In what appears to be the second to last start for Trevor Bauer before the regular season begins, the right-handed pitcher dominated his teammates in an intrasquad scrimmage at Great American Ballpark on Thursday afternoon. Bauer allowed just one hit – a bloop double down the 1st base line by Aristides Aquino – in 5.1 innings (he faced an extra batter after getting three outs in the 5th so that he could reach his pitch count for the day). He also walked one hitter, but racked up eight strikeouts in those 5.1 innings pitched.
To say that Trevor Bauer had his stuff working today would be an understatement. He was in control all afternoon. Rob Friedman, sometimes better known as Pitching Ninja on twitter, shared this two-seamer that locked up Tyler Stephenson.
Trevor Bauer, Wicked Back Door Two Seamer. ? pic.twitter.com/84Np3NI0Pi
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 16, 2020
It wasn’t just the fastball that was working today for Bauer, though. This breaking ball that left Christian Colon doing a 360 was dirty and borderline unfair to throw to a teammate.
Trevor Bauer is looking filthy today. #Reds pic.twitter.com/fXO1jG2zBX
— OnBaseMachine (@RedsFan_Brandon) July 16, 2020
When Trevor Bauer is locked in, he’s definitely locked in. After pitching through an injury last season, hopefully for the Reds sake he’s fully healthy all year and they get to see a different version of himself than they saw after he was acquired at the trade deadline in July of 2019. Today very well could have been a preview of that.
Offensively there wasn’t a whole lot going on for either side. The away team won 1-0 on the back of an Aristides Aquino solo home run that landed in the first row of the seats in left-center field. That didn’t come until the top of the 6th inning off of Nate Jones. Aquino had a good showing at the plate on the day with a homer and a double. Nick Senzel also picked up two hits on the day – both singles – for the “home Reds”.
Huh-oh.
Doesn’t seem the offense should be dominated like this.
If it has improved from last year.
Maybe I’m just paranoid.
Okay, I see the reason.
I looked at the starting line-up against Bauer and indeed, that offense is weak. Didn’t have the regular line-up hammers in it.
Did it appear that Bauer wasn’t happy with Barnhart on several occasions today?
There are times when Bauer looks very unhappy. I think most of the time it’s with himself.
Hopefully it means this pitching is pretty darn good!
Hope you are right, Tom.
I’ll take 2-1 or 1-0 wins if the pitching can be that good.
An observation I’ve made. Farmer hasn’t played any innings at Catcher. Seems like Stephenson is locked into the 3rd Catcher spot on the depth chart.
Farmer has stated many times that “I’m a shortstop who can catch”…so looks like Tyler will be that option. At DH, Catching, or off the bench, between 3 catchers…there should be chances for him to start.
If you check the catching innings in Spring Training 2019 he did little or no catching, but ended up number three.
If Bauer can pitch the way he did today consistently through the season, this team is a legit contender for the whole enchilada. You wouldn’t have a better top three in the rotation anywhere else in baseball.
“The whole enchilada” now I’m hungry.
I wish I could agree, but the Nationals say Hi.
Looking at fangraphs, their top 3 all accumulated more WAR than any Reds pitcher, and none of them left. Oh, and they won WS.
Wow – 2nd video
Will they allow Trevor to use wiffle balls during the regular season also
They should do a bullpen day, so we can get our hitters going
Touche’, Andy…..well played, sir. Still love my rotation!