2024 Guardians Regular Season Thread

[Wham with the Right Hand]

It looks to me like Tyler Freeman is trying to transform himself into a power hitter. He's taking big swings.

The numbers back it up. His line drive percentage dropped from 25% last year to 16% this year. At the same time his fly ball percentage increased from 28% to 41%. Freeman is a little guy - he shouldn't be hitting fly balls. Like Kwan he needs to be a line drive hitter that sprays the ball all over the park.

His average exit velo is up from 85.8 to 89.9 - a pretty significant increase, which tells me he's swinging harder. The hitting coaches emphasized trying to do more "damage" instead of just making contact and it looks like Tyler has bought into it. My concern is that at his size he has "warning track power".

His barrel percentage since 2022 has increased from 1.5 to 3.2 to 7.3 percent, so that is a really nice trend. His barrel percentage and exit velocity are up. He's also going to right field more; from 21% last year to 30% this year while continuing to pull the ball 44% of the time.

It looks like he's attacking the ball harder and getting under it, resulting in more harmless fly balls when he should be going for line drives. I wonder if he is overswinging and needs to dial it back or if he just needs more time to work on getting more barrels while continuing to swing for the fences.

 

[thoughtful]

I am just going to say it...

I think it is quite possible we goofed in calling up Manzardo. Probably should've gone with someone already on the 40 man like JRod or Tena.

And Schneemann is doing everything to get a crack.

Oh well. Here's to hoping Manzardo catches fire so when they demote him to manipulate his service time, I can boo that too.

Had to add Manzardo to the 40-man roster this year, so I don't have a problem bringing up a player who was very hot at AAA. For position flexibility, it would have been nice to bring up Valera, but he is just back from an injury.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Just happy to see Manzo put it in play at this point. I've never seen a guy take so many pitches. He wont swing until there's two strikes. Still they can let him play for another week or so and send him down and play the service time game.

And if these results continue, no one will be demanding he get called up again for a while.

 

[PocketMonger]

And if these results continue, no one will be demanding he get called up again for a while.

Deer in the headlights so far.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Deer in the headlights so far.

Didn't he struggle to begin the year in AAA? Maybe he just needs a bit more time. I'd assume he'll get a start or 2 at first base here soon. Maybe he'll feel less pressure on the road these next 2 series.

 

[PocketMonger]

Didn't he struggle to begin the year in AAA? Maybe he just needs a bit more time. I'd assume he'll get a start or 2 at first base here soon. Maybe he'll feel less pressure on the road these next 2 series.

Hopefully he's just a slow starter. He'll snap out of it eventually.

 

[Alabuckeye]

And today is why I follow the Tribe. Yesterday so frustrating….cant pitch worth a hoot. Today we blow an early lead, Bibee gets hit…..and we can’t….and somehow, some way we don’t give up, and we scratch out 3 runs to win it, with a guy that can’t buy a hit getting the winning hit.


you don’t get the sense that they ever give up.

 

[Alabuckeye]

Hopefully he's just a slow starter. He'll snap out of it eventually.

The pinch hit hit today indicates to me that he was thinking too much. just get tossed into the action and he reacted, not thought

 

[Otsego Mar]

Is the Big Rig slated to pitch any simulation or rehab starts here soon? Right now, other than getting Kwan back, this team could use another solid rotation starter. Our bullpen is really holding down the fort.

 

[Benway]

The pinch hit hit today indicates to me that he was thinking too much. just get tossed into the action and he reacted, not thought

That PH assignment had to help bring back his mojo after 2 collars and getting the bench!

 

[Alabuckeye]

Just a thought to make you sick.
Wouldn’t a current rotation of:
Bieber
Gavin
Bibee
Espino
Lively

look good right now?

 

[Real Deal]

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Do you get the impression that after blowing 12 saves and losing 9 games last year that he put in some serious work in the off-season? He's back with a vengenance.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Guardians bullpen has a WAR of 2.6; the next closest is 2.1. They also lead in FIP at 2.61; the next closest is 3.19.

In his last seven games Rocchio has an OBP of .423. For the year he's 7-for-9 in stolen bases. OPS now up over .600.