Trevor Bauer placed on administrative leave

MLB has placed Trevor Bauer on 7-day administrative leave. This buys MLB time to start an investigation into the allegations against Bauer.

This comes after Dodger’s manager Dave Roberts said that ‘It’s out of our hands’, when asked if he would sit Bauer for his start on Sunday. First time I’ve heard that a manager doesn’t control his lineup card.

If you haven’t heard the allegations again Bauer, well, lucky you. Apparently, he’s taking the definition of ‘rough sex’ and stretched it past the breaking point. He allegedly choked the woman to unconscious several times, punched her, while unconscious, caused skull fractures.

Bauer doesn’t seem to be arguing that he didn’t do this but has been arguing that it was consensual and has released text messages to prove his point. I’m not a lawyer, but I know there are limits to consent, and I’d guess that being punched while unconscious is beyond that limit.

There is a lawyer does know and wrote about it for SB Nation’s Beyond the Boxscore:

Also, every state has enacted a statute which states that you cannot consent to the infliction of grievous bodily harm. In other words, it doesn’t matter what the context is: whether or not sex is involved, you cannot legally consent to an act which will result in your death or serious bodily injury.

You should read the whole thing, but I want to borrow another little section:

Bauer’s representatives released to the media text messages purportedly between him and his accuser. In light of these messages, many of which are flirtatious or sexually explicit, some have leaped to Bauer’s defense, arguing that he is being railroaded. However, as I explained in a Twitter thread, Bauer’s defense team knows these texts are actually legally harmful for the pitcher, and that’s why they’re being released in the court of public opinion and not first being attached to a motion to vacate the restraining order.

We will see how it plays out, but I’m expecting it will be a little while before we see Bauer on the mound again.