"Trevor Bauer came over to the Cleveland Indians from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade back in 2013 http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , and he’s been a contentious character from day 1. Many love him, many despise him, but most (if not all) can’t deny that the man works incredibly hard. It’s not uncommon to see him working out with a shoulder tube before a game or long tossing from foul pole to foul pole. According to this video, he’ll do 115 throws with a weighted ball every day; some days, I don’t even take 3,000 steps. Trevor Bauer cited early in his career with Cleveland that the team was willing to work with him instead of against him when it came to his unorthodox training methods. And Bauer has always been good. But in 2018, he took his pitching to another level and was in serious Cy Young contention for the majority of the season.Prior to August 11, the day Bauer got hit with a freak line drive that sidelined him for the majority of the rest of the season, Bauer was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. 159.2 IP, 40 ER, 56 BB, and 206 K. He was striking out over 30% of hitters, he was walking 8.5% of hitters, and he was hardly letting anyone on base (1.12 WHIP). This also helped him earn his first All-Star honor, and there was serious talk that he should’ve been the starter for the AL team.So how did Bauer do it? For one, he reduced his pitch arsenal again. The man of a thousand pitches has refined his selection over the years and in 2018, he ditched his splitter (which he hardly used to begin with) and settled on his 4-seam, sinker, change, slider, curve, and cutter. Additionally, his 4-seam and sinker got a little faster, both averaging just over 95 mph in 2018. Pairing both of these pitches with his change and his breaking balls, Bauer kept hitters off balance all season. Go to Twitter and search “Trevor Bauer overlay” and just sit in awe at the crazy movement on all of his pitches. There are so many to choose from, but here’s one of my favorites:Hahahaha. That’s just silly.On August 11 against the Chicago White Sox, Bauer was rolling. He had completed 6 inningsand had given up just 1 earned run on 2 hits. He hadn’t walked a batter and had struck out 8 hitters. Jose Abreu then stepped up to the plate and lined a bullet right into Bauer’s ankle. Bauer sustained a stress fracture in his right ankle and the medical staff said that it wasn’t clear if he would pitch again this season. Which, if you know Trevor Bauer, knew was bull from the second they said it. Trevor Bauer would pitch out of a full body cast if he could find a way to spin the baseball. Just a few days after the initial injury, Bauer was out with a boot on his foot throwing a baseball in an attempt to keep his arm strong. The work ethic is seriously admirable.As the calendar flipped to September, there was still uncertainty as to what role, if any, Bauer would have in the home stretch and into the playoffs. Obviously starting would be optimal, but the coaching staff didn’t know if there would be enough rehab time for Bauer to get stretched out for the playoffs. Bauer was cleared to pitch again near the end of the season and made his first appearance post-injury on September 21. He was pitching on a limit, but the leg looked healthy and that was the primary concern. Trevor had two more games to tune up before the ALDS, and he piggybacked with Carlos Carrasco in both games. Velocity wasn’t where it was pre-injury, but Bauer and the Indians were out of time. The Astros called.Tito said that Bauer would be used out of the bullpen in the ALDS, which was the most logical decision given the circumstances surrounding Trevor and the bullpen. The former was still recovering from a leg injury, and the latter was trying to recover from being a raging dumpster fire for the duration of the summer. With an inconsistent Cody Allen and a broken Andrew Miller, a multi-inning weapon in Trevor Bauer was an unexpected resource for Francona to lean on. And lean on him he did. Bauer appeared in all three games that the Indians played in the ALDS, all out of the bullpen. Things went from great (game 1) to wait (game 2) to please make it stop (game 3) for Bauer as his effectiveness began to wane with each new day. This was no more evident than in game 3 when Bauer gave up 3 runs in 1.1 innings on top of two fielding errors that compounded the problem. You don’t need me to remind you how it all ended. At the end of the day, Bauer didn’t contribute in the way that he or anyone else expected him to, and that truly sucks. Trevor was on track to have the best season of his career, and some would argue that it still was, postseason struggles aside. The 28-year-old ended his season with 175.1 innings, 43 ER, 57 BB and 221 K (which translates to an ERA+ of 198). He’s hitting his prime now, and there’s no reason to think that he won’t continue to surge in 2019. I’m excited to see what Bauer does next season; an entire, healthy season of 2018 Trevor Bauer would have truly been something special. Maybe next year. The MLB All-Star Game may be a glorified exhibition in the eyes of many observers, but once the players step out of their dugouts and across the white lines, they are playing for their legacy and history.It may not determine home-field advantage in the World Series any longer Sean Rodriguez Jersey , but the game's all-time best have helped cement their reputations with starring performances in the All-Star Game, and today's players have a chance to do the same thing.Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels already knows this as he has already won the All-Star Game MVP award twice in his career. Since the Angels have only been to the to the postseason once during his tenure (Division Series vs. Kansas City in 2014), this is his best chance to show baseball fans what he can do on a grand scale.His performance can help cement a reputation that many believe makes him the best player in the game and comparable to the legendary Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle on a historical level.National League manager Dave Roberts has a chance to help the National League turn things around in the All-Star Game.Gregory Bull/Associated PressIt's also an opportunity for Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to resume their battle. Hinch led the Astros to a seven-game victory over Roberts and the Dodgers in last year's World Series, and they are the managers of their respective leagues in this game. Neither manager wants to make the mistake that costs his league a chance at victory.The game will be played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., but the American League is designated as the home team because this is the fourth straight year that a National League city served as the venue for the Midsummer Classic. Two years ago, the American League was the home team even though the game was played in San Diego.2018 MLB All-Star Game InformationDate:Tuesday, July 17Time:8 p.m. ETTV:FoxRostersAmerican LeagueStartersWilson Ramos. C, Tampa Bay*Jose Abreu, 1B. Chicago White SoxJose Altuve. 2B, HoustonJose Ramirez, 3B, ClevelandManny Machado, SS, BaltimoreMike Trout, OF, Los Angeles AngelsAaron Judge, OF, New York YankeesMookie Betts, OF, BostonJ.D. Martinez, OF, Boston ReservesSalvador Perez, C, Kansas City (Designated as starter after Ramos injury.)Yan Gomes, C, ClevelandMitch Moreland, 1B, BostonJed Lowrie, 2B, OaklandGleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees*Alex Bregman, 3B, HoustonFrancisco Lindor, SS, ClevelandJean Segura, SS, SeattleMichael Brantley, OF, ClevelandShin-Soo Choo, OF, TexasMitch Haniger, OF, SeattleGeorge Springer, OF, HoustonNelson Cruz, DH, Seattle PitchersTrevor Bauer, ClevelandJose Berrios, MinnesotaAroldis Chapman Felipe Vazquez Jersey , New York Yankees*Gerrit Cole, HoustonEdwin Diaz, SeattleJ.A. Happ, TorontoJoe Jimenez, DetroitCraig Kimbrel, BostonCorey Kluber, Cleveland*Charlie Morton, HoustonChris Sale, BostonLuis Severino, New York YankeesBlake Treinen, OaklandJustin Verlander, Detroit* National LeagueStartersWillson Contreras, C, Chicago CubsFreddie Freeman, 1B, AtlantaJavier Baez, 2B, Chicago CubsNolan Arenado, 3B, ColoradoBrandon Crawford, SS, San FranciscoNick Markakis, OF, AtlantaMatt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles DodgersBryce Harper, OF, Washington ReservesYadier Molina, C, St. LouisBuster Posey, C, San Francisco*J.T. Realmuto, C, MiamiJesus Aguilar, 1B, MilwaukeePaul Goldschmidt, 1B, ArizonaJoey Votto, 1B, CincinnatiOzzie Albies, 2B, AtlantaScooter Gennett, 2B, CincinnatiEugenio Suarez, 3B, CincinnatiTrevor Story, SS, ColoradoCharlie Blackmon, OF, ColoradoLorenzo Cain, OF http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , MilwaukeeChristian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee PitchersPatrick Corbin, ArizonaZack Greinke, ArizonaJacob deGrom, New York MetsSean Doolittle, Washington*Mike Foltynewicz, AtlantaJosh Hader, MilwaukeeJason Jeffress, MilwaukeeBrad Hand, San DiegoKenley Jansen, Los Angeles DodgersJon Lester, Chicago Cubs*Miles Mikolas, St. Louis*Aaron Nola, PhiladelphiaMax Scherzer, WashingtonRoss Stripling, Los Angeles DodgersFelipe Vazquez, Pittsburgh*-denotes player won't be participating in All-Star Game. Here's how the starting lineups should look for both teams, along with an explanation.American League1. Jose Altuve, 2B2. Mookie Betts, LF3. Mike Trout, CF4. Manny Machado, SS5. Jose Ramirez, 3B6. J.D. Martinez, DH7. Aaron Judge, RF8. Jose Abreu, 1B9. Sal Perez, CChris Sale, PAltuve is a sensational igniter and could get the American League started with a blast, while Betts is a sensational hitter who is having a brilliant year.Trout deserves the position of honor in the No. 3 hole, while Machado can carry any lineup from the No. 4 position.Ramirez is in the No. 5 spot ahead of the slugging Martinez because that allows the switch-hitter to break up the string of right-handed hitters.Judge follows at No. 7, and he is in right field because Betts can make the switch to left field much easier than the Yankees slugger.Abreu is a fine hitter, but it's hard to see him above this spot given the strength of the rest of the lineup. Perez gets the start at catcher because of the Wilson Ramos injury.Sale is a brilliant pitcher who is on one of the best streaks of his career. National League1. Freddie Freeman, 1B2. Nick Markakis, LF3. Javier Baez, 2B4. Nolan Arenado, 3B5. Matt Kemp, RF6. Jesus Aguilar, DH7. Willson Contreras, C8. Bryce Harper, CF9. Brandon CrawfordMax Scherzer, PFreeman gives the National League a professional and classy hitter at the top of the lineup, and his teammate Markakis has been lashing line drives all season.The talented and ego-driven Baez will appreciate his insertion in the No. 3 hole, and he has the best chance of any National Leaguer of leading his team to a victory.Arenado is a powerful clean-up hitter, and the back-to-back placement of Kemp and Aguilar could be formidable.Contreras is likely to be in the NL starting lineup for years to come because he is just coming into his own. Harper is saved the embarrassment of batting last, while Crawford has a chance to make the most of his opportunity.Scherzer will let it fly against the American League stars, and he will hope to register a slew of strikeouts against that powerful lineup.