1
Major League Cy Young Award pitcher Trevor Bauer (34) was again hammered in Japan (NPB). He has recently lost four consecutive games. In particular, he has struggled with 12 earned runs over two games.
However, a bigger problem emerged. After being replaced, he had a loud verbal confrontation with a coach in the dugout. This scene was captured on the TV broadcast.
Bauer of the Yokohama DeNA BASS was the starting pitcher against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome on the 28th, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings and being credited with the loss. His season record is 4 wins and 6 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) rising to 3.88.
He managed to endure with two earned runs until the fifth inning. The problem arose during the bottom of the sixth, when they were trailing 0-2.
Bauer succumbed to a single and a double from the 7th and 8th batters, putting him in a crisis with no outs and runners on second and third. The next batter was number 9, pitcher Foster Griffin. Since he was pitching scoreless, Yomiuri did not use a pinch hitter. The result was a strikeout. Bauer let out a sigh of relief.
Then the DeNA bench decided to gamble. They opted for an intentional walk against the next batter (number 1, Yamamoto Yoshihiro), loading the bases with one out and pulling all the infielders in. The plan was to end the inning with a double play.
However, the strategy ended in failure. The ball hit by the second batter, Okoe Rui, slipped past the shortstop who was playing in defense. It rolled to the left-center field wall. The hit became a three-run triple, widening the score to 5-0.
The noise at Tokyo Dome increased during the next scene. The DeNA bench decided to replace the pitcher. Starter Bauer had already thrown 104 pitches, so there was no need for him to stay any longer.
A timeout was called, and a coach went up to the mound. Meanwhile, catcher Ito Hikaru was talking to the pitcher. Bauer spread his arms and pouted. This is a common gesture among Americans, expressing feelings of 'I don't understand' and 'something went wrong.'
Bauer handed the ball over quietly and headed for the dugout. However, he showed another uncomfortable expression there. He loudly expressed some dissatisfaction to the approaching Shinsuke Ohara (39), the pitching coach. He then immediately exited to the back of the bench.
After the game, reporters continued to ask about this scene. Through an interpreter, Bauer said it was 'a discussion of personal matters' and kept silent.
Coach Ohara also avoided giving a direct answer, saying, 'It's not something to mention.' However, he noted, 'It's a problem that we need to talk about and resolve with Bauer. It's not that bad. I’m not worried.'
However, according to a report by Nikkan Sports, the dissatisfaction was related to the defensive shift. Bauer felt that the ball hit was a grounder that could become a double play upon contact. However, he couldn't contain his anger that it slipped past and became a triple.
In other words, with a proper shift or at least mid-range defense, the shortstop would have moved towards second base to field the ground ball. This means it was a hit that could have connected for a 6-4-3 double play. He believed it became a hit because they pulled the infielders in too much.
Miura Daisuke (51), the manager, conveyed a similar feeling in his post-game interview. He explained the situation at the time: 'The strategy was to intentionally walk and load the bases while going for a home double play.'
Manager Miura and Coach Ohara couldn't provide a clear answer about Bauer's upcoming schedule. They stated, 'We need to review sufficiently before making a conclusion regarding the next game.' There are also suggestions that he may need to be excluded from the entry for some time to regroup.
However, Bauer expressed his frustrations. 'I get a lot of strikeouts, but I’m also giving up many hits. It's hard to understand. While targeting the corners, I’m also increasing walks. I'm trying various things, but it's not working out well. It’s frustrating,' he conveyed.
He also noted, 'I've experienced feelings of discouragement and depression before. Back then, I could overcome it through various efforts, but now it's a bit different. I can't see ahead. This is the first time experiencing something like this,' expressing his confusion.
The previous game was an interleague match against the Chiba Lotte Marines. He was hammered for 7 earned runs in one inning against the team at the bottom of the Pacific League, enduring the humiliation of being removed after the minimum innings since his NPB debut.
There have been many episodes related to his character during his time in Major League Baseball. However, during his activities in Japan in 2023 and this season, he has been getting along well (within the team) without much noise. In fact, he was reported to take good care of those around him.
He has a one-year contract with DeNA this year. He is reported to receive an annual salary of 900 million yen (approximately 85 million won).
[OSEN]