Bauer and Bregman have very similar personalities. I like Bauer too... he's a funny guy.Deluxe said:
Hot take alert:
I'm a Bauer fan now. He was right about what he said last year regarding inconsistent enforcement of pitchers using foreign substances, but he was wrong to single out the Astros (which he later admitted). I don't think his Twitter banter with Bregman is intended to be serious. And after getting to know Cole over the past year, it makes sense why they clashed at UCLA. Their personalities couldn't be more different.
Bauer got lucky last night, no doubt. But he's a damn good pitcher and I respect his competitiveness. Not many starters want a piece of Springer, Altuve, Bregman in the 8th inning after throwing 100 pitches, then have the stuff to be able to put them down (with a little help from Altuve getting caught stealing). I also like that he challenged Bregman with the same pitch that Bregman took him deep on in the playoffs (curve ball that spins back toward the inside corner).
If the Indians go back into sell mode on either of their aces, I'd love to add Bauer.