The Cleveland Indians sit just two games behind the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central, a deficit that was once in double digits.
But that storyline was shifted to the side Sunday when Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer lost his cool in the fifth inning. The Kansas City Royals scored five runs that inning, ending Bauer's day -- and his composure. Bauer spun and hurled the ball from the mound over the centerfield wall as manager Terry Francona removed him from the game. The moment became an instant topic for internet debate.
RELATED | Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer loses cool, issues apology after throwing ball during game
Bauer apologized following the game, calling the moment "childish" and "unprofessional."
Emotion is no stranger to Bauer's game. The 28-year-old has always pitched with his heart on his sleeve, but Sunday's incident left fans divided. Some argued that it was fair for Bauer to be caught in the moment, and that players have a right to feel upset when they don't perform well. Others argued that Bauer is a professional, calling his actions immature and selfish. Fans also pondered how Bauer's antics could impact his trade value, as his name has surfaced in recent reports as a target for contending teams in need of pitching.
Here's what fans on social media are saying:
Bauer is also no stranger to controversy, from the drone injury of 2016 to his social media interactions, which included an ugly spat with a college student. Some called the student the instigator in the feud, while others accused Bauer of online harassment.
Bauer also accused the Indians organization of "character assassination" following his salary arbitration case, which Bauer won in February. He claimed the organization "ridiculed" him for his "69 Days of Giving" initiative, in which he has donated to several charitable causes.
“They spent the last 10 minutes of the case trying a character-assassination," Bauer told USA Today's Bob Nightengale. “I learned that giving to charity is a bad thing. I learned that agreeing with someone on a podcast just for the sake of argument that I was worth $10.5 million, and should be the definitive answer why I’m not worth $13 [million]."