I'm looking forward to the haul we get in return when Zunino is DFA'd. I would expect lots of demand by demands eager to pick up his $6,000,000 bargain contract.

Except for a few bright spots, this has been an underwhelming season to date.

The good news.....we only trail the Twins by 2 1/2 games. Doesn't sound like much, does it? If we are going to reduce that deficit, it best be prior to the All-Star break.

I have a personal rule of thumb. How many games behind are you at that point in the season?

I'm excluding wild cards. I have to assume that you have to take care of your own business in the division before worrying about wild cards. You win the division, you punch in your ticket to the playoffs.

My magic number is 5 games behind at the all-star break. I figure it takes weeks to make up 5 games.

To point, we trailed the Twins by 3 1/2 games by the end of April, 3 1/2 games by the end of May, and 2 1/2 games by the mid point in June. In other words, we picked up one game in 2 1/2 months.

This is not the miracle team it was in 2022.

This is a different team. All the high expectations have dimmed. Bieber, Clase, and Naylor have performed as well as expected. Bell, Ramirez, Zunino, Gonzalez, Gimenez have not.

The new rule changes were supposed to be a game changer. They were expected to give the team an upper hand but we are failing to take advantage.

The changes were expected to make an MVP out or Ramirez. The larger bases were expected to improve stolen base efficiency.

We still have 4 1/2 months in the season to see what this team is really made of.

As the saying goes, this is a marathon, not a race.

This is not the miracle team it was in 2022.

With the exception of Friday night

back to back doubles by Josh Bell [his 14th: is he at last breaking out?] and Tyler Freeman [glad to see him getting some ABs] and it's 5-0 into the 7th.

Zack Meisel
@ZackMeisel
·
1h
Zach Plesac cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus. Plesac gets to keep his contract and the FO gets a 40 spot.

Guardians pitcher clears waivers, accepts outright assignment to Triple-A

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Zach Plesac cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus, the Guardians announced Sunday.

Plesac was designated for assignment on June 4 to make room on Cleveland’s 40-man roster for the return of Triston McKenzie from the injured list. The Guardians had seven days to trade, release or expose the right-hander to waivers.

After opening the season in the Guardians’ rotation, Plesac was optioned to Columbus on May 4 after going 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in five starts. Last season he went 3-12 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 games, including 24 starts.

No brainer he wouldn't be claimed since he has an MLB contract.

I still think that he should be tried in the outfield. As it stands now he will not have a path back to the majors as a pitcher. If he can hit......

Some of these pitchers who now seem to be completely lost either:

1. Can't deal with the pitch clock

2. Were using the sticky stuff and can't do without

Was watching MLB Network and Pedro Martinez was commenting on Bieber.

He said that he thinks all the wear and tear over the seasons, including postseasons, has taken a toll. But he thinks he will be fine if the team
watches him closely and doesn't overuse him.

He called him a battler and professional starting pitcher who knows how to pitch.

The days of high strikeout Bieber are gone but so what? Pitching to contact can save his arm.

10 days

One additional thought on the catcher situation. I don't think Tito, being a nice guy and a "player's manager" will want to embarrass Z by releasing him after his classic game of Saturday night. He gets at least one more game in which is almost guaranteed certain to be less bad.

Just like Plesac he will end up at Columbus.

I note that Gallagher has started the two games since Z's Special Day

8 days