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Hey Bimbo, will we see Lavastida and/or Naylor play other positions to keep them fresh while keeping their bats in the lineup?
 
BimboColesHair said:
Absolutely.

He is catching a very "MLB level stuff" pitching staff this season between Espino, Allen, Cantillo, Gaddis, Burns, Curry, and now Williams (on top of the relievers) so he is getting experience catching an array of high-level breaking pitches, off speed pitches, fastballs, high velo, and command/control levels and navigating them through games. Pitching staff has the highest K/9 in the upper levels by almost a full K/9 and sport one of the lowest ERAs in the upper levels. His receiving and framing skills have improved tenfold over the last 2 years, kid works his ass off on his defensive game.

At the same time, he is on pace to cut his PBs in half and is currently sitting at a career high for CS%. He is progressing so well defensively, big reason why he is sticking at C (there were ideas of moving him off of C for his bat to play more).

And like his brother, he just has one of those personalities his teammates gravitate towards.
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Do you bring him up and pair him with Hedges as a mentor in the second half?

If this team can't get any consistent production from the C position, is it reasonable to ask the club to advance his timeline and let him handle the big league staff?

Realistically, I think they'd be more inclined to let him continue growing in Double-A and move him up a level.


The game-calling and overall ability to handle the staff would be the biggest challenge here, but if they're convinced of his work ethic, it seems like an interesting risk/reward.
 
Assuming the Guardians do OK in this upcoming rough stretch of the schedule, what is the primary target area if they decide to be buyers?

A corner outfielder? Maybe platoon Kwan and Gonzalez at the other OF spot?

A starter to upgrade from Plesac? But in the playoffs, if they can overtake the Twins, you only need four starters.

Bullpen help? Stephan and Sandlin have been pretty shaky lately.

If Dolan authorized one rental trade, what would you go for?
 
CDAV45 said:
Hey Bimbo, will we see Lavastida and/or Naylor play other positions to keep them fresh while keeping their bats in the lineup?
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Doubt it.

Think there is a better chance one of them gets traded than one of them playing another position to get in the lineup.
 
AZ_ said:
Do you bring him up and pair him with Hedges as a mentor in the second half?

If this team can't get any consistent production from the C position, is it reasonable to ask the club to advance his timeline and let him handle the big league staff?

Realistically, I think they'd be more inclined to let him continue growing in Double-A and move him up a level.


The game-calling and overall ability to handle the staff would be the biggest challenge here, but if they're convinced of his work ethic, it seems like an interesting risk/reward.
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I wouldn't. He needs to play as much as possible this season, both him and Lavastida. It will be interesting, since he is very deserving of one, how they handle Naylor's potential promotion to Columbus. Does it coincide with Lavastida being called up after Maile is let go, or do they run it as an experiment to see if the 2 of them can be their MLB catchers in the near future and share time and still be effective. You want both of those guys playing and developing as much as possible, but you also don't want to hold a player down to do so. Tough wrinkle that has to play out.
 
BimboColesHair said:
I wouldn't. He needs to play as much as possible this season, both him and Lavastida. It will be interesting, since he is very deserving of one, how they handle Naylor's potential promotion to Columbus. Does it coincide with Lavastida being called up after Maile is let go, or do they run it as an experiment to see if the 2 of them can be their MLB catchers in the near future and share time and still be effective. You want both of those guys playing and developing as much as possible, but you also don't want to hold a player down to do so. Tough wrinkle that has to play out.
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I thought as much as well which is what prompted my question. I really like what both are doing and have the potential to do. If they did decide to move one it would probably be Lavastida wouldn’t it?
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Assuming the Guardians do OK in this upcoming rough stretch of the schedule, what is the primary target area if they decide to be buyers?

A corner outfielder? Maybe platoon Kwan and Gonzalez at the other OF spot?

A starter to upgrade from Plesac? But in the playoffs, if they can overtake the Twins, you only need four starters.

Bullpen help? Stephan and Sandlin have been pretty shaky lately.

If Dolan authorized one rental trade, what would you go for?
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I think it would be a solid bullpen arm, not an Andrew Miller level stud, and a right-handed hitting platoon bat. Gotta let the kids keep playing so you can't reach for too much too soon.

Someone mentioned him elsewhere, but a guy like Brandon Drury makes a lot of sense as a hybrid replacement for both Mercado and Clement that can be had for not that much (free agent after this season). Has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS this season and has played LF and RF in the past. Also fits what the team likes to do; doesn't whiff much, draws walks. Reds and Cleveland have been in contact an awful lot this past off season, so Cincy is very familiar with some of the prospects in the system as well.
 
CDAV45 said:
I thought as much as well which is what prompted my question. I really like what both are doing and have the potential to do. If they did decide to move one it would probably be Lavastida wouldn’t it?
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Yes.
 
BimboColesHair said:
I think it would be a solid bullpen arm, not an Andrew Miller level stud, and a right-handed hitting platoon bat. Gotta let the kids keep playing so you can't reach for too much too soon.

Someone mentioned him elsewhere, but a guy like Brandon Drury makes a lot of sense as a hybrid replacement for both Mercado and Clement that can be had for not that much (free agent after this season). Has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS this season and has played LF and RF in the past. Also fits what the team likes to do; doesn't whiff much, draws walks. Reds and Cleveland have been in contact an awful lot this past off season, so Cincy is very familiar with some of the prospects in the system as well.
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I wonder who that was? He's picked up the pace again here recently as well I believe.
 
@BimboColesHair

Though he is an inventory/org soldier type it seems like Micah Pries may have some decent pop. Does he play decent D?

Don't think he'll be making it to the show, but I like they guy.
 
BimboColesHair said:
I wouldn't. He needs to play as much as possible this season, both him and Lavastida. It will be interesting, since he is very deserving of one, how they handle Naylor's potential promotion to Columbus. Does it coincide with Lavastida being called up after Maile is let go, or do they run it as an experiment to see if the 2 of them can be their MLB catchers in the near future and share time and still be effective. You want both of those guys playing and developing as much as possible, but you also don't want to hold a player down to do so. Tough wrinkle that has to play out.
Click to expand...

Next question about these two, if we see them at AAA together this season, we will see them only play C or maybe see one or both of them get reps at like 1B/3B/Corner OF? I know Lava was mostly MIF when we drafted him, so I could see him play some 3B/1B and Naylor is athletic enough to do something similar...
 
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