2024 Season | Series #8 | Red Sox @ Guardians | April 23-25, 2024

[biggie4]

Seems like Gimenez is getting his ‘23 batting eye back.

 

[biggie4]

Brennan's overall approach is going to always have some inherent streakiness to it. Minimizing the depths and lengths of the lows will be critical to his overall success. Can't wait until Freeman really gets going, he's just getting started I think.

What do you base this statement on?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Six series wins in seven tries! Jose was The Man with a grand slam plus manufacturing another run with a single, stolen base, going to third on the throwing error by the catcher, and then scoring when the catcher lost the ball in the transfer on Naylor's steal attempt. So between power and speed Jose was responsible for 5 of the 6 runs in a 6-4 win.

I have never seen a runner score from third when it was not a wild pitch or a passed ball. McGuire was going to try and throw out Josh Naylor stealing second but lost the ball in the transfer. It didn't roll very far behind him but the pitcher didn't cover the plate because the catcher caught the ball and the pitcher was expecting a throw to second.

My guess is that if the throw went to second Jose was coming home.

The grand slam was on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. One of his foul balls barely popped out of the catcher's mitt.

Will Brennan is turning into a power hitter in front of our eyes. A homer to right off a right-hander and a double off the wall in left off a lefty. He hit the ball hard a third time but right at somebody.

McKenzie wasn't that bad. Three hits were bloops and one was a dribbler to third. Only two hits were hit well; a single by Devers and the fly ball off the left field wall by Refsnyder.

Triston struck out seven in four innings and walked two. He's getting there, but it will take a little while.

Sandlin got a strikeout to get out of a jam but then hit the leadoff hitter to start the next inning and of course he scored to make it 5-4 after Sandlin wild pitched him to third.

I love how Vogt brought in Gaddis in the 6th when the Red Sox were threatening to tie the game. Gaddis has been pitching the 8th but Vogt brought him in with a runner on third and one out to try and get the strikeout. He gave up a single but then got Devers and Refsnyder to end the inning. Those two were 6-for-8 and 5-for-6 in the series, but Gaddis got both of them with the tying run on first.

Barlow pitched a perfect 7th getting Abreu and Wong, two more hitters who have been killing it recently. Vogt is bringing in the right guys at the right times.

Another great win for the Guards as they end the series with Boston 5-2. The Red Sox were coming off a sweep of the Pirates by an 18-4 score and are 12-7 against teams other than the Guardians.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Brennan's overall approach is going to always have some inherent streakiness to it. Minimizing the depths and lengths of the lows will be critical to his overall success. Can't wait until Freeman really gets going, he's just getting started I think.

Matt and Rick were saying that Brennan mentioned that he needs to use the whole field. In game 1 of this series he singled to left and doubled to left center. In today's game he homered to right and doubled to left. As long as he is going with the pitch I don't see why he would be any more "streaky" than other hitters.

 

[Criznit]

What do you base this statement on?

I see a guy who likes to swing a lot and who's overall power is still relatively unknown/proven. I just feel that he is prone to streaks and slumps for now.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

In the bottom of the 8th Freeman led off with a single (3rd time on base) and was thrown out trying to steal. Jose singles and they have him steal despite Freeman just being thrown out on a perfect throw. This time the throw is in the dirt, deflects off the infielder's glove, and Jose hustles to third.

After Naylor walks Fry is up. Naylor takes off for the third stolen base attempt of the inning. The catcher fumbles the ball behind him and Jose scores from third.

Love the aggressiveness (but would have hated it if Jose got thrown out at second right after Freeman did).

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Brennan now has 16 hits of which 7 are for extra bases.

He is swinging at 45% of pitches out of the zone, second highest behind Arias. If Will could just cut down on those chase swings a little his offensive numbers would be even higher.

Last year 25% of his hits were for extra bases. This year after 25 games he's at 42.7%.

 

[KluberSociety]

Chase rate is important, but the Guards and Rays may be a step ahead of the curve by focusing on guys who swing at, and hit, strikes. Plate discipline has two components - swinging at strikes and laying off balls. Walks are great but saber ball has resulted in first guys who took walks and then in guys who threw strikes, and now that demands guys who can hit strikes. My favorite plate discipline stat is strike swing% - ball swing%.

 

[cliffdawg]

Not going lie I love how Vogt doesn’t waste no time and pulling Starter or relievers if he feels that the right move, I thought for Sure he going to let TMac go out there for the 5th , and bringing and Gaddis earlier in the game reminded me when , how Tito use Miller back in 2016/2017 in high leverage situations no matter what inning it was……

 

[cliffdawg]

https://x.com/CleGuardians/status/1783557123751698536

I would never get enough of this guy home run calls

 

[CDAV45]

Brennan's overall approach is going to always have some inherent streakiness to it. Minimizing the depths and lengths of the lows will be critical to his overall success. Can't wait until Freeman really gets going, he's just getting started I think.

No more streakiness than Freeman's and Brennan hits the ball harder. If either of them is just getting started it's Brennan.

 

[CATS44]

The Guards are obviously off to a great start, and everybody is rightfully excited.

But there are several teams off to brutal starts.

Last year, three teams lost 100 games.

Chisox 101
Royals 106
Athletics 112

This year there are five teams on pace to lose 100.

Chisox 143
Athletics 104
Astros 118
Marlins 125
Rox 118

Just like we are not gonna win 116 games, which is our pace, they are unlikely to keep up this type of ineptitude, esp Houston.

But boy, its awful to have your season over before we are free of frost warnings.

 

[KluberSociety]

Chase rate is important, but the Guards and Rays may be a step ahead of the curve by focusing on guys who swing at, and hit, strikes. Plate discipline has two components - swinging at strikes and laying off balls. Walks are great but saber ball has resulted in first guys who took walks and then in guys who threw strikes, and now that demands guys who can hit strikes. My favorite plate discipline stat is strike swing% - ball swing%.

Elaborating:


Not bad to be on the good side of the curve with Atlanta and the Dodgers.

 

[Criznit]

No more streakiness than Freeman's and Brennan hits the ball harder. If either of them is just getting started it's Brennan.

Maybe... Maybe not
Freeman:

EV	MAX-EV	LA	Barrels	Barrel%	HardHit	HardHit%	AVG	xBA	SLG	xSLG	wOBA	xwOBA	BABIP
90.1	109.2	12.1	5	9.4%	27	50.9%	.212	.249	.394	.434	.302	.328	.220

Brennan:

EV	MAX-EV	LA	Barrels	Barrel%	HardHit	HardHit%	AVG	xBA	SLG	xSLG	wOBA	xwOBA	BABIP
88.7	106.1	12.2	4	7.7%	25	48.1%	.233	.278	.383	.428	.292	.326	.240

 

[CDAV45]

Maybe... Maybe not
Freeman:

EV	MAX-EV	LA	Barrels	Barrel%	HardHit	HardHit%	AVG	xBA	SLG	xSLG	wOBA	xwOBA	BABIP
90.1	109.2	12.1	5	9.4%	27	50.9%	.212	.249	.394	.434	.302	.328	.220

Brennan:

EV	MAX-EV	LA	Barrels	Barrel%	HardHit	HardHit%	AVG	xBA	SLG	xSLG	wOBA	xwOBA	BABIP
88.7	106.1	12.2	4	7.7%	25	48.1%	.233	.278	.383	.428	.292	.326	.240

Small sample I'd say....wouldn't you? Historically, Brennan has hit the ball harder and he's starting to do so a lot more consistently.