2024 Guardians Regular Season Thread

[Mott the Hoople]

I find myself in a weird predicament. This is my favorite team so I'm enjoying the hell out of their success this season, but I'll be damned if the realization that this lineup is nowhere in the vicinity of the teams like the Orioles, Yankees, Dodgers, Braves, Phillies and Rangers(to name a few) isn't staring me in the face. I know a lot of the old timers love this lineup and the "contact ability" it has, but the last 20 plus years blatantly reveals what it takes to win in the postseason. In 2016 we were 9th in SLG and 7th in OPS and our SP was ridiculously good.

Well, that's the conundrum. You're right. On paper, our lineup doesn't compare to some premium lineups. But, so far, on the field, they seem to compete with anybody.
I think part of the reason is that, outside of JRam and Hedges, nobody has really reached their ceiling yet. They are still developing into what they will become. We don't know how good, or bad, they will become. For example, who knew Tyler Freeman could play CF?
For now, we just hold on for the ride.

 

[thestatman]

In spite of the heartbreaking loss on Sunday, the Guardians are now 9-7 against teams with a winning record. They've played 4 winning teams and 3 of them sit in first place.

10 of those games were on the road.

Pretty good.

 

[sportscoach]

In spite of the heartbreaking loss on Sunday, the Guardians are now 9-7 against teams with a winning record. They've played 4 winning teams and 3 of them sit in first place.

10 of those games were on the road.

Pretty good.

Plus we only have two losses that weren't close the whole season...

 

[Damage]

I commend you for this. There are now 3 people from what I called the bully cartel here that are now gone. A lot more enjoyable for everyone now.

Yes, I've been warned a time or 2 in the past month. But only after I had had enough of listening to these 3 posters and let it rip. I don't regret telling them off.I can start a

I can easily start a new one if you'd like

 

[BimboColesHair]

I can easily start a new one if you'd like

Join me my child.

 

[Damage]

Join me my child.

Listen chief, you took back your thread so I follow where you go

 

[Otsego Mar]

In spite of the heartbreaking loss on Sunday, the Guardians are now 9-7 against teams with a winning record. They've played 4 winning teams and 3 of them sit in first place.

10 of those games were on the road.

Pretty good.

You know, that wasn't a heartbreaking loss. Game 7 of the 2016 WS was a heartbreaking loss.

Sunday's loss was an inexcusable, boneheaded loss that never should have happened.

If I were Tito, I'd fine Kwan and Jose each 25k.

 

[Anglefan]

Yes! Losing in game 7 of the WS (twice) is heartbreaking, earth shattering, never get over it type stuff.

Sunday was the type of loss that will happen to every single team multiple times every year.

 

[thestatman]

I can easily start a new one if you'd like

I'm sure you could.

 

[thestatman]

You know, that wasn't a heartbreaking loss. Game 7 of the 2016 WS was a heartbreaking loss.

Sunday's loss was an inexcusable, boneheaded loss that never should have happened.

If I were Tito, I'd fine Kwan and Jose each 25k.

Saturday's loss was not inexcusable at all. Baseball happens. When a lefty is pitching stealing a base sometimes comes down to guessing right. The pitcher is either committed to throwing home or not when he lifts his right leg. Unfortunately Kwan guessed wrong both times. As for Jose, he guessed right but was fooled by the Atlanta shortstop.

You want to fine 2 of our best players? Tito's not the manager anymore btw.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Saturday's loss was not inexcusable at all. Baseball happens. When a lefty is pitching stealing a base sometimes comes down to guessing right. The pitcher is either committed to throwing home or not when he lifts his right leg. Unfortunately Kwan guessed wrong both times. As for Jose, he guessed right but was fooled by the Atlanta shortstop.

You want to fine 2 of our best players? Tito's not the manager anymore btw.

Kwan getting picked off in extras as a ghost runner with 1 out and your best player in the box is inexcusable.

No one is exempt from fines in my book. We don't play favorites.

Tito is the manager in our hearts.

 

[Damage]

I'm sure you could.

eaaaaasy

 

[Meatwad]

Kwan getting picked off in extras as a ghost runner with 1 out and your best player in the box is inexcusable.

No one is exempt from fines in my book. We don't play favorites.

Tito is the manager in our hearts.

Yeah! Make him run laps too!

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Not sure what I think of Floreal. He looks so bad a lot of the time. Tons of swing-and-miss and he often looks helpless against high fastballs. His swinging strike percentage is second highest on the team and he's running a 39% K-rate. His BA is .229 and his xBA is .158. He's hitting .133 against fastballs. So much not to like.

But when he manages to get the ball on the ball good things happen. His hard hit percentage is 44.4% and his wRC+ is 137. In 48 at-bats he has 3 home runs and 9 RBIs. Multiply by 10 and you get 30 home runs and 90 RBIs in 480 AB's, which is probably how many AB's he would get if he started against RHPs. Although he is 3-for-5 against lefties with two doubles while hitting just .148 against right-handers with a 41% K-rate.

He's a lot like Arias last year - he can't hit the opposite arm and he makes a lot of outs, but when he connects there is serious damage involved. He definitely has a better batting eye than Arias as his outside-the-zone swing percentage is 30% versus 50% for Arias.

By the way, last year Arias chased 38% of pitches out of the zone, so he's getting worse at that. Very concerning - he should be going the other way.

As for Floreal, he's kind of a boom or bust hitter. A lot of bust but the boom is impressive. He's looking like one of those three true outcome guys. His walk percentage is third highest on the team, his home run to fly ball percentage is by far the highest (33.3% - if he gets it in the air it's gone), and his strikeout percentage is also the highest.

So - it is better to have a guy like Floreal in right field or Will Brennan? Brennan's K-rate is way lower, only 16%, but he's hitting .213/.655 and his wRC+ is 81 compared to 137 for Floreal. In fact, Brennan's wRC+ last year was 81. After a pretty good start he's hitting .167 in his last 48 at-bats. Will is hitting .209 against RHPs this year.

Will is hitting for more power than last year; his ISO has nearly doubled from .090 to .173. But his batting average has declined from .266 to .213. He looks like he's trying to transform himself from Kwan Lite to a power hitter. He's getting more power, fewer hits, and his wRC+ is the same.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

We're trying to platoon in right field but no one is cooperating.

Brennan is hitting .209 against right-handers. Laureano is 4-for-25 with 10 strikeouts against lefties. Floreal is hitting .148 against right-handers. Guardians' right-fielders are hitting .204 this season. They have shown some power, though, ranking 19th in slugging percentage and 17th in OPS (.661).

So if you go by OPS the production has been average. But only 10 RBI's from our right fielders in 29 games is pathetic.

I'm inclined to play Floreal every day and see if regular AB's will improve his contact rate and reduce his K's.