After yet one more Spring through which Trevor Bauer posts pics of himself at Spring Training and tries to persuade us all that he has simply tons of support and curiosity amongst MLB groups who need to rent him however can’t, Bauer has lastly been signed — by a Japanese journey staff referred to as Asian Breeze.
In accordance with the Asian Breeze website, the staff describes itself as offering “opportunities for baseball players, from children to young people, who will create the next generation of Japanese baseball players, to think and act on their own through overseas challenges, and to develop ‘independence’ to grow themselves.”
Asian Breeze doesn’t play in Japan, nevertheless — the membership is predicated in Phoenix. Bauer will play video games with MLB-affiliated groups and goal for knowledgeable contract, in accordance with the staff.
“It is a perfect environment for players to compete against players who are in the development process of the MLB organization, learn about their current position, and grow their baseball career at an explosive pace,” per the Asian Breeze (h/t Google Translate).
All that positively seems like a good suggestion for Bauer, particularly the half about rising by means of challenges. If you recognize something in regards to the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, he feels that he has been very challenged, professionally, ever since Main League Baseball suspended him for 194 video games — the longest suspension in main league historical past. The Asian Breeze signing appears underwhelming for a man who offered to play for the league minimum simply to get again on to an MLB staff. And is certainly a blow to Bauer’s plan to persuade some hapless large league entrance workplace to signal him.
Bauer, in his quest to return to MLB, even went as far as to present an interview to the LA Occasions this Spring to show how a lot he’s grown and altered because of being accused of abuse and sexual misconduct by *checks notes* now four women. (Bauer has denied any wrongdoing.)
The gist of the interview was that staff writer Bill Shaikin role-played an MLB proprietor asking Bauer some arduous questions and, whereas there have been a number of issues I want Shaikin would have countered with — the testimony of the SART nurse at one among Bauer’s authorized hearings, for instance — Shaikin did an admirable job within the face of a person who’s satisfied he’s been wrongfully accused. Notably, Bauer mentioned “evidence that was kept from” himself and his authorized staff, which features a video of one among his accusers, Lindsay Hill, that he claims proves his innocence.
Right here’s how that change went down:
Bauer: “Also, there was evidence that was kept from us that has been extremely useful in showing what actually happened. Specifically, there is video that was taken by Lindsey Hill that showed exactly what she looked like when she left my place. It was not turned over to us during the original DVRO (domestic violence restraining order) hearing. Had I not sued her, I never would have had that video to prove my innocence.
Shaikin: I want to step in here. MLB had access to that video during their investigation. I have read that, in your arbitration hearing, that video was extensively discussed. The rulings that the judge made in the case against Lindsey Hill, before it was settled, brought front and center the idea that actually there was no judicial conclusion. His quote was: “The state court proceedings (the restraining order hearing) did not necessarily decide that Bauer did not batter or sexually assault Hill.” He mentioned: “Notwithstanding Hill’s consent to some form of rough sex, Bauer engaged in acts while Hill was unconscious, when she was physically and legally unable to give consent.”
At that time, Bauer’s agent, Rachel Luba, stepped in and went backwards and forwards with Skaikin for a bit. Then:
Shaikin: If innocence is what you might be actually after, then you may have gone to trial.
Bauer: To complete up what I used to be saying: Sure, MLB had the video. It was a part of MLB’s listening to, and I can’t converse publicly about that. With a purpose to get that out and converse publicly about that, I needed to sue to get it.
Shaikin makes a great level that all the pieces Bauer claims factors to his innocence was obtainable to MLB throughout his disciplinary listening to, at which level Bauer presumably had the possibility to argue his innocence and current all his proof. They suspended him anyway.
Bauer additionally speaks to all of the “mistakes” he’s made with the media, saying, “In my interactions with media over the years, I’ve made the situation a lot more difficult for a lot of people. I could have made things easier for the Dodgers, for the league, for my teammates.” Bauer additionally claimed that his combative tone with the media was because of childhood bullying. “I’ve done a lot of reflection over the past three years and tried to figure out why I responded that way. I think it was because I never really had a voice as a kid. I was bullied a lot. My life got significantly better when I started sticking up for myself, speaking up and fighting back. I let that play out too long and didn’t adjust the way I operate. So, any time someone would say something negative, I would just fight back.”
You would possibly learn this and say, “Wow, maybe Trevor Bauer is doing a lot of soul-searching during his time off. Maybe he really does want to change.” However wait! Wouldn’t it change your thoughts if I advised you that, just some brief days later, Bauer despatched his attorneys after MLB reporter Craig Calcaterra?
Bauer in all probability thought he got here off fairly slick in his time with Shaikin. In spite of everything, he reminds us within the interview what a wise man he’s. Not lengthy after the Shaikin interview, Bauer took half in a “Bloggers vs. Bauer” hit with Barfstool Sports activities and, nicely, let’s simply say it’s not nice when a blogger is ready to get two hits and a stroll off of a professional baseball participant who’s insisting that his previous is the one factor holding him from the majors. I can’t think about any purpose why Bauer would submit this video, apart from a “See! People like me! Some people like me!” try. To which, I must say I agree. There are many people who like Trevor Bauer. They aren’t males I’d ever need to be alone in a room with, however they’re on the market.
I don’t know who Bauer will get his recommendation from, however he must take heed to another person. Bauer’s solely transfer, regardless of how good he thinks he’s, is repeating that he’s in the perfect form of his life, making an attempt to persuade his military of man-boys that the ladies accusing him are liars, and assuring MLB groups that any blowback from signing him would blow over in a short while. Trevor Bauer could have a horde of adoring males — who don’t assume being accused of sexual violence is an issue — following him and utilizing his tweets to verify their sexist worldview, however as a lady on the web, I can promise you that feminine followers would not recover from their staff signing Bauer any time quickly.
None of it is a nice search for a man making an attempt to worm his approach again into the nice graces of any MLB entrance workplace who may have him. And, no matter he thinks, there’s nothing Bauer has mentioned lately that may give an MLB staff peace of thoughts that he’s completed any reflecting on the rationale he’s not in MLB within the first place, or that he’d do something in another way going ahead. A minimum of on this concern, MLB groups are smarter than we thought.
