2023 Guardians Offseason Thread!

[MadThinker88]

With the injury news regarding Morris here is my slightly revised SP pecking order.

Bieber
McKenzie
Quantrill
Civale
Plesac

Curry
Pilkington
Morris
Gaddis

Still looking at Bibee getting fast tracked, can't wait to see some actual baseball games.

Using the example of last year where soon to be R5 players got called up during the season, I see a healthy Logan T Allen & healthy Daniel Espino getting the call up before Bibee/ Williams.

The wild card in the mix is Battenfield.

 

[southernflyer]

That limited pick off throws is really the issue... If anything goes it is that

Two unsuccessful pick off attempts per pitch, three per at bat before the balk per batter would be a better rule. Possibly adding a fourth after the pitch count in the at bat pitch reaches seven.

 

[Criznit]

Using the example of last year where soon to be R5 players got called up during the season, I see a healthy Logan T Allen & healthy Daniel Espino getting the call up before Bibee/ Williams.

The wild card in the mix is Battenfield.

Actually the real wildcard is Cantillo IMO.

Bibee's noted refinement is his separator. If he is dealing and the results prove out, he won't last half a season in the minors IMO. Logan Allen quite frankly stagnated last year and I'm a seller not a buyer at the moment.

Will they bring Espino along slowly or get him right back in the mix? Not sure myself.

Edit. A little more on Allen. I am not sayin he isn't a quality prospect, I just see him a little further behind at the moment. It's worth seeing what an off-season did for him and he could find himself right back on top in a few weeks.

 

[sportscoach]

Actually the real wildcard is Cantillo IMO.

Bibee's noted refinement is his separator. If he is dealing and the results prove out, he won't last half a season in the minors IMO. Logan Allen quite frankly stagnated last year and I'm a seller not a buyer at the moment.

Will they bring Espino along slowly or get him right back in the mix? Not sure myself.

I'm pretty sure Espino should be full go right now, but they aren't going to rush him either...

 

[Criznit]

I'm pretty sure Espino should be full go right now, but they aren't going to rush him either..

I haven't seen/heard any Espino reports of note so far, so I have no clue. I do expect him to be on a fairly strict inning/pitch count so maybe delaying his start is in the cards. Wait and see.

 

[sportscoach]

I haven't seen/heard any Espino reports of note so far, so I have no clue. I do expect him to be on a fairly strict inning/pitch count so maybe delaying his start is in the cards. Wait and see.

We haven't seen notes on anyone outside of Morris really lol

 

[daddywags]

These are all great points, Wham.

Its gonna take some time for all the strategies to become apparent...and time for analysts to change their conceptions of value.

There definitely will be efforts to game the system...lol.

If the new rules remain as is...not a sure thing....a catcher with poor pop times and/or less than stellar arms is going to become extinct.

Frankly, I'm not sure that there are gonna be enough viable catching to go around. If it becomes virtually impossible to stop the running game, new rules will have to be reversed.

Random thought - Maybe the all but extinct pitch out will make a comeback? If the pitcher can't step off or throw over it's really the only tool left to hold a runner.

 

[Criznit]

We haven't seen notes on anyone outside of Morris really lol

Well I have seen Bibee, Williams, Quantrill and others already throwing/pitching BP (via Twitter) and not a single Espino sighting so far, but could've missed it. Maybe.. When he's pitching, we'll know.

Edit. It's also February 19th and I'm overanxious.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I'm not sure that there are gonna be enough viable catching to go around. If it becomes virtually impossible to stop the running game, new rules will have to be reversed.

Well, it's only 4.5 inches shorter. How many stolen base attempts involve the runner being thrown out by 4.5" or less? Maybe 5%? So I don't think the bigger bases will result in a whole lot more steal attempts.

The limit on pickoff throws should have a bigger impact because runners may take big leadoffs with no intention of running in order to bait the pitcher to throw. As soon as the pitcher moves the runner dives back which uses up one of the pitcher's two throws. Once both throws are used up the runner should be able to take a lead that's 8" longer than normal without drawing a throw, which when combined with the shorter distance to 2nd puts the runner a foot closer than last year.

I don't know if that's what will happen, but the psychology involved will be interesting. If runners can draw two unsuccessful throws and the pitchers are reluctant to throw a third time, knowing a throw that's in time but belt high or off line puts the runner in scoring position, the runners could get bigger leads and steal with impunity.

That's another reason that high strikeout pitchers will be more in demand - there should be more runners in scoring position due to more ground balls getting through the infield and more steals of second. The best way to strand runners in scoring position is strikeouts.

 

[Gson]

Well I have seen Bibee, Williams, Quantrill and others already throwing/pitching BP (via Twitter) and not a single Espino sighting so far, but could've missed it. Maybe.. When he's pitching, we'll know.

Additionally.. in the past 24 hours we've seen

-2 stories posted by MLB regarding happenings in Goodyear
-1 story by the Washington Post about Steven Kwan coming into his 2nd year
-1 story by Sports Illustrated about Mike Zunino's health
& 1 story by Cleveland.com about what shane bieber had for lunch the day before he was married while Amed Rosario watched along with an incredibly insightful story about Wil Benson being traded a week ago..

Does the local media even know the team still plays?

 

[MadThinker88]

Actually the real wildcard is Cantillo IMO.

Bibee's noted refinement is his separator. If he is dealing and the results prove out, he won't last half a season in the minors IMO. Logan Allen quite frankly stagnated last year and I'm a seller not a buyer at the moment.

Will they bring Espino along slowly or get him right back in the mix? Not sure myself.

Edit. A little more on Allen. I am not sayin he isn't a quality prospect, I just see him a little further behind at the moment. It's worth seeing what an off-season did for him and he could find himself right back on top in a few weeks.

Much like Cody Morris, Cantillo has had issues remaining healthy and getting innings to pitch in game settings. Due to the limited number of LHP already on the 40 man roster I believe he is most likely to be the 2nd lefty in the bullpen.

That is more a result of which arms he throws with, the numbers game (regarding 40 man spots) and finding regular rotation spots in AAA & AA for the various arms that are available & ready.

 

[Real Deal]

Arias bat seems very important. He'll be playing much more OF this spring to increase versatility. Things you like to hear!

 

[BMAN]

Arias bat seems very important. He'll be playing much more OF this spring to increase versatility. Things you like to hear!

Get some of those Owen Miller ABs.

 

[Gson]

Arias bat seems very important. He'll be playing much more OF this spring to increase versatility. Things you like to hear!

He should be fully good to go from the start this year.. the hamate bone thing should be in his rear view mirror..

Another note.. with the WBC firing up in just under 3 weeks, the guys on the club that will participate are already in camp and progressing.. perhaps no one more than Cal Quantrill:

"....Quantrill threw his first live batting practice on Friday afternoon against Amed Rosario, Josh Naylor and Josh Bell. He threw 15 pitches, and aside from a ground ball up the middle from Rosario, no one came close to getting a base hit.

The starter walked off the field and Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti asked him how he felt.

“Good," Quantrill responded. “I’m going to see if I can throw another 15.”
A few minutes later, he was back on the mound..."

This was a story filed for MLB by Mandy Bell... and runs contrary to the "usual".. in that, at this time in most camps.. the hitters are ahead of the pitchers.. So, it can be unofficially stated, Cal Quantrill is not usual..

Thoughts?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

"One sip" is an anagram of Espino.

Danny One Sip would like you all to know that he is healthy and ready to go.