The drama is great. I don’t even care who is involved. This is just fun.
Whatever you think of the now-Dodgers righty, Bauer did nail the point yesterday when Fernando Tatis Jr. took him deep twice, and trolled him twice. Once, Tatis covered an eye as he rounded the bases (mocking Bauer’s pitching with one eye closed), and then again by, as he crossed home plate, doing the arm shake strut thing that Bauer does. In response, Bauer was just flat out right:
#Dodgers Trevor Bauer on Fernando Tatis Jr.'s one-eyed salute to his dugout/bat flip after HRs: "I'm all for it. I think it's important for the game to move in that direction instead of throwing at guys for showing emotion."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 25, 2021
But then pictures and video started circulating of Tatis maybe taking a peek at catcher Will Smith’s hand just before one of the homers:
Is Tatis Jr. gettin’ free peeks? I understand that it could sound like sour grapes after El Niño rolls into town & unleashes a storm of homers..
Is it fair to ask whether or not he might be helping himself out? Sure. This is why C’s set up as late as possible & guard signs. 👀 pic.twitter.com/8CH6UBrt5l
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) April 25, 2021
It does look a little odd, but it’s always possible Tatis was itching his cheek or something with his shoulder. If he was trying to peek at the signs, I mean, I guess there’s nothing illegal about it, but you definitely don’t see hitters do it. Unwritten rules and all that.
Bauer, himself, offered up his perspective on what Tatis MAY have done:
In Trevor Bauer’s detailed video, he broke down Fernando Tatis Jr.’s HR celebrations & accused him of peeking at Will Smith’s signs before the 2nd HR
"Flip the bat and do all that stuff, fine,” Bauer said. "If you’re going to look at the signs, not okay”https://t.co/zG1ClL6Je8
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 25, 2021
This afternoon, Bauer put it on Twitter, and Tatis responded in perfect beefing fashion:
Tranquilo hijo . pic.twitter.com/lRe2hBLmR8
— Fernando Tatis Jr. (@tatis_jr) April 25, 2021
The Dodgers-Padres rivalry was already going to be something this year given the construction of the teams and the competitiveness in that division. But with outspoken guys like Bauer and Tatis publicly poking each other? Yes. Please. So here for it.