Some owners will wonder what exactly happened to Trevor Bauer. After all, it is safe to say his cup of tea with the Arizona Diamondbacks was a train wreck. But manager Kirk Gibson hit the nail on the head:
"It's a different league. Overall the game is tougher and higher. It's the big leagues. It's just a lot and it's way quicker. Guys are smarter and they're better. You can't replace experience for anybody. And he doesn't have that much experience here. It's a way different game than he's used to."
Very true. Yet the fantasy world, myself included, can't help but to feel disappointed with the manner in which his first trip to the majors ended. Winning one in four starts, he managed to pitch just 16.1 innings allowing 14 hits and 13 walks while posting a 6.06 ERA. If there is a glimmer of good news, he struck out 17.
Bauers's stuff is electric. He will be a star - but not yet.
Perhaps this is where the Arizona Diamondbacks are doing the fantasy world and themselves a favor. Bauer pitched just eight games at Triple A Reno before his promotion. While he dominated there, it turns out he wasn't ready for the pressure and increased competition of The Show. Now he has a measuring stick to work with, the gift of what eventually awaits him at the major league level.
"A month ago, I was completely healthy and my groin wasn't bothering me," reflected Bauer. "My groin didn't bother me [Tuesday], but the accumulative effect of the mental side of things, too. If you hurt your groin, your body doesn't want to push it as much. My mechanics changed and then I finally got healthy, so I was trying to get my mechanics back to where they need to be so I can execute everything. They're just so inconsistent right now."
He went to say, "I know I'll be fine, and I'll pitch for a long time. I have no doubts about that. I have no doubts about the fact that I can get Major League hitters out and I will get Major League hitters out for a long time. I'm just not executing right now. Everyone goes through it."
So what is the gift for fantasy owners who are high on Bauer? We may or may not see him again on the major league level this season, but just consider how cheap a dominant Trevor Bauer will be at next year's draft.
Sources: mlb.com
Robert Watkins is former investment professional and partner. A New York resident until 9/11, he considers Pa. his adoptive home. A passionate Yankees fan and Pennsylvania sports enthusiast, Robert is a frequent contributor to Yahoo! Sports and News.
