The State of the Cleveland Guardians - Sunday Morning - May 26, 2024

 It is May 26th.  If I told you at the end of spring training that:

• After 2 starts Bieber would be done for the year with TJ surgery
• Gavin Williams would not pitch until after the all-star break
• We had 3 starters with sub-.200 batting averages and only one position player hitting .270 or better
• Kwan is on the IL for a month and Hentges is just coming off the IL after missing the first month plus of the season

and I told you that we would be in 1st place in the AL Central at 35-17...and we didn't win a single game by forfeit...

...would you have believed me?  

That, in a nutshell, is the current state of the Cleveland Guardians.  

When taking stock of where the team is now, the other shoe dropping would be where do we go from here.  So let's dive into that:

• Position Players - Look, only Kwan, Ramirez, Naylor and maybe Gimenez are performing at acceptable levels.  Freeman, Bo Naylor and our DH/RF crew of Florial and Laureano all hitting under .200.  Both our SS are hitting poorly, with Rocchio repeatedly swinging at 2-0 and 3-0 pitches and being way out of control on defense.; Arias looks like he isn't putting in a good effort on either side of the ball and looks like he has lost interest in playing hard.  We need to send Arias to AAA as a follow-up to bringing up Jonathon Rodriguez and bring up Daniel Schneeman.  While there is no guarantee of success from these latter two it is time to do something.  Given that Laureano and Arias both have minor league options left, we can do that without risking losing either of them.  While Bo Naylor is hitting poorly I see no option but to keep him and let him catch.  He is a vastly underrated pitch framer at this point in his career and that, at the least, is worth him being on this team.  David Fry has been really valuable to this team but I still stress that his value comes from being used sparingly and that his production might crater if he has a full-time role.  However, if he continues he has a real shot of making the all-star game based on his offensive stats and his versatility.  You heard it here first!
• Rotation - There is only one pathway forward at the current time: Keep the current rotation healthy and performing.  Why?  There is no one else on or not on the 40-man roster who can help.  Xzavion Curry is a disaster at AAA after making a great spot start earlier this year for Cleveland and is still being pressed into service with Carracci on the IL.  Joey Cantillo is hurt and wouldn't be ready, at this rate, until August or September at the earliest.  Will Dion is the only non-AAAA pitcher at AAA and he is not ready and he isn't even on the 40 man.   AA pitchers like Doug Nikhazy and Tommy Mace are making progress but their history and the fact they are not on the 40 man means that them even making a spot start is problematic.
• Bullpen - Surprisingly, the best bullpen in the majors right now, doesn't currently need any help.  If they do they have Anthony Gose, Eli Morgan and prospects like Andrew Walters, Tanner Burns, Franco Aleman (when healthy), Nick Mikolajczak (when he is stretched out), Curry (for long relief) or any of the aforementioned AAAA relievers who can provide depth w/o worrying about being lost if we have to DFA them if we need their roster spot.  Plus, at some point, Karinchak will be back.

I don't know where this season will go.  The Guardians have gotten here with acceptable starting pitching that may not be sustainable, quality bullpen work that may possibly be sustainable and timely hitting and somewhat good defense which should be sustainable and even improved upon by our younger players stepping up and becoming what we think they should be.  When the Guardians started their series with the Mets, they began a stretch of 18 games (vs. Mets, Angels, Rockies, Royals, Nationals, Marlins) where they only play one team (Kansas City) with a winning record.  If they continue to get the current production from the bullpen and rotation and get better hitting from everybody, especially young guys and remain healthy, they, hopefully, will be able to avoid hiccups of the type that their White Sox series was.  

Love what has happened so far.  Hopeful for the future.

p.s.  Saw the tweet of a video taken a long way away from Progressive Field where you could hear the chant of "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose" right after his HR on Friday might against the Twins and their closer.  Probably one of the most special moments I can remember.  Can't imagine being somewhere in downtown Cleveland and hearing that chant ringing through the streets.  I am hopeful it was as magical for people in downtown as it was for me when I watched that video on X.