Indians: Don’t look now, but Jake Bauers is starting to hit

Jake Bauers seems to be emerging from a rough start, which is good for the Indians

The Indians struggled to score runs to start the year. Part of that reason why was Jake Bauers, who had a rough April. He was hitting as low as .059 at one point. He finished the month hitting .189, with just two RBI’s and three walks over 37 at-bats. Just 10 days into May, Bauers is already hitting .235 for the month, with one home run, two RBI’s, and three walks in only 17 at-bats.

Sure, it’s not Barry Bonds in 2002 type numbers but it’s a massive improvement over April. On the year, Bauers is hitting .204, with an OPB of .286, an OPS of .580, including one home run, four RBI’s, and six walks. Yes, these aren’t impressive numbers by any means but if he keeps hitting, then that’s what’s important. Bobby Bradley reportedly struggled at the alternate site heading into the start of the Triple-A season, and he’s not doing any better at the moment.

Bradley is just 1-19 to start the season and has splits of .053/.217/.211. Very similar numbers to Bauers at the start of his season. Hopefully, both men can put it all together, but the facts are facts. Bradley is just as ineffective as Bauers was, so even though Bauers is just hitting .204 on the year, it’s at least an improvement over where  Bradley is currently.

The Indians giving Jake Bauers time was the right call.

Again, no one is saying you should be satisfied with where Bauers is currently but there’s a reason why you don’t make knee-jerk reactions like so many demanded. Bauers is hitting better in May, that’s not in dispute. As a team, the Indians went from scoring 3.95 runs per game in April, to 5.125 so far in May. It’s not on Bauers, but he did help, a bit, to get the Indians up in that category.

We’ve been saying it for a while, Terry Francona-led Indians clubs take time to get going. This isn’t new. Bauers is just a symptom of that. He was allowed to hit his way out of the slump and so far he’s done just that.

It’s possible he slumps again, and there shouldn’t be any protection for him if he does. He was given a chance to succeed. It’s up to him to seize it.

Right now, Bauers is benefiting from better hitting and a slumping Bradley. Any way you slice it, however, it is still proof the Indians made the right call in going with Bauers over Bradley.