Saturday, September 9, 2023

Saturday Thoughts - Sunny California version

 First, still would rather watch a losing Guardians' team than Ohio State, the Browns or the Cavs.  Baseball is just my jam.  

Second, Cantillo looked off last night, meaning the likelihood of him coming up if we DFA Giolito after tonight are less likely.  I didn't think he was quite ready for MLB before last night but was hoping he would be able to at least appear to be ready.  Still think it is not out of the question that we turn to him if Giolito continues to struggle but last night didn't give my much confidence that he would be successful, even factoring in that he might be effective just because people don't have a book on him yet.  

Third, Kyle Manzardo should NOT be brought up this year.  He is a 2021 college draftee and doesn't need to be rostered until after the 2024 season.  So adding him to the roster this year just needlessly clogs up our 40-man situation this winter.  Hey, he looks good as a non-roster invitee next spring?  Maybe then.  But my opinion is if we bring him up before next June he will end up going up and down a few times before he finally sticks.  That never helps a team that loads its 40-man with prospects as it increases the chances they may have to DFA a true prospect who is on the 40 or not roster a guy this winter because they have no roster spot.

Fourth, it is Saturday and why are Calhoun, Laureano and Gallagher still on this rostegr?  Rodriguez and Lavastida are not particularly hot right now but they make more sense than these two and bringing up Noel, while he is clearly not ready, might catch lightning in a bottle for the rest of the season due to that lack of familiarity effect as mentioned with Cantillo.  Teams tend to make these changes after a series or after a road trip but these veterans are, predictably, not producing over a long time.

Fifth, while I will cover this in more depth in my minor league season review in October, I think the surprise players in our system this year are Franco Aleman, Aaron Bracho, Daniel Schneeman, Raynel Delgado and Cade Smith.  It is hard to tell if any of these guys have become true prospects (Aleman's stuff and results favor him not being a one-year wonder) but it is exciting to see their results.  Remember that Bracho and Valera were the highest bonus players of our 2017 international draft class.  Rocchio and Noel was just guys in that class.   So maybe Bracho is just a late bloomer.  I doubt that Smith, Bracho or Delgado, who are all eligible for the Rule 5, will be rostered this winter as we just don't have the roster space and their tools and overall career results imply their contribution will be as fringe major leaguers if they even get to the majors.  Aleman does not have to be rostered until after the 2024 season.

Sixth, I have stopped looking at the stats for Jones, Bell, Benson, Civale and Rosario.  It is just too depressing to think about how little we got back in those trades.

Go Guardians!

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