The Patient Still Has A Pulse
Good, come-back-from-the-dead win today for the Guardians. Kept in there until the end with the save-blowing WP in the 9th by Duran (brings to mnd the phrase 'Speed Kills').
The road doesn't get any easier the rest of the way but at least, at this point, the road doesn't have a "Dead End" sign at the end of it. Which brings us to the next point:
Waiver Claims...Who Knew?
Teams are putting veterans on waivers in droves right now, led by the Angels. All you have to do is have a bad record, have a need and be willing to spend a little cash.
Waiver claims used to be getting Ramon Laureno or Kole Calhoun with the thought that they might provide minor league insurance.
But this year it has taken a whole new turn. I was very much against picking up Laureano because he was a 4th outfielder/AAAA player who was going to cost us as much as Civale would have the rest of the way. There was no need to pick up a veteran like that. In fact, except for the exceptional performance, there was no need to pick up Calhoun but that went well and it didn't cost NEARLY as much as Laureano.
But teams are putting frontline starters, top relievers and even some run-producing outfielders on waivers.
And all you have to do is spend a little money to get them.
The waiver process is perfect for the Guardians. You put in a claim for a player and after a certain time, the team with the worst record gets that claim. There is no bidding, no player choice. If they want their salary they go to the team that claims them.
So, let's think. Only teams with hopes of making the playoffs will put in a claim for an expensive player. And the worst team still with a chance of making the playoffs is.....wait for it...the Cleveland Guardians.
So here we are. All we have to do is have Dolan put up with some money and our team can be instantly better. So if Antonetti tells us 'No, we're happy with what we have' we know he is an idiot. If we choose not to dip our toe in this water we know that Dolan is cheap.
C'mon people. We will win every waiver claim we place and be sure of one thing. If we are not playing this game, the Twins will be making waiver claims in the next day and any chance we have of competing with them will disappear.. We need to be doing the same thing. It is stupid simple. Let's make some claims and bring in Lucas Gioloto, LHRP Matt Moore, OFer Hunter Renfroe or Randal Grichuk or even Mike Clevinger or Carlos Carrasco on waivers.
And it will really resonate with fans that we are putting our money, albeit limited money, where our mouths are in terms of competing. Talk about the low cost, short term grab of the brass ring. This is it people. Let's go!
2023 Draftees on Full Display Today
Saw the Lynchburg game today. Pretty comical how bad Kayfus and Mooney looked. Totally overmatched playing at A ball against guys who were 2 years younger, on average. Hope this draft turns out well but, damn, if Dolan saw this someone WILL lose their job.
BTW, Jackson Humphries looked MOSTLY really sharp with his stuff. Fastball was a little light (90-92, touching 94) but the command of the pitch was great as was his curveball. 9 Ks in 4 IP. Gave up some traffic in the first and a 2 run dinger in the 4th but the talent can't be denied when you consider he is a 19 year old who is actually PERFORMING in low A. (Hear that Kayfus and Mooney...and our draft team).
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