Bo Naylor leads six Guardians on latest FanGraphs top prospect list

FanGraphs knows Bo

By Matt Lyons Feb 22, 2023, 9:30am EST

FanGraphs this morning released their preseason top 100 prospect list for 2023, and like most top prospect lists released so far this year, it features a lot of Guardians.

Six Cleveland prospects made the list in total, headlined by Bo Naylor at No. 45 overall.

No. 45: Bo Naylor, C
No. 54: Brayan Rocchio, SS
No. 57: Logan Allen, SP
No. 70: Tanner Bibee, SP
No. 81: Gavin Willians, SP
No. 93: Daniel Espino, SP

All six Guardians prospects on the list are given a 50 future value (FV), which as you can probably guess, is how FanGraphs estimates the value of that player in ... the future. From FanGraphs’ own FV explainer, a 50 FV equates to roughly an average everyday position player and No. 4 starting pitcher.

One thing to note about the FanGraphs list is that the most important thing is that FV, more than what actual number they rank at. Specific ranks aren’t important outside of the top few prospects on any list, but FanGraphs is one of the few that have a specific way of categorizing them outside of that.

Daniel Espino would have been much higher if this list was released before news of his injured shoulder made the rounds on Monday. FanGraphs ranked him as the No. 1 Guardians prospect in their organizational top list in January, but he’s fallen to their sixth overall, and 93rd in baseball. His scouting report is equal parts exciting and depressing, as he has the physical talents to be a front-end starter, but health continues to hold him back.

I understand why Espino’s ranking has dropped, but I’m still eternally confused why FanGraphs values Logan Allen over Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams. To reiterate — their exact position doesn’t matter that much, but a gap still exists. The good news is either of us could be wrong and the Guardians still end up with a great pitcher in the end.

FanGraphs estimates that Bo Naylor will have the everyday catching job “within a year or two,” thanks to his 60-grade power potential and impressive bat speed. They call his defense “rough around the edges” in their report, and at some point, the Guardians might just have to be OK with that to get another bat back there — especially if robot umps are on the horizon.

FanGraphs has also joined Keith Law on the Brayan Rocchio hype train, but not to the same extent. Law had him No. 22 overall on his list, but he’s 54 here. Still good enough for the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect. They did, however, note his defensive struggles in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason, citing his range and arm accuracy at short as a concern. Perhaps it was just fatigue after he played a career-high 132 games as a 21-year-old, though. Either way, “The Professor” will have a chance to prove he can still stick at shortstop or second base when he debuts with the Columbus Clippers in a couple of months.

Notably absent from this list is George Valera, who was the No. 3 Guardians prospect in our community rankings. For what it’s worth, I would assume that he did not miss the list by much as he finished No. 7 in their Guardians list with a 45 FV. Based on their scouting report in that list, it seems his contact issues in the minors really scare them off from giving him a higher grade.

As they said at the time:

It is severe enough to slide Valera out of the Top 100 but not enough to expect him to “bust” — he does have plus power and on-base skill, after all. Instead, he projects as the larger half of a corner outfield platoon who also has some match-up limitations against righties with ride/run fastballs.

Valera was No. 27 overall on Keith Law’s list and No. 72 overall on Baseball America’s top 100.


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Guardians

Guardians’ Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac need bounce-back seasons in 2023

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 22, 2023, 5:12 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Every season is a big season for players who make a living in the big leagues. So it is with Guardians right-handers Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac.

Civale made three trips to the injured list in 2022. The injuries were annoying more than anything else. A stained left glute muscle, a sore right wrist and a sore right forearm led to a 5-6 record and a 4.92 ERA.

For Guardians fans the lasting image of Civale was watching him leave the mound in the first inning of the winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 against the Yankees after recording just one out.

Plesac missed the final month of the season after breaking his right hand punching the mound at T-Mobile Field after allowing a home run against on Aug. 27. He finished the year at 3-12 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 games.

“Everybody has a lot to prove this year,” said manager Terry Francona. “I think you’re supposed to. I think with Zach, everybody looks at his won-loss record, and I know it was a frustrating year. But his ERA was 4.31. It wasn’t like he had an 8.00 ERA.”

Regarding Civale, Francona said, “So many things went wrong last year. The year kind of snowballed (on him). I know he was frustrated, but when he can stay out there, he’s proven he’s a pretty good pitcher.”

The truth is that the same pitching pipeline that produced Civale and Plesac is still producing pitchers. So the pressure from below is always there.

“That’s a good thing,” said Francona. “We’re not trying to run anybody out of here. How many times have you heard me say it? When you think you have enough pitching go get some more.”

A fresh start

Civale understands what Francona is talking about.

“It’s never just another year,” he said. “I’m excited. I’m excited to take in all the experiences. This is an awesome journey I get to be on. I’m just going to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy every second of it.”

Civale has tried to learn from the last two years. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2021, probably headed for the All-Star Game, when he injured the middle finger on his right hand on June 21 against the Cubs. He did not rejoin the rotation until September.

“In this game failure is a part of it,” said Civale. “The only way that becomes a positive is if you learn from it. There are a lot of things you can’t control. A lot of ups and down.

“When the game gets taken away from you, for whatever reason, it’s hard. It’s learning how to manage those situations, knowing the failure is part of it, so you can be stronger on the other end of it.”

Riding the razor’s edge

Plesac rode baseball’s razor edge last season. He threw seven consecutive quality starts from May 30 through July 4 with a 2.41 ERA. He also lost seven straight decisions in a 10-start span from June 6 through Aug. 26.

He had the third lowest run support of any pitcher in the big leagues (2.87 runs per nine innings), while putting himself on the IL for the second straight season with a self-inflicted injury. After a bad start against the Twins in May 2021, Plesac broke his right thumb while hitting a chair as he “aggressively” took off his jersey.

“I felt like last year there was a lot of searching for what I wanted to feel,” said Plesac. “As the season went on there were spurts where I was really good. Spurts when I wasn’t good and there were spurts when I was good and having bad results and spurts when I was bad and having good results.”

To find more consistency Plesac visited a pitching lab at Wake Forest University during the offseason.

“There’s a pitching coach there who works independently, but they have a pitching lab at the university where they do assessments to see how you’re moving,” said Plesac. “They put together a program based on where you need more efficient movement.”

Plesac took that program to his new home in Florida and went to work.

“I worked out in my gym every day,” he said. “Just living on the water and in the sunshine. Good vibes, good times.”

The Guardians won the AL Central last season with the youngest roster in baseball. There were times when Plesac felt that everyone was enjoying the the ride except for him.

“Mindfulness is something I wanted to practice this offseason,” said Plesac. “There were a lot of times last season where I could have focused on more positive things rather than fighting demons. There was a point where everything was going good for everybody except me.

“It was almost like I had to understand nothing was against me and I have all the capabilities of being a great pitcher.”

Civale and Plesac made their big league debuts in 2019. Plesac has been hampered by injuries. Plesac has dealt with injuries and demons.

During the COVID-19 season of 2020, Mike Clevinger and Plesac broke protocol when Cleveland was in Chicago. Cleveland’s front office and MLB dropped the hammer on them. They were sent to the minors and Clevinger was traded.

Then came the injuries in 2021 and 2022 fueled by equal parts anger and happenstance.

“When you first get called up, it’s like a high and everything is good,” said Plesac. “But 2020 was a weird year. The whole (breaking) protocol was a thing. I’m not saying I was walking on a tightrope, but I wasn’t as comfortable. I had to earn a lot of trust back from people who know who I am.

“Then you had to the two injuries. The one in 2021 wasn’t the same as last year, but they got grouped up. Battling that whole thing ... all the outside noise has nothing to do with how we perform. I need to take responsibility for what goes on here.”

Like anything a bounce-back season starts with a single step. Plesac makes his first Cactus League start Sunday. Civale will make his on March 1.

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The Chicago White Sox have signed former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Bryan Shaw to a minor league contract with a non-roster invite to camp, according to a Wednesday tweet from the Athletic MLB senior writer James Fegan.

Oh No !!

Swooped in and grabbed him right from under our very noses.

By the way, the penalty for the pitcher for too much time is a called ball. What is the penalty for the batter fixing his gloves, fidgeting around and not engaged with the pitcher in time ...a called strike?

What can Guardians’ Steven Kwan do for an encore in 2023? ‘I’ll take more initiative’

Sep 19, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) rounds the bases during an RBI triple in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
6h ago


GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Steven Kwan is open to holding discussions with the Guardians about a long-term contract extension. So, there’s that.

But more to the point, he says, “it’s mind-blowing” that such a topic can be mentioned with a straight face and not seem preposterous.

After all, a year ago, Kwan was relatively unknown to the public and somewhat of a question mark within the confines of Cleveland’s spring training clubhouse. He had a limited track record, and his bid to capture the team’s attention coincided with a shortened, hastened spring training. Plus, he had his own doubts — about whether he’d make the team, how long he’d stick with the team if he landed an Opening Day roster spot, and whether he belonged in the big leagues, even after introducing the world to his ability at a blistering, early season pace.

But he kept hitting. He chased down every baseball sprayed toward left field. He hit some more. And by the end of the year, he was a Rookie of the Year candidate, a playoff team’s primary table-setter and a leader for a roster full of major-league newborns.

And now, at least on this roster, a grizzled veteran equipped with perspective as he enters his sophomore season.

“The failures won’t sting as much this time,” said Kwan, 25. “It won’t be like, ‘Maybe this is the one that keeps me from the team.’”

Kwan has job security. He has knowledge of how pitchers might attack him. He has experience in recovering from an offensive funk. Perhaps most valuable, he said: He has no need to stand in awe of everything unfolding in front of him. There are no more surprises in store, no more expectations to soar past.

“Last year I made a big point to really soak up a lot of stuff, be starry-eyed, be really shocked at where I was,” he said. “I think that was a good place to be, but I also lost out on some opportunities because I was like, ‘How lucky am I to be here?’ Now, I’ll take some more initiative.”


Kwan was careful not to fixate on his individual triumphs or his un-rookie-like statistics. He refused to reflect on his first season until it ended — and even then, it took the urging of his girlfriend to toast a 2022 campaign no one could have forecasted. They traveled to Turks and Caicos in early December to decompress, a desperately needed cap to the year he admitted he wouldn’t have awarded himself on his own.

“Once I came back,” he said, “I felt like I had a fresh start and I could really look toward 2023.”

Kwan spent much of his offseason in Chicago. He frequented Portillo’s for their ketchup-less Chicago dogs. He said he learned the city had a lake and a river. (He didn’t venture out much during the club’s three visits to play the White Sox last year.)

Now that he’s in Arizona, the scene where he left his first impression on the big-league coaches and Cleveland’s fan base, it’s a reminder that he’s not fighting for a job or attempting to dissect how the season might unfold. It’s all about what he can do for an encore.

One element coaches have mentioned: being more aggressive in hitters counts, which could translate to more power or extra-base hits.

“I think the situation is going to have to dictate it,” he said. “I know I’ll feel a lot more comfortable this year in those counts. Early in the year, I wanted to be in that role of, ‘Ooh, this guy sees a bunch of pitches. He helps his team out.’ I totally abandoned, ‘I’m still a hitter.’ I think I can play into that role more and understand the situations, but still go for my chances.”

In other words, when he works his way to an advantageous count — and he does that often — he can be more aggressive. That doesn’t mean he’ll be eyeing the seats in the upper deck in right field, but he can anticipate more tosses to the strike zone when the pitcher falls behind. After all, he discovered a stat that suggested umpires called more incorrect strikes against him than any other hitter, a note he discussed with hitting coach Chris Valaika.

Most called strikes this regular season against left-handed MLB batters on outside out-of-zone pitches:

Steven Kwan, 60
Anthony Rizzo, 41
Ji-Man Choi, 41
Shohei Ohtani, 40
Mike Yastrzemski, 39
Kyle Schwarber, 39
Jake Cronenworth, 38
J.P. Crawford, 37



“My knee-jerk reaction was, ‘I’m getting screwed,’” Kwan said. “But Val and I broke it down and, no, it’s just because I see more pitches, so there are more opportunities for umpires to miss calls. If there’s a grand scale, it probably all evens out.”

Kwan ranked 18th in the majors in pitches seen and 15th in pitches per plate appearance. He had the lowest first-pitch swing percentage in the majors at 8.9 percent; Jesús Aguilar recorded the second-lowest mark, at 13.6 percent. The league-average rate was 30.9 percent.

Kwan ranked second in the majors in contact percentage and sported the second-best swinging strike rate. It’s clear what his strengths are: making contact and plate discipline. He did have the highest percentage of strikes looking and the second-lowest rate of pitches swung at, two indications that he could stand to be a bit more assertive in the batter’s box. More than one-third of his strikeouts were of the looking variety, the fifth-highest rate in the league.

This is nitpicking, of course. He tallied more walks than strikeouts. He reached base at an impressive clip, with a .373 on-base percentage. He stole 19 bases. He won a Gold Glove Award. And he said he’s eager to see how some of the rule changes — defensive shift restrictions and larger bases, in particular — might benefit him.

“He has a lot of ways to impact us winning,” manager Terry Francona said, “whether it’s his legs, his defense, occasional home run. He has a lot of ways to help us win.”

George Valera

'I'm a winner': Valera moving toward Majors

Guardians' No. 2 prospect looking to employ lessons learned in DR at next level

Jesse Borek MLB Pipeline and MiLB

Feb 23, 2023 22 minutes ago

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --

Second-ranked Guardians prospect George Valera is anything but timid when he digs into the batter’s box. Armed with his patented bat waggle and smooth swing, the left-handed-hitting outfielder has dived headlong into the opportunity that the early days of Spring Training afford, squaring off with Major League hurlers on practice fields in an attempt to make his mark.

“When I’m in the box, I don’t care who you are,” Valera said. “I’m going to compete and I’m going to try to beat you. It doesn’t matter if you’re my mom or my dad, I’m going to try my best.

“I don’t really see it as Major League or Minor League pitchers. I just see it as competition and somebody I got to beat right now.”

That competitiveness has long been a feature of Valera’s game, and a necessary one. MLB Pipeline’s No. 51 overall prospect has seen just five of his 1,165 pro plate appearances against younger pitchers. Despite that consistent challenge, Valera has hit at every level throughout his career: .977 OPS at High-A, 129 wRC+ at Double-A in 2022 and a .227 ISO in an abbreviated Triple-A stint.

A passive observer would deduce that Valera’s 11-game stint with Estrellas de Oriente this past winter had minimal impact on his game; after all, he hit just .171 and struck out in 26.8 percent of his at-bats. But getting to return to San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, is a return home for Valera, who moved between the city and the Bronx, N.Y., throughout his childhood.

Getting to play against revered Dominican stars such as Robinson Canó on their home turf -- in a league known for its festival-like crowd participation -- is a reliable way to expedite development.

“It's crazy to play with those guys, learn from them, watch them play, see how they take care of the game,” Valera said. “I play for my hometown team, so that's super special to me. I get to have my family there, and a lot of people that can't travel here to Stateside, they get to see me in person for the first time playing baseball.”

Valera first had his development stunted by a broken hamate bone in his right hand in 2018. Then, the cancellation of the ‘20 Minor League season struck. An oblique strain slowed him with a four-week absence in ‘21, but the injury bug was stamped out last year, as he was named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which he started in left field for the American League squad.

Even in a system chock full of precocious talent, Valera has made his mark through an exhilarating blend of power and patience (and exit velocities). His two-hour move southwest from Akron to Columbus in August moved him to the proverbial doorstep of Progressive Field, despite playing the entire 2022 season at just 21 years old.

The results may have been below what Valera would have liked from his 42 games in his first taste of Triple-A (.221/.324/.448), but considering that he was more than five years younger than the average age of competition, the lefty slugger was again able to bank intel for his future development.

“It makes you mature as a ballplayer and as a person, too,” Valera said of his time being around older players at Triple-A. “Hopefully I'm going to put [what I learned] into play in the big leagues … sometime during the season.”

The Guardians put the league on notice in 2022, claiming the AL Central crown despite being the youngest team in the Majors in average age. In that sense, Valera, complete with a take-on-anyone, anytime attitude, is an embodiment of a club that tasted postseason success on the back of key contributions from the club’s pipeline.

Cactus League play kicks off Saturday against the Reds at 3:05 p.m. ET (live on MLB.TV), marking the Guardians’ first step in what they hope is a season that carries deep into October. Many fans will be getting a look at Valera -- and other young stars -- for the first time this spring. For all the pageantry and hype, what can they expect from an outfielder who is looking to earn that first big league callup sometime in 2023?

“I’m going to do my best to win the game no matter what I do. I’m going to have fun because it’s a game at the end of the day. But I’m a winner,” Valera said. “We’ve got a very, very good squad. … We’re all on the same mission and I’m one of those guys that is in the same mindset:

“I want to bring a championship to Cleveland.”

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Jhonkensy Noel

Guardians

Terry Francona looking for quick-change artists: Guardians spring training rundown

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 23, 2023, 5:14 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --

When it comes to making a team’s final roster in spring training, versatility has rarely been more important.

Every team in the big leagues, regardless of market size, wants to have a couple of roster spots filled with players who can play two or three different positions.

It’s why young infielders Gabriel Arias and Tyler Freeman are going to be tested in the outfield this spring by the Guardians.

The same thing can be said for prospects Jhonkensy Noel and Micah Pries. Noel is in his second big league camp after being added to the 40-man roster for the 2022 season. Pries, a spring training invitee, was a 13th-round pick by Cleveland in 2013.

Noel is an interesting choice to bounce around the diamond. He’s 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. His teammates call him “La Belleza,” Spanish for The Beauty.

In this case Beauty is a Beast. Last season he hit 32 home runs playing at Class A Lake County, Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus. He hit 19 at Lake County and 13 at Akron, while playing just four games at Columbus.

Noel hit 19 homers in 2021 at three different levels.

Manager Terry Francona, in his meeting with Noel before the start of spring training, gave him this message.

“With a guy like that, who got to Triple-A, and some of his buddies have played in the major leagues, I told him, ‘Hey, you’re at the point where you’re knocking on the door,’” said Francona. “Some of it depends on injuries, so pay attention to detail.”

Noel is going to play first base and left and right field. Last season he played 50 games in right field, 25 at DH, 20 at first base and 17 in left field.

“He’ll do the same thing as Micah Pries, Freeman and Arias,” said Francona. “We want to see what they can do in all the different places, but not ask too much of them.”

Francona said there is a downside to not finding out what players, especially young players, can and can’t do on the field in spring training.

“What you don’t want to have happen is when you get to the end of spring training and the guy is having a really good camp and you say, ‘But he doesn’t play this position,’” said Francona. “You don’t want to pigeon hole guys.

“Then if guys are on the team, and they’re young and they never play, that’s not good either. So the more they can do, it just works better for everybody. I mean Jose Ramirez did it (in 2016). He started in left and went back to third.”

Smile for the cameras:

Thursday is photo day for the Guardians. A mass of photographers descend on Goodyear to take pictures of the players in their regular season uniforms.

The day starts early and continues for hours. The first photos will start being snapped at 7:05 a.m. On the notification board in the locker room the schedule was printed in English and Spanish with a set of instructions. One of them left an impression. It said, “Dress Warm.”

Arms warming:

Eli Morgan, Sam Hentges, Michael Kelly and Caleb Simpson will throw batting practice on Thursday. Zach Plesac, Shane Bieber, Hunter Gaddis, Konnor Pilkington, Trevor Stephan and Nick Sandlin will throw bullpen sessions.

Plesac is scheduled to start Sunday’s Cactus League game against Texas at Goodyear Ballpark at 3:05 p.m. Bieber is scheduled to start against the Cubs on Monday in Mesa at 3:05 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM/1100 and REAL/106.1 will carry Sunday’s game.

The Guardians open the Cactus League season Saturday against the Reds. Cal Quantrill will start for Cleveland at 3:05 p.m. Ballys Sports and WTAM/1100 will carry the game.

Dinner on us:

The Players Association is holding a meeting for all teams Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Scottsdale. Fifteen teams train in the Phoenix area so a good crowd is expected.

It’s been almost a year since the lockout ended so there will be plenty to talk about. Dinner will also be served.

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Guardians

Guardians dive into details of new rules: Who calls the pitches?

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 23, 2023, 4:41 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --

If the 29 other MLB teams are like the Guardians, they have a bunch of questions about MLB’s new rules for the 2023 season.

Here are two of them:

1. Who’s going to be calling the pitches?

2. Can the Guardians get permission to duplicate bench coach DeMarlo Hale?

Last year MLB approved the use of PitchCom, a wrist band used by catchers to signal what pitch a pitcher should throw. It was done to prevent the age-old art of sign stealing, which was weaponized by the 2017 Houston Astros.

During the offseason, reports said that in 2023 pitchers would be able to wear a PitchCom wrist band of their own to call pitches. Manager Terry Francona told reporters on Thursday morning that he wasn’t sure that would be implemented this year.

“They’re testing it during spring training,” said Francona. “Pitchers can have a device on their own wrist, but there’s an issue about if they’ll be allowed to use it during the season.

“We told our pitchers (about it) because we feel an obligation, but now we’re sort of stuck. We don’t know if we want to encourage them to use it. Then if they get comfortable and can’t do it.”

As for who has the say, the pitcher or catcher, when it comes to calling fastball or changeup, Francona said, “I think you would work through those things.”

Francona wasn’t sure why MLB would not allow pitchers to use PitchCom during the season. He said the Guardians would probably find out when they met with Michael Hill, MLB’s vice president of on-field operations, on Monday.

MLB has introduced a flurry of new rules this season. Among them are the pitch clock, the limitation of shifts and restricting pitchers to only two pickoff moves. A pitcher can use a third pickoff move, or disengagement from the rubber, but if it doesn’t result in an out, the runner is granted the next base on a balk.

The implementation of those rules begins Saturday when the Cactus League season opens.

Francona told reporters about a conversation he had with Shane Bieber after he threw to hitters a couple of days ago. It had to do with the pitch clock that gives pitchers 15 seconds to deliver a pitch once he’s in possession of the ball and on the mound. With a man on base, the pitcher gets 20 seconds.

If a pitcher doesn’t deliver a pitch in that time frame, the umpires are required to call a ball.

“Bieber threw 40 pitches and he goes, ‘I was gassed,’” said Francona. “Say you’re in the fourth, fifth or sixth inning, and you’re bumping into 100 pitches, but you’re still OK, and you’re up to 25 pitches (in that specific inning), we don’t have an outlet anymore.”

Outlet as in wasting a pickoff attempt at first base to allow a pitcher to gather himself or get a reliever ready. Pitchers can no longer stall by walking behind the mound, bending over and pulling up their socks.

Mounds visits by the pitching coach or catcher are limited to 30 seconds.

“You’re asking somebody to make the biggest pitch of the game, and they’re out of gas,” said Francona. “I brought it up to Bieber, I told him, ‘At some point you might just give a guy a ball.’ It’s better than throwing something that goes 800 feet.”

Another game situation that has occupied Francona’s mind is when the opposition has runners on first and third base. If and when does a pitcher step off the rubber, simulating a pickoff move, to keep the runners from stealing?

“The biggest one for me is first and third,” said Francona. “Once you step off twice, and the guy on third fake breaks, and everybody yells, ‘step off,’ you better step off and get him out.”

If not the runner is awarded home on a balk.

“So maybe we’ll position our third baseman closer to the bag,” said Francona. “Just to take away that. What we don’t want to do is alter the way our guys pitch because we think they’re pretty good.”

Who keeps track of the number of pickoff attempts each pitcher uses? Who tells the pitcher when to use a pickoff attempt?

“DeMarlo (Hale) will do that,” said Francona. “The reason is because he gives the signs. De is good because he’s giving those signs anyway.”

Hale may have to request a raise. Not only is he responsible for all the normal signs during a game, but now he has to translate all the nuances of some of the biggest rule changes in the history of the game.

Francona said Andy Tracy, Cleveland’s Class AAA manager at Columbus, has been a big resource. Tracy’s Clippers played under the pitch clock last year in the International League.

“We’ve already had Zoom calls on this,” said Francona, “but having Michael Hill on the property on Monday where we can ask questions will be good.”

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Guardians

Guardians’ first spring training lineup heavy on youth (No surprise there)

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 24, 2023, 4:34 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --

The Guardians were the youngest team in baseball last year, so it stands to reason that they’d start the 2023 Cactus League season with a lineup brimming with youth and promise.

Cleveland’s lineup for Saturday’s spring training opener against Cincinnati features rookies Gabriel Arias at third base, Will Brennan in right field, Bryan Rocchio at shortstop and David Fry at DH. Left-fielder Steven Kwan has one year in the big leagues, while second baseman Tyler Freeman has spent 64 days in the big leagues. That’s a blink of the eye, but enough to cost Freeman his rookie status.

The veterans in this lineup are catcher Mike Zunino, 32, first baseman Josh Naylor, 25, right-hander Cal Quantrill, 28, and center fielder Roman Quinn, 29.

After Quantrill turns in his scheduled two innings, five rookie relievers are scheduled to follow him to the mound -- Tim Herrin, Xzavion Curry, Cade Smith, Luis Oviedo and Nick Mikolajchak.

Here’s how the lineup looks: LF Kwan, 3B Arias, 1B Naylor, RF Brennan, C Zunino, 2B Freeman, SS Rocchio, DH Fry, CF Quinn and Quantrill.

Kwan:

He’s coming off a fine rookie year in which he hit .298 (168 for 563) and finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Arias:

He’s competing for one of the utility jobs on the club. He appeared in 16 games for the Guardians last year and played all four infield positions.

Naylor:

He set career highs with 20 homers and 79 RBI last year for Cleveland.

Brennan:

He hit .314 (166 for 528) with 13 homers and 107 RBI at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus last season.

Zunino:

He’s scheduled to catch three innings. Missed most of last season with Tampa Bay because of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on his left arm.

Freeman:

He’s competing for a utility spot. He hit .247 (19 for 77) in 24 games in Cleveland.

Rocchio:

He appeared in 132 games last season at Akron and Columbus, hitting .257 (131 for 510) with 18 homers and 65 RBI.

Fry:

He hit 17 homers at Columbus last year.

Quinn:

He’s in camp as a non-roster invitee. He spent 44 games in the big leagues last year with the Rays and Phillies.

Quantrill:

He went 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA last season.

Herrin, scheduled to be the first pitcher out of the bullpen, has caught the Guardians’ eye. The 6-5 left-hander, taken in the 29th round in the 2018 draft, struck out 101 batters in 69 1/3 innings at Akron and Columbus last year.

“It’s almost like Sam Hentges was a couple of years ago,” said manager Terry Francona. “He’s left-handed with really good stuff. Last year he got to Triple-A and I think he realized, “Oh, man, my stuck plays. It’s pretty good.’

“It’s still developing. But as he learns to command and how he wants to attack, it’s pretty special stuff.”

First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. at Goodyear Ballpark. Bally Sports Great Lakes and WTAM/1100 will carry the game.

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Padres slugger Machado draws first pitch clock violation
Associated Press February 24, 2023, 6:12 PM

Tick, tock, Manny Machado. Better watch that pitch clock.

Baseball’s new timing device made its big league debut on Friday during a limited schedule of spring training openers and wouldn’t you know it, it was Machado, the San Diego Padres’ All-Star slugger, not a pitcher, who was called for the first violation.

Machado found out the hard way that the pitch clock works both ways. He wasn’t fully in the batter’s box and alert to the Seattle Mariners lefty Robbie Ray as the 15-second clock wound under 8 seconds in the bottom of the first inning. Umpire Ryan Blakney called time and signalled strike one against Machado, who finished second in last season’s NL MVP race.

While Machado was bemused, he wasn’t fazed, as he got the first of two singles.

“I might have to make a big adjustment. I might be 0-1 a lot this year, man,” Machado said. “It’s super fast. It’s definitely an adjustment period. Going down in the history books.”

The pitch clock is among several new rules designed to improve pace. Players will have 30 seconds to resume play between batters. Between pitches, pitchers have 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 seconds if there is a baserunner. The pitcher must start his delivery before the clock expires. After a pitch, the clock starts again when the pitcher has the ball back, the catcher and batter are in the circle around home plate, and play is otherwise ready to resume.

Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with at least eight seconds on the clock. Batters can call time once per plate appearance, stopping the countdown.

When a pitcher doesn’t throw a pitch in time, the penalty is an automatic ball. When a batter isn’t ready in time, it’s an automatic strike.

“It’ll be a little tricky,” Padres starter Nick Martinez said. “Got to find some areas that I can save some time so I can get some time when I need it.”

Martinez said the clock will affect how pitches are called.

“Today the way to alleviate the pressure was having the PitchCom with me,” he said. “For the majority of the time (Luis Campusano) was calling the game but if I had a pitch that kind of stood out for me I just pressed it. I didn’t wait for him to call it, I was like ‘I want this one.’ I did it a few times. There are times when I like to slow the game down, so that’ll be interesting.

“I thought I was not even going to think about it today and I was definitely conscious about it,” said Martinez, who is moving into the rotation after having a hybrid role last year. “I was a little caught by surprise. Definitely going to be an adjustment period.”

Guardians first baseman Josh Bell (right) laughs with assistant hitting coach Victor Rodríguez as they talk after a spring training workout in Goodyear,

Guardians

Who will be the Guardians’ breakout player for 2023? Hey, Hoynsie

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 25, 2023, 5:09 a.m.

GOODYEAR, Arizona --

Do you have a question that you’d like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here. You can also subscribe to Subtext here or text Hoynsie at 216-208-4346 for a two-week free trial.

Hey, Hoynsie: Who is your pick for breakout player for the Guardians this year? -- Mitch Radosky, Poulsbo, Washington.

Hey, Mitch: I’ll take Josh Bell. Yes, I know he’s been an All-Star, but let me explain.

He had a strong first half start last season with Washington, but struggled after being traded to San Diego in a deadline deal. In Cleveland he’ll be hitting behind Jose Ramirez with Josh Naylor, Oscar Gonzalez and Andres Gimenez hitting behind him.

The shift limitations are going to help the switch-hitting Bell as well.

Hey, Hoynsie: What would you think about trading Amed Rosario now and really getting something for him? The chances are they’re not going to be able to pay him after the year when he becomes a free agent. -- Jim Mullen, Bay Village.

Hey, Jim: I think Rosario is more valuable to the Guardians right now than he is to another team. The teams that needed shortstops have spent the last two years signing and trading for them. They also know that if they really want Rosario all they have to do is wait until the season is over and pursue him as a free agent without losing any players.

Hey, Hoynsie: Cleveland has solid starting pitching, an outstanding bullpen, above average defense and no peer in hustle. What do you see as the team’s weakest area? -- John Kyle, Westfield Center.

Hey, John: The Guardians have put together a good roster, maybe their best since those great teams of the 1990s. But every team has flaws.

Cleveland needs bounce back seasons from Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac in the rotation. At catcher we’ve got to see how Mike Zunino, coming off surgery on his left arm, manages the season. It would be nice to have some experience on the bench, but right now it looks like it’s going to be all young players.

Hey Hoynsie: With Jason Kipnis announcing his retirement, do you see his return to the organization in some coaching/coordinator position? -- Dave Bowers, Avon.

Hey, Dave: I would not be surprised if he showed up on a Guardians radio or TV broadcast. He did one last year and received good reviews.

As for joining the organization, I’m not sure if Kipnis wants to be a coach or instructor. I know he’s involved in his restaurant business, but in the past the Guardians have invited former players to camp as spring training instructors. Travis Fryman is in camp every year as special assistant to player development.

Hey, Hoynsie: There’s no doubt Myles Straw’s defense in center field is irreplaceable. With that said, how much time will manager Terry Francona give Straw to prove he can hit well enough to stay in the everyday lineup? -- Andy Mees, Sandusky.

Hey, Andy: Francona loves the idea that Straw is going to catch almost everything hit to center field. I think that means that he’s going to be patient with Straw at the plate.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why is the World Baseball Classic not held in the fall after the season? Wouldn’t that eliminate the disruption of spring training and the pre-season wear and tear on players? -- Bob Maistros, Lake Worth, Florida.

Hey, Bob: If you played it at the end of the World Series, how many players would participate following the grind of the 162-game season and the postseason? The WBC is a great idea, but finding a time to play it that makes everyone happy is impossible.

Hey, Hoynsie: One thing I am glad about the WBC is that Andres Giminez is going to play shortstop for Venezuela with Jose Altuve at second. I think it is good to get him some time there in a competitive environment. -- Jack Bacevice.

Hey, Jack: During the winter, Gimenez asked permission from the Guardians if he could go to Venezuela and play shortstop for his winter ball team to get ready for the WBC because he’d spent last season at second base. Terry Francona said he also plans to get Gimenez some reps at shortstop during spring-training games before he leaves to join Team Venzuela.

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Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber warms up by throwing a baseball against a concrete wall during a workout in Goodyear.AP

Guardians

Guardians’ Shane Bieber is Shane Bieber again thanks to his 2022 performance

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Feb. 24, 2023, 7:46 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --

The trap has been set. It’s up to the Guardians not to fall into it.

Shane Bieber talked about the trap two days before the Guardians were scheduled to open the Cactus League season Saturday against the Reds. He talked about the dangers of being too content and self satisfied after proving so many people wrong last year.

The Guardians stunned baseball in 2022. They went from an afterthought to winning the AL Central and taking the Yankees to five games in the ALDS. It was a high point for the team and organization, but Bieber said it’s time to get back to work.

“We need to be careful not to fall into the trap after we exceeded the expectations people had on us last year,” said Bieber. “We had a decent year, but we can’t focus on that. We have to focus on what’s in front of us.”

That will be easier for the Guardians to do with a healthy Bieber. A year ago Bieber came to spring training uncertain of his right shoulder after making just 16 starts in 2021 because of a strained rotator cuff.

Bieber gradually proved to himself and anyone else who was watching that he sound. He went 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts. He threw 200 innings for the first time since 2019, while striking out 198 batters.

“I showed that I’m the same guy,” said Bieber, a Cy Young winner in 2020. “That’s what’s important to me. Good things will come when you pitch every five days and give your team a chance to win.

“Since I first came up in 2018, that’s been the most important thing to me. To be able to post and go out there every five days, compete and be a good teammate.”

Bieber was one of three AL pitchers to throw 200 or more innings last year. Gerrit Cole and Framber Valdez were the others.

Two postseason starts followed the regular season. Bieber allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Rays in Game 1 of the wild card series. He made one start against the Yankees in the ALDS, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision.

On top of that Bieber became the first pitcher in franchise history to win a Gold Glove for his defense. He made one error in 32 total chances, finished second in the AL with 32 putouts and fourth with three defensive runs saved.

A Gold Glove wasn’t on Bieber’s radar until last season was nearing an end. Joe Torres, Guardians assistant pitching coach, was looking over a packet of data before voting on the award. Bieber asked how he ranked and Torres told him “you’re at the pinnacle.”

“I went uh-oh,’” said Bieber with a smile. “I better not make an error the rest of the way.”

He didn’t.

Bieber’s inability to take his regular turn in the rotation in 2021 bothered him coming into the 2022 season. It sounds like he’s let that frustration go.

“I’ve never run away from that conversation,” he said. “I’ve tried to embrace my path and the things that have gone along with it. Last year was an opportunity for me to return the dues from getting injured for the first time in my career.

“I just want to prove to everybody I’m the same guy and I’ll be out there every fifth day doing what I normally do.”

Bieber was one of seven Guardians who avoided arbitration in January by signing a one-year deal worth $10.1 million. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.

He said there has been no extensions talks between his agent and the Guardians, but he’s willing to talk.

“I’d love to,” said Bieber. “But that being said my focus right now is on getting ready. I’ve had a good offseason with a lot of work.

“I love it here. I love the people here. I’d love to entertain that. But right now I’m going to focus on what I can control and that’s my work on the field. That’s where I’m going to stay.”

Bieber and his longtime girlfriend Kara Kavajecz were married in January in Malibu.

“The wedding was great,” said Bieber. “While it was happening, I wanted to slow things down. It was a special time, a special offseason that I’ll cherish.”

What better way to end one rewarding season and hopefully begin another.

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Division Series - Cleveland Guardians v New York Yankees - Game Five

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Guardians Spring Training

The start of Cleveland Guardians spring training breathes optimism into every fan

By Anthony Alandt

Feb 25, 2023 9:48 AM EST

There are just a few times in the baseball calendar where optimism and hope ring loudest: the start of the playoffs, the announcement of a big signing, the beginning of spring training.

There’s a reason everyone gets so excited when the Cleveland Guardians launch their equipment trucks and plaster it across every social media platform. There’s a reason the end of February is filled with puff pieces, what-ifs and lofty projections for each player. Everybody has a clean slate. No one has lazily jogged out a groundout or dropped a fly ball or looked at strike three right down the middle with bases loaded. We can look at the past seasons and cherrypick statistics and trends that make us feel better about our favorite teams and players.

Hope springs anew, and it’s time for baseball once again.

The Guardians, still one of baseball’s youngest teams, are coming off of an electric season that saw them win the AL Central, wild-card round and take the New York Yankees to the fifth game of the ALDS. Damn that rain out. They have a young core, led by third baseman José Ramírez, who is guaranteed to be a long-term player in Cleveland on an affordable extension, and more top prospects knocking on the door than they know what to do with.

This team, just like this time of year, exudes potential, and euphoric questions of what could be. And honestly, with all of the excitement surrounding the start of this season, it’s hard not to really let your mind enjoy true visions of grandeur. Today is the day to do it without backlash. It’s the start of baseball, albeit not official games. The Guardians were so close last year to moving on to the championship series; what’s in store for 2023?

s this finally the year Ramírez breaks through and wins the American League MVP? Which one of the young guys - Oscar Gonzalez, Bo Naylor, George Valera, Will Brennan - will take that massive step forward and become a key piece of Cleveland’s lineup? Can Emmanuel Clase win reliever of the year? Could James Karinchak and another reliever step up to form a lock down 7th-8th-9th-inning combination? Could they repeat winning the division?

Could this be the year the 75-year championship drought finally ends?

Anything is possible when the Guardians take the field for the first day of spring training. A 3:05 p.m. first pitch against the Cincinnati Reds begins the 122nd season of baseball in Cleveland. It’s like the first day of a new relationship, the feeling you get when you step into a new job for the first day of work. Opportunity, unbothered by the warts of reality and what might come, reigns supreme. You can do anything, and your favorite baseball team can too.

For the last decade, I’ve made it a tradition to watch the first game of spring training, settle into an official baseball game for the first time in months. It lets me forget about the weather in the Northeast, the snow - and, this year, loads of it - melt away as I watch Cleveland play once again on a beautiful, sun-soaked field in Goodyear, Arizona. I turn the volume all the way up to hear the crack of the bat that I missed during the long winter days, feel the smack of the glove on a 100 mph fastball, and bask in the voice of Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood and Rick Manning.

I learn the names of players I never knew occupied the lower levels of the Guardians’ farm system, and get my first taste of watching highly-touted prospects face off against major-league pitchers. It’s new, exciting and gets me amped up for the season to come. What’s good about this year, more than most over the last ten years, is that there is real hope for plenty of wins, exciting plays and even a playoff run. There’s the perfect combination of stars, veterans and fun prospects.

For a moment, we can forget about money, attendance numbers, if someone might be traded soon, and focus on the game for what it is: an escape, America’s pastime, synonymous with summer.

Cleveland Guardians baseball is back, and it’s time to celebrate.

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The Guardians and Reds will open Cactus League play Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark.AP

Guardians

Curtain set to raise on Cactus League action: Guardians spring training preview for Saturday, Feb. 25

By Joe Noga

Published: Feb. 25, 2023, 5:30 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio —

Lights, cameras ... an enhanced level of action?

Major League Baseball’s spring season is underway and the Guardians get back on the field for the first time since bowing out of the American League Division Series in October with a Cactus League tilt against Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark later today.

On the menu is a whole new level of action and pace as some veterans will encounter a pitch timer for the first time in their careers when they take the field under MLB’s new spate of rules changes aimed at trimming game times and promoting offense. The changes were noticeable in Friday’s first handful of games that clocked in around two and a half hours each.

While Cleveland’s pitchers and hitters adjust to the new normal, all eyes will be on the young core of players that helped lift the Guardians to an AL Central Division title last season including Steven Kwan, Oscar Gonzalez, Andres Gimenez and pitchers like Triston McKenzie and Emmanuel Clase.

Can the Guardians maintain and continue to develop while fending off the likes of Minnesota and Chicago to take another division crown? The clock is officially ticking and we’re about to find out.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Manny Machado wasted little time drawing the first violation of Major League Baseball’s new pitch timer in the first inning of San Diego’s Cactus League opener Friday against Seattle in Peoria, Ariz. Machado was issued a strike in his first-inning at-bat against Mariners lefty Robby Ray when he was not set in the batter’s box and alert to the pitcher with eight seconds left on the clock.

Umpire Ryan Blakney called time and signaled strike one against Machado, according to the Associated Press. Machado singled on a 2-1 pitch later in the at-bat and added another hit later in the game.

“Going into the record books, at least. That’s a good one. Not bad,” Machado told AP. “I might just be 0-1 if I can get two hits every game.”


Manny Machado drew the first violation of MLB's pitch timer during Friday's Cactus League opener against the Mariners.Getty Images

GUARDIANS ON THE MOUND

Right-hander Cal Quantrill will start Cleveland’s opener as he prepares to head over to Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic next week. Quantrill was 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 186 1/3 innings last season for Cleveland. He struck out 128 and walked 47. Pitchers scheduled to follow Quantrill include Tim Herrin, Xzavion Curry, Cade Smith, Luis Oviedo and Nick Mikolajchak.

GUARDIANS IN THE FIELD

Paul Hoynes reported Friday the Guardians spring opener lineup will include young players at a number of spots, while some veterans will be notably absent. José Ramírez, Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario will not play, and instead give way to Gabriel Arias, Brayan Rocchio and Tyler Freeman on the infield with non-roster invitee David Fry at designated hitter and NRI Roman Quinn in center. More familiar faces will include Steven Kwan in left and Josh Naylor at first, with veteran Mike Zunino behind the plate.

GUARDIANS ON THE MEND


CF Myles Straw Right knee soreness Day-to-day Timetable-Unknown

RHP Enyel Del Los Santos Right hamstring sorenes Day-to-day Timetabe-Unknown

RHP Cody Morris Lat strain Day-to-day Timetable-Unknown

RHP Daniel Espino Right shoulder strain, tear Out 4-6 weeks

OF Chase DeLauter Right foot surgery Out 4-5 months


KEY UPCOMING DATES

March 8: Guardians vs. Team Mexico at Goodyear Ballpark.

March 8-21: World Baseball Classic.

March 30: MLB Opening Day. Guardians at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

April 7: Guardians home opener at Progressive Field vs. Seattle, 4:10 p.m.

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3 MLB longshots who can win the World Series

by Joseph Summers

Feb 24,2023 1 day ago

If you bet on the Phillies to make the World Series or even the Guardians to win the AL Central last year as longshots, you came up BIG when both teams came through. Every MLB season is littered with examples like this and I expect this upcoming season to be no different.

As it stands, the Astros (+650) are favored to repeat as champions while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets all sit right behind them at +750 odds.

With the recent Wild Card expansion, there are more opportunities for teams to sneak into the playoffs and make a run like the Phillies last year. That gives these longshots even more value, and you can utilize FanDuel’s promo to ensure you can’t lose either way.

Philadelphia Phillies (+1700)

The Phillies shocked the world by storming to the World Series in dramatic fashion last year, then added star Trea Turner to the mix in the offseason.

The lineup between Turner, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto will be as fearsome as any in baseball. Throw in a spectacular rotation led by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler with rising stars like Ranger Suarez and you’ve got a recipe for a World Series.

Philadelphia’s bullpen and defense remain question marks, but we saw this talented roster overcome those deficiencies last year. At +1700, I’m more than willing to take a shot on Harper and Turner figuring it out.

Cleveland Guardians (+2500)

I love this young Guardians team. With another year of experience after a disappointing ALDS loss to the Yankees, Cleveland should be ready to take another step forward.

While the rest of the MLB focuses on power and home runs, the Guardians prefer a contact-based approach similar to that deployed by the 2015 World Series champion Royals.

José Ramírez, Steven Kwan, Amed Rosario, and Andrés Giménez make up a formidable lineup that forces pitchers to stay locked in. I’m expecting a step forward from rotation arms like Triston McKenzie as well to help Shane Bieber at the top.

In a weak division, Cleveland should have every opportunity to return to the postseason and deliver on these large odds.

Baltimore Orioles (+10000)

If you want a real longshot, look no further than the Baltimore Orioles. This young squad exploded in the second half of the season last year before falling just short of the playoffs, but the roster is oozing with talent and it wouldn’t shock me to see Baltimore take a massive leap forward.

Adley Rutschman is a star and already one of the best catchers in baseball. Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson make up a strong top of the lineup, though the rotation leaves much to be desired.

Sending Kyle Gibson out as your ace should make any Orioles fan worried, but I do think we’ll see improvements from Dean Kremer and Kyle Bradish, both of whom flashed in moments last year.

If Rutschman continues his breakout and a couple of Baltimore’s young arms show progress, the Orioles will be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot at a minimum. At +10000 odds, that’s all you can ask for.

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