2022 Cleveland Guardians Regular Season Thread

[Real Deal]

Watching our old buddy Francisco, 0-2, 2 K's .

Something about him and that old Minor League Central Division he feasted in doesn't add up

 

[CDAV45]

So what’s the scouting report on Castro?

 

[sportscoach]

we have more than enough depth on paper and IRL...

We are lacking proven bullpen arms, we have some talent, but we have a lot more AAAA types than legit MLB talent types...

He has performed better as a starter and has the stuff to be very effective which is evident in his SO rates. His issue is control and he has an option or options. Can't help but wonder if there isn't going to be some room created on the 28 man roster soon.

Castro has only shown two pitches that are MLB pitches, which really regulates him to the bullpen... You cannot say he has performed better as a starter, since he never threw any relief until 2020... We really don't know one way or the other, but only two pitches and struggles at AA, forces me to lean reliever...

 

[CDAV45]

We are lacking proven bullpen arms, we have some talent, but we have a lot more AAAA types than legit MLB talent types...



Castro has only shown two pitches that are MLB pitches, which really regulates him to the bullpen... You cannot say he has performed better as a starter, since he never threw any relief until 2020... We really don't know one way or the other, but only two pitches and struggles at AA, forces me to lean reliever...

Not true. He has 3 quality pitches with ridiculous movement. What he doesn't have is an idea of where they will end up. Considering that, he needs to be sent down to get the work in. He's a project, but he's now in the right organization to develop as a pitcher regardless of the role they choose for him.

You also need to get off this "lack of BP arms" because it isn't true. They've actually got some very good BP arms and being "unproven" in the BP means little due to the nature of them. Your "proven" arms might be fantastic 1 year and suck ass the next.

 

[sportscoach]

Not true. He has 3 quality pitches with ridiculous movement. What he doesn't have is an idea of where they will end up. Considering that, he needs to be sent down to get the work in. He's a project, but he's now in the right organization to develop as a pitcher regardless of the role they choose for him.

You also need to get off this "lack of BP arms" because it isn't true. They've actually got some very good BP arms and being "unproven" in the BP means little due to the nature of them. Your "proven" arms might be fantastic 1 year and suck ass the next.

I have not seen a single report that shows that he has three pitches... All I have seen is a natural cutting mid 90s fastball with a solid slider and a decent changeup... Thats not gonna work as a starter...

Go ahead and tell me our bullpen depth...

 

[CDAV45]

I have not seen a single report that shows that he has three pitches... All I have seen is a natural cutting mid 90s fastball with a solid slider and a decent changeup... Thats not gonna work as a starter...

Go ahead and tell me our bullpen depth...

His change up is a 3rd quality pitch, but like I said he lacks control.

Why do I have to list all the relievers we have. Simply go to the Guardians website, click on rosters then depth chart and you can see them for yourself. There isn't a need for BP help. Especially with DLS waiting to get rostered.

 

[sportscoach]

His change up is a 3rd quality pitch, but like I said he lacks control.

Why do I have to list all the relievers we have. Simply go to the Guardians website, click on rosters then depth chart and you can see them for yourself. There isn't a need for BP help. Especially with DLS waiting to get rostered.

Our bullpen isn't as strong depth wise as you are claiming in my mind...

 

[CATS44]

This is the fangraphs report on Castro after the Jays picked him off waivers from Detroit. (1-21)

Depth arm piece.

Been on prospect lists before, because of his fantastic frame and modest, but relevant, arm strength. (Lots of 92-93.) His heater has natural cut; his slider lacks depth. His new org may be able to tweak things, but Detroit is usually pretty good at pitch design, and they could not.

 

[petes999]

His change up is a 3rd quality pitch, but like I said he lacks control.

Why do I have to list all the relievers we have. Simply go to the Guardians website, click on rosters then depth chart and you can see them for yourself. There isn't a need for BP help. Especially with DLS waiting to get rostered.

We have about 6-7 high quality relievers.... rest are average - may come up for cup of coffee type. You can add Santos and now Castro ... in top 8-9 now. Castro maybe like Allen or Hentges and go multiple innings but he is not a starter for us. Can you even list him in top 12-15 starters ahead of any of

Morgan, Espino, Williams, Allen Jr, Burns, Battenfield, Plink, Myers, Morris, Curry, Mace, Nikhazy, Hankins, Torres and even Vargas who will be a reliever and who ever we draft in 3 top 60 picks this year. Yes, he maybe a AAAA starter for us ... but would he even be better than Stephan who isn’t converting back?

This is a low risk 50 day look at him as a reliever with hopefully a tweak or two till we need to cut 2 more people in June when Morris and Vargas can pitch again. If he doesn’t cut it before then, he will be cut ... in line with Allen, Hentges, Mercado, Bradley and Chang/Clement.

Private Site

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

We have about 6-7 high quality relievers.... rest are average - may come up for cup of coffee type. You can add Santos and now Castro ... in top 8-9 now. Castro maybe like Allen or Hentges and go multiple innings but he is not a starter for us. Can you even list him in top 12-15 starters ahead of any of

Morgan, Espino, Williams, Allen Jr, Burns, Battenfield, Plink, Myers, Morris, Curry, Mace, Nikhazy, Hankins, Torres and even Vargas who will be a reliever and who ever we draft in 3 top 60 picks this year. Yes, he maybe a AAAA starter for us ... but would he even be better than Stephan who isn’t converting back?

This is a low risk 50 day look at him as a reliever with hopefully a tweak or two till we need to cut 2 more people in June when Morris and Vargas can pitch again. If he doesn’t cut it before then, he will be cut ... in line with Allen, Hentges, Mercado, Bradley and Chang/Clement.

Private Site

According to the IBI top ten list, our top relief prospect has "set-up" potential and the second guy is a future middle reliever. The rest are 24-25 year olds pitching at AA or below. That doesn't look too impressive to me.

The upside, however, is that Clase is a stud closer and Sandlin was killing it last year before his injury. I love the potential of Stephan, Gose, Karinchak, and Hentges. Shaw may pitch forever. And once some of those starters like Espino and Williams arrive we will probably convert some current starting prospects to relievers.

Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti constantly [stated] they had room to add to the 2022 payroll. It is curious that he reiterated that point in multiple interviews this spring – having room to add to the 2022 payroll. - IBI

I could see the G's adding a reliever via trade once they get a line on what they will be getting from Karinchak, Gose, Stephan, Hentges, and Shaw this season.

 

[BMAN]

I get the feeling there’s going to be more trades during the early parts of the season due to the lockout wiping a lot of the off-season out. Here’s hoping we add a high end reliever.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I get what you are saying, but maybe they had a backup plan for Rogers and needed Paddack more? I mean it doesn't make a ton of sense for the Twins, but at the moment they didn't have a 5th starter since Dobnak went down... I feel fangraphs overrated their starting staff some as well, but hopefully I am wrong with my hunch and you are right since it would make Cleveland's season a bit better...

This was strictly Minnesota moving off a soon-to-be FA reliever in his 30s for multiple years of control of a starter with some projection left.

Like I said, a weird move when they are trying to compete year 1 with the chance that Correa puts up a monster season and opts out after year 1. Just a weird choice to make your pitching staff as a whole worse year 1 when that is a possibility for your franchise.

 

[Kevalier]

Man, I really don't want to see them option Kwan down to Columbus when Naylor is activated. There's no argument to be made right now that Bobby Bradley is a better option at the plate than Steven Kwan, so accelerate the endgame and cut bait with Bradley when Naylor is ready. Naylor moves to 1B with Kwan as the everyday RF. Watching Kwan in the box yesterday was a work of art.

 

[BimboColesHair]

According to the IBI top ten list, our top relief prospect has "set-up" potential and the second guy is a future middle reliever. The rest are 24-25 year olds pitching at AA or below. That doesn't look too impressive to me.

The upside, however, is that Clase is a stud closer and Sandlin was killing it last year before his injury. I love the potential of Stephan, Gose, Karinchak, and Hentges. Shaw may pitch forever. And once some of those starters like Espino and Williams arrive we will probably convert some current starting prospects to relievers.

Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti constantly [stated] they had room to add to the 2022 payroll. It is curious that he reiterated that point in multiple interviews this spring – having room to add to the 2022 payroll. - IBI

I could see the G's adding a reliever via trade once they get a line on what they will be getting from Karinchak, Gose, Stephan, Hentges, and Shaw this season.

Their best reliever prospect isn't a reliever yet, but will be this year or next year. And he has a chance to have the same impact as Clase.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Man, I really don't want to see them option Kwan down to Columbus when Naylor is activated. There's no argument to be made right now that Bobby Bradley is a better option at the plate than Steven Kwan, so accelerate the endgame and cut bait with Bradley when Naylor is ready. Naylor moves to 1B with Kwan as the everyday RF. Watching Kwan in the box yesterday was a work of art.

It won't be Kwan.