Heading Home!

 We have played two series.  We have won two series.

What we learned today:

• Tim Herrin is NOT the second coming of Sam Hentges.  He is a rookie.  He needs more experience.  Hopefully he recovers mentally from today.  The homerun-saving catch by Straw will go a long way towards allowing Herrin to flush and forget this performance.
• Myles Straw is good.   He saved the game in the 8th.  Drew a walk and scored the insurance run in the 10th.  He stole his 5th base.  If he doesn't get an extra base hit all season isn't important.  We he is batting in the bottom of the lineup he is more free to try to steal bases than any other player in our lineup.   If Kwan or Rosario steal it can take the bat out of Jose's hand.  Not so with Straw.  Singles or walks turn into de facto doubles with his speed.
• In my opinion, Andres Gimenez is the best defensive second baseman I have ever seen.  I know I said that previously but it is the way I feel...and I have watched many years of baseball. The play he made on the early game popup where Gonzalez couldn't see the ball and Gimenez caught that ball in middle deep right field may seem like nothing but how many second baseman can realize fast enough that their right fielder doesn't see it and get in position, running away from the infield, to make that catch, let alone make that catch look easy?  Plus, he hits and hits in the clutch.  I don't care if people say that this term is archaic.  The guy seems to hit whenever we need one badly.
• Hunter Gaddis can pitch.  I still think, against better lineups, he will get clobbered as his stuff is not dominant.  In my opinion he is better as a reliever but I hope we can get more good starts out of him until McKenzie comes back.  Certainly today's performance gives him more starts.  Glad he won't be facing the Marners this weekend.  
• Josh Bell.  Man, what can you say?  Did he juke us out of $17 million?  He certainly looks even worse now than when he played in San Diego, although it is close. I have trouble this franchise, among all franchises would kneejerk to spend all that money to sign their second choice after losing out on Jose Abreu.  Right now, however, that is not out of the question as to what happened.  I hope I am wrong but right now I see Carlos Baerga written all over this guy, given how precipitously his career has fallen off the table once he started playing for teams in contention.  Keep your fingers crossed he figures it out because the guy is supposedly a fast starter and he has been anything BUT that this year so far.  Maybe Cleveland cooking will get himn on track.
• Amed Rosario is not 'on' yet.  I still don't like him hitting second. l don't see him bringing anything to the table.  Problem is, we don't have a true #2 hitter on our roster or in our farm system.  Maybe it is time to try Straw at #2.
• Clase.  He got the job done but it wasn't perfect.   Against a rebuilding team like the A's he should be perfect.  Using that yardstick he fell short twice.  Playing against better teams he has to be that shutdown reliever.  For us to be successful he has to be.  
• Morgan is just a solid major league reliever.  When you see guys like Peyton Battenfield, Cody Morris, Xzavion Curry, even Mason Hickman, you can see how guys with borderline ML stuff can be solid if they just put their mind to it.  
• Gallagher with a clutch hit.  I would have hit Brennan in that spot but it all worked out.  
• Kwan is Kwan.  That's all you need to say.

So, coming home 5-2.  Last winter I projected we would be 4-3 at this point.  I don't care who you play, a 5-2 road trip is a good result at any time of the year, but moreso when you are coming out of the gate.

Next post will be on the minor league rosters.   Talk to you all later tonight and Go Guardians!