Mariners troll Bauer, say they ‘weren’t trying’
Trevor Bauer has knack being unbearable.
After trying to claim the three homers he was tagged with by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning of their Cactus League game Monday was because he was “trying to get my pitch count up,” Mariners’ manager Scott Servais shot back.
“Certainly Bauer was on top of his game early and I just want everybody to know that our guys weren’t trying the first four innings,” Servais said over a conference call on Tuesday. “We decided to try in the fifth inning last night and it worked out. Our guys started trying. I know he said he wasn’t in the fifth, but our guys were trying in the fifth, they just didn’t take it seriously the first three, four innings.
“Our guys were hitting with one eye shut the first four innings and trying to breathe through our eyelids because we’re focusing on different things that will help us through the year,” Servais said when asked whether the Mariners had faced Bauer with both eyes open. Servais emphasized his sarcasm by taking a page out of Bauer’s book and jabbing at one of Bauer’s early interviews of spring training this year, when he said he had been pitching with one eye closed because he wanted to try something out.
Bauer and the Dodgers led the Mariners 2-0 until the fifth inning on Monday. He was tagged with five runs including three homers by Evan White, Jose Marmolejos, and Mitch Haniger. The Mariners went on to win 7-3.
“There really wasn’t thought of sequencing for any or whatever,” Bauer said of his last inning meltdown. “I was just throwing pitches. That’s not a really good mind frame to be in when you’re trying to get guys out. But I was just finishing off the night.”
TATIS FEELING BETTER
Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was feeling better a day after coming out of a game due to left shoulder discomfort, leaving the San Diego Padres and their fans breathing easier.
“He’s feeling really good today. In fact he was lobbying to get in the lineup today, so I thought that was very encouraging,” manager Jayce Tingler said Wednesday during a videoconference from Peoria, Arizona.
“He’s going to have a good work day today and we’ll kind of see where it goes. I think everybody’s kind of expecting him to be back in the lineup in the next day or two. Very encouraging news,“he said.
The sight of the electrifying 22-year-old suddenly leaving Tuesday’s game after making a backhanded play was a jolt to the Padres, who have high expectations for this season coming off San Diego’s first playoff appearance in 14 years. Tatis has quickly become one of the faces of baseball, and last month he signed the longest deal in major league history, for 14 years and $340 million.
Tatis fielded the ball hit by Cincinnati’s Jonathan India, made a one-hop throw to first base and then began walking off the field. He was met by Tingler and a trainer. After a few minutes in the dugout, Tatis headed toward the clubhouse accompanied by a trainer.