There aren't any new ones.
There are a whole bunch of them.
As I sat down to do this post those are the two thoughts that rattled through my head. So many 'experts' are talking about the keys to this series that it struck me that none of us know. The keys to any post-season series, in my opinion are:
(1) Your stars/high level players performing to or above their levels. Likely that will require these guys to elevate their games. By this I mean that Bieber will have to pitch near-flawless baseball and avoid that one inning where he and Hedges brain fart and he gives up 3-4 runs. In addition, Jose Ramirez will have to elevate his game and become the guy in April and in the last game of the season who just dominates at the plate. Guys like Rosario, Kwan, Gimenez, Gonzalez and the bullpen will have to perform at the same high level they have during the season.
(2) You need some unexpected heroes to step up and give you great performances. Remember Ryan Merritt in 2016? Maybe that is Kirk McCarty in another extra inning game, holding the fort until the Guardians find a way to score the winning run. Maybe it is Oscar Gonzalez going all Randy Arozarena on us and unleashing the power we saw in the minors. The symmetry and poetry of that in a series against Arozarena and his team would be stunning. Maybe it is Myles Straw continuing on and exceeding his September hitting and looking more like last year and this year in April. Maybe even hitting a HR! Maybe it is Will Brennan being up in crucial situations and delivering almost every time and every time that TRULY matters.
I am not sure what it will take for them to win in the playoffs but the Guardians deserve our support for their great season this year. Let's hope that everything aligns and they can have a deep run in the playoffs this year. And that the guys who we need to exceed expectations continue to do so, playing at their highest level yet and they do it in a way that keeps them safe and healthy for this and future seasons.
Go Guardians!
No comments:
Post a Comment