WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:07.400 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio networking. Guardians Weekly is front 2 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:47.200 to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance. Hi, 3 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:52.679 everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from Progressive Field 4 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:57.840 downtown Cleveland, where the Guardians are hosting the Saint Louis Cardinals this weekend night 5 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:03.439 game Saturday night at seven fifteen Day Baseball on Sunday a one forty first pitch 6 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:07.000 if you want to catch the tail end of the homestand some seats still available, 7 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:11.280 although a very good crowd on Friday night and a big house expected on 8 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:15.439 Saturday as well, and a good crowd on Sunday too, but again still 9 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:18.719 some seats available for the weekend. Coming up in a little bit on our 10 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:23.359 show today, we'll have a weekly farm report from Robs Serfolio, the director 11 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.640 of player Development. He'll focus in on single a Lynchburg. We'll also hear 12 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.640 from starting pitcher Hunter Gaddis, who earned his first Major League win earlier this 13 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:37.159 week, and utility man Gabriel Arias who has come on at the plate playing 14 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:40.840 a variety of positions. But first to look at the week gone by and 15 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:44.560 on Monday, the White Sox were in town. The Guardians looking to get 16 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.879 up to a hot start on the homestand after a difficult road swing, and 17 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:53.239 they got an early defensive boost in the first inning from Mike Sanino. Now 18 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.519 the one oh runner takes off pitch inside Sanino throw to second head, first 19 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.799 slide and he is out at second kind of a delayed call by Chad Fairchild. 20 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:07.400 But Mike Zanino throws out Luis Robert, first time he's been caught stealing 21 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:15.000 this year. Perfect throw buy Zannino and the tag made by the shortstop I'm 22 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:19.120 ed Rosario. Then in the second the Guardians got on the scoreboard with a 23 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:23.560 little help from the White Sox, and the two old pitch to straw off 24 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:28.680 the glove and all the way to the backstop and end the scores. Arius 25 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:34.879 Grandall reached to his right and the pitch went off his glove to the backstop 26 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:39.840 and the Guardians get a gift and they leaded one to nothing here in the 27 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:46.039 second ending, and that is going to be scored a wild pitch. Meanwhile 28 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.879 on the mound for the Guardians, Hunter Gaddis looked as good as we've seen 29 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:54.080 him. The dangerous Luis Robert this is the last guy, kind of like 30 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.919 Pete Alonzo with the mets that you want to see at the plate with a 31 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:05.599 chance to do damn as the set by Hunter Gaddis and the pitch swung on 32 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:10.680 skide in the air right side. Jimenez, the second baseman moving toward first, 33 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:15.840 makes the catch on that sky high pop and Gaddis has worked out of 34 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:21.319 it. Here in the sixth against the top of the order and it stays 35 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:25.280 one nothing Cleveland in the middle of ending number six. The Socks were threatening 36 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:29.599 in the seventh, with a couple of men in scoring position, but Nick 37 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:34.159 Sandlin came on out of the guardian's pen trying to hang onto the lead the 38 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:38.520 one oh. He swings and bloops one of the second basement caught by Jimenez 39 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:44.120 and Sandlin with a jam job to get Burger. It's stretched time at the 40 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:49.360 corner of Carnegian Ontario. Cleveland won Chicago nothing, and then in the bottom 41 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:52.960 of the seventh inning, Mike Sanino stepped in with two outs and a runner 42 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:58.960 aboard. Santos lets it fly and Sanino swings and hits it high and deep 43 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:02.879 to right back Fraser on the track at the wall, he leaves and this 44 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:10.000 ball is gone. Mike Zanino with an opposite field to run a home run 45 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:16.040 to right and the Guardians have a three nothing lead. How good do you 46 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:24.040 think that Jock felt for Mike Zanino in a one for thirty one slide and 47 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:30.399 he stayed on it and drove it the other way out to run home run 48 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:36.199 to right for Mike Zanino In the ninth Emmanuel Class was on and looked like 49 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:41.480 a man on a mission. The next delivery swing in a line shot to 50 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:46.920 center, but right there to make the catches straw ball game, and the 51 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:54.560 Guardians get a shutout and a three hit shutout as Hunter Gaddis pitches his finest 52 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:59.879 game in his young major league career, he gets his first major league win, 53 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:06.240 Emmanuel Class gets his major league leading sixteenth save, and Mike Sennino may 54 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.839 have had a best game as a Guardian, throwing out a runner and hitting 55 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:15.600 a two run a home run tonight in the seventh inning to give Cleveland a 56 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.759 little bit of a cushion, and the Guardians win game one of this homestand 57 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:26.000 three to nothing over the White Socks. Unfortunately, they couldn't carry over that 58 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.959 momentum to the game on Tuesday night a four to two White Sox win, 59 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.160 and the White Sox won the series with a six nothing shutout victory on Wednesday 60 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:39.279 afternoon. Thursday was an off day for the Guardians, and Friday night the 61 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:44.439 Cardinals came to town. Good pitchers duel between Matt Libertore and Shane Bieber as 62 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.519 the game states scoreless through four and a half innings, but in the bottom 63 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:51.839 of the fifth Guardians got it going. With the bases loaded in Stephen Kwan 64 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:56.399 at the plate. It's a payoff pitch and it's on its way. Swung 65 00:05:56.439 --> 00:06:00.720 online, pace hit left field, Y Minns will score. Zannino holds it 66 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:05.240 third, and the Guardians are on the board. On the RBI single from 67 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:12.800 Stephen Quan one nothing Cleveland. I just slapped it past the third baseman Arnado 68 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:18.959 for RBI number fifteen, and with Liberdor allowing a run and in trouble with 69 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:23.759 the bases loaded and nobody out, the Cardinals start to get some activity going 70 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:28.319 in their pen, so they had the one run and the big challenge offensively 71 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:32.920 this season has been putting up crooked numbers in really good scoring opportunities, bases 72 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.519 loaded, still a run in. I'm ed Rosario. At the Platon, 73 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.439 he would take care of business. The pitch to Rosario swung on line drive, 74 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.959 base hit down the left field, line up against the wall, that 75 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:50.800 goes one run is in. Straw has scored. Here comes Quan Rosario's clear 76 00:06:50.920 --> 00:07:00.800 the basses. Three run double four, i'med Rosario and there here's the beginning 77 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:06.519 for the Guardians for nothing Cleveland. Saint Louis got back into it with a 78 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:10.680 run in the sixth and another in the seventh to make it four to two 79 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:15.399 Cleveland, and then some good defense in the eighth kept the Guardians in front. 80 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.519 Now the two one delivery swung on. This is hid in the air 81 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:25.160 the left and deep back his quand track wall jumps. He made the catch, 82 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:31.360 He fell to the track and hung on a quand timed that perfectly, 83 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:36.720 kept going back and just as he got to the wall, he leaped, 84 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:42.639 crashed into the wall, fell to the ground and hung on. Heck of 85 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:48.560 a player by Kwan taking extravases away from Nolan Ronado. Now the one d 86 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:54.360 t Young he chops one towards Shortan Ramiers cuts in front, goes to second 87 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:59.680 one. He man has turns it. How about that posey cut in front 88 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:05.959 of Sario. It's short and that's what enabled Cleveland to turn the double play 89 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:09.879 and Della Santos works out of it and the Guardians stay on top four to 90 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:13.720 two. But the Cardinals kept battling. In the ninth, they scored a 91 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:18.680 run on a Lars Newt Bar double that made it a one run ball game. 92 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.480 But Emmanuel class A dug deep and he found a way to get the 93 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:31.279 job done again the payoff delivery ball, no strike three call, Oh wow, 94 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:39.360 I'll delayed, call buddy Chris Guccioni. Gorman screaming at the whole plate 95 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:46.639 umpire as he was headed to first ball game. Chris Guccioni said, you 96 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:52.559 know what dollar dogs T shirt fireworks. I want to be part of the 97 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:58.120 action. And that's how it ends. Cleveland hangs on to beat Saint Louis 98 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:05.159 Or to three. So the Guardians will try and keep it going on Saturday 99 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:09.600 night against the Cardinals and also on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the Homestead. 100 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.919 Stay with us when we come back. We'll hear from Hunter Gaddison, Gabriel 101 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:20.559 Arius. That's next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. We're recording this 102 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:24.159 Progressive the commercial on a real boat to let people know that when you bundle 103 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:28.759 your whole boat and other vehicles that boat, Progressive saves you money. Jamie, 104 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.519 Why are we doing this on a boat? We were going for authenticity. 105 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:37.720 We're going to the city authenticity You mean Atlantic se who We're not in 106 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:45.360 the Atlantic? Are we bundle your home and other vehicles with Progressive? Progressive 107 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.840 Casualty Insurance company affiliates another insurances come not available in all states or situations. 108 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:07.360 And here's Hunter Gaddis with a career best six innings and county he deals and 109 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:13.440 the pitch head in the air third base side foul Arius has plenty of room. 110 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:18.320 What an inning for Hunter Gaddis, He had an eight pitch ning. 111 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:26.399 Welcome back to Guardians Weekly right here on the Guardians Radio networking. Beautiful weekend 112 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:30.240 here on this Memorial Day weekend, great baseball weather, some good baseball on 113 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:35.279 tap that Progressive field downtown, and some good baseball pitched by Hunter Gaddis. 114 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.360 Earlier this week. He'll start on Sunday. His last start came on Monday, 115 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:43.240 and he was outstanding, notching his first major league win. We caught 116 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:46.000 up with him the next day, and he talked about what it felt like 117 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:50.399 after the final out was recorded and the win was official. I just probably 118 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:52.559 a big small on my face. I mean, just getting that first one 119 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:56.480 on the way felt so good. I mean, my teammates behind me played 120 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.519 a hell of a game, and it was just really good to get that 121 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:01.919 out of the way. You've had some good moments this season, going back 122 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:05.519 to spring training, and some good starts here the first time around. What 123 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.039 was different though last night that really allowed you to see it through deep into 124 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:13.879 the game. I think it just me and Z were able to work together 125 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:16.879 really well, you know, keep the other team really off balance, I 126 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:20.720 mean, try to stay away from hard contact and too many walks or anything 127 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.159 like that, and it paid off. I know, sometimes when you're trying 128 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:30.159 to work multiple different pitches and have them working together, it's difficult. But 129 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:31.720 it seemed like all of your pitches we're working last night. When did you 130 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.919 start to realize that? I mean, honestly, I don't my change help 131 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.879 is you know, usually my best pitching. It really I kept pulling at 132 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.320 glove side, so I mean the slider and the fastball and the cutter we're 133 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.360 filling pretty good. But if I can get all four or five of them, 134 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:50.000 mind up, it's it's really nice day. And you mentioned short notice. 135 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.600 You didn't find out till a little while before that you were going to 136 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:56.799 be pitching yesterday. Can that be a good thing sometimes? Oh definitely. 137 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.879 I mean I'm not thinking about it all week. I'm just thinking about it 138 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.279 there before, So you know, I guess it's better sometimes just to act 139 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.960 quick and so of you know, sit around waiting for it. Hunter. 140 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:11.360 You look at at how you progress this season, and you face a White 141 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.440 Sox team last night that I gave you a hard time last year. But 142 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.200 Carl Willis was saying before the game that the work you put in in the 143 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:20.080 offseason really showed when you showed up the spring training. What were some of 144 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:24.399 the specific things that that you were able to learn from based on last year 145 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:26.879 that I really have taken a hold this season. I mean, i'd say 146 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:31.519 more of the growing was mental side, and you know, kind of feeling 147 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:33.679 like you belong here more, and and then it was just coming down to 148 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.000 consistency with each pitch and being able to put it where I wanted more. 149 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.960 I'm sure it's never easy to go up and back between the major leagues and 150 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:45.200 the minor leagues. But what have you been able to do in that time 151 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:48.240 at Columbus that that's been helpful? Coming back here, it's definitely a stressful 152 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:52.919 moment sometimes, but it's it's good to take a step back and just look 153 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:56.240 at you know what you gotta work on, and then just try to improve 154 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:01.480 every little step you can. All Right, The probably the most important question, 155 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:03.879 where's the hair? What happened to the hair? Why the decision to 156 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:07.879 go with the cut? And how's it working out for you? That's working 157 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.399 out so far. I can't complain. I was just needed a change, 158 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.279 so I can't complain. I kind of miss it, kind of don't. 159 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:18.639 It's a little bit easier, so it is what it is. I guess 160 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:22.120 what did the floor of the barber shop look like when I know it's all 161 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:24.559 done? Oh it was a mess. It looked like a jongle for sure. 162 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.320 And can you share what happened inside once the final out was recorded and 163 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.919 they realized it was your first major league win? Oh? Yeah, I 164 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:35.159 got a really nice cold beer shower, that's for sure. I was freezing 165 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:37.559 all part of a first major league win. And Hunter, thanks for coming 166 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.720 by. Appreciate thank you at starting pitcher Hunter Gaddis, who has gotten another 167 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.480 opportunity here in the major league. Still very young in his career, but 168 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:50.440 he gets that first major league win out of the way. Another young player 169 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:54.960 very early in his major league career is gabriel Arias, a short stop by 170 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:58.480 trade and a very good one. But to get at bats on this club, 171 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.080 he's had to move around a bunch, and that means playing third, 172 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:05.440 second, first base, and also right field. We caught up with him 173 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:11.480 earlier this week with translation help from Augie Rivero, and Gabrielle said, after 174 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:15.840 a slow start, he's been swinging the bat well the last couple of weeks 175 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:22.879 due to a couple of key factors. I think the comfort has come from 176 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.879 not stopping my work and you know, keep my confidence up and I putting 177 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:30.440 my head down, so knowing that my work's going to give their result. 178 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:33.799 I think that's what has enabled me to turn to the thing around. We've 179 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:37.120 seen some really good things each spring training in the last three years. Now. 180 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:41.840 What is so different though about major league pitching during the regular season from 181 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:46.480 what you've seen. That's how it seems like in the season they turned to 182 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:50.720 make all the adjustments, and they worked doing the spring training, you know 183 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:52.399 spring training scenes that they just you know, try to get their pitches in 184 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.799 and they don't care too much of if you get a good ib or the 185 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:58.639 heat of double or triple. So I feel doing the Siasion, they locked 186 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.440 it in and they try to make adjustment to get you out. And even 187 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.759 though you started slow and I know that the playing time was sporadic, it 188 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:09.679 seems like Terry Francona has had unwavering support for you and it believes in what 189 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:16.879 you could be. How important has that been to you? Sorry? Yeah, 190 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.919 super thankful for the opportunity. You know, I just continue being thankful 191 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:22.519 to him for that opportunity in finding ways how to get me in the lightnup. 192 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:24.559 But for me, most importantly should not to take the foot of the 193 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.600 gas. You know, I got to keep the intensity to keep the work 194 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:30.600 because the moment you didn't, you distract yourself. You're not in the lineup 195 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.639 anymore. So I'm super thankful for the opportunity, but I know I gotta 196 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.200 keep working. Gabrielle, You're a short stop, but you played everywhere, 197 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:41.279 it seems except catching um on this year's team. And how long has it 198 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:46.799 taken you to to get comfortable at different spots aside from your normal position. 199 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.279 I think it comes out to the confidence of myself, and I think that 200 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.799 confidence come from all the goals that I set up myself during the year to 201 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.879 be able to be here and help the team. And I think, you 202 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:00.039 know, playing short stuff that he is in theory one of them difficult positions. 203 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:03.720 In a way, it enables you to to be able to play the 204 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:07.159 other positions. So I think in the outfield and most difficult thing or the 205 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.960 line right that comes right at you. So luckily they haven't hit anything like 206 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.279 that, I mean yet, But all than that, I feel like I've 207 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.960 been able to just put my confidence in what I'm doing and trying to help 208 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:22.480 it him. So how many gloves are you carrying right now? I always 209 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.480 bring the three gloves with me to the dog out like the infielder the first 210 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:27.399 base on the outfielder, because as you're seeing, there are times that I 211 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.799 start in one position and in the other, or maybe I'm not playing, 212 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:33.360 and later in the game I end up in a different position. So I 213 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:36.440 always bring those three gloves with me, and you do get that chance every 214 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:38.480 now and again to play shortstop. We see the big arm and a good 215 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:41.320 range. How much do you enjoy that? Part of it being being able 216 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.799 to play there every now and again? Who knows down the line, but 217 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:51.759 at least for now every once in a while, super contentable. I mean, 218 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.919 in reality, I'm just really happy every time I get that chance to 219 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:56.799 play that position. That's my natural position, what the one that I enjoy 220 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:59.440 kind of like the most in a way. So I'm really thankful every time 221 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:02.120 they consider me to play charts. So but I don't know what the future 222 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.400 holds for for me or for whoever's going to hold up position, But I'm 223 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:07.880 really excorry every time I get the chance will play charts stuff and team wise, 224 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:11.599 I know it's been a struggle to get consistent in terms of wins and 225 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:15.960 losses. What are you seeing though? That's encouraging that that could lead to 226 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:22.839 some good stretches here soon. I think we talked about that at the clubhouse. 227 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.079 Use the keys to stay possive if you're a kid, keep doing our 228 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.720 thing and stay positive, because this is baseball. You're gonna get the bad 229 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:32.039 strange, but also the good ones, and then we're gonna keep remaining positive 230 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:34.640 for someonever the good positive straights come, We're able to be ready for that. 231 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:37.960 Gabrielle Grassi. Yes, thank you, Algie, thank you, thank 232 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:42.240 you ys. That's Gabriel Arius, along with translation help from Aggie Rivero, 233 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:47.799 and certainly he seems poised to really see his major league career take off. 234 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.599 Stay tuned a lot more to come after this. The Wind and Pitch Swan 235 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:00.640 Gang grounded a short easy play for Arius. It's just fun. You want 236 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.759 to stop talking and watch him throw the ball. Gabriel Arius showing off that 237 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:11.960 cannon arm. I mean that ball has sets life to it and he gets 238 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:32.640 there in a hurry. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with 239 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:37.920 you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland in the Minor Leagues. Single A Lynchburg 240 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:44.279 is the first full season affiliate of minor league Baseball in the Guardians farm system. 241 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:48.279 Rob Sorfolio is the director of player development for Cleveland and we caught up 242 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.880 with him earlier this week and he talked about some of the challenges players face 243 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:57.759 in that first full season of professional baseball. Yeah, it's it is such 244 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:06.680 a unique level with players really getting their first taste at what affiliate baseball on 245 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.960 the pro on the pro side looks like. So, you know, you 246 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:14.599 look at the composition of our team, we have a lot of young players 247 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.000 who I think, you know Rosa. We talked about this a lot. 248 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:22.079 We're young nearly every level, but particularly at this spot. A ton of 249 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:27.680 guys making their their debuts at the affiliate level. So whether it was players 250 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:33.119 that we've signed internationally the last couple of years that have played in the DSL 251 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:37.319 and have played rookie ball, or if it's some of the guys we took 252 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:41.759 from last year's draft class that are kind of really getting their first taste of 253 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:47.480 consistent game action as a pro. So you have all these different these different 254 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.519 backgrounds coming together, but the one commonality between all of them is they don't 255 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:55.480 have a ton of games under their belt. So this level just is such 256 00:19:55.519 --> 00:20:00.720 a unique and cool learning level for the entire group, and you get to 257 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:06.319 see guys under the constraints that is a full season in minor league baseball and 258 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.640 some of the pressures that come with that, some of just the adjustment to 259 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:14.279 the lifestyle with travel and six games series. So it ends up being a 260 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:18.039 really informative season for a lot of these guys to get that first year of 261 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:22.799 experience under their belt and to really learn what it's like to be a professional 262 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:27.319 play every day, go through that grind physically, mentally, and so you 263 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:30.240 know, it's a it's a level where we like to have a lot of 264 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:34.279 our coordinators and traveling staff in there to support these young guys as they're riding 265 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:38.640 that first roller coaster trip and our staff as well. You know, we 266 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:41.640 have we have a handful of young staff in there. So it's a it's 267 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:45.000 a unique level that presents a lot of cool challenges for us, and we 268 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.160 will circle back later in the season when they have a hundred games under their 269 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:52.960 belting and are in uncharted waters to see how that's going. You mentioned staff 270 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:57.440 wise, Jordan smith Is was an outfielder that what used to see in spring 271 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:02.400 training as he was knocking on the door of the major leagues as a player 272 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.599 and now in player development. And how's he faring in his first full season 273 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:10.200 assignment as a manager. Yeah, you know, we're lucky to have Smitty 274 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.839 and on our team. And you know he got his first repp it at 275 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:17.680 the manager job last year. You know, just like we talked about with 276 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:21.319 this player group he was. He was with a lot of them in Arizona 277 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:26.200 last year as part of our rookie ball group and made the transition to getting 278 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:29.440 his first taste now as a manager. And I think his experience as a 279 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:33.319 player is a huge competitive advantage, not only for him, but just for 280 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:38.160 our organization. That he has lived the life, knows what to expect, 281 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:42.519 can foresee some of the challenges, and now he's getting a chance to lead 282 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:47.759 a group of staffs as well as the players. So you know, he's 283 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.279 a like I said, we're lucky to have him in our squad just from 284 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:53.000 his knowledge of the game, his experience as a player, and I know 285 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:56.359 he's really enjoyed getting his hands dirty with these young guys. Out of the 286 00:21:56.400 --> 00:22:00.640 gate, we're joined by rap Sorfolio talking single a Lynchburg. Let's get to 287 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:06.680 some players now, and we'll start on the position player's side. And you 288 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:12.920 have a position player Garrett Lipscomb. Lipscomb who looks like an on base machine. 289 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:18.680 Yeah, fellowship on what he's been doing to really have some good success. 290 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:22.119 Yeah. So guy Lipscomb, outfielder that we took last year out of 291 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:27.880 Belmont University in the Tennessee area, and he can really run. We're talking 292 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:32.519 about a good athlete here. I think he's top five and maybe all of 293 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.559 baseball or at least leading that league in stolen bases. A guy that can 294 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:41.160 really swing it from the left side, lawn a line, drives good contact 295 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:45.400 skills, knows the zone. You know, it's been exciting for us to 296 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.720 see him. He wasn't in game action last year coming out of the draft, 297 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:52.839 so this is really the first, the first time we've seen him, 298 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:56.279 you know, in extended game outings over one hundred and fifty plate appearances and 299 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:59.039 and he's really held his own out of the gate planning, you know, 300 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:03.200 a pretty good center field defense and bouncing around, playing all over the place, 301 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:06.039 and you know, doing some of the things that we expected to see 302 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:08.119 at him from the draft last year. And when you talk about on base, 303 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:11.960 maybe no one better right now than Nate Ferman, not only at Lynchburg 304 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:18.079 but or a system. Yes, that is correct, So tell us about 305 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:22.799 Nate and what he's done to really put his name on the map. Yes, 306 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:26.039 you know, somewhat similar to guy and you just look at their overall 307 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.160 profile, like again, it really knows the strike zone, just top level 308 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:34.440 back to ball skills. I think he's you know, really near the top 309 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.640 of the ranks, you know, putting up some some Will Brennan Stephen Kuan 310 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:42.559 type strikeout rates and just a guy that hits a ton of line drives and 311 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:47.039 puts the ball in play at productive angles. So you know, for him, 312 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.799 he's a little bit of a smaller guy, plays second base on the 313 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:52.839 infield, we're exposing him the third a little bit, trying to make sure 314 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.960 that he has some versatility to to really impact the lineup on defense. And 315 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:02.160 then you know, of course trying to amplify what he does well and move 316 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.359 the needle on some of the areas of the game on the impact quality side 317 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:07.039 of things that you know, we want to see him grow over time. 318 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:11.039 So you know, he is an incredible worker, great teammate, you know, 319 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:15.960 really kind of embodies a lot of just the grit principles that we like 320 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:18.000 to talk about here from an on and off field side of things. And 321 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:22.240 it's been fun to watch Nate go out there and you know, really kind 322 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:26.720 of tear up a lot of the Carolina League so far. And let's stay 323 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:30.400 on the position player front. Willie an Tuniez looks like he's off to a 324 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:33.559 nice start, and what's he doing so far? He is you know, 325 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:37.920 this is a young kid that he got a little taste of Lynchburg last year 326 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:42.720 at the end of the season, performed really well in Arizona rookie ball for 327 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:48.000 US, so we wanted to get him some exposure to that level at the 328 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:51.200 end of last season, and he kind of picked right up where he left 329 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.319 off. You know, this is a guy that can hit the ball for 330 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:56.680 some power impacts the baseball. You know, can play all over the place 331 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:02.640 in the outfield, primarily center fuel right fielder, but can run. So 332 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.240 you know, this is an exciting young guy that you know, maybe it's 333 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:07.000 a little under the radar, you know, given a lot of the prospects 334 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:11.480 we have in our organization, but he does a lot of things well for 335 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:15.680 a for a twenty one year old on offense, and he just kind of 336 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.599 continues to get better and better and learn what it's like to be a professional. 337 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:23.079 Like we talked about at the beginning of just the ebbs and the flows 338 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:26.559 on the performance side of things. You know, how to keep your body 339 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:33.359 healthy and still improving physically. You know that that first opportunity to both play 340 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:37.880 five six games a week but also continue to work on your body and get 341 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:41.839 stronger, as has been a really good experience for him so far. And 342 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:45.720 we'll head to the pitching side. And before we get into specific players or 343 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:49.640 pitchers who are rolling right now, rob I know, gosh, pitching, 344 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:55.920 it seems so dependent on injuries for players to make progress, and it's a 345 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:59.119 fact of life with pitchers, you're gonna have them. It seems like the 346 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:02.880 buggist Lynchburg pretty hard here early, Yeah, a little bit. And you 347 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:06.279 know, this is uh what we try and avoid to the best of our 348 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.960 ability every year, and you know, I think we've done a pretty good 349 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:14.039 job of that in general. But you know, unfortunate to lose a couple 350 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:18.000 of guys from last year's draft class that you know, we were expecting to 351 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:22.640 go out there and and get a taste of full season baseball, and you 352 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:26.480 know, hopefully we were expecting them to perform pretty well as well. So 353 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:30.240 you know, that always hurts, losing two talented guys like Justin Campbell, 354 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:33.480 Dylan de Lusia, a couple of college arms that we thought could be in 355 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:38.400 that starting rotation coming into spring training and have. Unfortunately both of them kind 356 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:41.599 of run into a little bit of the injury bug and you know, as 357 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:45.880 a result haven't had a chance yet to get out there and showcase what they 358 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:49.000 can do. U. But I know, you know, I'd put our 359 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:52.160 medical group up against any other group in baseball, and you know they're going 360 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:56.480 to have those guys, those guys ready as their bodies, you know, 361 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:59.880 willing and able to get them back out there and handle some some competition. 362 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:03.799 So, you know, two guys that were continued to be excited about having 363 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:07.119 in our organization and you know, maybe just soft an unfortunate start, but 364 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:11.160 you know, we certainly haven't haven't given up any hope with what those guys 365 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.240 can do and can be in the future. A pitcher who is off to 366 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:18.200 a good start and healthy is Parker Messic, a lefty out of Florida State, 367 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:22.920 And gosh, Robert sounds like he fits that profile that we've seen have 368 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:26.640 good success all the way up into the major leagues. And that's a good 369 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:30.559 college pitcher who throws strikes. And what are you seeing from him so far? 370 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:33.400 Yeah, we you know, we hope. So to your point, 371 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:38.240 this is a guy that really was pretty dominant at the college level and obviously 372 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:44.200 a good school, good conference in Florida State, and really fills up the 373 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:47.119 zone, knows how to pitch, has a little bit of moxie, just 374 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:51.880 hard worker. Has really improved physically since we got him. You know, 375 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.240 last year out of the draft, I think he threw like close to one 376 00:27:56.279 --> 00:28:00.400 hundred and thirty innings. You need to cross check me on my member there, 377 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:03.759 but you know, you stack up what he did in college relative to 378 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.119 some of our other starters in the minor leagues, like he would have thrown 379 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:12.160 more innings than most of our guys across pro Ballum. So we wanted to 380 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:15.920 be really smart about him and we got him make sure physically he had some 381 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:22.720 time to recover and put his best foot forward coming into this year. Um, 382 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:25.759 and you know, credits to Parker. He worked his tail off in 383 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:30.960 the off season, really attacked some of the physical objectives we outlined for him 384 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:34.359 through through the draft process and just getting to know him early last fall and 385 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:38.440 came into spring training in great shape. Um. You know, he's really 386 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:44.960 attacked the zone and just knows how to pitch like in inside, outside, 387 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:48.319 up down, like he can he can really locate all of his stuff and 388 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.240 and as a result, I think, you know, he's been able to 389 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:52.559 get off to a good start here with the Hillcats, and you know, 390 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:56.839 a guy that we're hoping to continue to push even further and you know, 391 00:28:56.920 --> 00:29:00.440 kind of help refine some of his stuff and and just continue to uptake just 392 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:03.880 his overall quality of what he can do. In the book, I'll Rob 393 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:08.160 good stuff on the update from Lynchburg, the Hillcats in the Single A Carolina 394 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:11.240 League, and we'll catch up with you soon. Thanks. Sounds like a 395 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:15.640 player, Rosie, Thanks for having me. That's Rob ster Folio, the 396 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:19.240 director of player development for the Guardians, talking Single A Lynchburg, the very 397 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:25.359 bottom of the minor league ladder in terms of full season affiliates. And again 398 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.720 we'll circle pack with Rob later in the season and see how some of those 399 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:33.000 young players are faring holding up to the day to day that is professional baseball. 400 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:37.200 Stay with us. We'll have our final segment after this time out on 401 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:42.000 the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio network. At Progressive. We know how much you 402 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:45.720 love your recreational vehicle, so we decided to record this commercial in an RV 403 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:49.359 with a family on vacation. Mom, who are these people? Oh, 404 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:52.440 that's Clo and Jamie. They're recording a commercial, Sweetie. Don't they do 405 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.400 that in the studio normally, But we wanted to feature a family who bundled 406 00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:00.359 their home in RV and saved with Progressive. Yeah, it looks like you're 407 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:03.079 all out of chips. Okay, I think we'll just drop you off at 408 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:07.920 the next gas station. Bundle your home and other vehicles with Progressive. Progressive 409 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:11.359 Cancualty Insurance Company affiliates another insurvers he's going to available in all states or situations. 410 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:23.119 Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you as we join 411 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:27.279 you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Thanks so much for joining us this 412 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:32.759 week and a regular guest on our show. We always enjoy these Senior Vice 413 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:37.400 President Bob de Biasio and his features at the ballpark and here it is another 414 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:45.200 edition of Bobby D at the Ballpark. The perfectly manicured field, the unmistakable 415 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:51.720 room of a ballpark, hot doctor, and the electricity celebrating another victory. 416 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:59.000 This is at the Ballpark with Bobby D. The ballpark is home to many 417 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:03.680 stories, the memorable moments, and colorful personalities. Joining me now, at 418 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:08.480 the ballpark is thirty year veteran of the organization, a man behind the scenes, 419 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:15.880 Frank Mancini who has spent those three decades working in the clubhouse closely with 420 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:21.160 our players. Frank, thanks for joining me. Babby d thanks for having 421 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:23.359 me. This is an incredible honor anything has to do with the Tribe or 422 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:26.759 the Guardians, especially coming from you because you're the senior member here. It 423 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:30.720 is an honor for me. Thank you, Thank you. We're gonna talk 424 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:36.720 two things inside the clubhouse. Baseballs and bats my favorite things. Let's talk 425 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:41.039 baseball's first. All I saw you do this spring training was rubbed down baseballs 426 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:47.039 with a special mud that is provided by Major League Baseball. How your hands 427 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:49.160 feeling. I make sure I use gloves when I'm doing it because it takes 428 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:52.279 forever to get that out of her underneath your nails and the cracks of your 429 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:56.359 hands. Now, my hands are fine. How many dozen did you rub 430 00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:59.720 up? I usually did two cases a day, so let's see, there 431 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:04.079 is seventy two balls in a case, about one hundred and forty four a 432 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:07.680 day just for spring training. And how many weeks? Well, I would 433 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.400 do it every day. We had fifteen games so I try to get thirty 434 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:13.400 cases done for spring every year. I do it in spring training, and 435 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:17.359 that's strictly to get the sheen off the ball to make the ball little tackier 436 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:21.000 for the guys to grip. Otherwise they have a hard time gripping, especially 437 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:24.279 on breaking pitches. The most important aspect, though, is twenty twenty. 438 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:29.279 You were in charge of rubbing up the balls and we had a certain pitcher 439 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.880 when the Cy Young Award, so he was tossing the baseballs that you played 440 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:36.720 around with. Yeah, that was my one claim to fame, I guess 441 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:39.319 is that the one year they asked me to assist in the umpire's room, 442 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:43.440 and because I'd done the spring training baseball for so many years, they asked 443 00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:46.279 me if i'd do it for the regular season and during COVID they needed someone 444 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:49.880 to do it, so I volunteered to do it. And yeah, I 445 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:53.839 was doing sometimes three cases a day because umpires or quirky pitchers will be throwing 446 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:58.119 balls out left and right. The bat boy had to use gloves on his 447 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:01.200 hands, so that at to the workload. And yeah, my claim to 448 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:05.839 fame is the one year I did it. Shane Bieber won the sighing awards. 449 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:08.359 So I've got that to put on my tombstone someday. Well, congratulations, 450 00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:12.480 thank you for doing that, and I'm sure Shane thanked you as well. 451 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:17.640 Now let's shift to bats. Players treat their bats like they are absolute 452 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:22.559 treasure. Still do. It's changed over the years. Some of it is 453 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:27.240 just out of the differences and bats depending on the field. Oh, there's 454 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:30.599 guys are looking for an edge. So yeah, there's there's multiple ways that 455 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:32.359 it's changed. I could speak for hours on it, but we don't have 456 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:36.680 a few minutes. Yeah, I'll start. I was just on the phone 457 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:40.200 about a week ago with Rocky Colavito. Always a treat to a bunch a 458 00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:45.519 chat with Rocky, and and he told me a story about how he cared 459 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:51.079 for his bats when he was with the Indianapolis Indians and Triple A and they 460 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:54.240 would go to Louisville. He'd always stop in the Louisville Slugger factory, and 461 00:33:54.319 --> 00:34:00.880 that there was an Italian man craftsman yes on the lay making bats, and 462 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:05.759 he would make Rockies bats and he wanted wide grain bats. So when he 463 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:09.920 would send the dozen, especially when he made it to the Cleveland and in 464 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:15.400 the equipment room at Cleveland Stadium. It was a cement floor, so he 465 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:20.280 would hold out his bat holding the handle with the barrel closer to the floor, 466 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:24.960 and he would drop it. According to the sound of the bat hitting 467 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:30.440 the cement and how high it bounced determined whether that was a gamer or not. 468 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:37.920 So power hitters easily treated their bats with so much care and pride. 469 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:42.440 Tell me about Albert bell Well, I mean, he's a guy again. 470 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:46.119 To me, it's a lot of power hitters who treated their Jimmy Tommy treated 471 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:52.000 their bats with special care, no question about it. Albert was the most 472 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.199 particular of all, I mean each guy. Where there was Kenny Lofton, 473 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:58.880 who wanted his handle a particular way so it was easy for him to flick 474 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:01.000 his wrists because he was more a slap hitter. Jim told me who had 475 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:06.320 our former trainer, Jimmy Warfield, after he got nailed in the hand one 476 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:08.599 time on a pitch, he created this spongey grip for him at the end, 477 00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:13.199 was kind of like a triangle that allowed Jimmy, even after his wrist 478 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:16.000 healed up, to grip the bat securely and he just took off home run 479 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:19.960 wise after that and then there was Albert. Albert and I would play golf 480 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:22.800 together, and one time he got from Louisville slugger bats that the handles were 481 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:25.360 too thick. He said, Frank, you do me a favor and shave 482 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:28.880 this down a little bit. So I spent a few minutes shaving it down. 483 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:31.239 He went out and destroyed the ball, and he goes, Frank, 484 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:34.280 well, I felt great. Why do you think that was? I said, 485 00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:36.679 well, you and I go golfing together. You see with a thin 486 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:38.920 handle the whip that you get, so it only makes sense and on a 487 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:43.119 bat, the same thing's going to happen. He goes, yeah, shaving 488 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:45.840 down some more. Well, that was the year he hit fifty home runs. 489 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:49.280 So I would shave it down and it would take me two to three 490 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:52.199 hours per bat to get per bat. And what would you shave it with? 491 00:35:53.039 --> 00:36:00.559 Sandpaper? And these wood craftsmen tools that had steel blade at the end. 492 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:02.159 That I would just do it patiently because I didn't want to lose the 493 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:07.440 roundness of the bat. And then he liked his handle where when he gripped 494 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:09.280 the bat at the end, it was firm and secure, so he got 495 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:14.239 more leverage where other guys like I said with Kenny, he had no knob 496 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:16.440 on it. Well, Albert wanted that to stick knob. But I would 497 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:21.280 shave his bat so thin that they would be the same thickness as a golf 498 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:24.880 club. I've never seen another player like that ever. Did he ever crack 499 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:31.679 a story? Yeah? One time he got upset, so he threw his 500 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:35.119 bat. He put a big knick in the bat. He says, fronk'n 501 00:36:35.239 --> 00:36:37.440 get this knick out quick. Well, I only had three innings to get 502 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:39.440 it done, so I'm shaving. I'm shaving. I got the knick out 503 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:42.679 as best as I could. Well, in the middle of his swing, 504 00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:47.119 he's about to launch one, the bat went keeled over on you could even 505 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:50.840 complete the swing. So that's the only time I'd ever happened. Yeah, 506 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:52.400 and I'm sure he took it well. He did not take it well. 507 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:55.280 I gotta blamed for that one. Well. I can't thank you enough for 508 00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:59.840 all the hard work you've put into an honor sir. Here's hoping you and 509 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:05.039 joined today's visit with Frank Mancini. We look forward to sharing more stories at 510 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:12.880 the ballpark on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. That's Bobby d. At 511 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:15.920 the ballpark. And that's going to do it for this edition of Guardians Weekly. 512 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:20.159 Thanks as always to Brian Matsey for helping to put together our show each 513 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:23.480 week until next time when we join you from Minneapolis the Guardians on the Road 514 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:29.960 next weekend. This is Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that human listening to Guardians Weekly 515 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:37.559 on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has been brought to you 516 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:42.400 by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance