The emerging Dodgers-Padres feud added another dimension this weekend when Trevor Bauer publicly accused Fernando Tatis Jr. of sign stealing.
It began with Tatis blasting two home runs off Bauer during LA’s 5-4 win on Saturday. The 22-year-old Tatis had his fun with Bauer, mocking his previously used celebrations by covering his right eye while rounding first base and mimicking the “Conor McGregor strut” on the second homer.
Bauer made it known, in both his postgame press conference and in a video later posted to his YouTube channel, that he took no issue with Tatis’ celebratory antics.
“I like it,” Bauer told reporters after the game. “I think that pitchers that have that done to them and react by throwing at people … I think it’s pretty soft. If you give up a homer, a guy should celebrate it. It’s hard to hit in the big leagues.”
But on Sunday, ahead of the series finale and the Padres’ eventual 8-7 victory, Bauer called Tatis out on Twitter for appearing to peek in at catcher Will Smith’s signs just before hitting his second homer.
“If you need to know what pitch is coming that badly, just ask daddy nicely next time @tatis_jr,” Bauer wrote over a video breaking down the suspected sign stealing. “You know I ain’t scared homie.”
Tatis fired right back with a photo of Bauer’s face photoshopped onto a baby’s head that he was holding, writing, “Tranquilo hijo,” which translates to “Relax son.”
Bauer discussed his Tatis suspicions at length in the YouTube video.
“That’s the type of stuff that would get you hit in other games,” Bauer said. “Now, I’m mild-mannered about it…flip the bat, do all that stuff, fine. If you’re gonna look at the signs, not OK, and if you do it again, the team that you’re playing probably isn’t gonna take too kindly to it, and there might have to be some on-field stuff.”
Prior to the series finale, Dave Roberts was asked about Tatis’ apparent sign stealing. It was clear the Dodgers manager took issue with it as he alluded to possible on-field repercussions for Tatis.
Fernando Tatis; Trevor Bauer Getty Images“When you talk about peeking, that’s just not the way you play baseball,” Roberts said. “If that is the case, which I don’t know, that’ll be noted.”
The Padres ultimately took three out of four in the series. Tatis became the first visiting player to homer five times in a three-game span at Dodger Stadium, according to MLB. The Dodgers and Padres are coming off of seven meetings in 10 days, but won’t face off again until June 21 in San Diego.
