Let’s get rolling and hit you with some items on my Sports Gourd!
* The Guardians just took 2 of 3 from a very strong Blue Jays team after laying a T REX egg in the double header against the Dodgers. Last Thursday I saw perhaps the worst Major League baseball I have ever seen from the Guards. The 7+ hours I was at Progressive Field with two buds was painful. Laureano dropping a fly ball, Arias kicking a ball and Bo Naylor’s growing pains especially not stepping on the dish for a force out hurt PLUS the team’s refusal to drive home a runner from 3rd with NO OUTS was painful.
* Friday was a different story as not only did Tanner Bibee perform as the ACE of the staff again, but the team was in a refuse to lose mode and 3 HR’s sure helped. Not rocket science that the long ball comes into play and truly helps the offense. Before you go off on the team remember Josh Bell, Mike Zunino and Oscar Gonzalez were supposed to provide that POP!
* Sunday was Noah Syndergaard’s swan song with the Guardians as he was DFA’s after the game. Yup after walking the 2nd batter Vlad Jr. promptly homered to left. WALK then HR…the theme sadly for the pitching staff this year. I wish THOR the best. It cannot be easy to see your skills head south so quickly. Wasn’t it yesterday that Noah and DeGrom were the unbeatable duo for the Mets?
* In the Toronto series Pops Calhoun and Ramon Laureano went 9 for 24 with 8 RBI, 8 runs scored and 3 walks.
* Good friend Mike Kilbane the “Guardian of the Press Box at Progressive Field” sent me this note: “Per Ramon Laureano the playoffs start tonight!” Hoping that Ramon and Cole can share with the kids that a shot at the post season does not come around every year.
* You all know I clamored for the Guardians to acquire Josh Bell for quite a while and yes, his bat exploded when he joined the Marlins. Has he returned to his “Cleveland Ways”? Over the weekend Miami lost to 2 of 3 to a not good Nationals team and Josh went 1-11 with 3 K’s and 1 RBI on a HR.
* Jose Ramirez is still popping out too much but played a brilliant 3rd base again over the weekend and went 2 for 5, walked, hit a HR, and had 2 RBI Sunday. I still stand by my take that trading Rosario was painful to Jose and the team especially the young players (MOST OF THE TEAM) especially the Latin players! I do not buy the “play the kids and see what you have” in a pennant race. That’s what you do in Spring Training.
* If the team truly wants to win (the fans have turned out and need the team to win) they will play Tyler Freeman at SS and make Arias the utility infielder. Tyler is not as acrobatic as Gabe is at times, but he gives the team someone who will be solid at SS and has a chance at getting a hit.
* Andres Gimenez appears to be coming around, but it is the 28th of August! Saturday was hardly comforting to see Andres and Arias strike out six times.
* Fridays (plus some Thursdays and Saturdays) are certainly HS Football nights. Leave the college on Saturday and MACTION is just OK earlier in the week when it happens except attendance suffers big time. Yes, schools get exposure on TV and some $$ but it does seem counterproductive most of the time.
* Yes, I will talk Orange helmets and you want the “kiss of football death” on your team? Thank the “Dancing Fool” David Njoku who yes, would rather start celebrating than securing the football, for talking SUPERBOWL! SUPERBOWL? How about a winning season? Truly he has been an underperforming first round pick, First round picks need to make a difference and be All Pros. I have more fingers (which is only 7) than the number of games he has impacted in 6 seasons!
* I will leave you with a SHOUT OUT to Fox Sports Ben Maller. He was speaking the other evening about the absurdity in which sports fans function mentally and yes Browns fans ranked high on his list! He noted about Browns fans piling on Big Ben which was warranted but have a selective memory when it comes to their QB who had his own petting zoo. Ben fessed up, made restitution, apologized, and donated his time and $$ to Women’s Shelters, YES, he still was a lowlife for his actions. DeShame keeps saying he did nothing wrong. If that is the case, why spend millions to buy silence? An upstanding human would care more about clearing their name.
Please enjoy every sandwich, take care of each other and it’s your world, pay attention. For now, ADIOS AMIGO, long may you run.
#MunchOnSports is powered by Ganley Chevy Of Aurora, www.getmorecheddar.com and the Ken Ganley Automotive Group. Read more of my musings on www.neosportsinsiders.com .
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