PLAY BALL!! We’ve heard those delightful words for a few weeks now and they will really mean something starting tomorrow at 4:10p as the Cleveland Guardians start the 2025 campaign in KC vs the Royals. No doubt there is no wasting time as the AL Central chase begins opening day! Very cool.
I have waxed poetic about Home Openers, and I will again for the Guards return to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario on April 8th! For the present, let’s look at a few things that hit me (good and bad) with this squad!
Pitching, pitching, pitching is always the key. When you think you have enough, you get more! Look at the Braves with a Hall of Fame rotation of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz…they always were looking for more pitching. Right now, I am ok with the starting rotation. Time for Tanner Bibee to wear that “Ace” title plus with Gavin Williams and Ben Lively coming off impressive springs I’m feeling good. Shucks I should include Logan Allen in that group too and it will be crunch time for Luis Ortiz to prove he was worth a platinum glove winning second sacker. Truly shows you the value of starting pitching as Gimenez was basically traded for Ortiz!
The pen – no worries at all and I know some of you feel that the magic does not carry over. Friend, the success of the pen was not the end result of “Hocus Pocus”! It was darn good arms that produced and shut down the opposition. I truly like the fact that McKenzie and Cantillo are in the pen too. Triston needs to be in the bigs and keep the fire burning and Joey will also be set to join the rotation if needed.
I must go the “Keystone Combo,” i.e., the SS and 2B. Frankly, I am getting a tad more confident in Rocchio but still scared to no end about Arias. I will say this about Brayan…his stick is starting to look real but PULLLLLLLLEASE…everywhere I read or listen folks are talking about his great glove. A great fielder does NOT cost his team two games in the ALCS. Prove me wrong Bruh and Gabe is pretty much the same. He’s been tattooing the ball, but will his glove measure up along with the fact that had he realized when in the on-deck circle or in the dugout he needs to study the game and not the females in the stands. I was hoping Brito would win the job but he his bat did not come with him to spring training. He showed a little POP, but just not enough overall prowess to stick around. Now with Schneemann as the backup I am frightened if he needs to play SS! Cool with 2B and 3b!
Another position of trepidation for yours truly is behind the dish! BO KNOWS…long ball perhaps? He needs to know how to call a game, throw out runners, block bad pitches and hit at least .220. It MUST not be long ball or nothing. There is no doubt too that his scuffles with the bat will affect his fielding!
I also feel that Santana and Manzardo will offset the loss of Josh Naylor. I like Josh! We all liked Josh but truly Manzardo is the future at first and Carlos “Devadip” Santana MUST allow for a smooth transition with Kyle providing some D and offensive POP!
Rounding out this team what more can I say about JOSE JOSE JOSE except SUPERSTAR, and I am excited for the outfield. Kwan is very good at all aspects of the game; Thomas will be ok in CF…Better with the bat than fielding as he will not always get to balls he needs to get to in CF! Nolan Jones…love that he is back. One of the top prospects in all of baseball is home and he’ll platoon in RF with Big Christmas. Noel MUST not swing at every pitch!
Another message this time to the Skipper and his staff…use your gut at times. Do not let the computer take away your knowledge of the game and there will be times when you CANNOT be blindly loyal.
One more note…Hammy and Rosie are always worth the price of admission doing games. They are our SOUNDTRACK TO SUMMER and on the TV side…THERE WILL BE ONE ON CABLE and the word will be out real soon. The team knew they would go down to the wire on this and that is exactly what is happening. LET’S GO Cleveland Guardians!
Read more of my thoughts and musings on NEO Sports Insiders. Munch on Sports is powered by the Ken Ganley Automotive Group & Ganley Chevy Of Aurora.
Please take care of each other and it’s your world, pay attention. Indeed, enjoy every sandwich and for now ADIOS AMIGO, long may you run.
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