if he’s not ready to pitch by the All-Star break we’ll consider it a little more seriously.”
