Bauer feud adds spice to All-Star game

Many adjectives describe Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer — eccentric, intense, weird, intuitive, provocative, intelligent … the list goes on.

And now AllStar can be added to the list.

Bauer is a one of five Indians players who will represent the American League on July 17 in the All-Star Game in Washington. This is Bauer’s first time as an All-Star. It will not be his last if he meets his own expectations.

The other four Indians heading to the nation’s capital next week — shortstop Francisco Lindor (his third), third baseman Jose Ramirez (second), left fielder Michael Brantley (third) and pitcher Corey Kluber (third) — are All-Star veterans.

Making the honor unique for Bauer isn’t just the fact this will be his first All-Star appearance. It’s that Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch is managing the American League team because the Astros won the AL pennant in 2017.

Why is that situation unique, you ask? Back in May, Bauer used Twitter to imply the Astros pitchers cheat by doctoring the ball with pine tar or some other substance to get increased spin rate on their pitches, making them more difficult to hit.

“If only there was just a really quick way to increase spin rate,” Bauer tweeted. “Like what if you could trade for a player knowing that you could bump his spin rate a couple hundred rpm overnight...imagine the steals you could get on the trade market! If only that existed...”

Bauer was responding to Kyle Boddy of Driveline Baseball, who started the brushfire by tweeting: “Are Astros doctoring baseball or throwing spit balls? Look at spin rates of [Justin] Verlander, [Gerrit] Cole and [Charlie] Morton, increased dramatically pitching in Astros uniform. They (sic) probably using a substance or like chewing gum like Morton did like postseason.”

Hinch wasn’t happy with Bauer insinuating the Houston pitchers cheat.

“I do think people need to sweep their own front porch and deal with their own situations rather than throw accusations that are unfounded,” Hinch told reporters in Houston on May 2. “He’s decided to make himself front and center on dealing with baseball curiosities.”

Stronger denials have been recorded down through history.

So now Hinch will decide whether his accuser gets the honor of pitching in the All-Star game.

Bauer, 8-6 with a 2.45 ERA, is listed as the Indians starter for the game with the Cincinnati Reds on July 10 at Progressive Field. His next turn would be July 15 in the series finale against the Yankees — two days before the AllStar game. Pitching with one day to rest would be a challenge even for the rubber-armed Bauer. So that could be another factor in whether he pitches for the American League.

Still, Bauer is an AllStar, and that won’t change. He was selected by the commissioner’s office as a replacement for Verlander, who is declining to pitch in the All-Star game.

“It’s going to be pretty awesome being on the field with the best players the game and the world has to offer,” Bauer said in the Indians clubhouse on July 9 before the series opener with the Reds. “I’m pitching well and I’m happy about that for sure. But there are always you can get better at and things I plan to get better at.

“I want to throw the ball harder and command the ball better. My pitching repertoire is where I want it to be — they’re all good — but understand hitters’ swings better (is a goal). The physical stuff — I recover better than almost anyone I know, but I can recover better. I have a lot of plans.”

Bauer’s best pitch is his curveball. He throws his fastball around 94 mph and throws a change-up. He added a slider to his bag of tricks last offseason.

Bauer has pitched six consecutive quality starts while striking out eight or more batters without allowing a home run each time. That ties a record for the longest such streak shared by five other pitchers since the start of the live-ball era in 1920.

So despite the modest won-lost record of 8-6, Bauer definitely deserves the All-Star recognition. The question whether Hinch will give him the chance to experience it on the mound won’t be answered until game night.

“I never said anything about the Astros pitchers,” Bauer said. “I’m excited to be in the All-Star game. That’s all I have to say about that.”

Technically, that’s true. Bauer never mentioned “Houston,” “Astros” or any pitcher by name is his tweets. Maybe he has a future as a lawyer when his playing days end.