DETROIT— When former Cubs star Javy Báez got to his locker after beating the White Sox in the ninth inning of Friday’s season opener, a familiar face from Chicago stood out among the throng of Detroit media waiting to greet him.
“Some things never change,” said the media wag.
“The strikeouts?” Báez said, “or the swings?”
Exactly.
Báez made a Detroit entrance for the Tigers’ as their big-money shortstop worthy of his Cubs debut eight years ago — when he beat the Rockies with a 12th inning home run at Coors Field. After striking out three times.
On this cloudy, damp day, he already was a well-known, $140-million commodity, playing before a sold-out home crowd at Comerica Park chanting “Ja-vy, Ja-vy, Ja-vy” for each of his late-inning at-bats — including a single during a game-tying rally in the eighth.
Before that he struck out twice — including a trademark, massive, violent swing-and-miss on the first pitch he saw as a Tiger.
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Along the way he delivered a fielding gem in the hole to steal an out.
Talk about a debut.
Talk about the full El Mago.
“We missed the walk and the throwing error,” Baez said with a laugh. “Pretty good day today.”
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Whether his grand entrance on this next big-league stage in his new big-league home mattered any more because it was broadcast back to baseball fans in Chicago, Báez smiled when asked.
“I’m focused,” he said, suddenly getting animated with both hands as he answered. “But Chicago’s a great city. The organization was unbelievable to me and my family. The city was incredible, too. I might move there after my career; I don’t know.
“I just thank them for their support, and obviously we won,” he added, looking down at the huge 2016 World Series tattoo on his left arm.
“It’s the next chapter now,” he said. “And let’s try to win here.”