There is no doubt MLB.com’s Sarah Langs hit the baseball “on the screws” when she noted and continues to remind us BASEBALL IS THE BEST! I need to share a great experience I had Sunday as I was taking Roscoe the Wonder Dog on a long walk. I was wearing my Guardians shirt with the face of the great Jose Ramirez plastered on the front when coming towards me was a gent in his 40’s with his wife walking their dog and he was wearing a red tee with GUARDIANS across the front. We made eye contact and he beat me to it saying “Great shirt” as I noted the same to him.
A little while later on the walking path I encountered a young Dad (30’s) with his 3 children (3, 6 and 8) who was wearing a CLEVELAND BASEBALL tee and GUARDIANS “C” ball cap. We immediately struck up a conversation and this family was a huge baseball and GUARDIANS family. The first thing the Dad said after we exchanged “GO GUARDS” greeting was “I know your voice. You’re Munch” and as always, I was humbled by his recognition. Shucks I’m a “skinny little boy from Cleveland Ohio” who was mentored in life by the streets of E. 53rd and Hamm Avenue, Jo Ann Drive, and the alphabet streets in Solon!
What was the first item on our agenda? Josh Naylor NOT being on the All-Star team. Please note I was thinking about this chat watching the game later Sunday evening! We then proceeded to talk Tito, Jose and some puzzling finished to game we have seen lately! Little did we know what awaited us on Sunday evening. This gent along with the Mrs. and the kids are regulars at Progressive Field. We talked about last year’s extra inning game with the Rays that Sponge Bob Oscar Gonzlez won as he went yard against one of the all-time Guardians great pitchers Cory Kluber plus games and players this year! His kids favorite Guardian? No doubt JOSE JOSE JOSE JOSE…JOSE! What these happenings told me that not only is baseball alive and well but the interest in the GUARDIANS is living big time in the community. ‘Nuff said…impromptu focus groups like the ones above speak volumes!
Now we need to talk about the GUARDIANS win Sunday evening vs the Cubs. Never forget a “win is a win is a win!” Sheesh it should not have been that hard and again the player lighting the fuse to an implosion was Trevor Stephan. Please toss out his stats. Reality is running rampant and now we know he cannot be trusted to put confidence in this team even with a 5-run lead. Yes, he only gave up 1 run, but he just does not have it. PLEASE Tito…Trevor needs to sit at least from the 7th inning on.
Now in the 9th what happened? Oh, sure Clase’s line was 1 inning pitched, 4 hits, 4 runs (all earned surprisingly) plus 1 walk and no K’s. What is the lesson to be learned from the bottom of the 9th or any inning in any game? The GUARDIANS broke a fundamental rule of baseball and a MUNCH ON SPORTS baseball law…DO NOT GIVE THE OTHER TEAM MORE THAN 3 OUTS! Shucks the Guards gave the Cubbies 5 outs as Josh Naylor could not get the ball out of his glove on 2 occasions!
Yes, Clase was not as sharp as he or we would want him to be but he did get two ground balls that needed to be outs, The first one happened with the score 6-2 in favor of Cleveland. I also have to point out the Cubs first run in the bottom of the 9th was the leadoff hitter that inning who Emmanuel had walked! Josh Naylor was bad that inning defensively and we have seen massive improvement with him at first base. Was the All-Star snub on his mind? Not sure but I do know he must get the ball cleanly out of his glove. We have seen this before plus his decision making on wanting to go to second with a sure out at first had a “panic feel” to it. Now Josh made it up with the single in the 10th scoring “Manfred runner” Gimenez and Rosario who singled to lead off the inning.
This was a team in “refuse to lose” mode but it should not be that hard!! Overall, a 4-2 road trip is a success but something gnawing at my gut tells me it was a 5-1 road trip after the team handed away a game to KC Thursday.
Fun home stand coming up starting tonight with three against the Braves then 4 vs KC! A 5-2 home stand would be the proper way to end the proverbial first half of this marathon known as baseball. Truly I hope to meet you, see you or greet you at the ballpark this week or elsewhere on the North Coast!
As always enjoy every sandwich and for now “Adios Amigo…long may you run.”
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