Trevor Bauer

MLB has a domestic violence policy. It is collectively bargained with the Union.

It is completely separate from what happens in a criminal or civil Court…or does not happen.

Contests and appeals are managed through an Arbitration process provided for in the agreement.

One major aspect going forward will be the position of the Union. Will they stand with Bauer?

For those expressing support for Bauer based on what has been reported or is on Social networking, I question how that makes any difference.

Did he violate the bargained for policy? If someone reads it, one finds it is awfully broad in its scope. What he does on You Tube has no relevance.

On the technical side, I think Bauer was/is good for the game. On his public persona side, I found him both annoying and entertaining until his current debacle. On what landed him in this mess - pick your side, I still don’t want him anywhere near my daughter.

And that’s the problem, having a job where your personal brand reflects on your team, union and MLB brand means he’ll likely never play in the show again. Consensual or not, if you play him, the game will lose some portion of audience and will receive some type of regular protests (not good for the game or the brands). Leave him out of baseball, and there’s basically no impact, enough time has gone by that he’s basically irrelevant.

Some choices don’t wash off regardless of opinion and a bell can’t be un-rung. I think Bauer’s MLB playing days are done, but I think we’re in for years of him throwing rocks at all aspects of the game.

@Consultant posted:

Fenway, your words "tool" should be change to "fool".

Bauer is an "insult" to the game of baseball. If he ever plays again, I would advise him not to cover 1B. What would Tommy L. do?

Bob

What makes him a fool and an insult?

As Roger Dangerfield would say "NO RESPECT"!!!!from his teammates.

“no respect “ for the game. No Respect for woman.

Bauer definitely has done good things for baseball, especially explaining the modern way of playing in mlb to fans, by focusing and highlighting the positive sides of the modern game instead of just talking about the negative stuff like strikeouts, pace of play etc like many commentators still do.

However he also did quite a bit of very questionable stuff and even if his version that she asked for getting spanked is true it still speaks for a lack of self control or simply not caring that he beat her into hospital.

There are a lot of people who are into that kind of bedroom activities (as evidenced by the success of those shades of grey movies) but if you are actually hurting people even to the point of breaking bones than something is seriously wrong with you.

@infielddad posted:

MLB has a domestic violence policy. It is collectively bargained with the Union.

It is completely separate from what happens in a criminal or civil Court…or does not happen.

Contests and appeals are managed through an Arbitration process provided for in the agreement.

One major aspect going forward will be the position of the Union. Will they stand with Bauer?

For those expressing support for Bauer based on what has been reported or is on Social networking, I question how that makes any difference.

Did he violate the bargained for policy? If someone reads it, one finds it is awfully broad in its scope. What he does on You Tube has no relevance.

If this is the case, then maybe it’s time to negotiate a new policy.

@RoadRunner posted:

If this is the case, then maybe it’s time to negotiate a new policy.

Why does there need to be a new policy?
This one has been in place for 5-6 years and appears to have been effective?

What needs to change in your view?

Understanding MLB has done its own investigation which lead to this result, and from what is in the public media so far, I tend to think the MLBPA has been put in a very challenging position by Bauer’s admitted conduct alone.

Could the MLB investigation have more?

How far can he throw a football? The NFL is a better workplace for him.

@infielddad posted:

Why does there need to be a new policy?
This one has been in place for 5-6 years and appears to have been effective?

What needs to change in your view?

Because they suspended a man for two years without pay who is not facing criminal charges. He's not even facing any civil suits. Not a single person can produce enough compelling evidence to produce charges. Regardless of whether you like him or not or where you stand on the issue - at the very least that has to be pretty weird that the governing body of baseball thinks otherwise?

Without going too deep into this at the very least the women coming forward are very unreliable. He abused them, but they continued to reach out for the next 3 years? I don't know. I just don't see how there is enough obvious evidence to say yes he's clearly an abuser.

That is my issue, if there is not enough to even go to trial, how is there enough to suspend him without pay for years?

I think he's a great pitcher. I also think he's a weird guy and don't personally care for the showboating and teenage social media antics. I just can't wrap my head a two year suspension. I don't know the details of MLB's policy, but it's either a bad policy or they are really reaching.

IMO - it's all optics. Baseball can live without Bauer. Can they live with being cancelled for embracing an abuser?

@2022NYC posted:

How far can he throw a football? The NFL is a better workplace for him.

That comment is both funny and also apparently under appreciated.

Pete Rose was banned from baseball for gambling. What he did was legal, except in baseball.

The NBA did the same some years back with a referee.

MLB players get suspended for fighting, bean ball exchanges, violations of the collectively bargained drug program etc and none of these are crimes, or punished by laws outside of the baseball collective bargaining agreement.

Every employer has sexual harassment guidelines. An employee can be terminated for violating those employer expectations even if there are no Court charges (criminally or civilly). Executives at Fox and CNN are examples.

If Bauer appeals through arbitration, MLB must prove his violation(s) and the conduct justified the suspension.

This is very much at the beginning stages. I would propose that rights and responsibilities in the employment setting are rarely governed by criminal or civil proceedings, especially in the face of a collective bargaining agreement

i am no fan of Manfred or MLB. I have seen how the business of baseball does not reflect the “great American pastime” image it tries to portray, especially in their past dealings with powerless MILB players not covered or protected by the union.

Bauer is not those who are powerless. In a sense, IMO, Manfred and Bauer might, for very different reasons, deserve to be in this battle

@infielddad posted:

Why does there need to be a new policy?
This one has been in place for 5-6 years and appears to have been effective?

What needs to change in your view?

Understanding MLB has done its own investigation which lead to this result, and from what is in the public media so far, I tend to think the MLBPA has been put in a very challenging position by Bauer’s admitted conduct alone.

Could the MLB investigation have more?

Respectfully,

1. Why does there need to be a new policy?  Because if a person is able to falsely accuse another of breaking the law and deprive another human of earning a living, that’s un-American IMO. How would you feel if your child was falsely accused of something and it cost him his job?

2. What needs to change in your view?  I don’t have a copy of the MLBPA agreement/policy, therefore I cannot speak intelligently on the matter. However, based on your 1st comment stating that the policy is “awfully broad” I did make an inference that there might be room for change.

3.  I agree that the PA has been put in a challenging position by Bauer’s deviant sexual behavior. There are many deviant sexual behaviors I don’t agree with. Should those people be marginalized, and stripped of their positions?  I don’t think so.

4.  Could the MLB investigation have more?  If they do, why keep it a secret?  Bauer has already done more than “kiss and tell”.

@PABaseball posted:

IMO - it's all optics. Baseball can live without Bauer. Can they live with being cancelled for embracing an abuser?

They cancelled the all-star game in Atlanta to punish them for a law they clearly didn't read...all baseball cares about is how they are perceived. Truth is the last item of relevance in the investigation.

@RoadRunner posted:

Respectfully,

1. Why does there need to be a new policy?  Because if a person is able to falsely accuse another of breaking the law and deprive another human of earning a living, that’s un-American IMO. How would you feel if your child was falsely accused of something and it cost him his job?

2. What needs to change in your view?  I don’t have a copy of the MLBPA agreement/policy, therefore I cannot speak intelligently on the matter. However, based on your 1st comment stating that the policy is “awfully broad” I did make an inference that there might be room for change.

3.  I agree that the PA has been put in a challenging position by Bauer’s deviant sexual behavior. There are many deviant sexual behaviors I don’t agree with. Should those people be marginalized, and stripped of their positions?  I don’t think so.

4.  Could the MLB investigation have more?  If they do, why keep it a secret?  Bauer has already done more than “kiss and tell”.

I’m confused by your stating he is “falsely” accused.
At least with woman #1, Bauer and his attorneys indicated many of her allegations of abuse were true. The defense, for criminal liability, was the seemingly confirmed conduct was consensual.

There is just a big problem today with "punishment" from the court of public opinion before anything is proven in court.  Johnny Depp just lost 22 million based on someone's word...which is looking a little questionable at best.  If the court ruled something was consensual, he shouldn't be punished.  Is it something most people look favorably on? No.  That said, I have never understood the whole, "I learned my lesson 550X later and now they should pay" thing.  Not agreeing with someone's choices, and taking away their livelihood are two different things.  In sports, two years later a career could be over.  If he is ever convicted of something, that is a different story. JMO

There have been no Court rulings which relate to the MLB determination and suspension.

The DA indicated they would not file criminal charges because they did not feel they could prove “ beyond a reasonable doubt.” There was no hearing or trial. This was woman #1.

The only trial related to the woman #1seeking a Restraining Order to keep Bauer away from her. That failed because the evidence did not show him trying to be in contact with her and the judge finding her sworn declaration to have been misleading.

There are now 2 more women who have come forward.

One might expect the MLB investigation went beyond woman #1.

@infielddad posted:

Every employer has sexual harassment guidelines. An employee can be terminated for violating those employer expectations even if there are no Court charges (criminally or civilly). Executives at Fox and CNN are examples.

This is what makes it a bad policy IMO. I don't understand how MLB can look at the same evidence and say yes he's an abuser.

I also don't understand the Dodger fans saying we don't want him - as if Urias, the next man up, wasn't suspended for domestic abuse as well. But that is a bit separate from this topic.

Bauer is a union member. Historically, Marvin Miller and the union created free agency which now allows Bauer to make $40,000,000 per year.

That same union which gave Bauer so much free agency leverage and power also negotiated and agreed to the terms of the domestic violence policy he is charged with violating.

Bauer cannot take all the benefits his union created but not be potentially accountable for conduct which might not conform to that in the agreement.

And ENOUGH!

@infielddad posted:

And ENOUGH!

I guess you have spoken...

@baseballhs posted:

I guess you have spoken...

That doesn’t mean you have to listen

Ha!  oh, I know and No one has ever accused me of being a submissive person.  This just kind of makes me laugh when someone is sticking up for poor women but at the same time speaking with such authority about what can be said or by who. We are a baseball site, I'd rather stick to that anyway. Maybe I’m misreading it.

@Consultant posted:

As Roger Dangerfield would say "NO RESPECT"!!!!from his teammates.

“no respect “ for the game. No Respect for woman.

Now for the real issue at hand. I have tried over and over for the last couple days to ignore this post, but the pure irony is just killing me and I can't take it no more. As an avid movie buff, and huge fan of Caddy Shack, this post must be corrected.

Jacob RODNEY Cohen..... talk about No Respect

@ReluctantO'sFan posted:

Now for the real issue at hand. I have tried over and over for the last couple days to ignore this post, but the pure irony is just killing me and I can't take it no more. As an avid movie buff, and huge fan of Caddy Shack, this post must be corrected.

Jacob RODNEY Cohen..... talk about No Respect

🤣🤣🤣 good one!

Looking at it from MLB's perspective isn't this the easiest way to cover all their bases. ( Pun intended 😃)

Throw the biggest penalty possible at Bauer now and let him appeal his way back into the game.

If more damning evidence and additional victims pop up then MLB can pat themselves on the back and show they are on the forefront of social justice causes.

If Bauer and his attorneys can prove he didn't violate the policy then an independent arbiter will probably be the one to decide what if any penalty is deserved.

While it's not 100% fair, it's reality that the backlash MLB would face for letting him back too soon would be far more damaging then taking a stand now and relenting later.

"It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business."

“Maybe I’m misreading it.”

Really good call.

@infielddad posted:

Bauer is a union member. Historically, Marvin Miller and the union created free agency which now allows Bauer to make $40,000,000 per year.

That same union which gave Bauer so much free agency leverage and power also negotiated and agreed to the terms of the domestic violence policy he is charged with violating.

Bauer cannot take all the benefits his union created but not be potentially accountable for conduct which might not conform to that in the agreement.

And ENOUGH!

Today's MLBPA is not Marvin Miller's MLBPA. Miller's MLBPA wouldn't have been out-negotiated by a chump like Manfred and folded like a cheap suit once missing game checks became a possibility. You besmirch Miller's name by even associating him with today's MLBPA.

Looks like the lawsuits have been settled and Bauer is free to talk about it. I’m not a fan of his, but after seeing the evidence I do feel bad for him. He was set up and falsely accused.

i just watched his 4 min video. worth a watch.

Jacob Nix sounds like a classy guy. Though I guess that was already apparent when he got his ass kicked breaking and entering into someone's house.

@Gunner Mack Jr. posted:

i just watched his 4 min video. worth a watch.

I'm sure more will come out in the coming days.  Sounds like all he was guilty of was a poor choice of groupie.

Amusing to go back and read prior comments now that information is becoming public. Lots of comments didn’t age very well.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Looks like the lawsuits have been settled and Bauer is free to talk about it. I’m not a fan of his, but after seeing the evidence I do feel bad for him. He was set up and falsely accused.

I’m also not a fan of Bauer but here is more evidence that supports a set up. Would be interesting to know who orchestrated the character assassination on him. Like him or not, I don’t know how anyone can be okay with this:

@adbono posted:

I’m also not a fan of Bauer but here is more evidence that supports a set up. Would be interesting to know who orchestrated the character assassination on him. Like him or not, I don’t know how anyone can be okay with this:

I hope he is able to sue the "journalist" and The Athletic.

The text messages documenting the setup are disturbing.

Did she file a police report?

the whole story is a just snapshot of the sad state of affairs we live in....I certainly hope the Phillies sign him for next year.

@adbono posted:

I’m also not a fan of Bauer but here is more evidence that supports a set up. Would be interesting to know who orchestrated the character assassination on him. Like him or not, I don’t know how anyone can be okay with this:

That tweet is not accurate. Molly Knight did not report that Bauer fractured the woman's skull. She replied to a tweet about the story "not possible to consent to a fractured skull" from her personal account. She later deleted that tweet. Additionally, The Athletic never reported that "Bauer fractured the woman's skull", they reported what the woman said was in her declaration ("signs of a basilar skull fracture"). What she didn't tell them was that the CT scan report attached to that declaration found no evidence of a fracture.

Bauer sued The Athletic, Deadspin, and others for defamation. Eventually, The Athletic added an editor's note to the article to clarify that the woman's CT scan report showed no evidence of a fracture as part of the settlement where no money was exchanged.

Trevor Bauer Settles 'The Athletic' Lawsuit After Fractured Skull Details Are Clarified (outkick.com)

I am more inclined to believe what was stated in court documents than any story written by a “journalist”

It never ends - almost like commitment to the bit taken to the extreme. Every headline is something along the lines of "Trevor Bauer Settles with Accuser" implying that he paid her to make it go away.

Heyman, Olney, Rosenthal and the worm Passan. Four of the most prominent names in baseball "journalism". None of them have said a word. Shouldn't the Cy Young being cleared be a good thing for MLB? Shouldn't they be happy none of those terrible acts took place? You would think it would be a good time to celebrate nothing tragic actually took place.

Proof that they would rather die on that hill than admit it was nothing more than sensationalism and clickbait.

I don't care how good he is at baseball - if the top brass decides it's not good for business it will not happen. If he were not an internet troll, a critic of MLB, a conservative I can assure you it would not have dragged on this long.

Four women have made sexual assault claims against Bauer. There’s more than this one woman to the big story. It’s likely going to take a desperate team willing to risk a PR hit for Bauer to get back in the majors.