More front office BS

 Antonetti with the BS today:

“The entirety of the decision wasn’t just based on Jake’s option status,” said Antonetti. “We do believe that Jake has always been a very young player at every level. His exposure to date to the major leagues, he’s still been very young. There’s been some indicators we think gives him a chance to be successful. We’re hoping he’s going to take advantage of the opportunity that’s in front of him and allow this to be the start of the productive major league career for him.”

Let's look at this:

Bauers vs Bradley level and age:

Birthdate: Bauers (10-6-95),   Bradley (5-29-96).   Bradley is 8 months, 24 days younger

1st year: Rookie league (Bauers 17 years 9 months, Bradley 18 years 1 month)

2nd year: Low A (Bauers 18, Bradley 18/19); Bradley played 2 games in High A

3rd year: High A/AA (Bauers, 19), High A (Bradley, 19/20)

4th year:  AA (Bauers, 20, Bradley 20/21)

5th year: AAA (Bauers, 21), AA/AAA (Bradley 21/22)

6th year: AAA/ML (Bauers, 22; Bradley 22/23)

7th year: AAA/ML (Bauers 23)

So Bauers started his professional career at 17 years, 9 months old and Bradley started just after his 18th birthday.  But almost every year after that they played at the same age at the same level.   It's just that Bradley moved up one year a couple of months after the season started and Bauers season ended just before his birthday.   Still, they were at the same level at the same age at least part of each year.

Antonetti is correct, technically, but bottom line is the development path of these two players is about the same.  

The only true differences between these players is that Bradley has power and appears to be on an upward development path and has had 650 less ML ABs than Bauers...and, of course, Bauers was traded for Yandy Diaz and Bauers has no options left meaning the book on that trade would finally be closed and look really bad for the Indians.  Plus Bauers appears to be getting worse over time and has done nothing this spring in comparable situations to Bradley.

The Indians need hitting and Bauers doesn't provide that.  He has had over 800 ML plate appearances and knew he was in competition for a spot on the roster this year. and he choked, hitting less than .200 this spring and playing questionable defense (he botched another popup today).   He did stick his foot in front of a pitch today to go along with a strikeout with runners on first and third and no outs in the 5th and that defensive gaffe.

I am just tired of the spin, the BS and all the other crap that is going on with respect to this Bauers/Bradley thing.   The latest, that Bauers was young for each level, is pretty much turned to crap by the above fact-checking. and comparison to Bradley.

So what's next?  Bauers development was stunted when he was abducted by aliens?