2024 Guardians Regular Season Thread

[CDAV45]

When a guy has had swing and miss concerns every step of the way in the minors and is all of a sudden seeing a 7% drop in his K rate and a 7% drop in his swinging strike rate with contact rates up all across the board, I would say that is progress. For him to be in the single digit swinging strike % after his entire minor league career leading up to this point where he has consistently been in the high teens, that is a bigger deal than a .053 difference in OPS.

What he is doing so far this year in AAA is so much more sustainable than what he was doing in AAA last year. And teams tell you how they believe in players with their actions. If we didn't believe in JRod he wouldn't be occupying a 40-man spot.

I think he's coming along nicely and folks don't mention how young he's been for each level either. The question I have is how do they get him consistent AB in Cleveland? You don't want to promote a hitter like JRod only to have him playing every third day or so. DFA'ing Laureano isn't enough and I don't see them casting Florial to the side yet so I'm not sure how it's going to work. It becomes more difficult with Manzardo's promotion too because either he or Naylor will be DHing the majority of the time. Definitely in a pickle with promotions at this time.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I think he's coming along nicely and folks don't mention how young he's been for each level either. The question I have is how do they get him consistent AB in Cleveland? You don't want to promote a hitter like JRod only to have him playing every third day or so. DFA'ing Laureano isn't enough and I don't see them casting Florial to the side yet so I'm not sure how it's going to work. It becomes more difficult with Manzardo's promotion too because either he or Naylor will be DHing the majority of the time. Definitely in a pickle with promotions at this time.

Just like most players get their chances.

The guy or guys in front of them have to fail or move on, or they get traded to a place with an immediate opening. Multiple options left for him, plenty of time for people to fail or guys to be dealt or him to be included in a trade.

 

[sportscoach]

They should definitely bring up JRod. The simple solution is DFA RL.

I feel like since they called up Manzardo over JRod that makes it feel like the injury isn't going to be 2 weeks and Kwan being back... IF it was it would have been JRod to cover a short amount of time...

Manzardo is up, so that means they expect Kwan to be out a month or longer...

Laureano and Florial will get til June time frame (Aka Zunino was cut in June) before Valera, Schneeman or JRod will get an MLB call...

 

[KluberSociety]

We already had a sort of logjam in the OF so that is why I don't think we called up JRod. It makes sense to see what we got with a lot of these as well.

With Brennan and Florial (LH) and Freeman, Laureano, Fry, and Arias (RH) with Naylor and JRam in emergency, we have 6 guys who can legitimately play the OF and no need to make a move.

 

[jonathan]

Does every other team love their minor leaguers like we do? Do their fans get as frustrated as I do with the inability to let everyone play? Do they see their prospects with as rose colored glasses as I seem to? I get so stressed with JRod and Valera and Manzardo and Brito and ... I'm always thinking we're going to lose them in the rule 5! the sky is falling!

 

[Gson]

Does every other team love their minor leaguers like we do? Do their fans get as frustrated as I do with the inability to let everyone play? Do they see their prospects with as rose colored glasses as I seem to? I get so stressed with JRod and Valera and Manzardo and Brito and ... I'm always thinking we're going to lose them in the rule 5! the sky is falling!

There are a LOT of teams' fans that are far worse in their love for their prospects.. none are as weird as specific fans who post on this board.. Consider yourself and what category you belong !!

 

[petes999]

If that's the case, Delauter might never have a career.

This reminds me of former Cavalier Zydrunas Ilgauskas and also Bill Walton, who suffered injury after injury because the bones in their feet were too fragile to take the pounding of running up and down the court day after day.

They might have to develop him as a full-time DH.

But, let’s be realistic. Z and Walton had to run up and down the court maybe 80 times a game. DeLauter in RF or LF May have to break on 8-10 balls a game. The bigger issue being LH for left foot is weight of hitting if it’s 70/30 weighting. It would be better w right foot, other than foul tips off either. If he hits well, he may run just about the same on bases than in OF - and for sure more hard sprints between bases than jogging on lazy fly ball.

 

[petes999]

I get so stressed with JRod and Valera and Manzardo and Brito and ... I'm always thinking we're going to lose them in the rule 5! the sky is falling!

I am assuming you were being a little sarcastic in your reply... If so, you can climb off your fake ledge …. All those guys are now on 40-man. If you want to create a reason to take a hit off your bowl of what you are smoking as a reason to calm your nerves, you can think of Carver, Mace and Nikhazy being selected this off season.

If not, most of the reason for our Rule 5 discussions here are just to have a legal reason to distract us during off season. So, if you want to join in then you are more than welcome….If not, just ignore conversations that go off in tangents that don’t suite you and enjoy the rest as sometime when we go into details something comes up that people find valuable (hidden in the data).

 

[MirORich]

Does every other team love their minor leaguers like we do? Do their fans get as frustrated as I do with the inability to let everyone play? Do they see their prospects with as rose colored glasses as I seem to? I get so stressed with JRod and Valera and Manzardo and Brito and ... I'm always thinking we're going to lose them in the rule 5! the sky is falling!

The answer is mostly yes. This is totally widespread normal fan behaviour. In the same way the backup QB is universally loved by any fanbase without a starting QB playing at a pro bowl level

 

[KluberSociety]

I wonder how long Noel, Valera, and Tena stick around the 40 man so there is probably some room there if need be.

 

[jonathan]

I wonder how long Noel, Valera, and Tena stick around the 40 man so there is probably some room there if need be.

Plus i think that at least Valera will be out of options next year. I wasn't being sarcastic. I literally fret about these things.

 

[PocketMonger]

I feel like since they called up Manzardo over JRod that makes it feel like the injury isn't going to be 2 weeks and Kwan being back... IF it was it would have been JRod to cover a short amount of time...

Manzardo is up, so that means they expect Kwan to be out a month or longer...

Funny because I feel just the opposite. If Kwan is out for a short time they can call up Manzo and let him play a few games while keeping his service clock in check. If Kwan is out of an extended time then they call up J-Rod and wont start Manzo's service clock.

 

[southernflyer]

Funny because I feel just the opposite. If Kwan is out for a short time they can call up Manzo and let him play a few games while keeping his service clock in check. If Kwan is out of an extended time then they call up J-Rod and wont start Manzo's service clock.

Manzardo may be like the Orioles and Jackson Holliday situation (plus 3 1/2 years age-wise).

Give him a run of two to three weeks and get him acclimated to the majors routine. If he is overmatched back on the bus to Columbus and you have solid information to work on for a month to six weeks that wouldn't affect super two status long term. If he hits like gangbusters let it ride and lose one of the OF flotsam.

Out of the last six MLB ROY only Gunnar Henderson is performing above average OPS+ at the quarter pole this year. Michael Harris is league average, Julio Rodriguez/India are giving you Freeman/Arias numbers and Carroll/Arozarena are Straw-like.

 

[PocketMonger]

Manzardo may be like the Orioles and Jackson Holliday situation (plus 3 1/2 years age-wise).

Give him a run of two to three weeks and get him acclimated to the majors routine. If he is overmatched back on the bus to Columbus and you have solid information to work on for a month to six weeks that wouldn't affect super two status long term. If he hits like gangbusters let it ride and lose one of the OF flotsam.

Out of the last six MLB ROY only Gunnar Henderson is performing above average OPS+ at the quarter pole this year. Michael Harris is league average, Julio Rodriguez/India are giving you Freeman/Arias numbers and Carroll/Arozarena are Straw-like.

Yeah it just depends on how long Kwan will be out. If Manzo only plays 5-10 games they can easily manage his service clock. We just don't know enough about Kwan's hammy to really say either way.

 

[Lee]

Just like most players get their chances.

The guy or guys in front of them have to fail or move on, or they get traded to a place with an immediate opening. Multiple options left for him, plenty of time for people to fail or guys to be dealt or him to be included in a trade.

If Arias and Rocchio both fail, who is next up to get a chance and how long do they most likely have to succeed or fail?