Cleveland Sports Forum

Once again, the Marvelous Mr. Meisel writes great articles.

Thanks again to the guys that post them.

MLB.com rating the all stars 1-50. No. 1 suprise is Ohtani.
Then Acuna, Betts Freeman Soto Seager Cole Arraez Carroll

10. José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
The very definition of underrated, I’ve long believed we’d talk about Ramírez as much as he deserves to be talked about one day. The ever-consistent slugger has 14 homers and 53 RBIs through 84 games.

A six-tool player? That's exactly how to describe Ramírez
1:15 PM EDT
Mandy Bell

José Ramírez had just spent a random day in early June challenging people to Mario Kart. He was trash talking anyone in sight -- clubhouse attendants, teammates, coaches or media members. And just a few hours later, Ramírez took the field and hit three home runs against the Red Sox in a 10-3 victory.

The next day, his teammate Triston McKenzie was being asked about Ramírez’s fun, laid-back, jovial personality in the clubhouse and couldn’t keep the grin off his face. When McKenzie was asked for the best way to describe Ramírez, he simply said: “Perennial superstar.”


Superstars come in all shapes and sizes. Ramírez isn’t built like 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge. He has a very different skill set than two-way player Shohei Ohtani. He didn’t come up and shock the baseball world with his overwhelming talent and speed like Elly De La Cruz has. Yet year after year, he’s become a lock for the All-Star Game and he’s always at the top of the leaderboard in nearly every offensive category.

Ramírez is undoubtedly a five-tool player, demonstrating his elite ability in hitting for average, hitting for power, as a defender, with his arm strength and his speed. And if you ask his coaches and teammates, he’s unlocked a secret sixth tool. Ramírez will have a chance to show off all of his talents at the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Tuesday.

“He is one of the very best players in the game,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said, “and the more people to know it, not the better for Josey, but the more fair it is [to him] because that’s how good he is.”

Ramírez may be one of the most underrated players who consistently finds his way to the Midsummer Classic. Let’s take a closer look at why he’s a six-tool player.

Hitting for average and power
Ramírez usually floats between a .270 and .280 average every season. It’s not at the top of the leaderboards, but his consistency over his 11-year career is what’s key. And when he delivers hits, they’re usually timely. In his career up until Friday, he’s owned a .302 average with a .923 OPS in high-leverage situations. Plus, his strikeout rate this season was the lowest in the AL (9.7%) when he found out he was an All-Star on Sunday.

When it comes to power, he ranked fifth in RBIs (675), 12th in slugging percentage (.526) and tied for 14th in homers (198) from 2016 through Friday among all Major Leaguers. He also owns the third-highest fWAR in that span (42.9), trailing just Mookie Betts and Mike Trout.

“You expect something good to happen every time he comes to the plate,” Guardians assistant hitting coach Victor Rodríguez said. “Because even if he doesn’t hit it, you know he will do something to impact that game.”

Defense and arm strength
The only thing missing from Ramírez’s sparkling résumé is a Gold Glove. This season, he’s ranked in the 96th percentile in outs above average. Over the last few years, he’s put an emphasis on his defense, trying to prove he’s also one of the best defenders in the game.

“I think it’s one of his most underappreciated parts of his game,” Guardians starter Cal Quantrill said last year. “But that’s only because he’s doing everything else so well.”

Speed
Ramírez has never ranked higher than the 83rd percentile in sprint speed in any season of his career. He’s averaged around the 70th percentile. But he exhibits a high intelligence on the bases, knowing when to go first to third or when to swipe the extra bag. He put it on full display last week in Kansas City when he stole home in the 10th inning to give the Guardians a lead.

“Josey is the prototypical like pull the cape off and go,” Francona said. “He’s fearless. But he’s also extremely intelligent.”

The sixth tool
If you listen to Francona talk about Ramírez even just for a matter of seconds, you’ll hear him reference Ramírez’s clock. It’s his innate ability to know exactly what to do at the right time. Like the time in 2021 when a rundown between first and second led to him ending up on third base because no one was covering the bag.

This is the tool that makes all the other aspects of his game better. It’s what makes him different from all the other players in Major League Baseball.

“He’ll surprise you with his talent,” Rodríguez said. “Things that he does that you don’t teach. You cannot teach. It’s just natural. Instinct. That’s what he is.”

You are welcome seagull and I always know rusty has my back!

Guardians All-Star José Ramírez and the art of stealing home: ‘It has to be perfect’ KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 29: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians steals home plate and scores the go ahead run past the tag from Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals during the tenth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel
5h ago



CLEVELAND — “No, never,” Steven Kwan started, before he paused, tilted his head and scanned his memory bank to confirm if he had ever witnessed a player stealing home. He reached his conclusion.

“Literally never,” Kwan said.

José Ramírez altered what his teammates believed was possible to observe at a ballpark. The Guardians’ boldest base runner had authored his magnum opus: a two-out, two-strike, go-ahead, rubbing-the-eyes-to-make-sure-it-was-real steal of home.

And the opposing manager, the Royals’ Matt Quatraro, had a hunch it was coming.

Quatraro worked with Ramírez for four years as Cleveland’s assistant hitting coach. He later worked on Tampa Bay’s coaching staff and had a front-row seat to Randy Arozarena stealing home during one of his October masterclasses. He’s no stranger to Ramírez’s conquests on the basepaths, and he recalled how Ramírez converted a bloop to left field into a 270-foot scamper that positioned the Guardians to score a critical run in Game 2 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium last fall.

“That was something that, as coaches,” Quatraro said, “we were like, ‘We need to save this to show to our guys.’”

So 12 days ago, when Ramírez lingered down the line and Aroldis Chapman came set, Quatraro had an inkling Ramírez might bolt for the plate, a perilous choice only someone with his credentials and courage could entertain. Quatraro thought Ramírez, a five-time All-Star and baserunning savant, was just audacious enough to try it.

There’s nothing like it in baseball. A straight steal of home is infrequent like a no-hitter and thrilling like a walk-off. To steal home requires a perfect confluence of events. It requires a blend of precision, impudence and conviction.

“Or else being smart enough to know that if you’re out by six steps,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said, “somebody’s not going to be happy.”

Ramírez was retreating to the bag after Chapman’s 0-2 pitch to Cleveland second baseman Andrés Giménez in the top of the 10th inning on June 29 in Kansas City. As he passed Mike Sarbaugh, after kicking around the idea during the previous at-bat, Ramírez discreetly said to the Guardians’ third-base coach: “I’m thinking about stealing home.” Sarbaugh quickly, nonchalantly replied: “Go for it.”

That was it. The more discussion, the more attention they would garner.

“It wasn’t even really a conversation,” Sarbaugh said.

And it had to be the runner who sparked it.

“A guy has to have that instinct,” Sarbaugh said. “(I can’t) go approach someone. They have to be thinking ahead.”

They can’t devote a split-second to considering how such a risky action could go awry, either. There are potholes at every turn: an injury, a third strike, a swing, a step-off and throw. Any sliver of hesitation can derail the entire plan.

Who would even think about volunteering for such an assignment?

“José. He has a lot of crazy thoughts,” teammate Myles Straw said.

Sarbaugh: “That’s what makes him who he is.”

Outfielder Will Brennan: “You have to be a little bit out of your mind.”

Outfielder Steven Kwan: “Almost a little bit ignorant. So much belief in yourself, like, ‘It doesn’t matter. I have this idea and I’m just gonna do it.’”

Catcher Cam Gallagher: “Fearlessness.”

Sarbaugh: “Daringness, especially with two strikes.”

Francona: “José is the prototypical kind of ‘pull the cape off and go’ (runner). He’s fearless, but he’s also extremely intelligent. When we talk to our guys, we always talk about being aggressive and being intelligent. He’s the best example of that.”

Sarbaugh isn’t sure who else could execute such a maneuver, but he wishes he could have seen Rajai Davis try. Davis had stealing second or third down to a science, from the cadence of his steps in attaining a lead to his hand placement as he awaited the pitcher’s delivery. He never pulled off a straight steal of home, though.
José Ramírez was unsuccessful in his attempt to steal home on Sept. 18, 2020, against the Tigers. (Raj Mehta / USA Today)

The former Cleveland outfielder led the American League with 43 steals (in 49 attempts) in 2016, as he approached his 36th birthday. Davis estimated he could steal 75 or 80 bases — “with my eyes closed” — with the new rules MLB implemented that limit pickoff attempts.

“You don’t see many players who, everybody in the ballpark knows you’re trying to steal a base,” Sarbaugh said. “The pitcher knows it. Everybody knows it. And you can steal a bag. It’s rare. That’s what Rajai did.”

For Ramírez, on the other hand, it was imperative against Kansas City that nobody suspected he would actually take off.

Quatraro: “He didn’t overtly (telegraph it).”

Sarbaugh: “The element of surprise.”

Ramírez: “Nobody knew. I just did it myself.”

With two strikes, Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia backed off from the bag, so Ramírez had more freedom to inch down the line. But to even consider such a brash move, he needed a handful of variables to fall into place.

First, he said, in a 2-2 game in the top of the 10th, knowing the Royals would begin the bottom of the inning with a runner at second, he thought it was pivotal the Guardians push across a run. With two outs and a left-handed hitter facing a left-handed pitcher — whose fastball topped out at 101.7 mph that afternoon — Ramírez figured a dash to the plate might be the best chance for Cleveland to grab the lead.

He had the right pitcher on the mound (well, the right pitcher was a left-handed pitcher, who had his back turned to third base). Chapman leaned on a deliberate motion, too.

“He was out of the stretch,” Sarbaugh said, “but he did a little extra-high leg kick.”

He had the right hitter at the plate in Giménez, a lefty, who could see Ramírez darting toward the plate and opt not to swing. Chapman threw the perfect pitch: a 97.5 mph heater level with Giménez’s eyebrows that forced Royals catcher Salvador Perez to reach in the opposite direction from where he could tag Ramírez. It was the only ball of the seven-pitch at-bat.

“If the pitch is down, where José is,” Sarbaugh said, “it could have turned out differently.”

Above all else, Ramírez was equipped with elite base-running instincts, plus just enough athleticism to not only dash down the line, but creatively wiggle around Perez’s glove as he lunged toward home, body extended, helmet dislodged, hand brushing the top-right corner of the plate.

Pitcher Shane Bieber: “His baseball mind is next-level.”

Gallagher: “His mind is insane.”

Assistant coach J.T. Maguire: “He knew he was going to be safe. He trusted his instincts.”

Ramírez was initially ruled out, but he popped to his feet and immediately waved his right index finger to urge acting manager DeMarlo Hale to challenge the call.

“You knew he was safe, just by his reaction,” Gallagher said.

The call was overturned. Ramírez executed baseball’s most daring play to perfection, the first straight steal of home by a Cleveland player in four years (and only the second since 2005).

“I’m glad it worked from the standpoint of showing our guys, not only our base runners, but our defenders,” Quatraro said, “if you see something, be proactive.”

Some players noted they’ve mulled the opportunity when a catcher lazily returns the ball to the pitcher. In fact, Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz completed a stolen-base cycle of sorts in that fashion over the weekend.

“If you get a catcher who’s lolly-popping it back and the third baseman is way off,” Brennan said, “you have a chance.”

But on an actual pitch, by a guy throwing heat? That’s a different dimension.

Brennan: “I’ll wait for some tenure before I’m allowed to do that.”

Straw: “It has to be perfect.”

Pitcher Tanner Bibee: “There are so many factors to it.”

Brennan: “I was on deck. I was just trying to get my timing down and he just takes off. (Giggles) Coolest thing ever.”

Bibee: “Everyone was looking around, like, ‘Oh. My. God.’”

Bieber: “A steal of home is the top of the top. It’s rare, ballsy, aggressive.”

Kwan: “That was freakin’ unbelievable. It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen on the field.”

Guardians’ first half in review: The positives that could propel them after the break Jul 7, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Aaron Civale (43) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
2h ago



CLEVELAND — The first half was full of injuries, hitting outages, puzzling playing-time decisions, regression, blown leads and AL Central roasting.

This space, though? This is the Cleveland Guardians of Eden. This is where cynicism goes to perish. This is where we acknowledge the fruitful developments from the Guardians’ first half.

No negativity, for once. No mention of the team’s alarming lack of power or Triston McKenzie’s balky elbow or Emmanuel Clase’s blown saves total. Only the positives here. Consider it a palate cleanser before the second half begins.
The return of The Chemist

Ah, you forgot about that nickname, didn’t you? I haven’t heard anyone refer to Aaron Civale as The Chemist in a long time. In fact, I’m not sure I ever really heard it in casual conversation.

Hey, The Chemist, are you heading out to throw your bullpen? I’ll walk with you.

Hey, The Chemist, you’re going to start the first game in Texas after the All-Star break.

Hey, The Chemist, is there any short rib left from the postgame spread?

It … doesn’t really flow. But a couple of years ago, that was Civale’s alias, bestowed upon him because of the way he mixed his six pitches, with a nod to his passion for science and engineering.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Rise of The Chemist: How soft-spoken Aaron Civale remade himself and started making noise in the Indians rotation

Finally healthy, Civale is back in the lab every five days, cultivating his next quality start. He possesses one of the sport’s most lethal curveballs (.140 opponent average, low average exit velocity) and his cutter has been effective, too. He’s done a good job of limiting hard contact. Add it all up and he owns a 2.56 ERA in nine starts, with a 1.06 WHIP that would rank just outside the top 10 in baseball if he had enough outings to qualify. The Guardians need Civale to chew up a lot of innings down the stretch, starting Friday in Arlington.
Josh Naylor, certified middle-of-the-order fixture
Josh Naylor drives in a run last week against the Royals. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)

There was a time, long, long ago, when brachiosauruses craned their necks to snatch leaves from the tops of the tallest trees to munch on. Way back then, in a bygone era, circa early May 2023, the prevailing narrative — one supported by a few partial seasons’ worth of stats — suggested Josh Naylor stood no chance when batting against a lefty.

He started 0-for-17 against southpaws this season. But then Naylor head-butted the baseball overlords. Since, he’s 20-for-59 against lefties (.339 average) and, overall, his .752 OPS against lefties has allowed manager Terry Francona to Sharpie his name into the No. 4 spot in the order daily, regardless of the opposing pitcher’s handedness.

The most impressive part: Naylor’s strikeout rate against lefties is a mere 12.7 percent. Only 11 hitters in the majors have a better overall strikeout rate. In all, Naylor is enjoying a breakout season (.305/.344/.481 slash line), hitting for some power, making a ton of contact and providing José Ramírez protection.

He loathes talking about himself and acknowledging the strides he’s made, so let’s turn to his younger brother for input.

“It’s easy for me to say because that’s the hitter I’ve known all my life,” Bo Naylor said. “We’re seeing him become the person I’ve always known he could be. It’s nice that everyone else gets to see it.”
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Guardians slugger Josh Naylor's process — and patience — pays off
The kids look the part
Tanner Bibee has a 3.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 70 innings. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)

In his second big-league start, Tanner Bibee opposed Gerrit Cole at Yankee Stadium. In his fifth big-league start, Bibee opposed Max Scherzer at Citi Field. He has pitched at Wrigley Field. He’s faced the division-rival Twins in their building. He’s outmatched Shohei Ohtani into an 0-for-3 showing with two strikeouts.

Nothing has seemed too imposing for Cleveland’s rookie hurler. He’s had occasional command issues, but he appears poised to be a steady force in the Guardians rotation for a long time.

Bibee’s earned run totals in his 13 starts: 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6.

Logan Allen and Gavin Williams look like they belong, too. Allen could rejoin the rotation as soon as next week following a short stint with Triple-A Columbus. The team is closely monitoring the workloads of all three rookies, but that’s a concern for another column.

Cleveland’s rotation is undergoing a transformation. The new wave has arrived, and is off to an encouraging start.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Tanner Bibee's rapid rise to the Guardians' starting rotation
José Ramírez’s well-rounded game

It took a three-homer performance against the Red Sox to really ignite him, but Ramírez is piecing together another prototypical Ramírez season. We’ve read this script before, and the closing scene involves his name in the MVP discussion. (Though, this year, everyone in the American League is battling for second, behind Ohtani.)

Ramírez is one of five qualified hitters in the league with more walks than strikeouts, joining Luis Arraez, Will Smith, Juan Soto and Alex Bregman. He has played proficient defense at third base. He has once again run the bases like a wizard. (Who else would even think about stealing home in extra innings?) He has hit for average and power and he earned his way to Seattle for his fifth All-Star Game.

For those with the benefit of watching Ramírez’s exploits on a daily basis, know that Ohtani — whose two-way prowess makes him MLB’s most prized attraction — is envious.

The middlemen behind the scenes

This is not the time to rant about your lack of trust in Clase or Trevor Stephan, or about James Karinchak’s banishment to Columbus. Instead, take a peek at what those reliable middle-innings options have produced.

Eli Morgan? A 1.89 ERA, with 10 walks and 38 strikeouts in 38 innings. He ranks in the 96th percentile in opponent chase rate and the 95th percentile in average exit velocity, as his slider has become just as devastating as his stellar changeup.

Xzavion Curry? Just as everyone predicted when he was left off the Opening Day roster and then added at the last minute when McKenzie went down, Curry has saved Cleveland’s staff on countless occasions. He boasts a 3.11 ERA over 46 1/3 innings, and Francona gushes about him constantly. He’s had one-inning appearances. He’s had stints of four and five innings.

Enyel De Los Santos? He’s had one outing — one — in which he allowed more than one earned run. Remove that nightmarish evening against the Red Sox and his ERA sits at 1.49. Add it back in and his ERA is still only 2.48. Opponents are hitting .111 with a .185 slugging percentage against his slider, which carries a whiff rate of 39.0 percent.

Nick Sandlin? Since the start of May, Sandlin has logged a 1.16 ERA, with more than a strikeout per inning and an opponent slash line of .133/.195/.213. Lefties are 2-for-30 against him this season and, really, righties haven’t fared a whole lot better.
The golden gloves remain golden

The defense, in most spots, has been exemplary. Mike Zunino was a wreck behind the plate. (Hey! No negativity!) Amed Rosario has been about what you’d expect from a team’s third- or fourth-best defensive shortstop. (Enough!) But Ramírez, Andrés Giménez, Steven Kwan and Will Brennan have starred. Myles Straw’s metrics aren’t what they were last year, but my contact lens-corrected, astigmatism-afflicted eye test hasn’t noticed any dip in performance. Cam Gallagher has been great at catcher. Aside from one forgettable inning at Wrigley Field, Josh Naylor has done a nice job at first base.

There’s no better example of the Guardians’ standout defense than their masterful, run-saving, lead-preserving relay last Saturday against the Royals. Francona said it might have been the best he’s ever seen — a seamless, bare-handed snag by Straw, who completed a perfect throw to Giménez, who fired a dart to Bo Naylor. Straw demonstrated awareness of the runner and the situation. He knew which way the ball would carom and the best way to retrieve it. He knew where to throw it without taking time to scan the field for Giménez.

“That was the most critical part,” Bo Naylor said. “Getting it and getting it out early.”

Giménez was in the proper place to grab Straw’s throw, rotate and make an accurate throw to the plate, where Naylor applied the tag (and did so without blocking the runner’s lane). It was straight out of a Tom Emanski video.

“Home plate never moves,” Straw said, “so just spin, throw, you know Giménez is gonna be in the right spot. Giménez does his job all the time. … Try to get the ball to the middle infield and let them do the rest.”

Yes, there are reasons to be optimistic. And of course being in the Central Division helps just a bit

Terry Pluto musing about the X Man

CLEVELAND, Ohio – When you think of rookie Guardians pitchers, his name doesn’t immediately come to mind.
He’s not Gavin Williams. Or Tanner Bibee. Or Logan Allen.

He’s nobody’s phenom.

Only two Division I college baseball scholarship offers. One was Georgia Tech, where he pitched for three years.
A seventh-round draft pick. His name never appeared on the hot prospects list after he signed with Cleveland in 2019.

That said, if you have a single drop of underdog blood in your veins, you’re going to love Xzavion Curry. He is the team’s long reliever with a solid 3-0 record and 3.11 ERA.
The other? “South Carolina Upstate,” he said. I had to look that one up – it’s located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

A seventh-round draft pick. His name never appeared on the hot prospects list after he signed with Cleveland in 2019.
That said, if you have a single drop of underdog blood in your veins, you’re going to love Xzavion Curry. He is the team’s long reliever with a solid 3-0 record and 3.11 ERA.

“He is an easy kid to root for,” said manager Terry Francona. “And he’s an easy kid to like.”

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY

Curry’s father is Reginald Curry, a former college football player at South Carolina State and Clemson. He has been the athletic director at Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta since 2000. When Curry was younger, he’d sell concessions during some games at his father’s school. He’d also help dad cleanup afterward.
His mother is Tinika Freeman, who owns her own business planning parties and events.

“My parents and my faith shaped me,” said Curry. “I learned how to handle stress from them. I try to stay in the mindset of gratitude regardless of how my day is going.”

Curry had a 3.8 grade point average at Atlanta’s Mays High School. He played quarterback for two years, then concentrated fully on baseball. He set school records for home runs and wins as a pitcher. n 2016, Perfect Game/Rawlings named him a third-team high school All-American baseball player.

REMEMBER DANNY HALL?

In terms of preparing for a college baseball career, it seemed Curry did everything right. Only few were paying attention. Despite all that, big schools weren’t interested – that is, until Danny Hall came along. Perhaps you know the name. He was the head baseball coach at Kent State from 1988-93. Since then, he’s been at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Hall decided to give hometown kid Cur ry a chance. He had the grades. He had the character. He had the athleticism, coming to Georgia Tech as a pitcher who also could play the infield. He didn’t have the size the pros and top colleges craved for a right-handed pitcher. Curry is generously listed at 6-foot. Nor did he have the fastball that lit up the radar gun and the eyes of scouts.

When Curry arrived at the Atlantic Coast Conference school, Hall quickly dismissed the idea of the young man playing the field. Curry had a fastball in the low 90s. More importantly, he had control.

Curry said he’s always been accurate, be it as a quarterback or pitcher. Hall named Curry to start the opening game in 2017, the first freshman to do that for the Yellow Jackets since 1995. In three collegiate seasons, Curry had an 18-10 record and 4.53 ERA. He was 4-2 with a 4.08 ERA as a junior before missing the last half of the season with inflammation in his shoulder. As the 2019 MLB draft approached, scouts showed a mild interest in him.

WHAT THE SCOUTS SAID

Here was Baseball America’s scouting report on Curry as the draft approached:

“Curry is undersized for a right-hander and isn’t overpowering. His fastball sits in the low 90s, reaching 96 mph, but it plays up thanks to its shape and spin rate. He locates the pitch exceptionally well and can generate swings and misses with it. He relies heavily on his fastball, but also mixes in two breaking balls and a changeup. His slider has above-average potential and is his best secondary offering but it needs to be more consistent. Curry’s whole arsenal plays up thanks to his plus control.”

Cleveland had reports just like that. The Guardians love college pitchers with at least an average fastball and superb control. They grabbed him in the second round.

This from MLB.com:

“Curry might be more of a relief pitcher in the pros, but he’s part of the starting rotation for a Georgia Tech team that earned a No. 3 national seed and an NCAA Regional host bid. In his 11 games this season, the 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander has 66 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings with a 4.08 ERA. Pitching out of a high arm slot, Curry throws a 92-94 mph fastball with good life and mixes in breaking balls. He could work on improving his delivery.”

Curry was the No. 220 selection in that 2019 draft. The big news for Cleveland was first-rounder Daniel Espino, a high school pitcher with a 100 mph fastball and a sizzling breaking ball. But Espino is out all season with shoulder problems. From that 2019 draft, the only Cleveland players on the roster are Curry and Will Brennan, who was picked in the eighth round.

Here’s what Curry told cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes about the day he was drafted:

“I was in my dorm room at Georgia Tech playing FIFA (a video soccer game) on my PlayStation. At that time, I had hurt my right shoulder and I didn’t know how the draft would go. ... I’m playing FIFA and my agent at the time calls and said, ‘Hey, Cleveland is going to take you with the next pick. Do you want to take it?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course.’ "

HE JUST WANTED A CHANCE

Curry signed for $125,000. He had a 3.0 GPA in business administration at Georgia Tech. He is a year away from his degree.

He sat out 2019 resting his sore shoulder. Then the pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season. His pro career didn’t begin until 2021, and he rocketed through the minors. Curry pitched only 219 innings (striking out 257) in the farm system, compiling a 17-5 record and 3.28 ERA.

Curry pitched two games with Cleveland in 2022. In spring training, he was expected to go back to the minors. He’d thrown only 53 innings in Class AAA.
When Triston McKenzie injured his arm, Curry made the team as a reliever. It was a new role for him.

“He’s a very mature, athletic young pitcher,” said Francona. “He’s a quick study. He throws strikes. He doesn’t beat himself. He can pitch multiple innings. It’s a tough role for a kid, and he’s handled it.” The 24-year-old Curry has embraced whatever Francona has asked him to do.

“I want to pitch,” he said. “I want to play baseball. My dream is to play at this level. I don’t care what the role is. My parents instilled hard work in me and don’t expect anything to be given to you. It’s how they carry themselves and it’s how I want to be.”

Guardians' Shane Bieber to miss next start with forearm issues
Associated Press
Jul 14, 2023, 07:39 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber will skip his scheduled start on Monday because of a right forearm issue, manager Terry Francona said Friday before the Guardians faced the Texas Rangers.

"About the last month, his forearm's been kind of irritable," Francona said of the 28-year-old two-time All-Star. "We thought he was trending in the right direction. About three starts there, we kept him to about 80 pitches. But the last couple, he wasn't real comfortable with the way he's been bouncing back.

"So. we got him an MRI today, and we're trying to have him see [Rangers orthopedist Keith] Meister at some point tomorrow."

Bieber is 5-6 with a 3.77 ERA and had made 19 starts entering Friday, which was tied for the major league lead. He's 0-3 in his last five outings.

Bieber's salary this season is $10.01 million.

Guardians’ Shane Bieber to miss start after elbow/forearm MRI: What this means ahead of trade deadline

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) delivers a pitch to the plate during the first inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians on June 6, 2023, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel
1h ago
7

Save Article
Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber was set to be one of MLB’s most popular trade candidates this summer, but those talks might have to be tabled. Bieber underwent an MRI on his right elbow and forearm on Friday and will miss at least his next start, which was scheduled for Monday in Pittsburgh. Here’s what you need to know:

Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, has a 3.77 ERA in 19 starts this season.
He has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five outings, not topping the 100-pitch mark in any of those starts.
Bieber has had an especially difficult time the deeper he pitches in games this season, an issue that hadn’t plagued him in previous years. Hitters have posted a .939 OPS against him when facing him for a third time.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:

How injuries have reshaped Cleveland’s rotation
A week before Opening Day, the Guardians penciled in Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac as their starting staff. Only Plesac has remained healthy, but he’s spent the last two and a half months in the minors, and the club jettisoned him off the 40-man roster in early June.

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McKenzie missed the first two months with a strain in the back of his shoulder. He returned to make two starts, but now he’s recovering from an elbow sprain, and he’s attempting to circumvent Tommy John surgery, which would all but eliminate his 2024 season.

Shoulder inflammation has sent Quantrill to the injured list for the second time since the start of June. He has a 6.45 ERA in 13 starts, and opponents are hitting .301 against him. Civale has been the team’s steadiest starter (2.56 ERA), but an oblique strain wiped out most of his April and all of his May.

Logan Allen will assume Quantrill’s spot in the rotation during the Pittsburgh series early next week. The club will either need to summon another new face to fill in for Bieber, or opt for a bullpen day. The Guardians are closely monitoring the innings counts for Allen and fellow rookies Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams.

The latter two are scheduled to pitch this weekend in Texas.

What this means ahead of the trade deadline
Bieber is under team control through the 2024 season. He’s earning $10.01 million this season, and his salary figures to increase next year via arbitration.

Cleveland has a recent history of dealing starting pitchers on a similar timeline. They traded Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger between July 2019 and August 2020, all for returns that brought back immediate, major-league help. (And, in the case of Bauer and Clevinger, prospects, too.)

The Guardians and Bieber have been unable to gain much traction during contract negotiations in recent years, and with Cleveland’s offense ranking last in the majors in home runs — they’ve hit 18 fewer homers than any other team — and 27th in runs, a swap of Bieber for an established hitter makes sense.

Of course, now everything hinges on his health. Bieber also missed two months in 2021 because of a shoulder strain. His average fastball velocity has dipped nearly 3 mph since the 2020 campaign.

Interesting issue.....If'n he has TJ Surgery he will be out the balance of this year and all next year. What does that mean for his contract status?

Bieber now on the IL. Which if we're lucky means he misses just one start.
Kelly up again: and this time he got into a game, before he goes back down when Allen is recalled for Tuesday start. Or maybe this time Kelly hangs around and Cody 3HR Morris heads to Columbus

Guardians’ Terry Francona says news on Shane Bieber’s elbow is “really encouraging”
Published: Jul. 16, 2023, 6:13 p.m.
Cleveland Guardians vs. Milwaukee Brewers, June 23, 2023
Guardians manager Terry Francona and right-hander Shane Bieber.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

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By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
ARLINGTON -- Manager Terry Francona told reporters Sunday after the Guardians painful 6-5 loss to the Rangers that the news was “really encouraging” regarding Shane Bieber’s sore right elbow.

Bieber was examined by Dr. Keith Meister during Sunday’s game at Globe Life Field. The former Cy Young winner has been experiencing pain in the elbow for about three weeks and was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday after being scratched from Monday’s start against the Pirates.

Where Shane Bieber’s injury leaves the Guardians ahead of the MLB trade deadline

Jul 9, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) and catcher Cam Gallagher (35) look to the scoreboard during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
4h ago


PITTSBURGH — The Guardians were bound to trade Shane Bieber to bolster their lineup, or bound to clutch onto their ace and task him with guiding their rookie-filled rotation toward a postseason spot.

Instead, amid a season that has continuously veered off trail, a complicated situation with two, clear paths has evolved into an even more complex labyrinth.

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This should shut the door on a Bieber trade. If rival teams were already frightened about his diminished velocity, his lack of reliance on his once-devastating curveball, the mass quantities of hard contact he’s allowed or his struggles the third time through the order, they certainly won’t be overpaying for a guy who is now sidelined with elbow inflammation. Meeting the Guardians’ trade demands is often a trying assignment as it is. Now, there’s injury risk to consider.

On the other hand, there should be a dozen or so pitching-thirsty teams jockeying for playoff positioning, and it only requires one to submit an offer Cleveland’s front office finds reasonable.

But … it’s an elbow injury. For a pitcher. That’s like a middle finger injury for someone with road rage. Bieber will be shut down for two weeks. That usually means at least another two weeks to ramp back up. Cleveland traded Mike Clevinger to San Diego in August 2020. He made four starts for the Padres that summer and zero the next. Cleveland traded Corey Kluber to the Rangers in December 2019. He logged one inning for Texas, suffered an injury, and then became a free agent. Buyer beware.

On the other hand, Bieber would need to pass a physical anyway, and if another team is confident in those results, they would control Bieber for the 2024 season, too. And maybe the elbow inflammation explains some of his recent struggles, or his troubles the third time through the order, or his pitch usage. He’s been somewhat cryptic when discussing these topics this season, instead saying he’s always working through some things.

If the Guardians are confident in his health, shouldn’t they just hang onto him instead of selling low, which is almost never their M.O.? They could let him rebuild his trade value, revisit this in the winter and, in the meantime, attempt to have him anchor the rotation in late August and September. Maybe his return would spark a run to a division title, with 81 wins or so. (Do you raise a banner for that?)

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On the other hand, what’s the outlook for this club anyway? That’s the question that should drive all decision-making over the next couple of weeks.

Just look at the state of the rotation. A few days before the season, the Guardians planned for a starting staff of Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac. Then, McKenzie suffered a strain in the back of his shoulder, Civale strained his oblique, Plesac was banished to Columbus, Quantrill battled shoulder inflammation, McKenzie returned for two starts and then felt discomfort in his elbow (which he’s trying to rehab the non-Tommy-John-surgery way), Quantrill came back for two starts and then returned to the injured list and now Bieber is hurt, too. [Grabs a sip of water.] Civale is the only original starter still standing, but he’s had a Ross-and-Rachel-type relationship with the injured list the last two years, including a two-month stint this season.

It’s Civale, a couple of impressive rookies and a spot reserved for a bullpen day, an almost comical sequence of events after the club’s relievers wilted in the Texas heat over the weekend. Logan Allen, another rookie, will rejoin the fray on Tuesday. The Guardians have been monitoring the workloads of Allen, Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, another factor to consider when pondering the team’s course of action at the trade deadline.

It’s somewhat fitting, in this directionless mess of a season, that Bieber is both the club’s best trade chip and someone the club desperately needs at the moment — and, instead, he’s on the shelf, which solves neither side of the dilemma.

As for the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Guardians don’t have much to sell, in the traditional sense, unless another team wants a couple months of Amed Rosario. If they can’t flip Bieber for some offensive help, they could attempt to swing the trade that has eluded them for several years now: prospects for an established hitter or two. They still have a middle-infield logjam, with Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias eroding on the bench, Brayan Rocchio waiting in line at Triple A, Juan Brito excelling at Double A and Angel Martinez and Jose Tena also occupying 40-man roster spots.

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News bulletin: The Guardians’ lineup lacks thump. They whiffed on the signing of Mike Zunino and they fouled a fastball back to the screen with the addition of Josh Bell. They traded away Nolan Jones and Will Benson, a couple of rookie outfielders with pop. Cleveland’s outfielders have accounted for 13 home runs this season, less than half of any other team’s outfield power output. Steven Kwan’s bullpen-clearing leadoff homer on Sunday afternoon momentarily disrupted the space-time continuum.

Outfield help is both a short- and long-term need. There’s no benefit in resisting another chance for Oscar Gonzalez at this point. George Valera could help down the line if he can stay on the field and demonstrate some consistency, but that’s not worth banking on quite yet.

As one industry source said, the Guardians’ situation would be much simpler if the AL Central were respectable. If they were 10 games out of a playoff spot, they could gear every decision toward fielding a legitimate contender — not just an AL Central contender-by-default outfit — in 2024.

On the other hand, that still might be the prudent course of action: surveying the updated Bieber trade market, targeting outfielders under team control beyond this season, packaging some prospects and learning as much as possible about the club’s youngest, big-league talent. Given the sorry state of the AL Central, maybe that route somehow winds up on the doorstep of another division title, with a more promising 2024 within reach.

Where Shane Bieber’s injury leaves the Guardians ahead of the MLB trade deadline Jul 9, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) and catcher Cam Gallagher (35) look to the scoreboard during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
4h ago

PITTSBURGH — The Guardians were bound to trade Shane Bieber to bolster their lineup, or bound to clutch onto their ace and task him with guiding their rookie-filled rotation toward a postseason spot.

Instead, amid a season that has continuously veered off trail, a complicated situation with two, clear paths has evolved into an even more complex labyrinth.

This should shut the door on a Bieber trade. If rival teams were already frightened about his diminished velocity, his lack of reliance on his once-devastating curveball, the mass quantities of hard contact he’s allowed or his struggles the third time through the order, they certainly won’t be overpaying for a guy who is now sidelined with elbow inflammation. Meeting the Guardians’ trade demands is often a trying assignment as it is. Now, there’s injury risk to consider.

On the other hand, there should be a dozen or so pitching-thirsty teams jockeying for playoff positioning, and it only requires one to submit an offer Cleveland’s front office finds reasonable.

But … it’s an elbow injury. For a pitcher. That’s like a middle finger injury for someone with road rage. Bieber will be shut down for two weeks. That usually means at least another two weeks to ramp back up. Cleveland traded Mike Clevinger to San Diego in August 2020. He made four starts for the Padres that summer and zero the next. Cleveland traded Corey Kluber to the Rangers in December 2019. He logged one inning for Texas, suffered an injury, and then became a free agent. Buyer beware.

On the other hand, Bieber would need to pass a physical anyway, and if another team is confident in those results, they would control Bieber for the 2024 season, too. And maybe the elbow inflammation explains some of his recent struggles, or his troubles the third time through the order, or his pitch usage. He’s been somewhat cryptic when discussing these topics this season, instead saying he’s always working through some things.

If the Guardians are confident in his health, shouldn’t they just hang onto him instead of selling low, which is almost never their M.O.? They could let him rebuild his trade value, revisit this in the winter and, in the meantime, attempt to have him anchor the rotation in late August and September. Maybe his return would spark a run to a division title, with 81 wins or so. (Do you raise a banner for that?)

On the other hand, what’s the outlook for this club anyway? That’s the question that should drive all decision-making over the next couple of weeks.

Just look at the state of the rotation. A few days before the season, the Guardians planned for a starting staff of Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac. Then, McKenzie suffered a strain in the back of his shoulder, Civale strained his oblique, Plesac was banished to Columbus, Quantrill battled shoulder inflammation, McKenzie returned for two starts and then felt discomfort in his elbow (which he’s trying to rehab the non-Tommy-John-surgery way), Quantrill came back for two starts and then returned to the injured list and now Bieber is hurt, too. [Grabs a sip of water.] Civale is the only original starter still standing, but he’s had a Ross-and-Rachel-type relationship with the injured list the last two years, including a two-month stint this season.

It’s Civale, a couple of impressive rookies and a spot reserved for a bullpen day, an almost comical sequence of events after the club’s relievers wilted in the Texas heat over the weekend. Logan Allen, another rookie, will rejoin the fray on Tuesday. The Guardians have been monitoring the workloads of Allen, Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, another factor to consider when pondering the team’s course of action at the trade deadline.

It’s somewhat fitting, in this directionless mess of a season, that Bieber is both the club’s best trade chip and someone the club desperately needs at the moment — and, instead, he’s on the shelf, which solves neither side of the dilemma.

As for the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Guardians don’t have much to sell, in the traditional sense, unless another team wants a couple months of Amed Rosario. If they can’t flip Bieber for some offensive help, they could attempt to swing the trade that has eluded them for several years now: prospects for an established hitter or two. They still have a middle-infield logjam, with Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias eroding on the bench, Brayan Rocchio waiting in line at Triple A, Juan Brito excelling at Double A and Angel Martinez and Jose Tena also occupying 40-man roster spots.

News bulletin: The Guardians’ lineup lacks thump. They whiffed on the signing of Mike Zunino and they fouled a fastball back to the screen with the addition of Josh Bell. They traded away Nolan Jones and Will Benson, a couple of rookie outfielders with pop. Cleveland’s outfielders have accounted for 13 home runs this season, less than half of any other team’s outfield power output. Steven Kwan’s bullpen-clearing leadoff homer on Sunday afternoon momentarily disrupted the space-time continuum.

Outfield help is both a short- and long-term need. There’s no benefit in resisting another chance for Oscar Gonzalez at this point. George Valera could help down the line if he can stay on the field and demonstrate some consistency, but that’s not worth banking on quite yet.

As one industry source said, the Guardians’ situation would be much simpler if the AL Central were respectable. If they were 10 games out of a playoff spot, they could gear every decision toward fielding a legitimate contender — not just an AL Central contender-by-default outfit — in 2024.

On the other hand, that still might be the prudent course of action: surveying the updated Bieber trade market, targeting outfielders under team control beyond this season, packaging some prospects and learning as much as possible about the club’s youngest, big-league talent. Given the sorry state of the AL Central, maybe that route somehow winds up on the doorstep of another division title, with a more promising 2024 within reach.

Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
·
21h
to be fair told there are differing opinions currently on players such as Gonzalez and etc... and if they can help they current roster. It's not so cut and dry.


Rusty 2 says that Oscar is done with this team.

Rusty 2 thinks the problem is Tito. Tito was a journey man player. He loves players like Straw ,Gallagher, Rosario, Fry and Brennen. Guys that are gritty hustle players. Tito does not like players that have talent ( Oscar, Arias) but do not work hard every day to maximize their talent. Anyone that does not think that Tito makes every decision regarding the talent on the field is wrong. Only thing that makes sense about these decisions.