Trevor Bauer wrote “BD 911” on the mound and ignited social media with conspiracy theory allegations

Near the start of tonight’s nationally televised game against the Cubs, Trevor Bauer scribbled “BD 911” on the back of the pitcher’s mound.

Users on Twitter and other social media outlets immediately assumed that Bauer’s cryptic message meant “Bush did 9/11”. This particular conspiracy theory joined “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams” in the lexicon of internet memes some time ago.

We’re all familiar with the drone incident and his general flavor of social media interaction. During this past offseason, he announced his unusual plan to donate money to charity which stemmed from his actual salary arbitration submission. He also might have used pine tar in part of a game to defend his accusations against the Astros. But would Bauer really continue his history of trolling by scribbling the message, egged on by a friend or a bet?

Bauer vehemently denied the accusations as soon as he wrapped up post-game interviews and returned to social media.

It’s worth noting that initials and dates on the back of the mound are typically reserved for memorials to family members or teammates, usually deceased.

Yes, Bauer is a bit of a meme lord, but many of the charities he’s donated to this season support the troops and his pro-United States stances are well-documented. I’m not going to speculate as to whether or not the potentially offensive interpretation of the inscription failed to cross Bauer’s mind before he etched it or if his post-game comment is simply a well-worded spin to defuse an incendiary controversy before it began.

He’d also have to be more than a little insane. Unless he’s going full Bobby Fischer on us, it’s hard to believe he’d do something that disrespectful.