WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:07.919 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio network. Guardians Weekly is brought 2 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:51.039 to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance. Hi, 3 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.840 everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you this weekend as 4 00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:00.719 we join you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. A packed show for you 5 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.519 today, Stay with us. The second half of our show, we had 6 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:07.640 a chance to visit with Stephen Kuan and talk to him about another goal Glove 7 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:11.519 award is second in two major league seasons. Always fun to be joined by 8 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:15.959 Steven Kuan, and we'll also visit with Matt Foreman, the assistant general manager 9 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.959 for the Cleveland Guardians, and we'll take a deeper dive into the managerial hiring 10 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:25.519 process, something that hasn't happened very often in recent hears for the Guardians as 11 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:30.000 they had that long stretch of eleven seasons under manager Terry Franconas. So some 12 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:34.319 good stuff coming up in the second half of our show. We'll take a 13 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.319 time out, and when we come back, we'll talk about a busy week 14 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:41.159 on the transaction front. And here's some of the comments of President and Baseball 15 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:46.319 Operations Chris Antonetti as well. That's coming up on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio 16 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:52.239 Network. Progressive. We love sports and saving your money, so we'd bundled 17 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:55.359 them together. Two seconds left on the clock, third field goal range, 18 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.200 and it looks like he's going to go with a five yron. No wait, 19 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:01.159 the quarterback is skating back on the ice. He's talking with his caddy. 20 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:05.640 They're pulling the goalie. He skates off the fairway. Has to Ketcher 21 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:09.520 lives off his button right away. They've bugled their home and auto with charts 22 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:15.199 with Progressive touchdown savings verting goal for brisk Kesh ten Jerms Company affiliates and other 23 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:30.879 injuris just count not available in all stateser situations. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. 24 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:36.960 Jim Rosenhaus back with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Busy week 25 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:42.319 on the roster construction front for the Guardians as a couple of deadlines have come 26 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:46.599 and gone. Tuesday, teams had to set their forty man rosters for protection 27 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:52.280 from the Rule five draft coming up at the winter meetings, so they wanted 28 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.039 to make sure that the proper moves were in place, and for the Guardians, 29 00:02:55.159 --> 00:03:00.000 a surprising day. To many, they added to the forty man ross 30 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:04.680 a couple of young pitchers that they're very high on. Right handed Daniel Espino, 31 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:07.199 a former top prospect, still is, but he's been hurt for the 32 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.479 better part of a season and a half now, so really hasn't had a 33 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.039 chance to show what he can do since the early stages of the twenty twenty 34 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:19.560 two season when he was pitching at Double A Acron. And they've also added 35 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.000 relief pitcher Kate Smith, who we saw in Major League campus season ago had 36 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:29.439 a very strong year this past season between High A Lake County and Double A 37 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:32.439 Akron. He is really on the radar as a back end reliever with some 38 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:38.000 good stuff for World Baseball Classic. Member for Team Canada, so some good 39 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.960 stuff there from Kate Smith. But to make room for those two arms, 40 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:46.159 they designated for assignment reliever Michael Kelly, who we saw a little bit during 41 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:51.599 the season last year. But the shaker to many was the designation for assignment 42 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:57.280 of right handed pitcher Cal Quantrell had a fifteen win campaign in twenty twenty two, 43 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:01.159 but shoulders injuries really set him back a year ago and it just wasn't 44 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:05.719 the season that he had hoped for, and he was designated for assignment on 45 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:11.319 Tuesday and then traded to the Rockies on Friday. More on that in a 46 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:15.240 little bit, but first some of the comments from Chris Antonetti on the cal 47 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:18.720 Quadrille situation and the other roster moves that were made to set the forty man 48 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:25.160 roster. We have a great deal of appreciation for all of Cal's contributions to 49 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:29.879 our team over the past handful of years and how hard he's worked. But 50 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:34.279 ultimately, you know, we made the determination that you with where we were 51 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:38.759 in the off season, we wouldn't be able to commit the resources necessary to 52 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:44.199 keep him through the arbitration process. So once we did that, we made 53 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:46.839 the Once we made that determination, we made the decision yesterday. Rather than 54 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:54.399 losing another player and designating another player to create room for the two players we 55 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.920 added, we made the determination and designate Cal a couple of days early. 56 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:04.800 What's your prognosis. I'm he's about six months post stop right now. He's 57 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:12.560 doing a flyball program right now, and hopefully he'll progress the throwing here at 58 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.839 some point soon and then build up build up from there. We don't have 59 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:20.800 a clear time frame yet though, so Chris by resources. I assume you 60 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:28.279 mean financial, and then what does that suggest about the payroll or the rest 61 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:32.439 of the winter and your means to make external additions. Yeah, I think 62 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.519 we'll stay engaged with cal Zach, but we have to make the determination. 63 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.680 Obviously, we look at what the arbitration projections are and what the expected contributions 64 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.720 might be for that salary, and we made the determination and in our context, 65 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:49.160 we were better off allocating those dollars in a different way. And so 66 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.360 you know, if if we don't trade call the next couple of days and 67 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:57.000 he's a free agent, we'll stay engaged with him and certainly wouldn't rule out 68 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:00.160 him returning to us, it just wouldn't be through the arbitration process. Chris, 69 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:06.720 did you know the uncertainty with Bally's sports TV contract? Did that play 70 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:11.759 into this at all? Paul, We've touched on that before. We don't 71 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.839 yet have clarity on that other than there's financial uncertainty. So that makes things 72 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:20.040 a bit harder to plan. It's difficult to plan in a normal year at 73 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:24.000 this point in the offseason, as we're still trying to wrap our arms around 74 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:29.240 what our revenues might be. The Ballet's component adds more uncertainty, and that 75 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:31.639 certainly makes it harder. Chris, where do you feel like you're at starting 76 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:36.120 pitching depth wise? I know you had to dig pretty deep into that last 77 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:40.879 season. Is that an area you feel confident in or that you need to 78 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:44.000 address? I think we'll always be looking to add depth there, Zach. 79 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.079 I think we do feel good about the group we have returning in some of 80 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:53.120 the upper level options in our farm system, but I do think that's a 81 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.439 place that we will look to add depth if possible as we as we move 82 00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.240 into the winter. I think we use four teams starting pitchers last year and 83 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:03.439 right now, I'm not sure I could give you who are twelve, thirteenth 84 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:09.240 and fourteenth starting pitcher would be so to the extent we can add depth there, 85 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:13.399 we certainly will, but I don't think that's a typical for really any 86 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:15.839 team at this time of year. I'm guessing most teams are probably in a 87 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:20.759 position where they're looking to add a one through five starter or multiple one through 88 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:25.199 five starters. Thankfully, we feel really good about the group we have in 89 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.439 place there, and we just need to make sure we're building depth beneath death 90 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.920 Chris, would it be easier to trade Quantrill now or I'm sure you must 91 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:38.199 have tried to move him before, you know, set and a roster. 92 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:43.040 Yeah, we've had We've been engaged with teams in trade conversations. Ultimate Ultimately, 93 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:45.800 we haven't been able to find that right partner yet, but the next 94 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:48.120 couple of days we'll continue to give us opportunities to do that. Do you 95 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:53.399 have any updates on the coaching staff. We are working through that now. 96 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:58.319 Actually, Stephen has been in town this week and we've been working with him 97 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:01.480 and trying to complete that. Our hope is that by the time we break 98 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:07.040 for Thanksgiving we'll be able to announce our coaching staff in full. It's a 99 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:09.360 lot to get done in the next few days, but we're hopeful we'll be 100 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:15.959 able to do that. Does this change your approach with Shane Bieber? I 101 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.040 mean, do you look at him more as you know kind of you're still 102 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:24.720 your number one starter? I mean going you know, do you project him 103 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.439 like, you know, start opening the season with you guys? Yeah, 104 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.200 I'm not. I'm not sure there's any connection between the two. Paul. 105 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:37.200 We had to make a decision on cal We're excited to continue to have Shane 106 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:41.799 Lee our rotation moving forward, and we're really encouraged by the fact that he 107 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.120 came back and made a couple of starts at the end of the year and 108 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:46.919 look pretty good. And he's had a really productive offseason so far, and 109 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:52.600 it's setting a great foundation to have a really successful twenty twenty four. Chris, 110 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.039 what were the reports on Kate Smith's from last year. Yeah, Kid's 111 00:08:56.200 --> 00:09:01.320 been exciting to see his continued progress. You got an exposure last year in 112 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:05.799 the WBC for Team Canada and and when the season and put together a really 113 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.279 good year in Triple A for US. Really, he's a big, physical 114 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:16.120 right hander with a fastball that that really plays and his secondary stuff both is 115 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:20.639 split and slider. You know, made some strides this year, and you 116 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:24.679 know, we believe that he's he can be a really effective major league labor 117 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:28.200 for US and then in the not too distant future, Chris, Kyle Manzardo 118 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:35.639 uh named to the first team All Fall League and slugged over you know, 119 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:41.279 five twenty for them out there. Just anything you can say about his improvement 120 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.559 in terms of his power numbers. I would actually highlight both Kyle and Chase 121 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.919 the latter had an outstand had outstanding fall leagues. You know, we partnered 122 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:54.240 with them too with some specific goals for them to work on while they were 123 00:09:54.279 --> 00:10:00.759 out there, and both of them did a really extraordinary job and that and 124 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.960 I think with Kyle we saw some of the top end exsit velocities. He's 125 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:07.480 hit some balls a long way out there, which was really encouraging to see. 126 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:11.840 And I think he's now back fully healthy and can go into the offseason 127 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:15.639 preparing for spring training. But he finished up the season really really well. 128 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.919 Not included in those stats I think are the three I think he had three 129 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:24.159 homers in the postseason there and really so I don't think even his final numbers 130 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:28.480 will show the totality of his performance where he and Chase both continuing to play 131 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:33.879 well in the in the full league playoffs. Any updates on Tristan how he's 132 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:39.279 progressing with the elbow, Yeah, progressing well, you know, hopefully at 133 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:45.279 this point it's just a normal offseason as he gil prepares for twenty twenty four. 134 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.799 So nothing new on that front. So that was Tuesday when cal Quantrell 135 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:52.240 was designated for at Simon and some other moves were made and Chris had made 136 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:56.440 mention that they still had an opportunity to make a trade for cal and they 137 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:03.960 did, acquiring young care Cody Huff from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Quadrille. 138 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:09.159 Huff spent last season in the Single A California League. He's very highly 139 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:16.039 regarded as a defensive catcher and also put up some decent numbers offensively. He's 140 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.679 a former seventh round pick out of Stanford. Also on the trade front, 141 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.279 on Friday, the Guardians exchanged relievers Angel Delo Santos, who had done some 142 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:28.240 nice work for Cleveland out of the bullpen the past two seasons. He's been 143 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:35.039 traded to San Diego and acquired from the padres Is right hander Scott Barlow, 144 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.840 who the Guardians are very much familiar with from his time with Kansas City. 145 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:43.440 A reliable back end reliever for the Royals, especially in twenty one and twenty 146 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.840 two. Those seasons a combined one hundred and forty appearances, and a lot 147 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:52.399 of that in high leverage situations late in games. This year a slow start 148 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.960 for the Royals, but then really came on down the stretch after being traded 149 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.759 to San Diego at the deadline, So Delo Santos on his way to the 150 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:05.360 po Andre's Barlow on his way to the Guardians, who also signed Ramon Loreano 151 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:09.320 to a one year deal to avoid arbitration. So all of these moves coming 152 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:15.519 on Friday, the trade of Cal Quantrill to the Rockies in exchange for a 153 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:18.840 young minor league catcher, Cody Huff, and then the Barlow de Los Santos 154 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:22.879 deal and the Loreano signing. The Guardians trying to clean things up before the 155 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:28.320 eight pm deadline on Friday night to tender contracts to players, and all thirty 156 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:35.039 four remaining unsigned players on the guardians forty man roster were tendered contracts in advance 157 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.919 of that eight o'clock deadline on Friday night, So a lot going on. 158 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:45.240 Chris Antonetti explains the moves. As we announced yesterday, we acquired Scott Barlow 159 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:50.639 from the San Diego Padres exchange for Angel Dale Santos. We're excited ad Scott 160 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:54.080 to the organization. Obviously we've had a chance to compete against him for a 161 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:58.440 number of years while he was with Kansas City. But for us, we 162 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:01.360 viewed Scott as a a guy that can come in and help us late in 163 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:05.840 late innings, he's got experienced closing, He's pitching a lot of leverage situations, 164 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:09.840 so hopefully he can be a key piece for us in the bullpen, 165 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:13.879 especially in those times when the games are close and late. Chris, what, 166 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.320 what was the difference between d Loo and Barlow in your mind? How 167 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.279 did that balance out? Yeah? I think in the end, we really 168 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:26.919 like Scott's experience pitching in those late innings. One of our goals was, 169 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.919 you know, as we talked about last year, we did not you know, 170 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:33.639 we didn't perform as well on the late innings and lost a lot of 171 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.200 those close games. So what we were hoping to do is that another leverage 172 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.960 reliever that could help us and when those games are tight, and it gives 173 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:46.639 us another option on the days when a manual isn't available or you know, 174 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.759 maybe a little bit fatigue, we have another option to go to back there. 175 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:54.440 Chris does I guess I saw some of the projections on barbwow salary, 176 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:58.399 it's gonna be around six or seven million. Is this kind of a trade 177 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:05.279 off? Law? Control it all? Coincidentally, their salaries or projected salaries 178 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:09.799 are in the same general ballpark. But obviously we need to figure out how 179 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:13.039 to manage payroll. But it's not necessarily a one for one tie there, 180 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.399 Terry. But I just I mean in terms of, like you said, 181 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:22.960 this guy fits a significant need yep, Barlow and so that that's all I 182 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:24.720 was just thinking, because you know, with with the money and that and 183 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:30.320 uh so, uh what is about how do we Terry? Had we not 184 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.600 made the move with cal, I'm not sure we would have been able to 185 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.879 acquire Scott. There we go if I could, if I could ask a 186 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:39.120 better question, we would have got there quicker. You see, like an 187 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:46.200 expanded role with Lariano. Now, maybe tell me a little an expanded role 188 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.480 with yeah Ramon Mariano? Yes, yes, yeah, So Ramon came over 189 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.200 last year, did a good job for us, as you know, both 190 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:58.279 playing right field and occasionally in center. So exactly how they'll be deployed we'll 191 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:01.360 figure out once we have a complete sense the roster. But we think he's 192 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:05.639 part of the puzzle for helping us be a better overall team next year. 193 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:11.159 What did you learn about him? And like that short span that you guys 194 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:16.559 had with him this past year, I think he maybe mostly came his advertise, 195 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.480 Mandy, a guy that puts up really good at bats against left handed 196 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.720 pitching, especially, has some power, plays well defensively, especially in right 197 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:28.759 field, and has the ability to slide over to center. So we think 198 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:33.399 he compliments our roster really well. I saw I forgot whether Barbwell pitched well 199 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.919 at the end of the year or the first part of the year. I 200 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.480 don't know. The stat's right in front of me, Chris, but what 201 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:41.679 was going on with it. It was like he kind of had two seasons 202 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:45.879 yeah against while he was with Kansas City and actually even I think a couple 203 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.600 of games against So he struggled a little bit against left handed hitters in particular. 204 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.759 That's something that's that hasn't been an issue for him in his career and 205 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:56.519 wasn't an issue for him when he went to San Diego, and he did 206 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:00.360 pitch really well in the second half while he was with the Padres. Now 207 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:03.720 they're they're kind of cutting budget too, and all that there is that part 208 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:07.240 of the reason he became available. Would you would you say I would have 209 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:11.399 I would defer to you know, Aj on that one. Terry have enough 210 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:15.039 challenges in managing our payroll and situation, let alone someone well, you had 211 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:18.559 a bigger one like that, then you have more challenges or more something. 212 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:23.200 So yeah, hey, Chris, is there any thought of Cole Calhoun coming 213 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:29.000 back? I'm not sure what his situation is right now. He's a free 214 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.759 agent, Jeff, so he's one of a number of guys that will continue 215 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:36.320 to stay in touch with as the offseason progresses. With Cody Huff, what 216 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:40.120 kind of what can you tell us about him? We're excited to add Cody 217 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.679 to our system. It's a guy we like that of the draft as well. 218 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:47.679 He's got a really good reputation defensively, receives the ball extremely well. 219 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:49.879 That's a really good job leading with leading and pitching staff, and we feel 220 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:56.480 there's some upside to him offensively. So we're excited to add him into our 221 00:16:56.519 --> 00:17:00.440 system and gives us another catching option that could contribute it to me major league 222 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.799 level. Down line, at some point, you feel with the trade of 223 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:07.519 Quantrill, you have enough well right now front, I guess the top five 224 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.200 starting pitching at least, we feel really good about the quality of the group 225 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:14.039 we have. Paul, if everyone stays healthy and you know, can make 226 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.000 thirty plus starts, I think we feel really good about where we'll be at 227 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.640 the end of the year. But we also appreciate that things don't always go 228 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.400 as planned, So if there are opportunities for us to add depth to the 229 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:27.440 group that we have, we will look to do that. As President of 230 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:33.799 Baseball Operations, Chris Antonetti, a busy busy week for the Baseball Ops department, 231 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.960 as not only were they shoring up the roster and taking care of things 232 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.279 that had to be because of deadlines, but they're also still interviewing for vacant 233 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:48.039 coaching spots on the major league staff. Well, stay with us when we 234 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.599 come back. We will visit with Stephen Kwan, who for the second straight 235 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:55.240 year both the years of his major league career, now wins a Gold Glove 236 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:00.759 for Outstanding defensive play out in left field. He joins Andre c the second 237 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:03.000 baseman, who also won a Gold Glove and a Platinum Glove as well. 238 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:08.359 So the great stuff coming defensively for both Jmenez and Quanta. Will visit with 239 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:33.000 Stephen Quan after this timeouts the one too swung on line drive base it left 240 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.400 center field, Quan in the gamp to cut it off. Carpenter's going to 241 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:41.640 third throw the third slide tank Gotta what a play by Quan. How my 242 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:45.599 the pitch and it is swung on, ripped toward the gamp and left center 243 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:53.279 diving catch by Quan. What a play by the Gold Glover. Welcome back 244 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:57.920 to Guardians Weekly. We are joined now by one of the two Guardians Gold 245 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:03.720 Glove winners doing it for a second straight season, left fielder Stephen Kwan. 246 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:10.119 And Stephen, you back up, what is a really prominent award for defensive 247 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:15.799 excellence and when you do it again that second time, what level of satisfaction 248 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:19.279 is there for you to gain another Gold Glove award this season. Yeah, 249 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.240 it's super affirming, and I think it's also super affirming for all the people 250 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:26.359 that helped me get there. Obviously a lot of people had a hand in 251 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.119 that, and just being able to kind of put in the work and show 252 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.200 people that you know, doing the small tedious stuff every day pays dividend. 253 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.839 I think that's that's a really cool message to share. And obviously, for 254 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:40.680 myself, it's something that I've always prided myself on. Even when the hitting 255 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.680 doesn't go great, I know that I can make an impact with the glove 256 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:48.240 and it showed there and it's such an individual award, But you kind of 257 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:51.279 touched on it there that there are a lot of people to thank, And 258 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:56.240 I know you had mentioned earlier your center fielder Miles Straw is a big key 259 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:59.920 for you, and explain how that works and how that makes you a better 260 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.799 player. Yeah. Absolutely, And I mean I think it's it's criminal that 261 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:07.279 he wasn't at least mentioned for the goal glove stuff. I mean, he 262 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:11.319 makes my job so much easier out there. His range seems endless, you 263 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.400 know, left center, right center, doesn't even matter where his position. 264 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:17.319 He just somehow finds a way to cover so much ground. But for me, 265 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.119 at least, it makes it really easy to you know, shade and 266 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:22.079 keep towards the line I think where a lot of like the sexy players at 267 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:25.279 least are made or down the line or in the foul territory. But the 268 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.000 only reason I'm able to do that is because I know that that left center 269 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:30.680 gap is going to be covered by Miles again, like I said, whether 270 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:33.640 he's even shaded there or not, Like he just has a knack for finding 271 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:37.640 that ball in his glove. So if it was a different center fielder, 272 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:41.119 you know, maybe a different story, but I would I have to give 273 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.680 a ton of credit to miles out there for making my job much easier. 274 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.960 I know we touched on it a little bit a year ago, but you 275 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:51.599 were a career center fielder for the longest time, yet last year you made 276 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:56.920 the switch to left subtle differences are Are there some big keys that you had 277 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:02.440 to adjust to to become an outstand Yeah, no, a lot of a 278 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:06.240 lot of differences really. I mean the most obvious one, the angle is 279 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:08.319 is it's much more different, but I mean there's just less grind and left 280 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.960 field, so a lot of the plays that are made are kind of off 281 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:15.680 that first initial jump. In center field, it's more like you got to 282 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:18.000 get the good jump, but then you know you have to have really efficient 283 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.880 strides towards the ball and you know you got to make the play there. 284 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.680 So it was that was a big learning curve. And then it's also in 285 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.119 center field, at least I was. I know, I was really good 286 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:29.519 at playing balls off the wall, But of course, like I said before, 287 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.640 with more ground, you get less of those plays. But in left 288 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:34.279 field, big powerful varieties, especially in the big leagues, they're pepper and 289 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:37.039 the ball off the wall, especially in Cleveland with the high wall. So 290 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.440 I think that works to my benefit at least that I know I can play 291 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.960 the wall really well, keep some doubles to singles, or you know there's 292 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:47.640 a run around first and a ball down the line, we can keep them 293 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:51.039 from scoring. So a lot of those things, a lot of those things 294 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:53.240 playing to it had a lot of help obviously from the coaches and getting me 295 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:59.240 there, but it was it was a big transition, but it there was 296 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:02.640 some benefits center field that I had for that. You mentioned coaching, and 297 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:06.519 you had a new coach for the Guardians this year at the major league level 298 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:11.000 in terms of outfielders in JT McGuire, but mentioning that you and he went 299 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:15.279 back aways in the minor league system, and what did he do for you 300 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:18.920 coming up to kind of set that foundation to half success at the major league 301 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:22.039 level defensively? Yeah, No, I think the biggest thing that kind of 302 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:26.559 come on I was he just had a lot of drills and a lot of 303 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:29.759 like inside that I had never seen before from like an outfield coach. Like 304 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.279 I feel like, you know, in a little league, high school travel 305 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:36.799 ball, it's like outfield drills consist of like quarterback drill and then you know 306 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:40.039 maybe some live, live stuff. But like with him, it was very 307 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.440 methodical. It was very intentional, Like, you know, we go out 308 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:47.200 there on windy days and he has a tennis racket and these little light like 309 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.480 squishy golf balls, so he hits it up in the air and the ball 310 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:52.440 is dancing like I've never seen that before. I failed on that a couple 311 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.240 of times, and I'm like, oh gosh, Like you know, this 312 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.240 isn't just out here to check off a you know, check the boxes, 313 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:02.960 like he wants us to get better, teaching us different things. Hitting a 314 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.960 little squishy balls with a fung go as literally as hard as you can while 315 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.960 we're sprinting in Like I think it was those things where I was like, 316 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:11.759 okay, like this guy obviously loves his craft, and I was just somebody 317 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.039 I wanted to attach myself to. And through the miners, we would always 318 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:18.200 consult each other about different things, kind of unmarking some things I learned in 319 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:22.720 college. He gave me very tangible proof of like what the big leaders do, 320 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:25.359 Like he pulled up Echiro Diffrank who are on a lot of those things, 321 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.880 and it showed me what I needed to get to to become an elite 322 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:33.519 outfielder. So a lot of my success, i'd have to I'd have to 323 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:37.920 say it was through JT. And that's all going to get the baseball if 324 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:41.920 you touched on it earlier, keeping runners from taking extra bases. And a 325 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.640 lot of that is arm strength. You have a strong arm. But Michael 326 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:49.279 Brantley always used to say that that outfield assists were in the legs because of 327 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:52.799 how you went and got it. And is that the biggest key playing those 328 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:56.599 cameras off the wall and things like that to make your arm look really good? 329 00:23:56.640 --> 00:24:00.720 Sometimes I think, yeah, I think another part of the story is 330 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:06.960 the quick release. I have also shorter, shorter limbs in general, So 331 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:10.240 the kind of transfer time of getting the ball from my glove to out of 332 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:12.920 you know, or ball in my glove to then getting it out and throwing 333 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:15.440 it, that's just gonna be a lot faster than you know, somebody with 334 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:19.880 longer levers. So I think a little, you know, biologically, I'm 335 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:25.160 blessed in that aspect too. But but to go back to what Brandley said, 336 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:27.240 like those balls coming in, like you have to attack those fearlessly almost, 337 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:30.720 like you know, we talk about like do or die balls, Like 338 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:33.200 there's I mean, runners an MLB or fast or athletic, like you can't 339 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:37.559 kind of gingerly get a ball and like kind of go up to it thinking 340 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.440 that like, okay, after I catch this, like you know, I'm 341 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:41.279 gonna I'm gonna make up four of my arm, like you gotta sprint through 342 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:45.400 it, snatch that ball and then with the momentum that cares your throw. 343 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:49.599 So it's a lot of those things, but I would agree it's it's big 344 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:53.160 a lot on the legs. It starts from there, Stephen Quand joining us 345 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:57.359 a goal glove winner for a second straight season in his major league career, 346 00:24:57.400 --> 00:25:02.839 and Steven a year ago. I mean it was a haul for Guardians players 347 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:07.880 taking gold gloves away, and this year it's you and Andre Cimenez who wins 348 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:12.039 a gold glove. You have a unique view from the outfield of some of 349 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:17.039 the great plays that he makes. And how much can you appreciate what he 350 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:19.759 does to earn another gold glove? I mean kind of the same as I 351 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:22.359 was talking before, like he does with the little tedious stuff he works every 352 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:27.240 day. I will say my death perception isn't great just because obviously I'm in 353 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:30.119 left field. He's the second base, so like balls that are to his 354 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:33.759 left into his right. I can't really see how far to the left and 355 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:37.519 right it is, but to that point also, like anytime does a ball 356 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.720 hit that way and he doesn't get it, I'm like, oh, so 357 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:41.119 nobody could have got that, Like that must have been way in the gap. 358 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:44.920 I'm just so used to seeing him make every single playoffusly the ones, 359 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.759 the routine ones right at him, balls up the middle, balls to his 360 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:51.440 left, like it's it's unbelievable. Like people use the analogy of a vacuum, 361 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:53.440 but I truly think, like he epitomizes that to the most. Any 362 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:56.359 ball on the ground that hits him, I mean, or even in the 363 00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:00.680 air like he gets to it's it's truly amazing. Stephen Kwan joining us, 364 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:04.240 and you wrap up your your second major league season the Guardians with some transition 365 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:10.079 here this soft season, and personally for you, any changes in how you're 366 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:12.839 going to go about it preparing for spring training with two years in the books 367 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:18.119 and maybe some learning experiences from a year ago. Yeah, absolutely, I 368 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.920 think last year with kind of how we finished in the off season or in 369 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:23.359 the postseason, I mean, and then obviously it was like the whirlwind of 370 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:26.720 the year. I took a lot of time just appreciating how what happened, 371 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:30.880 like kind of looking in the rearview and just you know, processing like what 372 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.279 really happened. And in doing that, I think I started a little too 373 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:37.640 late. I don't feel like I was super ready for spring training this year. 374 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:41.319 So with that in mind, I'm trying to be on the other end 375 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:44.359 of that, like I think I wanted. You know, I'm starting a 376 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:47.759 little earlier than I normally would, working out a little more than I would 377 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:52.880 on different things, and seeing kind of how that takes me. And I 378 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:56.839 was talking to you before, Vugue was telling me about how every off season's 379 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:59.680 a little different, and I think that gives me confidence to kind of go 380 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:03.119 into this head first and you know, try something new that I wouldn't normally 381 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:07.160 try. And you mentioned Steven Vote introduced last week as the new manager for 382 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:11.480 the ball club. Very small sample size, but early impressions of him just 383 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:15.640 on some small conversations. Yeah, I mean, obviously he talked with great 384 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:21.240 confidence, great poise. Obviously he was very close or he's not very far 385 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.920 removed from the game, so he's gonna have a great insight on that really 386 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:27.400 excited, but also another end. Obviously he had his great years with the 387 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:30.839 A's and I grew up right around there. I admitted they didn't grow up 388 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:33.440 an A's fan, but it's hard to ignore when he's putting up numbers like 389 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:37.480 that every single year. So as a fan of baseball in general in the 390 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:41.359 Bay Area, like, I'm super excited to be under him and learn as 391 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:44.599 much as I can. And for the team, it obviously didn't finish the 392 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:48.880 way most of the players expected or wanted it to. But what's that mindset 393 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:52.920 in the offseason now as you prepare for a new season coming up here in 394 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:57.680 twenty twenty four. Yeah, I talked with Josh and Steph about that. 395 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:00.559 Actually, I think it's obviously that's not how we'd want to do it, 396 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:03.119 But I think it's good that a lot of us didn't have years that we 397 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:06.440 wanted and the team didn't do as well as we would have wanted, because 398 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.920 I think, again, after that last year of just you know, Cinderella's 399 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:12.400 story, we weren't we weren't picked to be you know, winning any games, 400 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:15.960 blah blah blah. Like you know, there was kind of like a 401 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:18.799 high and mighty feel I think that we had where you know, if we 402 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.759 do the same thing, we'll be in a good spot. I think getting 403 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:23.119 kind of punched in the face a little bit is going to reset that mindset 404 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:26.799 and you know, really bring bring the whole team back down to earth. 405 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:29.720 And I know it's done that for me at least. I never want to 406 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:33.079 feel that way on the last series of the of the season, thinking these 407 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:36.000 games don't matter at all. You know, I want to make sure we 408 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:38.599 play meaningful baseball as much as we can. I want all our teammates to 409 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:41.559 be doing as well as they can. I think it's going to really motivate 410 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:45.039 a lot of us to perform the best that we can going into the next 411 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:48.759 year. Well, Steven, as always, we appreciate the time. Congratulations 412 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:51.839 on the gold Glove. It's an annual thing now in your major career, 413 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.960 and that's a great thing to be able to say. Yeah, I'm hoping, 414 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.920 so I hope we can keep that going. I appreciate your rosie. 415 00:28:56.920 --> 00:29:00.759 Thank you. Always. Great to have Stephen Kwan join us and can congratulations 416 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:04.119 to him on his second consecutive Gold Glove award. Stay with us while we 417 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:07.960 come back. We'll hear from assistant general manager Matt Foreman, and take a 418 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:14.640 deeper dive into the managerial hiring process. That's next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians 419 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:22.119 Radio Network. Why don't go away, folks, This has got a chance 420 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:27.279 to be a classic ending progressive. We love sports and saving you money, 421 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:32.160 so we'd bundled them together. It's forty love here in the third set, 422 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:34.759 and there's the bell. She's coming off the bench hop looking for a quick 423 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:40.279 knockdown. But wait, she's driving to the hoop co town goes the champ. 424 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:42.480 That's another double fault. She'll be shooting too to serve us up. 425 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:48.200 And here comes the left hook. She's bundled her home and auto insurance with 426 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:52.839 progressive Swish ace savings to PKO for CHRISI keshteen Urns Company affiliates and other insurans 427 00:29:52.880 --> 00:30:07.680 discot not availble in all states of situations. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. 428 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:12.319 Joining us now Matt Foreman, assistant general manager for the Cleveland Guardians, and 429 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:18.680 we wanted to add Matt on this week with being not too long that Stephen 430 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:22.960 Vote was officially announced as the manager for the Guardians last Friday, and he's 431 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:26.119 a week into the job, and Matt, I know you were referenced a 432 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:32.880 couple of times in his introductory press conference from Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff about 433 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:38.359 your role in the process and coordinating that process and how efficient and effective that 434 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:42.599 turned out to be. First off, when you were given that assignment, 435 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:48.160 it seems overwhelming because it's been a while. And what was your reaction when 436 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.799 they said, Hey, Matt, why don't you kind of put this whole 437 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:55.599 thing together here and facilitate things as we get going. Yeah, Rosie, 438 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.279 thanks for having me on. I think I don't know that I would have 439 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:02.279 said it was an efficient process, but hopefully, hopefully it was an effective 440 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:07.359 one. You know, we had so many people across the organization involved over 441 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:11.000 a number of weeks and couldn't be more excited about hiring Stephen Vote as our 442 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:15.640 as our next manager. And yeah, I think you know, fortunately, 443 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:21.799 because we have such a collaborative dynamic, everybody across the organization who contributed to 444 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.920 the process made it made it so seamless. So, you know, a 445 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:29.160 lot of ways I was playing air traffic controller for the process, but we 446 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:33.359 have such a great group who contributed to bring the process to life. And 447 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:37.240 when you look back on it, I'm sure you want to kind of cast 448 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:42.359 that wide ranging net of potential candidates. How did you determine what's too much 449 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:47.279 and maybe what's not enough to try and find that happy medium so that you 450 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:51.559 really got a good cross section of potential candidates for the job. Yeah, 451 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:55.039 we started really broad. I think we probably had a list of about fifty 452 00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:59.920 initially, and we wanted to make sure that we had a diverse group of 453 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:07.440 candidates with a variety of skills and experiences and backgrounds. And you know, 454 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:12.319 we started with a ton of reference work to get to know candidates through other 455 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:15.680 people's lenses. And I think you're right, it's a it's a balance of 456 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:21.599 zooming in and zooming out, making sure that you know, at each turn 457 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:25.880 we were being you know, thoughtful and open, open minded, but also 458 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:31.359 narrowing things down as we got more and more information. So that was the 459 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:36.519 art and science of the process of working toward a decision. But to your 460 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:43.200 point, I think the process itself was just so invigorating and enlightening and educational 461 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.759 in so many ways, and I hope in that regard developmental both for the 462 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:50.680 people that we got to know in the process and for people across the organization 463 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:54.279 who contributed to the process. When you look at managerial jobs, I'm sure 464 00:32:54.319 --> 00:33:00.319 throughout baseball there are some who were a certain candidate would look at a certain 465 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:02.000 jobs and say, oh, man, that's going to be a tough one. 466 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:05.599 And there's others where they would say, hey, you know, I 467 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.920 like a lot of the things that are in place, And what did you 468 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:13.839 hear from from candidates that that made this an attractive job. Well, I 469 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:20.359 think we've had a great deal of continuity and stability, both from an ownership 470 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:24.559 and you know, front office perspective, but also a coaching staff perspective. 471 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:29.960 I mean, Tito, you know, was such an influential figure in our 472 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:35.319 organization over the last decade plus, and he made the joke I think at 473 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:38.599 his last press conference that oftentimes you have a hug at the first press conference, 474 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:43.319 and you don't often have a hug at the next press conference. And 475 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:46.359 I think from a distance, and the feedback we heard is that people appreciated 476 00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:51.960 the way that we partnered with Tito and the stability that we were able to 477 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:57.559 create together by having such a supportive environment. Matt Foreman's joining us, so 478 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:01.079 he's the assistant general manager for the CLI Guardians, and he was the coordinator 479 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:06.880 of the managerial search process. And it started a little bit earlier, as 480 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:10.559 Tito had had made some references that this very likely was his last season and 481 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:15.519 it turned out to be. Was that an advantage in certain ways in that 482 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:20.840 it wasn't something that happened a week or two after the season, but but 483 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:23.199 you had a pretty good idea of what was coming here for a little bit 484 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:27.599 before the end of the season. Yeah. I think in so many ways, 485 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:35.440 Tito was selfless and thinking about the organization's best interest by communicating how he 486 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:38.280 did, what he did and when he did to you know, Chris and 487 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:42.559 Mike, and that gave us a little bit of a head start to be 488 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:47.599 able to know that Tito encouraged us to begin thinking about what a future would 489 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:52.079 look like with a different manager, and so, you know, ultimately, 490 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:57.039 I think we ended up one of several openings across the league, and I 491 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:00.400 think we were the first at least formal official announcement across the league, and 492 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:04.719 so I think we had a little bit of a head start relative to the 493 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.280 to the league and you know, in our process, and it allowed us 494 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:14.039 to be really thoughtful about what are we seeking in this position and who are 495 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:16.760 all the possible candidates, who could you know, who could fit that criteria 496 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:21.599 for what we're looking for. So you get to the finish line and it's 497 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:25.360 Stephen Vote, who is just a year removed from his playing career. You 498 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:30.119 said you mentioned earlier you had not met him until this process began. What 499 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:34.880 were some of your first impressions, maybe from just what you had heard from 500 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:38.639 other people or viewed from a distance, compared to that first meeting that you 501 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:43.400 had had with him. Yeah, well, I think the common refrain from 502 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:49.519 people who we spoke with about Steven was just how great of a teammate he 503 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:53.199 was. And I think that's one of the highest compliments you can you can 504 00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:57.960 pay someone, especially in the in the baseball industry, is just he was. 505 00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:01.320 He had a reputation that he had earned over you know, a sixteen 506 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:06.159 year professional career, ten years in the major leagues, and you know, 507 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:10.159 six or seven different organizations, as an incredible teammate, who cared deeply about 508 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:15.440 the people around him, who wanted to bring out the most in everybody. 509 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:21.880 And those are some of the characteristics that initially stood out and certainly those qualities 510 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:24.920 and attributes were illuminated by Steven as we got to know him, you know, 511 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:30.960 over the last several weeks. And I think Chris had mentioned in the 512 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.480 press conference to introduce Steven that we were looking for a caring connector, a 513 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:38.960 collaborative partner, and a self confident learner. And Stephen really embodied each of 514 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:45.920 those things through others and through our direct experiences with him in the process. 515 00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:52.239 AND's assistant general manager Matt Foreman, and we thank him for his insights into 516 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:55.199 the managerial hiring process. That's going to do it for our show this week. 517 00:36:55.400 --> 00:37:00.480 A reminder no show next week in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We'll 518 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:06.440 take some time off as most of America does over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 519 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:09.800 and we'll join you the week after next, so we hope you can join 520 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:13.840 us then. Until then, as always, thanks going out to Brian Motse 521 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:17.480 for all of his help on our broadcast each week and until we join you 522 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:22.480 in early December. This is Jim rosen House reminding you that you've been listening 523 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:35.639 to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has been 524 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:40.039 brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians Fans save hundreds on car insurance