CHICAGO -- Surely you've watched every moment over and over again by now, from Javier Baez's Game 1-sealing home run to the improbable ninth-inning rally in Chicago's NLDS-clinching Game 4 victory. Before we get to the NLCS, let’s review what we learned -- and what it means going forward -- from watching the Chicago Cubs take down the San Francisco Giants in a dramatic NLDS victory:

Baez is an everyday starter

Those who didn’t watch the Cubs all season might not know that Baez didn’t play every day. He got his time in at second and third base, but only when the matchup was right or manager Joe Maddon wanted to rest others. Baez ended up with 450 plate appearances but never was entrenched.

Javier Baez is quickly coming of age and now is firmly entrenched as the Cubs' starter at second base. Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports

Now? Maddon won’t move Baez off second base, a position the Cubs quasi-promised to Ben Zobrist last winter. Zobrist has been relegated to outfield duty, and even he understands why.

“Javy is playing great,” Zobrist said simply, with a shrug.

Baez is too valuable a defender to not have him in the middle of the infield, as evidenced by the multiple plays he made -- or nearly made -- the past four games. Plus, his bat has caught up to his glove, as he went 6-for-16 with a home run, a walk and two game-winning RBIs in the series. Maddon will have a wonderful challenge on his hands when Kyle Schwarber returns next season, as the Cubs have too many good players. The latest star to emerge isn’t going anywhere -- except to his position at second base.

Young players look ready

Playing off the Baez storyline, the Cubs employ incredibly mature young players. Last season, it was Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber proving they belong. Now a new wave is coming through, including Baez, Willson Contreras, Albert Almora Jr. and Carl Edwards Jr. Like Baez, the latter three all had their moments, especially Contreras and Almora. A game-tying hit (Contreras, Game 4) and a game-saving catch (Almora, Game 3) are part of Cubs history now. It invokes a saying often heard about last year’s rookie crop: These kids can play. More importantly, Maddon isn’t afraid to use them.

Maddon will try anything to win

Perhaps it’s not all that surprising, as it’s the playoffs, but Maddon is willing to try anything and everything to get the matchup he wants. Sometimes, it backfires (see the eighth inning of Game 3), but sometimes it works to perfection. His move to pinch hit for Russell in the ninth inning of Game 4 might go down as one of the best of the postseason. This was a player with 95 RBIs but one who was struggling in the series. Not only did Maddon sit Russell, but he also burned Chris Coghlan in favor of Contreras. It was all to get the matchup with lefty Will Smith. Game, set, match. Contreras singled home two runs, and the Cubs never looked back.

It isn't just the in-game moves, though. Maddon benched Jason Heyward in Game 3 and used three different catchers in the first three games of the series, including starting Miguel Montero against the lefty Madison Bumgarner. The Cubs manager has a reputation for being unpredictable, and he lived up to it in the series. The eighth inning in Game 3 didn’t work out, but nearly everything else did.

Cubs’ pitching looks a little vulnerable

Slowly but surely, the Giants started to get to Cubs pitching. First, Aroldis Chapman looked hittable in Game 3, then John Lackey didn’t exactly rise to the occasion, as many thought he would in Game 4. Reliever Justin Grimm was hit hard Tuesday. There were enough cracks in the armor to be more concerned than before the series began but not enough to cause a panic. Still, the Cubs gave up 11 runs in the final two games -- a pretty high total for the best staff in the league against a weak-hitting opponent. The good news is Games 1 and 2 were terrifically pitched, so there’s little doubt the Cubs can return to form.