Munch Musings from E. 53rd and Hamm Avenue

Since BASEBALL IS THE BEST (as always THANK YOU SARAH LANGS from MLB.com for that fitting moniker) I peruse numerous daily print options, handheld and on line, to soak up all the baseball news that is possible. Let’s have some fun talking the PAST TIME!

* I treasure checking out the TRANSACTIONS daily in MLB and noticed some news on two players we love cheering for and no doubt one of them gave us a great baseball moment of the past decade. First, I saw that the bosox designated Yu Chang for assignment. Such a likeable gent and no doubt when he exploded in Camden Yards a few years back with his family present waving TAIWANESE flags it gave me chills. Not sure if he’ll be around MLB but I must wish him the best. Now the other player I saw just get optioned to the minors by the White Sox was Tyler Naquin. ‘Nuf said with his Inside the Park HR and Hammy’s call. Go get ’em Tyler.

* Speaking of INSIDE the PARK HR’s, is that the most exciting play in baseball? Others I consider is a right fielder gunning down a runner at the plate, a hustle triple or an outfielder going high to rob a player of a HR. Your thoughts?

* I asked a few folks “in the know” at the ballpark yesterday during the Guardians – Jays game about the mood of the team especially when you see Josh Bell homer from both sides of the plate with 4 RBI and Amed Rosario hitting .264 and playing credible defense for the for the first place Dodgers (actually being used as a defensive replacement at 2B in late innings). Now Civale did go 4/1 giving up 9 hits and 3 runs for the Rays over the weekend but the fact remains he was great for us in July. Gotta ask for how long before he went on the IL again though. The mood? I feel Chris Antonetti lost the clubhouse with these deals and I have always trusted the front office. Arias gets worse at the plate with more AB’s (without the power will he be Bobby Bradley?) and Rocchio is a yo-yo in the field. Great play, awful play! Yes, he is young but dang it field the ball.

* Crazy when you see the youngsters for the Guards pitching like we were told they could pitch but limiting the Jays to 1 run, 0 runs and 3 runs in 3 games. Sadly, the Guardians scored 1, 1 and 0! YES, the lack of offense hurts but my golly, the loss of 5 starting pitchers, that is the entire rotation hurts too. Injuries, yup, and these are not excuses just reality.

* I treasured seeing Gavin Williams goofing around with Tanner Bibee in the dugout during Tanner’s GREAT outing Tuesday. Sure, focus is a key but so is staying loose.

* Last night in the 1-0 game I was chatting away with legendary sports guy Mike Snyder about the baseball gods are cruel as “BALL DON’T LIE” and the “BALL WILL FIND THE PLAYER WHO CANNOT MAKE THE PLAY” or in the Guards case when they hit one on the screws and darn Whit Merrifield continues to haunt us this time around with the leather and Daulton Varsho did some of the same.

* Are we seeing why Oscar Gonzalez did not get called up sooner. He needs to have BASEBALL and not Sponge Bob Square Pants in his gourd. Sunday a ball went over his head in RF and getting picked off of 2nd last night was an aberration to the game. What is Tito’s main rule? RESPECT THE GAME! He’s not doing that.

* Guards need a split with the Jays today. A struggling Alex Manoah is tossing for Toronto and Cleveland is sending their own punching bag last time out Noah Syndergaard to the mound.

* Now I am here to cheer you up and make you smile, laugh but reality is exactly that and here’s what Cal Quantrill did in his AAA rehab assignment last night: 1.1 IP, 12 batters faced, 6 Earned runs, 1 K, 1 W, 1 WP, 6 hits and he left with an ERA of 40.50.

* I must depart with a cultural note as more sadness rocked the music world yesterday with the passing of Robbie Robertson. I must ask is THE BAND truly the greatest North American “Rock” band ever? Their Americana sound (even with 4 Canadians and 1 American is unrivaled and as Paula Balish from 98.5 WNCX said to me yesterday “there is a special place in my heart for them.”

As always hope to see you, meet you, greet you at the ballpark or elsewhere around Northeast Ohio, truly the best location in the Nation.

Continue to enjoy every sandwich, take care of each other and since it’s OUR world pay attention. For now, adios Amigo, long may you run.

Yes #MunchOnSports is powered by Ganley Chevy Of Aurora, www.getmorecheddar.com and the Ken Ganley Automotive Group. Check out more musings and “All good in the ‘hood” thoughts at www.neosportsinsiders.com