GLENDALE, Arizona – Trevor Bauer plunged into a rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres with one eye closed.
The Dodgers’ award-winning off-season acquisition sailed through his first inning against the Fathers on Saturday afternoon, mainly launching with his right eye closed, a training method he said he often uses to make himself uncomfortable.
“I thought that if they couldn’t get rid of an open eye, it would be difficult to do that with both eyes open,” said Bauer after hitting three goalless entrances at the Dodgers’ premises. “Just having a little fun.”
Bauer did not elaborate on why he occasionally chooses to keep an eye closed, although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned that it had something to do with recalibrating his command.
“I think there may have been an obstacle, I think he did it with both eyes closed,” said Roberts, holding back his laughter. “I don’t know, but there is a method for your madness.”
Bauer, 30, said he normally keeps at least one eye closed in bullpen sessions, while playing long toss and when facing hitters during the off-season, adding that he likes to “get uncomfortable and throw different things in my way and try to find a solution to this.”
Bauer ceded a single to Jurickson Profar to begin his presentation, crowning a nine in the bat, then took a walk for Tommy Pham before retiring the next three hitters, the last two in eliminations. Over the next two innings – with both eyes open, apparently – he retired six of the seven hitters he faced.
The Padres were leaving a game Friday night and did not play most of their starters, which meant that Bauer did not get another chance at third baseman Manny Machado, who is beating .588 / .667 / .1.412 against him in 17 career appearances. Bauer previously made a video on YouTube analyzing Machado’s success against him, and Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, joked about wanting to discover something against Machado shortly after signing a $ 102 million contract with Bauer for three years last month.
Bauer joked that Machado “was already avoiding me” for not making the trip.
When the games start to count, Bauer said he will have a lot of chances against him.
“Wait,” said Bauer from behind an ironic smile. “It will be a fun year.”