In the Padres 4-3 win during game 3 of the NLDS to send the series to game four, one of the biggest plays that actually ended up being the difference was a throwing error in the sixth inning where SS Cooper Pratt missed 1B Jake Bauers on a throw and it scored a run for the Padres.
For the Brewers both players that share time at first base are Bauers and Andrew Vaughn. While both of their bats are actually really solid, especially Bauers who is batting a career high .266. Along with Vaughn and a .306 batting avg. However the issue is that both of their fielding abilities are a liability.
Bauers plays both the outfield and first base, and most of the time he is on the corner. According advanced defensive metrics, Bauers ranks low in the whole league as a first baseman. And if you watch the film, you can see why.
Yes, a lot of plays like yesterday were tricky plays but what makes a good first baseman is the ability to bail out your infielders. Bauers isn’t a really reliable option when it comes to that. When I watch a Brewers game with my Dad it seems like every time there is an error involved at first base, No. 9 always seems to be involved.
One thing that bails Bauers out is his pitchers and outfielders usually get him out of trouble. An example of that was back on May 17 when the Brewers were at the Minnesota Twins. I was at that game and saw it with my own eyes. With the bases loaded and 2 outs while the Twins were holding a 1-0 lead, Royce Lewis popped it up in foul territory along first base and Bauers tracked it down but dropped it. Yes, it was windy but he had it in the palm of his glove, that is a play a major leaguer makes most of the time.
With all of this talk about Bauers, the unfortunate issue is Vaughn isn’t that much better statistically either. Vaughn also ranks low in advanced metrics and a reason why is because of his height and wingspan which dooms him when there is an errand throw to the side or above his head. But what those metrics don’t show is that Vaughn is actually solid when it comes to scooping balls out of the ground. Throws that are kinda like the throw that the rookie Pratt had yesterday.
In the Postseason, the biggest difference is defense and not all the time will the Brewers be able to escape situations that shouldn’t be in especially due to defensive errors at the first base position. If Milwaukee doesn’t get that corner infield spot taken care of, mark my words it will the final blow to their 2026 season.
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