From the children’s leagues, coaches insist on one thing: Don’t lose sight of the ball.
Trevor Bauer thinks otherwise.
Eager to challenge this preseason, the new Los Angeles Dodgers decided to keep his right eye closed as he came out of a bad step in Saturday’s game.
He even pointed to her eye as he walked away from the mound.
“I like to put myself in awkward situations and make different pitches, finding solutions,” the pitcher, who was awarded the National League’s Cy Young, told the Los Angeles press. “I think that’s how it’s an improvement. Find a way to get uncomfortable, to the point of improving and repeating it.”
After allowing a single to San Diego Padres’ first bat, Jurickson Profar, Bauer presented a ticket to Tommy Pham. But he did not admit races. With his eye closed, he withdrew the next three batters.
He ended up covering 3 blank innings with his peculiar challenge. Receiving 3 strikeouts, allowed two hits and issued a ballot.
“I think if they couldn’t score me with one eye open, it would be hard to do that when I open both,” Bauer commented. “I just wanted to have fun.”
Bauer signed a three-year, $ 102 million contract with the Dodgers after leaving the Cincinnati Reds. Earlier this week, he threw two innings of bleach during his preseason debut.
On Saturday, the Padres ended up beating the Dodgers 2-1 in seven innings.
PIRATES 3, YANKEES 2 (7)
Aaron Boone, the manager of the New York Yankees, returned to the cave, three days after undergoing surgery to implant a pacemaker.
Boone, who turns 48 in a few days, returned to camp after passing COVID-19 protocols, and said he was feeling very well.
Gregory Polanco hit an unstoppable 3, including a homer for Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dominican accumulates eight produced in the preseason.
METS 6, ASTROS 1 (6 tickets)
Jacob deGrom threw two blank innings as he debuted in the preseason. He handed out three strikeouts and allowed a hit.
The pitcher, who has twice been awarded the National League’s Cy Young, also received news that he will open the opening game of the campaign on April 1 in Washington.
Nor is it that there were many doubts in this regard.
NATIONAL 5, MARLINS 3 (6)
Patrick Corbin celebrated his first opening with the Washington Nationals. He accepted one run and two catches in two innings, in which he got three strikeouts.
Brazilian Yan Gomes and Andrew Stevenson hit singles for the Nationals.
BLUE JAYS 7, PHILLIES 1 (7)
Newcomer Tanner Roark made his first opening for the Toronto Blue Jays, and accepted an unstoppable for two blank innings.
Venezuelan Odúbel Herrera hit a single, came in third with a double from Alex Bohm and scored on a wild pitch, for the Philadelphia Phillies ’only run.
SOX BLANC 7, INDIS 0 (7)
The Dominican Reynaldo López withdrew the six batsmen he faced in his opening.
Five pitchers combined to whitewash the Indians, who scored just three hits.
REALS 8, GIANTS 6
Mike Minor retired his six rivals in his two-innings opening for the Kansas City Royals, with three strikeouts.
Johnny Cueto, Dominican opener of San Francisco Giants, poncho to four of his seven opponents in two chapters. Evan Longoria hit a double and produced three runs, while Donovan Solano fired a volley for the Giants.
RANGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 6
Dominican Ronald Guzmán hit a lone homer and Venezuelan Rougned Odor connected on a two-run double for the Texas Rangers.
Quisqueian Ketel Mart hit two doubles and scored a run for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
LOW 3, BREWERS 1 (7)
Shelby Miller delivered three strikeouts in a two-innings opening for the Chicago Cubs, and Joc Pederson shook off his second homer of the preseason.
The Mexican Luis Urías, Brewers boxer, suffered a thigh injury and will not play in the next match.
ROCKIES 8, ANGELS 2 (7)
Colombian Jose Quintana opened for the Los Angeles Angels and struck out four of seven opponents over two innings without tolerating a hit.
ATHLETICS 1, SAILORS 1 (7)
Seattle Mariners announced before the game that gardener Jarred Kelenic, one of baseball’s top prospects, will be out of action due to a strain on his left knee adductor.
TIGERS 6, ORIOLES 5
Felix Hernandez opened and worked 2 tortuous innings in his debut with Baltimore Orioles, allowing two runs and issuing two tickets.
The Venezuelan, winner of the Cy Young of the American League in 2010 and six times chosen in the All-Star Game, turns 35 next month, is in the camp as a guest outside the payroll through an agreement minor leagues and looking for a job in some rotation.
Hernandez pitched well in the previous preseason for the Atlanta Braves, and looked ready to take a place in the rotation, ahead of the pandemic. He ended up refusing to play the 2020 campaign.