2024 Guardians Spring Training Thread

[Damage]

don't forget Ralphie....

Too early but I'm incredibly bullish on him. That C/1B/DH logjam is gonna be a fun problem to sort out. My ideal scenario is:

1. Re-sign Josh to a 3-4 year extension. Josh and Guardians put in the work, both ride it out while he's in his prime
2. Manzardo and Josh platoon the 1B/DH role for the next 3 years
3. By 2027/8, Ralphie is ready to go

If Ralphie flies through the minors, a good problem to have.

 

[MadThinker88]

Too early but I'm incredibly bullish on him. That C/1B/DH logjam is gonna be a fun problem to sort out. My ideal scenario is:

1. Re-sign Josh to a 3-4 year extension. Josh and Guardians put in the work, both ride it out while he's in his prime
2. Manzardo and Josh platoon the 1B/DH role for the next 3 years
3. By 2027/8, Ralphie is ready to go

If Ralphie flies through the minors, a good problem to have.

1 rather important wrinkle in that 1B/ DH plan - the aging of Jose Rmirez (already age 31).

Last season iirc Jose had 10 games at DH. I foresee that that number increasing each year going forward in an effort to keep him healthy/ fresh as the season progresses. I'm guessing 20-25 games at DH in 2024 & the number increasing by 10 to 15 each year going forward.

One other point - with Rocchio at SS it allows a player like Arias (or Tena or Daniel S) to play 3B on those days when Jose is at DH

 

[Gson]

1 rather important wrinkle in that 1B/ DH plan - the aging of Jose Rmirez (already age 31).

Last season iirc Jose had 10 games at DH. I foresee that that number increasing each year going forward in an effort to keep him healthy/ fresh as the season progresses. I'm guessing 20-25 games at DH in 2024 & the number increasing by 10 to 15 each year going forward.

One other point - with Rocchio at SS it allows a player like Arias (or Tena or Daniel S) to play 3B on those days when Jose is at DH

Freeman can also play 3B.. These "middle infielders", as a group, offer tremendous versatility for the Cleveland Manager..

W/R to Ralphy... It's not guarantee he's going to stay behind the plate.. His next best spot (after DH) is 1B...

 

[Damage]

1 rather important wrinkle in that 1B/ DH plan - the aging of Jose Rmirez (already age 31).

Last season iirc Jose had 10 games at DH. I foresee that that number increasing each year going forward in an effort to keep him healthy/ fresh as the season progresses. I'm guessing 20-25 games at DH in 2024 & the number increasing by 10 to 15 each year going forward.

One other point - with Rocchio at SS it allows a player like Arias (or Tena or Daniel S) to play 3B on those days when Jose is at DH

3B is the biggest depth area of concern I have with this team. Arias can play it of course, but outside him you're betting on fringe prospects to make a leap.

 

[Damage]

Freeman can also play 3B.. These "middle infielders", as a group, offer tremendous versatility for the Cleveland Manager..

W/R to Ralphy... It's not guarantee he's going to stay behind the plate.. His next best spot (after DH) is 1B...

I can say with almost 100% certainty that his long-term position will not be C.

I guess you can also throw Bo Naylor in the 1B/DH logjam as well

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Check the ages of some of our core guys:

Gavin Williams - 23
Bo Naylor - 24
Andres Gimenez - 25
Logan Allen - 25
Tanner Bibee - 25
Xzavion Curry - 25
Stephen Kwan - 26
Tristan McKenzie - 26
Emanuel Clase - 26
Hunter Gaddis - 26

Add Rocchio (23), DeLauter (22) and Manzardo (23), and it's a fun, young group with immense potential. Still the youngest teams in MLB

Great pool. They need a couple of them to become legit hitting stars to be able to play with the $200 million+ rosters.

 

[sportscoach]

3B is the biggest depth area of concern I have with this team. Arias can play it of course, but outside him you're betting on fringe prospects to make a leap.

We have no issues covering 3B... Rocchio, Freeman, Fry, Arias, Martinez, Brito, Tena, Noel have all played 3B... I don't doubt someone with a group that large could take 3B if JRam isn't playing...

It's catching that's my concern... We have Naylor, Hedges, Fry, Lavastida and Nunez... we have no one else even close...

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Freeman can also play 3B.. These "middle infielders", as a group, offer tremendous versatility for the Cleveland Manager..

W/R to Ralphy... It's not guarantee he's going to stay behind the plate.. His next best spot (after DH) is 1B...

Future "murderers' row" - DeLauter, Manzardo, Ralphy, Charlie Condon. (Either Ralphy or Manzardo going to have to learn to play LF.)

 

[macbdog]

Future "murderers' row" - DeLauter, Manzardo, Ralphy, Charlie Condon. (Either Ralphy or Manzardo going to have to learn to play LF.)

Condon ends up in LF in that scenario, with DeLauter in CF or RF. By the time all of them are up, Kwan will have fizzled out/been traded. Ralphie will split time with Naylor so both can stay fresh; they can DH on their off days. Again, by the time Ralphie is ready, Josh will probably be gone too so I don't foresee a logjam there.

 

[Damage]

We have no issues covering 3B... Rocchio, Freeman, Fry, Arias, Martinez, Brito, Tena, Noel have all played 3B... I don't doubt someone with a group that large could take 3B if JRam isn't playing...

It's catching that's my concern... We have Naylor, Hedges, Fry, Lavastida and Nunez... we have no one else even close...

Fair, but I wouldn't say any of those dudes are a sure bet at 3B whereas we know we have 1B, 2B, CF/RF and C covered

 

[KluberSociety]

Upper minors catching depth is still problematic but SP pitching depth is worse.

 

[Alabuckeye]

Upper minors catching depth is still problematic but SP pitching depth is worse.

Elevating 3 guys(Williams, Bibee, Allen) to the majors within the last year and having chronic injuries with your best SP will do that.

 

[Damage]

Upper minors catching depth is still problematic but SP pitching depth is worse.

Not as dire as you might think.

Dion, Clemmey, Messick, Cantillo, Hajjar, Hankins are all dudes (especially Dion and Clemmey) that could/should make some noise. @Alabuckeye pointed out the main driver: we promoted 3 rookies last year and have been devestated with injuries to 2 of our best minor leaguers.

I trust this pitching dev staff

 

[CDAV45]

I can say with almost 100% certainty that his long-term position will not be C.

I guess you can also throw Bo Naylor in the 1B/DH logjam as well

Bo can play a good corner OF so I wouldn't worry about him.

 

[Lee]

Future "murderers' row" - DeLauter, Manzardo, Ralphy, Charlie Condon. (Either Ralphy or Manzardo going to have to learn to play LF.)

Weird question, but Ralphy is 100% not going to be a catcher? Not sure about Ralphy's speed, but Bo could learn to play outfield some day too with his unusual speed for a catcher.

Just a thought for future.