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Magic Number - 1 for Division ... Minni Eliminated ... Our Elimination of #2 seed is 2

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We've been told that this team couldn't win with...

Catchers that don't hit.

A CF that doesn't hit.

A LF that couldn't hit home runs.

Amed at shortstop.

A rotation that had lost velocity across the board.
It’s not like any of those were invalid concerns. They all have merit to some degree.

but the team has persevered and Tito has worked his magic.
 
I will admit I was butt hurt in the off-season when I normally am not. I got over it pretty quick though, love this team.
 
I will admit I was butt hurt in the off-season when I normally am not. I got over it pretty quick though, love this team.


I was really happy with our offseason to be honest. Extend 3 players that i thought were important (I know many hate Straw now), showed me they thought this team was close. I didnt expect to make the playoffs this year, just want a team that could compete and shows promise in the youth movement.

Even if the central didnt suck, we are now in the heat for a wild card spot. This team isnt playoff caliber because White Sox and Twins suck, they are playoff caliber because well, they are good enough to make the playoffs as even a wild card team.

Considering we are the youngest AAA team and happen to be playing at the major league level, that is very, very exciting. And by the time our young players need extensions, maybe the Dolan's have sold the team to deeper pockets....even more exciting.
 
I was really happy with our offseason to be honest. Extend 3 players that i thought were important (I know many hate Straw now), showed me they thought this team was close. I didnt expect to make the playoffs this year, just want a team that could compete and shows promise in the youth movement.

Even if the central didnt suck, we are now in the heat for a wild card spot. This team isnt playoff caliber because White Sox and Twins suck, they are playoff caliber because well, they are good enough to make the playoffs as even a wild card team.

Considering we are the youngest AAA team and happen to be playing at the major league level, that is very, very exciting. And by the time our young players need extensions, maybe the Dolan's have sold the team to deeper pockets....even more exciting.
I should have said that I was way less butthurt when the ink dried for Jose, Clase, and Straw. Communication error.
 
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It would be an ABSOLUTE BLAST if we could clinch at home.
But the way the Sox are crumbling, I don't know if that's gonna happen.
 
We've been told that this team couldn't win with...

Catchers that don't hit.

A CF that doesn't hit.

A LF that couldn't hit home runs.

Amed at shortstop.

A rotation that had lost velocity across the board.
Were you told they couldn't win with catchers that don't hit or that we would be better with catchers that could hit?

The same can be said about CF. Straw has been an offensive burden the entire season minus the last week or 2.

I don't recall anyone saying we couldn't win with Amed at SS. There was a discussion around the idea of him being traded.

I love the revisionist recollection during self evaluations. All hail CATS! The truth be told is that this team has exceeded expectations and everyone of those items you listed are likely to be addressed in the offseason so............

Would we be in this situation had the White Sox and Twins not suffered as many injuries as they did while we remained healthier than any team in MLB? Are we a division winner in any other division? I don't know and I don't really care. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Edited to say that you said we couldn't win with prospects because they fail 70% of the time. Yet here we are now having exposed 16 prospects to MLB and about to win the division.
 
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Were you told they couldn't win with catchers that don't hit or that we would be better with catchers that could hit?

The same can be said about CF. Straw has been an offensive burden the entire season minus the last week or 2.

I don't recall anyone saying we couldn't win with Amed at SS. There was a discussion around the idea of him being traded.

I love the revisionist recollection during self evaluations. All hail CATS! The truth be told is that this team has exceeded expectations and everyone of those items you listed are likely to be addressed in the offseason so............

Would we be in this situation had the White Sox and Twins not suffered as many injuries as they did while we remained healthier than any team in MLB? Are we a division winner in any other division? I don't know and I don't really care. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Edited to say that you said we couldn't win with prospects because they fail 70% of the time. Yet here we are now having exposed 16 prospects to MLB and about to win the division.

I feel like we could have competed for a Wild Card regardless of division, but being in this division made it way easier...
 
I thought we would begin the off season as an 88 win team without making any outside additions, not the 80 win team without a healthy rotation that we ended with. A healthy pitching staff was gonna be a lot better than it was being credited.

I also expected that the FO would bring in at least one established RH bat capable of playing 1B/OF...which would raise the total over 90. They didn't do that, but its gonna be close.
 
It’s not like any of those were invalid concerns. They all have merit to some degree.

but the team has persevered and Tito has worked his magic.
They may have slight merit, but those that decried those things undervalue defense, speed, contact, and the art of pitching...while over valuing power and velocity.

The White Sox have some big, bad hitters that can't field or run. Guys like Jimenez, Vaughn, Moncado, and Sheets. Lots of power, though. Pretty hefty amount of Ks, too.

Would you trade Kwan or Gimenez for any of them?

Not if you look closely.

fWAR per 600 PAs:

Jimenez........2.7
Vaughn..........0.0
Moncado.......3.2
Sheets...........0.0

Gimenez........5.0
Kwan..............3.9

Throw in Straw.....2.6

How about Oscar?....3.1
 
coIt’ll happen at home in front of a raucous crowd of 12,000.

Sarcasm aside, you neglect to point out that we have crowds around 20,000 this weekend including 24,500 for the night cap on Sat. compared to Det of 17,600. On Sunday it was, 19,600 vs 14,450 for Det while Cleveland had Browns home opener as well and 4 games to pick from over Fri night - Sunday instead of normal 3 (spread out the walkup crowds). Yes, we only had 12,000 on Monday but you are talking about a make-up game from a cancelled Wednesday night from April opening series where no one goes but opening day (so few carryover tickets). AND, it was rescheduled as a businessman special where all the businesses have left downtown Cleveland over the past few decades.

And, even if you listened to Cleveland assistant GMs about the young kids, it was always about how it is good to win but they were looking forward to winning and being competitive in playoffs in future years (not necessarily this year). Thus, we were not really in a division chase until recently. Cleveland also did not make many big splashes in FA or trade deadline to amp up the base (I get why). However, Detroit actually went out and spent on Baez and Rodriquez and traded for Barnhart. It may have been fools gold but some fan bases buy into it. They are already talking about being BOLD this winter. Sure, string them along versus us jaded Browns fans who say show us first before we get fooled for the 99th time.

Yet, I am also curious about how many businesses buy season tickets in Cleveland vs Detroit. I am sure there is a huge difference especially just due to GM/Ford (and even Chrysler) effect. A lot of schmoozing goes on at these games where vendors just want to maintain their sales figures and are willing to drop $1,000 or more on tickets, dinner and liquor if it gives them even the slightest edge on maintaining hundreds of millions of dollars of contracts that include commissions. There really isn't much of that in Cleveland. Yes, you have Sherwin Williams but their vendors are all over the world. Detroit on the other hand has a lot of the headquarters for the suppliers also in Detroit just because of the Big 3 (and wanting to be close to all the VPs who make decisions who also have a lot of money to spend for their family entertainment).

I am sure Cleveland being an analytical organization has all these numbers in their marketing department to show how it may seem embarrassing but based on many factors. And, in the end, I guess Cleveland did not show up for a year-long division chase when even you and many of us said it was wait till 2024 (which I guess we did at the gate as well). But, things have picked up recently. And, instead of blaming the fans, do the Guardians know how much of this is tied to losing over the years - BP, TRW, Nestle, BFGoodrich, LTV, and list goes on. I know I took my contacts from them companies to a lot of games before they left to keep my relationships strong.
 
FYI, as of right now, the Guardians expected Division Clinch Date is Friday, September 30th.
After this unexpected sweep of the Sox, our new expected Division Clinch Date is:

Wednesday, September 28th.

We should have this locked up before our six game homestand against the Royals even starts.
 
After this unexpected sweep of the Sox, our new expected Division Clinch Date is:

Wednesday, September 28th.

We should have this locked up before our six game homestand against the Royals even starts.
Which would be fantastic. Let's the G's get their rotation set for the playoffs
 
Which would be fantastic. Let's the G's get their rotation set for the playoffs

I think it is pretty much set. Looks like Plesac is going on Sat in AAA. That lines him up with a Thursday Tampa start over Morris (get him a pen day or two to get use to it again for playoffs).

Quantrill is the only one that needs to be pulled out of the current rotation to save him for WC as he is lined up to go next Friday and thus would go last game Wed (but not enough rest for WC). Thus, don't be surprised if they just flip flop CIvale/Quantrill with the off-day coming on Monday (giving another day rest) to have Civale/Plesac end our season. Or, they can just go an opener with whoever isn't sent down McCarty/Morris for that last game (and Pilk can come up too for the last day as he will be eligible by then to come back).

But, Pitching will be interesting as to the mix
This year in the 7-game ALCS, they play 5-games straight and thus need 5th starter.

Yet, I see Morris as a vital piece of the pen (I would also say Vargas if he got any innings) but how to fit him in?

Starters - Bieber, McK, Quant, Civale
Backend - Clase, Stephan, Kar and Hentges
Middle Inn - Sandlin, Santos, Morgan
That's 11 (2 more to go)
Extra - assume Shaw and Plesac due to the experience over McCarty or Pilk but I rather see Morris over Shaw.
 

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