2025 Season | Series #3 | Guardians @ Angels | April 4-6, 2025

[macbdog]

How is this organization so bad at FA signings? Add Sewald to the list of guys they’ve spent on who look like massive busts.

They are 'bad' because they are scraping the sides of the pan. They are only getting guys with red flags or that others just don't want for what they are slated to make. They can't afford guaranteed quality, so they have to take risks. Paul Sewald is one of those. So was Jacob Junis.

One downside of the current state of pitching is that there are no more Scott Kazmirs- starting quality pitchers looking for a spot to rebound. So now the only chances they really get are on middling relievers, and when those blow up, it's a mild disaster since a bad starter ruins the game once every 5 days, a bad reliever can ruin 2-4 games in a week.

 

[Cassity14]

Appreciate your response. And the thoroughness of it.

1) I’ll admit, I’ve been bitching about this team in the early going and I think deservedly so. I still think saying things like “the market it what the market is” is somewhat of a lazy take. Again how did Detroit with a hockey team, NBA team, NFL team, and a baseball team afford to build such a potent roster back in the late 2000’s into 2012? They had an owner who dug into his pockets and wrote checks. I don’t know what new ownership will do, but based on what I’ve seen stated here about “markets” unless it’s LA, or NY it’s going to be dubbed a “small market” team. So moving them anywhere presumably leads to the same result, no?

2) Jimmahhh and Gilbert operate in different leagues with different structures. However, both dig into their pockets to make big moves for players. I’m pretty sure Dan paid well into the luxury tax for many years to support a winning roster when LeBron was here, and has shown willingness to do so over and over. Or is that not the case? Jimmy, for as much shit as he gets, has continued to pay for talent. And remains committed to spending to support the team success - does he not? So yes, I don’t think the financial structure, revenues, margins, net income, or net cash from operations has to do with it, as much as their willingness to build a winner. Said differently Jimmy, and Dan are just wealthier. I do believe if they owned the guardians we’d see better FA signings regardless of “markets” and “economics”.

3) Respectfully, there absolutely was bargain bin shopping by the Guardians. Santana took LESS money to come back and play here. Bieber, coming off a major injury, took a team friendly contract. I didn’t see what other offers he had on the table, but I’d be willing to bet he turned down money to hopefully have a bounce back year here. Only to walk at his next chance in FA, and rightfully so he’s going to get a hell of deal if he’s healthy (and I hope he gets back in CY young form). Sewald is another project coming off injury, again not sure what other offers he had, maybe he was indeed market value, but a waste of $7M if you ask me. So no you didn’t outbid anyone for Santana and Bieber, they chose to be here. And congrats on your market price win on Sewald.

4) I hear you, and I respect what the front office was trying to do. We moved on from a gold glove 2B with what appeared to be a limited bat to reallocate some funds. I was admittedly naively expecting a Kwan extension, and bringing in an everyday RF. We did neither of those two things. Instead we decided to start a career utility guy in Arias to replace Gime, and extended Bibee. Not the moves I’d make, but okay.

5) You’re right I don’t know that Josh was “the heart and soul” of the locker room for a fact. But it’s a point I’ve heard mentioned on 92.3 the fan, as well as the UCSS. I may be wrong but I trust the guys speaking on it are plugged in enough not to make that up. He didn’t net more because he’s on the final year of his contract. I believe that coupled with some weight concerns had teams hesitant to offer anything substantial. But the fact remains he was a big part of our regular season success last year. Why give him up for peanuts? Why not let him play out this year and walk as opposed to getting less of a return?

6) I agree it’s still early, maybe I’m being over reactionary, maybe not. Only the record at the end of the season will tell. But I'm well within my right as a fan to criticize the front office for not brining in an everyday RF, trading away Naylor only to replace him with an older Santana, and poorly reallocating funds after the Gime trade so far.

Good thoughts.

I’d caution trusting any Cleveland radio personalities being “plugged in,” about any of the teams. History has regularly proven the opposite.

 

[WhoAzcue]

I was such a Nolan fan. Coors field will always be an asterisk.

If that's what is holding you back, you can be a Nolan Jones fan again! He had a .935 OPS on the road in his big year for Colorado, .928 at Coors. Same number of plate appearances too.

 

[WhoAzcue]

Appreciate your response. And the thoroughness of it.

1) I’ll admit, I’ve been bitching about this team in the early going and I think deservedly so. I still think saying things like “the market it what the market is” is somewhat of a lazy take. Again how did Detroit with a hockey team, NBA team, NFL team, and a baseball team afford to build such a potent roster back in the late 2000’s into 2012? They had an owner who dug into his pockets and wrote checks. I don’t know what new ownership will do, but based on what I’ve seen stated here about “markets” unless it’s LA, or NY it’s going to be dubbed a “small market” team. So moving them anywhere presumably leads to the same result, no?

2) Jimmahhh and Gilbert operate in different leagues with different structures. However, both dig into their pockets to make big moves for players. I’m pretty sure Dan paid well into the luxury tax for many years to support a winning roster when LeBron was here, and has shown willingness to do so over and over. Or is that not the case? Jimmy, for as much shit as he gets, has continued to pay for talent. And remains committed to spending to support the team success - does he not? So yes, I don’t think the financial structure, revenues, margins, net income, or net cash from operations has to do with it, as much as their willingness to build a winner. Said differently Jimmy, and Dan are just wealthier. I do believe if they owned the guardians we’d see better FA signings regardless of “markets” and “economics”.

3) Respectfully, there absolutely was bargain bin shopping by the Guardians. Santana took LESS money to come back and play here. Bieber, coming off a major injury, took a team friendly contract. I didn’t see what other offers he had on the table, but I’d be willing to bet he turned down money to hopefully have a bounce back year here. Only to walk at his next chance in FA, and rightfully so he’s going to get a hell of deal if he’s healthy (and I hope he gets back in CY young form). Sewald is another project coming off injury, again not sure what other offers he had, maybe he was indeed market value, but a waste of $7M if you ask me. So no you didn’t outbid anyone for Santana and Bieber, they chose to be here. And congrats on your market price win on Sewald.

4) I hear you, and I respect what the front office was trying to do. We moved on from a gold glove 2B with what appeared to be a limited bat to reallocate some funds. I was admittedly naively expecting a Kwan extension, and bringing in an everyday RF. We did neither of those two things. Instead we decided to start a career utility guy in Arias to replace Gime, and extended Bibee. Not the moves I’d make, but okay.

5) You’re right I don’t know that Josh was “the heart and soul” of the locker room for a fact. But it’s a point I’ve heard mentioned on 92.3 the fan, as well as the UCSS. I may be wrong but I trust the guys speaking on it are plugged in enough not to make that up. He didn’t net more because he’s on the final year of his contract. I believe that coupled with some weight concerns had teams hesitant to offer anything substantial. But the fact remains he was a big part of our regular season success last year. Why give him up for peanuts? Why not let him play out this year and walk as opposed to getting less of a return?

6) I agree it’s still early, maybe I’m being over reactionary, maybe not. Only the record at the end of the season will tell. But I'm well within my right as a fan to criticize the front office for not brining in an everyday RF, trading away Naylor only to replace him with an older Santana, and poorly reallocating funds after the Gime trade so far.

1. I suggest avoiding comparisons of Cleveland (34th MSA) with Detroit (14th MSA) especially since, once the old man died, Detroit has withdrawn quickly into a mode much more in line with a lower-middle market strategy than the upper-middle market they actually are. Citing a desperate billionaire's desire to win one before he slipped off his perch is hardly a circumstance Cleveland's baseball fans should ever depend on replicating.

2. I don't care what Gilbert or Haslam do in a sport where the player unions are ineffectual, they don't have minor leagues or large instructional systems to support, and where monstrous TV deals ensure consistent revenue. Please don't sit there and try and tell me how either of those gentlemen would operate a baseball team in a town where all anybody wants to talk about is who the Browns are going to take in the draft. Bottom line, the current Cleveland baseball ownership plows the same % of its revenue (or more!) into its baseball operations as the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs do. Asking them to do more--much less expecting them to--is just silly. I'm no fan of (or defender) of the wealthy. I just try and understand their behaviors. Gilbert and Haslam don't spend more out of the goodness of their hearts...they just HAVE the consistent revenue to spend. And I assure you they aren't deficit spending either.

3. I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't have paid Carlos Santana $12m. If that's what you call bargain basement shopping, then I won't find you in the stores I patronize. Bieber came back for a LOT of reasons, including his respect for the organization and a chance to show off his abilities in a pennant race and possibly the postseason, which would greatly help his free agency. Funny how players like Santana and Bieber and others choose to come to Cleveland, a place where fans think the ownership is notoriously cheap and has no interest whatsoever in winning.

4. I would not have taken Andres' money and redeployed it to Kwan. But that's just me. Kwan will be past 30 when he becomes a free agent. I play him out and thank him for his service to the organization if we can't align on a new contract afterwards. I expect there will be other players who come up and will merit extensions because of their circumstances rather than Kwan. There might also be other players vying for outfield spots in the near future. Heck, I'd move Bazzana to centerfield in the minors right now. But again, that's just me.

5. I had been advocating for the last three years to play Josh Naylor out with the hope we'd get good years out of him and we'd be in position to make a qualifying offer and get a compensatory pick after his final arb year. We did that with Brantley and I wanted us to do that with Naylor as well. Problem is, Naylor's performance took a dive in the 2nd half of last year, the rotation buckled, and we had Kyle Manzardo performing down the stretch. Getting what we could when we could was a justifiable path. Only time will tell if it was the correct one. But there's absolutely no way to call it right or wrong at this juncture.

6. Everyone is well within their rights to bitch and moan whenever they want. But please don't expect those of us who think it's premature to make broad judgments about this season to accept the old, "Well, I guess I was wrong, let's go Cleveland!" when the perpetual critics hop back on the bandwagon when we get going.

 

[CATS44]

This team, as presently constructed, has at least four players who should not be playing in MLB, let alone playing for a team that expects to contend.

Part of that is due to improper long term roster construction that painted the front office into a corner, leaving it with three players whose reason for significant playing time is that they are out of options. Part of it is due to the FO refusal to see that there is a batting profile with an overwhelming failure rate. Part of it is due to wishing, hoping, and dreaming that a kid that can't stay healthy would be the answer to a RF problem that has existed since Shin-soo Choo.

 

[WhoAzcue]

This team, as presently constructed, has at least four players who should not be playing in MLB, let alone playing for a team that expects to contend.

Let me guess: Gabriel Arias, Jhonkensy Noel, Nolan Jones, and Daniel Schneeman?

And when you say "at least," who are the honorable mentions? [edited to guess Triston McKenzie]

 

[CATS44]

Nine games is way too early to make definitive judgements on, and its unwise to do so.

However, when what you see in those nine games is a continuation of what you've seen from some players for years, its no long merely a small sample size.

What we are seeing from some of these players isn't a small sample size. It's not even a trend. Its a fact of baseball life.

 

[CATS44]

Let me guess: Gabriel Arias, Jhonkensy Noel, Nolan Jones, and Daniel Schneeman?

And when you say "at least," who are the honorable mentions?

Throw TMac into the mix, and then pick whichever four you like....lol.

 

[sportscoach]

Appreciate your response. And the thoroughness of it.

1) I’ll admit, I’ve been bitching about this team in the early going and I think deservedly so. I still think saying things like “the market it what the market is” is somewhat of a lazy take. Again how did Detroit with a hockey team, NBA team, NFL team, and a baseball team afford to build such a potent roster back in the late 2000’s into 2012? They had an owner who dug into his pockets and wrote checks. I don’t know what new ownership will do, but based on what I’ve seen stated here about “markets” unless it’s LA, or NY it’s going to be dubbed a “small market” team. So moving them anywhere presumably leads to the same result, no?

2) Jimmahhh and Gilbert operate in different leagues with different structures. However, both dig into their pockets to make big moves for players. I’m pretty sure Dan paid well into the luxury tax for many years to support a winning roster when LeBron was here, and has shown willingness to do so over and over. Or is that not the case? Jimmy, for as much shit as he gets, has continued to pay for talent. And remains committed to spending to support the team success - does he not? So yes, I don’t think the financial structure, revenues, margins, net income, or net cash from operations has to do with it, as much as their willingness to build a winner. Said differently Jimmy, and Dan are just wealthier. I do believe if they owned the guardians we’d see better FA signings regardless of “markets” and “economics”.

3) Respectfully, there absolutely was bargain bin shopping by the Guardians. Santana took LESS money to come back and play here. Bieber, coming off a major injury, took a team friendly contract. I didn’t see what other offers he had on the table, but I’d be willing to bet he turned down money to hopefully have a bounce back year here. Only to walk at his next chance in FA, and rightfully so he’s going to get a hell of deal if he’s healthy (and I hope he gets back in CY young form). Sewald is another project coming off injury, again not sure what other offers he had, maybe he was indeed market value, but a waste of $7M if you ask me. So no you didn’t outbid anyone for Santana and Bieber, they chose to be here. And congrats on your market price win on Sewald.

4) I hear you, and I respect what the front office was trying to do. We moved on from a gold glove 2B with what appeared to be a limited bat to reallocate some funds. I was admittedly naively expecting a Kwan extension, and bringing in an everyday RF. We did neither of those two things. Instead we decided to start a career utility guy in Arias to replace Gime, and extended Bibee. Not the moves I’d make, but okay.

5) You’re right I don’t know that Josh was “the heart and soul” of the locker room for a fact. But it’s a point I’ve heard mentioned on 92.3 the fan, as well as the UCSS. I may be wrong but I trust the guys speaking on it are plugged in enough not to make that up. He didn’t net more because he’s on the final year of his contract. I believe that coupled with some weight concerns had teams hesitant to offer anything substantial. But the fact remains he was a big part of our regular season success last year. Why give him up for peanuts? Why not let him play out this year and walk as opposed to getting less of a return?

6) I agree it’s still early, maybe I’m being over reactionary, maybe not. Only the record at the end of the season will tell. But I'm well within my right as a fan to criticize the front office for not brining in an everyday RF, trading away Naylor only to replace him with an older Santana, and poorly reallocating funds after the Gime trade so far.

I think everyone understands the frustration but tell me who they could have brought in that made any sense for RF or CF... We didn't want to get a guy for a long term deal since IF DeLauter is healthy, he's our RF, on paper... No ifs, ands or buts about it...

Santander signed a 5 year deal with an option out after year 3... Did we want to sign a lower OBP% type with heavy power for a long term deal? No we couldn't and regardless of owner, you can't afford a type of deal like that in a smaller market... Then who else was there...

Maybe we should have tried harder for Seiya Suzuki? But he's not a good defender...

We all wanted that upgrade in CF/RF, but to be sincere, it just wasn't there within reason. We have to base it off of who is available and to be sincere... Within reason was Jones... Don't forget Arias can eventually slot into a different position if he's playing well...

You can't compare the owners of Football and Basketball to baseball... Football and Basketball at least have some salary restrictions. Baseball doesn't and all owners want to work within their margins of a revenue budget. Dodgers, even at their current spending aren't in the red with their revenue while Cleveland if they spent more than 150 would be likely in the red. The owner and Antonetti have said they got a little more to play with in a sense, but with the TV deal not set and other factors, they couldn't afford to spend money on a Santander at that point in his career with that type of money due...

When it comes to Arias... he just turned 25, most players don't hit their primes until about 27... Yes he's been around, but I think between a bit of immaturity and the way things played out, it set him back a tiny bit as well... Francona gave him the SS spot at the second half of the 23 season... Then new coach and it was given to Rocchio instead. I think it messed with his head a bit and honestly he's come out looking way better right now. He's not going fishing like he was at pitches... I feel like he's already taken more walks than last season, etc... He's matured so give him some credit, plus Gimenez to Arias isn't really going to be as much of a step down at 2B defensively since he actually is our best INF defender on this roster...

Cleveland brought back guys like Bieber and Santana pretty easily cause Santana likes Cleveland and Bieber knows it's one of the best places to be for coming off of injury... Hence why Means signed with us... That was cause of our staff not because it's Cleveland. Cleveland doesn't naturally draw FAs... Most of the time we draw free agents because of our FO/staff... Cleveland has one of the best FOs of any of the major sports period...

You want to complain about the little things, but this FO does a great job and look at the winning percentage since Antonetti took over the reigns... Better than almost all the teams in baseball outside of Dodgers, Yankees, Houston... We are what 5th in wins in that time frame which is the last ten years plus...

I get it you wanted to win now, but this team is actually together for the long haul... On paper, we are going to be better in 26 and 27 than now... This FO will look to upgrade in due time, but they gotta give their internal guys some playing time too, plus with a deep farm now, I think they got the pieces to make a big splash at the trade deadline so give it a bit of time...

 

[sportscoach]

1. I suggest avoiding comparisons of Cleveland (34th MSA) with Detroit (14th MSA) especially since, once the old man died, Detroit has withdrawn quickly into a mode much more in line with a lower-middle market strategy than the upper-middle market they actually are. Citing a desperate billionaire's desire to win one before he slipped off his perch is hardly a circumstance Cleveland's baseball fans should ever depend on replicating.

2. I don't care what Gilbert or Haslam do in a sport where the player unions are ineffectual, they don't have minor leagues or large instructional systems to support, and where monstrous TV deals ensure consistent revenue. Please don't sit there and try and tell me how either of those gentlemen would operate a baseball team in a town where all anybody wants to talk about is who the Browns are going to take in the draft. Bottom line, the current Cleveland baseball ownership plows the same % of its revenue (or more!) into its baseball operations as the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs do. Asking them to do more--much less expecting them to--is just silly. I'm no fan of (or defender) of the wealthy. I just try and understand their behaviors. Gilbert and Haslam don't spend more out of the goodness of their hearts...they just HAVE the consistent revenue to spend. And I assure you they aren't deficit spending either.

3. I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't have paid Carlos Santana $12m. If that's what you call bargain basement shopping, then I won't find you in the stores I patronize. Bieber came back for a LOT of reasons, including his respect for the organization and a chance to show off his abilities in a pennant race and possibly the postseason, which would greatly help his free agency. Funny how players like Santana and Bieber and others choose to come to Cleveland, a place where fans think the ownership is notoriously cheap and has no interest whatsoever in winning.

4. I would not have taken Andres' money and redeployed it to Kwan. But that's just me. Kwan will be past 30 when he becomes a free agent. I play him out and thank him for his service to the organization if we can't align on a new contract afterwards. I expect there will be other players who come up and will merit extensions because of their circumstances rather than Kwan. There might also be other players vying for outfield spots in the near future. Heck, I'd move Bazzana to centerfield in the minors right now. But again, that's just me.

5. I had been advocating for the last three years to play Josh Naylor out with the hope we'd get good years out of him and we'd be in position to make a qualifying offer and get a compensatory pick after his final arb year. We did that with Brantley and I wanted us to do that with Naylor as well. Problem is, Naylor's performance took a dive in the 2nd half of last year, the rotation buckled, and we had Kyle Manzardo performing down the stretch. Getting what we could when we could was a justifiable path. Only time will tell if it was the correct one. But there's absolutely no way to call it right or wrong at this juncture.

6. Everyone is well within their rights to bitch and moan whenever they want. But please don't expect those of us who think it's premature to make broad judgments about this season to accept the old, "Well, I guess I was wrong, let's go Cleveland!" when the perpetual critics hop back on the bandwagon when we get going.

I will say something about Gilbert, yes he is an owner and doesn't like to lose profit margins, but he does a way better job marketing his team and plus he is more willing to go into his profit margins than Dolan... True, he does have way more money backing him so that helps... The thing is with Gilbert, he's way more hands on while Dolan literally goes here's your budget, and this is the number we can add on if needed... And does nothing else. Antonetti has the free reign to run the roster the way he wishes too under Dolan that I don't see Gilbert doing. Gilbert would honestly have spent money for a big name player at some point, heck it wouldn't surprise me if Trout was in Cleveland cause he said get him here and sent the farm... But it doesn't mean the team would have been better overall...

Kwan doesn't turn 30 until the end of the last season with us, so finding a way to extend him a couple years would have been within reason... I don't think anyone would have been against that idea at all... Problem is Kwan will likely get more if he waits til free agency so I don't blame him for not doing an extension. I'd be very surprised if he didn't get offered something at some point... Though I think riding out Kwan is the best thing for this roster mostly because we should he very good in 27...

 

[Kiddo]

I'm willing to give this team a while before jumping ship. Kwan, Jose, Carlos, Manzardo and perhaps Arias have all been playing well. Outside of that, no one else has really gotten their footing yet. Hopefully Thomas and Rocchio can get it going soon. Clase hasn't been his usual self and Gavin just had a bad start followed by Tanner's worst start ever. Talk to me after 30 games.

 

[Real Deal]

Through their first 9 games no AL team has gave up more runs besides the Athletics, whom have one more win to show for.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I’d stop watching this year if I was some of you.

Team sux

 

[Tondo]

3-6 start is a bit disappointing after winning the opening series in KC.

Still a lot of inconsistencies throughout the team. But still like the general approach and quality of AB's on offense. Have to get that big hit and punish favorable counts more. Our hitters simply miss hittable pitches. Noel/Jones in particular, but Thomas too. We need much more from those two spots.

Angels have a fun little lineup now, so it wasn't easy, but I expected more from our 1-2 rotation punch Bibee/Williams. Again, inconsisteny.

In the bullpen, Junis has been a much needed stabilizer and innings eater. I'd think about stretching him out as a SP.

I'm starting to worry at 5 games under 500 and hope we never get there, because I think it can tighten up a young team and get into their heads.

Needless to say hat we need to win the White Sox series. I don't expect a sweep as Chicago looks improved.

Need to keep the focus on being around 500 at the end of May when significant internal additions arrive.

I believe in this team and coaching staff. It's a long season and initial adversity might be something to learn from (hopefully).

 

[PIP]

We're probably 8-1 with Tito... Let's just start that war...