How the heck are you, friend? Our Cleveland Guardians find themselves in a 2-1 hole in a best of 5 series which means they MUST win tonight, or the season is over. YES, THEY WILL WIN. Resilience has been a key to this squad. What the heck happened yesterday in Motown? As the J. Geils Band’s Peter Wolf sang “it was the Detroit breakdown, a Motor City Shakedown” administered by the Tigers D and some gosh awful, downright putrid hitting by the Guards. Say what you will about some of the moves Skipper Vogt made, he was not swinging the lumber and indeed I see other Managers doing the lefty / righty “thing” to an extreme (Cheater Hinch for example) but my gosh here’s was the real tales of the tape:
* The Good Guys have not scored a run in 20 innings! That goes back to game 1 in the ALDS when they plated 2 in the 6th! Yes, pitching and defense are so important but you gotta score runs!
* A few of the stud bats” or supposed big bats of the Guardians were nonexistent again yesterday. Jose 0-3 plus an intentional walk which shows there is the utmost respect for Mr. Lapara but results so far would dispute that (1-6 in the first two games with 1 RBI), Fry 0-3, Gimenez 0-4 and Noel (who replaced Chill Will before Brennan even had an at bat due to the lefty / righty theory) 0-4.
* Jose is so special, but these numbers are not and yes, he MUST pick it up or the season will end. He is lifetime .238 in the postseason with 2 HR in 142 plate appearances. The Guards may advance but never win the World Series without the best player not contributing in the postseason.
* The following flat is horrendous:
– Top of the 2nd: Tigers up 1-0. Naylor leadoff single followed by a Thomas single. Do the math! 2 on, NO OUTS! What happens next? Gimenez can bunt flies out to LF. Noel hits for Brennan and flies out to CF. Bo then flies out to RF. 2 on, no outs = 0 runs!
– Top of the 3rd: Kwan infield single and advances to 2nd with one out. Fry K’s looking!! Jose is walked and Josh grounds to 1B. 2 on, 2 out = 0 runs.
– Top of the 5th: It is now a 2-0 game, Detroit on top. Bo pops out then Rocchio and Kwan single. 2 on, 1 out. Fry strikes out swinging and Jose flies out to CD.
2 on, no outs = 0 runs! This with the #2 and #3 hitters up.
– Top of the 7th: 2 outs then Rocchio walks, Kwan singles and Fry lines out to 3rd. Tigers third sacker Vierling climbed the ladder and made a brilliant catch. Fry hit it on the screws but no cigar. I must say Detroit is making plays I did not think they would make.
That’s all folks. 4 innings, 2 runners on and they did not score.
6:08p tonight and the season depends on this game. Bibee against the still TBD. Simply put for the Guards…YOU are the better team, win this freaking game!
Read more of my Musings at NEO SPORTS INSIDERS. Munch On Sports is powered by Ken Ganley Chevrolet of Aurora and the Ken Ganley Auto Group.
Please friend take care of each other and it’s your world PAY ATTENTION. Enjoy every sandwich and for now ADIOS AMIGO, long may you run.
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