Yes, his hitting improved in the second half, but did his defense?
I’d be fine with a platoon for now and Bader as a late game defensive sub – with the idea that if Fowler did not DRASTICALLY improve both defense and offense by the midway point of the season, he rides pine the rest of the way.
I think Fowler still had some gas in the tank last year, resulting in him playing well for part of the year. But with some players, and I suspect Fowler to possibly be one, once that gas runs out, the will to replenish it all but evaporates. Again, I do not believe a player like Fowler intentionally does not do what he has to, to perform at this level. He simply can’t help it….it just genetically happens.