Polarizing Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer continues to ruffle the feathers around baseball.
Bauer was impressive in a start against the rival San Francisco Giants on Friday, fanning 11 batters in 6 1/3 innings at Oracle Park. Among those 11 whiffs was a fourth-inning strikeout of Giants outfielder Corey Dickerson, who was rung up on a check swing.
Bauer responded to the inning-ending K by pretending to sheath a massive sword on his hip, a celebration he has used previously this season. It didn't go over very well with Giants analyst Mike Krukow, who responded with one word.
"Weak," Krukow muttered, as the broadcast headed to between-innings commercials.
Bauer's strange pantomime routine isn't for everyone, but to be fair, he has been consistent on the issue, even publicly defending batters who have been criticized for what some say are overzealous bat flips or otherwise showy celebrations.
Still, that doesn't mean Bauer's antics haven't rubbed many the wrong way, announcers and players alike. Last month, Padres star Fernando Tatis covered one of his eyes while rounding the bases after slugging a homer off Bauer, in an apparent response to Bauer's claim that he had pitched with one eye closed against the Padres during a Spring Training outing.
Bauer being who is, we're betting this isn't the last we've heard of him or his preferred method of celebrating strikeouts.
The 30-year-old right-hander was credited with the win on Friday, improving to 5-2 on the season. The second-place Dodgers pulled to within a game of first place in the tightly contested NL West. The Padres and Giants were tied for first atop the division.