What A Guardians’ Winter Could Look Like

Hopefully, Game 5 of the 2026 World Series isn’t the last baseball game we see until 2028. As former Giants’ first baseman once said, “Baseball must be a great game to survive the people who run it.”

In our opinion, salary cap, salary floor, or vice-versa, the true issue is the revenue imbalance between the small markets and the large markets. That has to be solved. And to us, both of these things can be true–The Dolans’ ownership cannot compete with the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, etc., but they are capable of spending more money and they choose not to.

And with that, we will get off our soapbox and talk about the Guardians going forward and we will assume the jerks that run baseball will get their act together.

Four players exercised their right to be free agents: Austin Hedges, Rhys Hoskins, and two players acquired at the trade deadline in Foster Griffin and Nathaniel Lowe. Of these, our top priority would be Griffin, who went 3-3 for Cleveland with a 5.19 ERA, but pitched well in the playoffs and overall went 15-6 with a 3.60 ERA for the season.

Why? Because you can never have enough starting pitching, and there really isn’t anyone on the AAA horizon ready to challenge for a spot in the rotation.

Shawn Armstrong, despite pitching well in October is also gone, as the club declined his option for 2027. Could he come back under a new deal? That’s always possible.

We believe the offense still needs to be improved. Despite the surge after the arrival of Jo Adell and Lowe, the Guardians still ranked 24th in the sport in scoring runs, the worst rank of any playoff team (to be fair, the Red Sox were 23rd).

It is true they scored more runs, but the attack was still very inconsistent as we all saw in the first two games against the White Sox and the last five against the Rays. We will also remind you the biggest reason for the improved hitting was the red-hot bats of Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter, and not the deals bringing over Adell and Lowe.

Yes, we understand DeLauter should be better and provide more power as he matures and hopefully can stay healthy, and we do feel Travis Bazzana will be a solid bat and also improve. We also feel Jose Ramirez will have a better season.

We think Ralphy Velazquez (928 OPS in the minors last season and 107 Ks in 538 plate appearances) can be a factor for the big club next season, and the organization has to figure out where International League MVP Cooper Ingle can fit. Ingle hit .297 with a 951 OPS with the Columbus Clippers last season, and if the organization doesn’t feel he can catch at the big-league level, they have to find a place for his bat.

On social media, we pitched trading Brayan Rocchio this winter, not because we don’t think he’s a good player, but due to organizational depth. We believe that Angel Genao is ready, but with Bazzana and Rocchio manning the keystone, there isn’t spot for him.

We would like to see a “baseball trade”. Teams are also looking for good young shortstops and perhaps the Guardians can fill a need, or get a good arm, starter or bullpen, in exchange for either Rocchio or Genao.

Just something to think about.

Talking about this stuff is way better than talking about CBAs.

Successful? Yes, But Still A Disappointment For The Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians’ season came to an end Monday night in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. Two things were the primary causes of their demise, one was predictable (the offense) and the other wasn’t (the lack of starting pitching).

We have heard from many over the last month how the offense turned the corner after the deals at the deadline. We heard how they were fifth in the big leagues in that span in scoring runs. That’s one of the lies of dealing with statistics.

Using average runs per game is a solid metric, but in the Guardians’ case it doesn’t show how inconsistent the offense was. For example, in the playoffs, Cleveland had games where they scored nine runs twice and seven runs once in the 11 post-season games. On the other hand, they were shutout once, scored a single tally twice, and put up three runs three times. And remember, they won the deciding fifth game of the Division Series, 2-0.

After obtaining Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe on August 3rd, the Guardians were shutout seven times and scored one run twice in the last 49 games after the trades.

They scored seven times in winning the first game of the ALCS, then scored 11 runs in the last five. That simply isn’t going to get it done.

As for the starting pitching, Steven Vogt and Carl Willis used primarily seven starters for the entire regular season, perhaps the most stable rotation in the game. Until a late July game due to a rainout, they used only five starters when Logan Allen took the mound in a day/night doubleheader.

They traded for Foster Griffin and moved Slade Cecconi to the bullpen. Those were the seven until they started experimenting with using Daniel Espino as an opener for Joey Cantillo in September.

Then in their 11 playoff games, they used Parker Messick, who seemed gassed, for four starts, and Gavin Williams, magnificent in the deciding Game 5 vs. the White Sox, three times. The only other regular rotation piece used in a starting role was Griffin, who pitched in the opener of the ALCS.

Very, very curious.

Cantillo pitched just five innings in the post-season, less than reliever Shawn Armstrong, who by the way acquitted himself very well in the post-season. And by now, everyone is aware that Tanner Bibee, who lead the Guardians in starts during the regular season, faced three batters in the post-season.

This lack of usage took a major toll on the bullpen, with Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith getting just two games off in just two of the 11 contests. The wear and tear showed up for each as they gave up two-run homers in Game 6.

We understand Joe Torre and Terry Francona changed the game in terms of how relievers were used in October, but to ignore the starters wasn’t a good formula.

As a fan, this season ended the way every season since we’ve been following this team since 1965 has, without a World Series team. Hopefully, the franchise understands the goal shouldn’t just be winning the Central, it’s getting rid of the “not since 1948” stigma.

And hopefully, we will have a somewhat normal off-season, and the front office can look to improve the Guardians, but that is probably not in the cards with the owners and players not realizing what the real issue is (it should be about revenue equality).

There is good, young talent here (Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana), a resident superstar in Jose Ramirez, a pro’s pro in Steven Kwan, and a budding ace in Williams. Plenty to be optimistic about, but will the front office be allowed to spend and add to the core?

That’s always the question with the Dolan ownership.

It’s Down To A Three Game Series, But What Was The Bullpen Plan Yesterday?

We will go back to what we said after Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, It was never going to be easy.

Tampa Bay was the best team in the AL during the regular season. They are a good team, a very good team. Now it’s a best of three series with the Rays having the last two games in Florida.

After holding Tampa’s bats at bay in the first three games, they scored just 8 runs in that trio, Kevin Cash’s crew got their big boys going. Yandy Diaz started a rally in the third, scored their first run, and then capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the 9th.

Jonathan Aranda got the hit to deliver Diaz, and delivered another big hit, with the aid of Chase DeLauter’s error to score two more runs, part of a three-hit night for him.

And Junior Caminero broke a 1-1 tie in the 6th with a ringing double. The trio delivered six hits, Tampa had 11 and knocked in five of the seven tallies.

Steven Vogt left himself open to a lot of second guessing (not here, we thought it at the time) the way he used his pitchers after Shawn Armstrong opened the game putting up a scoreless first.

Foster Griffin pitched 3.2 innings and allowed one run but was removed with two outs and no one on in the fifth because he wanted Daniel Espino to face Yandy Diaz. Diaz fanned, but Vogt left Espino on to start the 6th with a pair of left-handed hitters due in Aranda and Chandler Simpson.

Espino walked both of them and then gave up the double to Caminero to give the visitors the lead.

Why not just leave Griffin in? He was pitching well, and if you wanted Espino for Diaz, why not bring in Tim Herrin to start the sixth?

Later, we saw Matt Festa’s playoff debut, and he got three outs, but with the score being 5-3 heading into the top of the ninth, we weren’t confident with him getting three more. He didn’t, allowing the homer to Diaz that salted the game away.

While the Rays got their big bats going, the top five hitters for Cleveland went 3 for 19 and after hits by Kwan and DeLauter in the first, the Guardians didn’t get another hit until Travis Bazzana went yard in the 7th.

Nick Martinez pitched 13 scoreless innings against the Guardians in the regular season, and he baffled them again, allowing just the one run in 5.1 frames.

So, we would guess the Rays will use game one starter Drew Rasmussen tonight and he was very good in both the regular season and his two playoff starts. Again, it won’t be an easy task.

Remember, after the 7 runs scored in the first game, the Guardians have managed just 7 runs themselves in the last three contests. They will need to figure out a way to put some offense together along with the pitching doing better.

We will guess Vogt will go with Parker Messick tonight and some good news for the relief corps is with the rainout on Friday, Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, and Hunter Gaddis all have had two straight days off. That would seem to shorten the game considerably.

But we will also point out we are still worried about Messick, who hasn’t been as sharp in his last few starts, probably due to fatigue.

Have to lost confidence? No, but again, Cash has good pitchers at his disposal too. And the Guardians don’t want to have to win two more elimination games on the road again.

Guardians Stay Alive. Can They Do It Again Today?

The Cleveland Guardians live to play another day. They staved off elimination in the AL Division Series with a 9-3 verdict over the White Sox and earn another chance to avoid being sent home, trailing the series two games to one.

Steven Vogt’s plan to use the opener/bulk combination of Daniel Espino and Joey Cantillo, which worked so well (at least for Cantillo) in September backfired as Espino walked the leadoff hitter and then gave up a hit, and with one out, a Kyle Teel double to put the Pale Hose on top 1-0.

Kudos to Foster Griffin coming in and restoring order, striking out Tristan Peters with men on 2nd and 3rd, and then he got eight out, seven of them via the strikeout and allowing just one run, giving the offense the chance to produce.

We said before the series because of all of the left-handers Chicago was going to use, Jo Adell needed to be a factor. Well, his bases loaded triple with the game tied at 1, gave the Guardians’ life and a three-run lead.

And after the Sox closed the lead to 4-2, Jose Ramirez manufactured a run, doubling, stealing third, and scoring on a ground ball by Chase DeLauter. That is vintage Ramirez.

The bullpen after Griffin did cause some anxious moments. When Cantillo did come into the game in the fifth (props to Shawn Armstrong getting two outs in the 4th), he immediately gave up a leadoff hit and a walk. He got Munetaka Murakami to ground out, before Teel hit a bullet to Travis Bazzana, who doubled off the runner on second.

After Cantillo retired the last two hitters in the sixth, he walked Braden Montgomery, and Vogt brought in Hunter Gaddis to face lefty killer Randal Grichuk. But Grichuk singled, and then Gaddis hit the next two batters to make it 5-3.

Miguel Vargas hit a rope to Ramirez, who threw him out at first.

We wonder how long the skipper keeps going to Gaddis, who hasn’t pitched well over the last few weeks. Perhaps Armstrong or maybe even Espino takes the late inning right-hander role for a bit.

Also wondering if the Guardians stay with Angel Martinez, who is coming out of the dugout swinging, and is now 0 for 12 with seven strikeouts. Martinez is streaky, so maybe today is the today he snaps out of it and gets a big hit, but the temptation has to be there to go with someone else, perhaps Petey Halpin or David Fry.

Cleveland now gets to start Parker Messick and Gavin Williams on their regular rest in the last two games, but that guarantees nothing. They have to put runs on the board and both pitchers need to be sharp.

Cade Smith pitched two innings, but only 20 pitches, so he will be good for Game 4.

We know this has been the mantra for the Guardians over the past few weeks, and it’s simple. Win today and bring the series back to Progressive Field.

Yesterday, it was Adell, Ramirez, and Griffin. Who will be the hero today?

Trade Pieces Were Needed, But Guardians’ Biggest Boost Came From Guys Already Here

There is no question the Cleveland Guardians’ front office took a big swing at the August 3rd trade deadline acquiring two bats in Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe and a starting pitcher in Foster Griffin. There is no question the team needed hitting, in fact they are still ranked 12th in the AL in runs scored.

The question is how much the newcomers impacted the success of the team, and the Guards have gone 25-16 since August 4th.

Our favorite deal was the one bringing Griffin to Cleveland and that hasn’t been as impactful as hoped. In his eight starts, he’s pitched to a 5.19 ERA and has allowed 55 hits in 43.1 innings. He’s gone just six innings in two of those starts, not exactly the inning eater we thought he would be, as he went that long in half of his 22 starts with the Nationals.

To be fair, his numbers are skewed a bit by his start on September 9th vs. Baltimore when he gave up a eight runs in 2.1 frames, and it wasn’t as though he was hit hard. Without that start, his ERA would be 3.73.

However, he hasn’t been a guy that Steven Vogt can count on to provide a solid start when he takes the bump. If the Guardians reach the Division Series, can he be trusted to get a start?

Nathaniel Lowe has upgraded the left-handed platoon at first base. Kyle Manzardo had a 684 OPS prior to the trade, and while Lowe has a 654 OPS overall with Cleveland, against right-handers, he has hit .241 and a 704 OPS, driving in 20 runs with five homers. Manzardo had 39 ribbies through the end of July.

The veteran is still just 4 for 42 against southpaws but did deliver a big sacrifice fly vs. a lefty in the series opener against Boston. He’s a solid veteran bat and a good defensive player at first base. He was picked up in the last hour of the deadline and has provided length to the batting order.

We were not thrilled with the deal for Jo Adell, not because of what the Guardians gave up (minor league catcher Jacob Cozart), but because he’s really a platoon player. He struggles vs. RHP and that’s been the case with Cleveland, as he’s hitting just .200 (24 for 120) with 36 strikeouts.

He has been more selective with the Guardians (15 BB in 186 PA vs. 16 BB in 456 PA with the Angels) and he has been a run producer with 31 RBI in 44 games. Ideally, if Steven Vogt wants to play him every day, he probably shouldn’t hit in the middle of the order vs. righties, but it’s not as though the skipper has a lot of options.

Adell and Lowe get a lot of credit for the offense being better since the deadline, and the Guardians have averaged almost a run more per game in August and September. But you can’t forget Steven Kwan hitting .355 with a .440 on base percentage in the second half, and Chase DeLauter batting .310 with a .467 slugging percentage during the same time frame.

And you can’t forget Travis Bazzana’s last month where he has a 964 OPS.

All three of them were here before the trade deadline.

The front office couldn’t stand pat at the deadline and they didn’t. They also brought in players who could help, and they have. But the resurgence of Kwan and the continued development of DeLauter and Bazzana have perhaps made more of an impact.

The Guardians’ Front Office Swings Into Action.

Well, the Guardians certainly did not stand pat at the trade deadline this season. And that is good to see.

For us, the biggest move was trading four players, one of whom saw time in the bigs this season in Will Dion, to the Washington Nationals for 30-year-old left-hander Foster Griffin, an All-Star with a 12-3 record and a 3.06 ERA with 116 Ks in 129 innings this season.

He will slide into Slade Cecconi’s spot in the rotation giving the Guardians a solid starter in every game in which they take the field. The southpaw spent the last three seasons in Japan winning 18 games with a 2.57 ERA.

We also think getting Griffin helps manage Parker Messick’s innings. He’s already at 129.2 IP just four short of his career high. So, he may get skipped a bit to keep him fresh for the stretch drive.

This move comes after the front office dealt for Craig Yoho from Milwaukee to bolster a sagging bullpen.

Yoho is the guy Cleveland wanted, he had a 3.15 ERA with the Brewers in 20 innings, despite a strikeout to walk ratio of 13 Ks vs. eight walks. Last year, in limited action (8.2 innings) he walked nine. But in his minor league career, he fanned 193 hitters in 131 innings, including 29 in 23 frames at AAA Nashville this season.

As for the offense, when several reactions to a trade, particularly in baseball, are something like “well, at least we didn’t give up much”, that’s not a good thing. That’s the reaction of several people when the Cleveland Guardians acquired OF Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league catcher Zack Cozart.

First, the good news. Adell has some power. Since the beginning of the ’24 season, he’s hammered 73 home runs, His 19 dingers this year would easily lead the Guardians this season, as Kyle Manzardo has hit just 13 HRs.

As we said, that’s the good news.

The bad news is Adell has an obscene strikeout to walk ratio. This year, he has fanned 108 times against just 16 walks. For a comparison, Gabriel Arias has whiffed 55 times vs. seven walks. More good news, Adell has like three times the plate appearances.

The good news is Adell does have a career 793 OPS against southpaws, and this year, has killed lefties, hitting .303 with a 910 OPS. However, against right-handers, his career mark is just 654 and just 593 this season. Which means he should be taking the Brandon Guyer role.

It is doubtful the Guardians will use him that way though. Our guess is he will be in the lineup most days and will madden fans by whiffing in key situations.

A better move, in our opinion, was getting 1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe from Cincinnati. A left-handed bat, he has a career 775 OPS and a 798 figure vs. righties. Lowe will replace Kyle Manzardo, who was sent to Columbus along with David Fry.

Manzardo has been lost at the plate most of the year, and his strikeout rate soared from 25% to 32% this season. We have advocated for him to go down and rediscover his swing, because right now, Lowe figures to platoon with Rhys Hoskins, who frankly has been terrible vs. lefties.

Getting Manzardo right would allow Steven Vogt (and the organization) to platoon Lowe and Adell, which would seem to be a productive pairing.

The Guardians will probably stop there, but we would still like to see Angel Genao and Cooper Ingle with the big club to improve the attack. There is still some dead weight on the roster. Angel Martinez is really struggling, and we continue to maintain Petey Halpin is not a big-league bat.

However, we wanted the Guardians to get better at the deadline and no question, they look to be improved for the stretch drive.