PLAY BALL!

Today's game is on TV and radio!

I thought it was bad when the Tigers started charging an extra 5 bucks to watch the home team's batting practice at Lakeland, but this is amazing:

The Pirates charge FIFTY BUCKS for this:

BP Experience info:
• Game tickets are required to watch Pirates Batting Practice (does not include visiting team batting practice).
• BP Experience ticket holders will be admitted before the general public at 10am for day games and 3pm for night games to watch Pirates batting practice.
• BP Experience tickets must be purchased in advance (will not be available day of game).
• In order to be admitted onto the field to watch batting practice, ticket holder must be 16 years of age or older.

Friend of mine returned from Arizona and reported that Brantley looked very tentative in his at bats during simulated game.

There's video of Brantley taking hacks in spring training all over Twitter. (including on Indians official account) Last one I saw I thought he looked good. You can see how some might think he isn't going full bore though cause he has that nice easy relaxed "smooth" swing. But to me he looks like Brantley.

He's playing in another simulated game today against Shaw and Cody.

Shaw has some things he needs to work out. He getting hammered in games.

hasn't Shaw done the same early in ST other years?

Speaking of getting hammered.

Brewers 23 Mariners 1 bottom 6

Brewers are going to have a decision to make concerning Aguilar. He's raking. The new approach to hitting is paying off also. He's 1-1 today with 3 walks and 4 runs scored in that hammering Milwaukee is dishing out. I think Aguilar now has 6 walks against 3 strike outs, 3 homers, 9 rbis, and batting .440, obp .500, slg .840, ops 1.340, only 25 at bats.

good for him

What lies ahead in Spring Training for the Guardians?

February 11, 2024 16 minutes ago

[ This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. ]

The countdown is on.

In just a few short days, the sounds of metal cleats on concrete, baseballs cracking into the pocket of catcher’s mitts and thumping off of bats will radiate through the air in Goodyear, Ariz., as Spring Training action ramps up.

The wait is almost over, so let’s take a look at everything you need to know heading into Guardians camp:

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?

The report date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 12, and their first workout will take place on Feb. 15. Everyone else will report on Feb. 18.

What is the date of the first full-squad workout?

Feb. 20.

Where is the team’s facility?

The Guardians’ Spring Training facility is located in Goodyear, Ariz. For those interested in stopping by for workouts, the address is 2601 S. Wood Boulevard.

Can fans attend workouts?

Yes, fans can stand in a fenced-in viewing area down the left- and right-field lines of Field 1 and left-field line of Field 2 at the Guardians player development facility. Spectators can also get a glimpse of the action in spots through the outfield fence at Fields 1 and 2. These designated areas are free and open to the public daily, usually after 9 a.m. local time.

Who are some new faces fans should know?

The biggest new face will be manager Stephen Vogt, who is replacing Terry Francona. When it comes to players on the 40-man roster, new additions include: right-handers Scott Barlow and Ben Lively, catcher Austin Hedges (although he’s hardly a new face), infielder Deyvison De Los Santos and outfielder Estevan Florial.

Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
Those in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospects on the Guardians’ 40-man roster:

• No. 1 Brayan Rocchio, SS/2B
• No. 3 Daniel Espino, RHP
• No. 5 George Valera, OF
• No. 6 Juan Brito, INF
• No. 10 Angel Martínez, INF
• No. 11 Joey Cantillo, LHP
• No. 12 Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B/1B
• No. 15 José Tena, SS
• No. 25 Johnathan Rodriguez, OF
• No. 29 Jhonkensy Noel, OF/3B/1B

The non-roster invitees:

• No. 2 Kyle Manzardo, 1B
• No. 20 Tanner Burns, RHP
• No. 21 Petey Halpin, OF


KYLE MANZARDO



When is the team’s first Cactus League game?

As always, the Guardians will open Cactus League play with a matchup against the Reds on Feb. 24. Because the two clubs share a home field, Goodyear Ballpark, the teams rotate who serves as the home/away teams. For the opener, the Guardians will be the home team and the Reds will be the away club.

What are a few other notable spring games?

The Guardians could see the Dodgers’ newest star, Shohei Ohtani, on March 1 at Camelback Ranch at 8:05 p.m. ET. They will also face their Opening Day opponent, the A’s, on March 7 at 3:05 p.m. at Hohokam Stadium. Cleveland will face two AL Central foes on five different days:

• March 2 vs. Royals, 3:05 p.m. ET
• March 8 vs. White Sox, 3:05 p.m. ET
• March 15 at Royals, 4:05 p.m. ET
• March 18 at White Sox, 4:05 p.m. ET
• March 21 vs. Royals, 4:05 p.m. ET

What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?

Think of MLB’s Futures Game but with more prospects from your favorite team in an intimate environment like Spring Training. MLB will be introducing Spring Breakout this year, which is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: The current stars of Minor League Baseball. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top 20-25 prospects between March 14-17 in both the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues.

The Guardians prospects’ Spring Breakout game is scheduled for March 16 against the Reds prospects at Goodyear Ballpark, with Cleveland serving as the away team.


BRAYAN ROCCHIO



Will the team’s games be televised?

As the Guardians are working through the details with their television deal for the 2024 season, they have yet to finalize their spring broadcast schedule. The hope is that this will be confirmed and publicized in the early days of camp.

When is the club’s last game in Arizona?

Cactus League play will conclude with a matchup against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on March 24, at 4:05 p.m. ET. This time, the Guardians will serve as the away team.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?

The Guardians will travel down I-10 from Goodyear to Phoenix to compete in two exhibition games against the D-backs before regular season play gets underway. The first game is scheduled for March 25 at 9:40 p.m. ET and the second is slated for March 26 at 3:40 p.m. ET at Chase Field.

What are the details for Opening Day?

Vogt is all too familiar with the Guardians’ Opening Day location. Just two years ago, he was ending his career in Oakland by hitting a home run in his final at-bat. Now, he’ll begin his managerial career at Oakland Coliseum, as the Guardians face the A’s on March 28 at 10:07 p.m. ET, beginning a 10-game road trip to begin the season.






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If this is our soring training folder for this year again, I'll copy this from Articles:

In Winter Ball supposed front runner for SS job Gabriel Arias hit .214/.248/.295/.543 with nine doubles, no triples, and no home runs among his 24 hits in 118 plate appearances. He stole two bases, and was caught stealing twice. Arias struck out 26 times, while accepting three walks.

AWFUL. I'm sure Vogt is well aware of all this and in truth Rocchio is the likely opening day SS

Similarly, I can't see any reason that Florial should not be the odds-on favorite to win the CF job. He steals bases as readily as Straw. He, like every other major baseball player other than many pitchers, has more power than Straw. He is said to be a plus CF, although not as good I assume as Gold Glover Straw. He strikes out way more than Straw but even as a so-far failed major leaguer his OPS is 609 , 635 last year while Straw was 598 a big improvement over 2022's 564. Florial draws a decent number of walks so he had an On Base Pct of 324 in limited time with NYY last summer and 380 in AAA.
My assumed lineup hits him 9th

Not sure who hits second. Eventually it should be Rocchio but they may prefer to start him farther down the lineup. Giminez? he doesn't walk enough. Brennan? he doesn't do much of anything really. A good choice would be Bo Naylor, he hit toward the top of the lineup in the minors since he draws plenty of walks and, at least in the minors, stole a decent number of bases [ 5 for 5 in steals for the Guardians.]

Check in day for pitchers and catchers.

Physicals.

Let's see who shows up fat and out of shape and who's body has changed for the better.

which reminds me: has Oscar Gonzalez signed with anyone?

Answer: "On January 24, González cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders."
He's listed as a non-roster invitee to the Yankees camp along with former Indian OF Greg Allen
and OSU grad and briefly a Guardian during the COVID season, Tanner Tully, who had a 5.84 ERA for NY's AAA team last summer

Gonzalez was never a free agent to sign anywhere. He was the property of the Yankees and when no one claimed him he had to go where they sent him.