What is this piece of advice Little League coaches always give their kids – keep an eye on the ball, right?
Trevor Bauer gave this idea a new twist.
The new Los Angeles Dodgers ace was eager to challenge himself in a spring training start and kept his right eye closed as it pulled out of a first inning jam on Saturday.
He even pointed to the eye as he walked down the hill.
“I like to feel uncomfortable, throwing different things my way and trying to find a solution,” the NL Cy Young Award winner told the Los Angeles media.
“I think this is how you improve yourself. Find a way to make yourself feel uncomfortable, familiarize yourself with it, and then do it again, ”he said.
After giving a single to Jurickson Profar, the leader of San Diego, and then going for a walk with Tommy Pham, Bauer announced a shutout. With his eyes closed, he withdrew the next three batters.
With the creative approach, Bauer threw three scoreless innings, hit three, and allowed two hits and a walk.
“I thought if they couldn’t evaluate me with one eye open it would be difficult to evaluate me with two eyes open,” said Bauer. “Just have a little fun.”
Earlier this week, when he signed a three-year $ 102 million deal after leaving the Cincinnati Reds, he threw two innings on his show debut.
Bauer is known to speak his mind and go his own way. He said he regularly closed one eye during bullpen sessions and other workouts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw it firsthand this time around.
“I noticed it. It was the right eye that was closed on a handful of spaces, ”he said. “I think if he can’t get his command, that will recalibrate him. I think there was a curveball that he closed with both eyes. “
PADRES 2, DODGERS 1 (7 INNINGS)
Chris Paddack allowed two hits in two scoreless innings on his second start for San Diego. Keone Kela worked a perfect fifth inning and knocked the side out.
Matt Davidson doubled up and singled for the Dodgers.
Jacob deGrom threw two goalless innings on his spring debut, hit three, and allowed one hit. The two-time NL Cy Young Award also got the word out, not that there was any doubt that it would begin with the opening on April 1st in Washington.
Pete Alonso scored an RBI double against Houston starter Zack Greinke. James McCann doubled and singled and Dominic Smith returned to New York. The closer Edwin Diaz followed deGrom and threw a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout on his first appearance.
Greinke gave up two hits in his only inning.
NATIONALS 5, MARLINS 3 (6)
Patrick Corbin made his first start for Washington, throwing two innings and allowing a two-hit run while scoring three hits. Yan Gomes and Andrew Stevenson had RBI singles for the Nats.
Sandy Alcantara made his second start for Miami, scoring six hits in 2 1/3 innings. He gave up two hits and two walks. Garrett Cooper homered and Jesus Aguilar had an RBI single.
BLUE JAYS 7, PHILLIES 1 (7)
Newcomer Tanner Roark made his first start for Toronto, allowing a goal in two goalless innings. George Springer singled, stole second place, and hit Bo Bichette’s single.
Odúbel Herrera was a single player, finished third in Alex Bohm’s doubles and scored on a wild field for Philadelphia’s only run.
New York manager Aaron Boone returned to the shelter three days after the operation for a pacemaker. Boone, who will be 48 in a few days, returned to camp after clearing the COVID-19 logs and said he was feeling great.
Jameson Taillon made his first start for the Yankees, playing against the team that brought him to New York that winter. He hit four over two scoreless innings. Jay Bruce and Clint Frazier met.
Gregory Polanco came home with three goals for Pittsburgh. He already has eight RBIs in the exhibition game. Fighting for last place in the rotation, Cody Ponce made his first start. Ponce worked on an inning, gave up Bruce’s home run and walked two.
WHITE SOX 7, INDIANS 0 (7)
Reynaldo Lopez retired all six batters he faced at the start for the White Sox. Five pitchers joined forces to exclude the Indians on three hits.
Scott Moss started for Cleveland, allowing two runs with three hits and a walk for two innings. Bryan Shaw went two and allowed two runs with two hits but hit three over two innings.
Mike Minor retired all six batters he faced on his two-inning start for Kansas City and fanned out three. Bobby Witt Jr., the 2019 Minor League Draft Second Pick, has been homered and singled.
San Francisco starter Johnny Cueto knocked out four of the seven batters he faced in his two innings. Evan Longoria doubled up and did three runs, and Donovan Solano faced the Giants.
Shelby Miller scored three hits in the two-inning start for the Cubs, and Joc Pederson hit his second homer of the spring.
Brett Anderson went one and hit two in the one-inning start for Milwaukee, and Josh Lindblom followed up with two solid innings of relief, hit three and allowed a hit.
Brewers’ infielder Luis Urías has an Achilles tendon problem and will not play in the next game.
“We’re going to let him run around the field, most likely run, and then spend a day doing drills and ground balls,” said manager Craig Counsell. “But I’m confident. I mean, for now, we’re just going to do it day by day. “
Urías struggled in 41 games with 11 RBIs and a base percentage of 0.308 versus 0.239 last season while playing mainly on third base but also appearing on second base and shortstop. The Brewers are giving him the chance to apply for the shortstop starting job this spring.
Jose Quintana started for Los Angeles and knocked out four of the seven Batters he faced with no hits in two innings.
Dereck Rodriguez worked three innings for the Rockies at the start and gave a homer with two runs to Jo Adell.
Athletics 1, MARINERS 1 (7)
Tony Kemp hit a home run for Oakland.
Seattle announced ahead of the game that outfielder Jarred Kelenic, one of the top baseball players, is on hold due to a strained adductor muscle in his left knee. No timetable was given for his return.
RANGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 6
Ronald Guzman hit a solo home run and Rougned Odor had a double with two runs for Texas.
Working on three strong innings at the start for Arizona, Zac Gallen allowed one hit and a walk while scoring three hits. Ketel Marte doubled up twice and scored a run.
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