Cleveland Sports Forum

He'll continue to hone his craft

He'll keep tryiing. But it's unlikely,

Nolan Jones on the other hand is off to a terrific start with 6 homers in early games in AAA

Zack Meisel
@ZackMeisel
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6m
The Guardians are planning, weather permitting, to promote Logan Allen to make his major-league debut on Sunday.

they can start anyone they want, it won't make any difference if they can't hit.
Some pretty unimpressive pitchers have shut them down this week. Marlins adjusted their rotation to start three 3 lefties vs the G's and everyone will do the same based on the success that has brought.

Not much Right Handed offense in the minors, either. Palacios is a lefty. Valera who is as usual rehabbing his hand is a lefty. Noel is Right Handed, but doesnt' seem anywhere near ready for the majors.
Trades will be necessary and it seems sensible to go that route sooner rather than later.

Zack Meisel
@ZackMeisel
Cleveland pitching prospect Daniel Espino had a recurrence of shoulder soreness/inflammation while ramping back up. He’s been shut down and will visit a doctor in the coming days.

Unfortunately I don't expect to ever see Espino with the Guardians.

More mysterious is George Valera's once-and-future broken hand. Haven't seen a word.

Whatever put Jose Tena on temporarily restricted list has ended; he's been back with Akron although only as DH.

Last year's first draft pick Chad DeLauter, whose physique and skills make me expect a repeat of Brad Zimmer also remains on the injured list with like Valera and Espino a repeat of a season ending injury last year.

If it ever stops raining in northern Ohio, Hentges will pitch one more inning for Akron or Columbus and then return to Cleveland. At which point Tito will announce his pitching changes: either Battenfield or Plesac as the 5th starter pending McKenzie return; whether the other goes to the bullpen or to Co;lumbus; and if both stay in the majors who goes down: Sandlin or Karinchak neither of whom has been very good,
And perhaps in awhile Gaddis returns for his planned role in the bullpen and another failing reliever visits Columbus.

Bye bye Plesac.

If they can figure out a way to convert him into an effective middle reliever, that could be helpful. Sandlin is a questionable long-term fit.
I really would like to see Karinchak join Zach in Columbus; low pressure time to work on his clock management skills could be really useful

Wonder how Plesac will handle the demotion. Maybe a few punches into a cement wall.

He pitched a solid 7 innings, 1 run, complete game. If he work himself into a pitcher reliable enough to pitch a couple innings of middle relief he could find a role back with the big league club. there are a couple bullpen spots that should improved on

Cardinals made the top FA catcher signing: Wilson Contreras; but decide he since he can't really catch, to convert him to a DH.
Guardians made the 3rd or 4th top FA catcher signing: Zunino, who can't catch either. What can they convert him into? Surely no a DH

Oscar beats out Brennan for first trip to Columbus.
Arias who has not demonstrated anything will play some RF vs lefties.
Tyler Freeman who's been on base every game this season in Columbus comes back up. Regarettably he has NOT spent any time in Columbus playing RF.

So we know have 3 utility men: Arias, Fry and Freeman, and Tito has to figure out what to do with them. Since his promotion Fry has mostly sat around and watched

Maybe things are looking up. Won a game with a late ( drum roll, please) HR by an outfielder and our closer didn't blow it.

other game features:

Karinchak only asked to face one man and he got him out
Hentges returned to take care of the 8th.

I finally dared to look at the fielding stats of mikezunino. He has thrown out 4 of 22 basestealers; bad but better than Gallagher 1/9.
He has been charged with 3 passed balls, which is 3 more than Roberto Perez finished some seasons with.
And an astonishing 14 wild pitches have occurred on his watch. Is he unable to bend over? is he unable to stretch? does he forget where he has signaled pitches do be thrown? [1 wild pitch when Gallagher is behind the plate]
I am curious how many earned runs are due to these wild pitches which a major league catcher would have avoided.

Cleveland has bitten the bullet and released complete washout free agent signings from Brady Anderson on through others whose names I have conveniently forgotten. It's time for zunino to get lost.