On the eve of the Los Angeles Dodgers playing their home opener and holding the World Series ring ceremony, a report indicated Trevor Bauer was under investigation by MLB for baseballs used during his start against the Oakland Athletics.
MLB informed all teams prior to Opening Day that they would be collecting baseballs from games and using Statcast data to analyze spin rates in effort to better determine if — or what — pitchers may be using to gain a competitive advantage. MLB has banned foreign substances but loosely policed the rule.
Bauer called the report into question on social media, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believed the right-hander was being isolated and targeted. After Bauer’s dominant performance in his home debut at Dodger Stadium, the conversation shifted to MLB’s reported investigation.
“Gossip bloggers writing stuff and having no clue about the actual rule or actually knowing the rule, but intentionally writing something without going and investigating,” Bauer began. “I don’t know what the hell that report was about. Basically, so I can explain to everybody what the actual rule is, MLB is just collecting baseballs to do a study.
“They’re not doing anything with them. No one is under investigation. These gossip bloggers just out here writing stuff to try to throw water on my name or whatever. I don’t know. Just personal vendettas, I guess.”
Bauer has not spoken with anyone from the league’s office about the baseballs used, nor does he expect to. “There wouldn’t be any communication because they’re just collecting baseballs from every single game and every single pitcher, and doing an internal study,” he added.
“I don’t know why they would communicate with me, because nothing is different from the baseballs they took from me and baseballs they took from every other pitcher in that game and baseballs they’ve taken in every other game during the season. There’s literally no difference between any of that.
“So when you have somebody that intentionally comes out and writes something slanted — I’m all for a clickbait headline. I get the benefit of that.
“But when you’re going to sit there and write an article and not even go and understand the rule or intentionally ignore the fact that you know the rule just so you can intentionally pile on someone, that’s such a joke of an article.”
Bauer felt no-hitter was within grasp
Other than issuing back-to-back walks in the second inning, Bauer was nearly flawless against the Colorado Rockies. He allowed just one hit — on a swinging bunt — and collected nine strikeouts over seven shutout innings.
“I was a sliding backhand away from probably throwing a no-hitter,” Bauer said of the infield single. “I had really good stuff. I wish I could’ve been a little more accurate on that throw.”
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