WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:07.639 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly is brought 2 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:50.280 to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance. Hi, 3 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.240 everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along with you from Progressive 4 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:59.880 Field in downtown Cleveland. Great Dabby with us for Baseball Talk on the radio 5 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:03.000 for the next hour or so as we continue our off season shows. Not 6 00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:08.480 quite hot stove yet, not while the postseason is still rolling along, but 7 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:12.920 a good show lined up for you today is we'll continue our series of looking 8 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:17.480 back at some of the great games of twenty twenty three and in today's case, 9 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:19.319 hope you can stay with us. It'll come your way in the second 10 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:25.280 half of the show. Not just one game, but a memorable weekend in 11 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:30.439 May for Josh Naylor at Progressive Field against the Angels, one of the tremendous 12 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:37.400 clutch late game home run hitting performances that we have seen in quite some time, 13 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.120 and statistically it was the best in terms of eighth inning home runs on 14 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:47.760 for Josh Naylor since nineteen sixty one. More on that in the second half 15 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:51.000 of our show, so hopefully you can stay with us for that also coming 16 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:55.840 up shortly. The Guardians, with that reputation, is having a tremendous pitching 17 00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:00.640 factory and it showed again this year with three rookies really saving the starting rotation 18 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:07.360 because of injuries as Logan, Allen Tanner, Bibby and Gavin Williams all performed 19 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.960 extremely well in their rookie campaigns. And we will talk to Joel Mangram, 20 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.599 who's the pitching coordinator for the minor league system for the Cleveland Guardians, about 21 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:20.879 what makes it special, what they're doing right now out in Goodyear Arizona, 22 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.919 and also his work as a pitching coach in the Arizona Fall League. But 23 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:29.759 first, just a quick look at the postseason, which was it was okay. 24 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.680 There were some upsets in the early rounds, the wildcard rounds. You 25 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:38.240 saw several one hundred win teams go down to defeat much earlier than they expected. 26 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:45.120 No more Dodgers, no more Braves. The Baltimore Orioles one hundred plus 27 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:51.680 win team, their season wiped out immediately in the American League Division Series. 28 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.000 So from that standpoint, some entertainment value, but the games themselves, there 29 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:02.360 hadn't been really as much consistent late game drama games that the next day you 30 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:07.479 talked about and said, Wow, that was some kind of game until Friday 31 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.400 night. If you're listening to this on Saturday. Last night, great games 32 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:15.719 in both the American League Championship Series and the National League Championship Series, and 33 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:23.280 the Astros again one win away from another World Series appearance. It did not 34 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:27.199 look good after they were swept at home in the two games to start the 35 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:31.479 American League Championship Series by Texas, but then they go to Arlington and they 36 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:36.039 handed to the Rangers. And then last night in Game five, a pivotal 37 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:43.520 Game five that featured a hotly contested hit by pitch benches clear Dusty Baker ejected 38 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:47.439 all that kind of good stuff. The Astros win it thanks to Jose Altuve's 39 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:52.039 three run home run in the ninth inning. One of the great players of 40 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:54.280 our generation. And I know it's hard for a lot of fans to get 41 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:59.439 behind that because it's the Astros, because of what happened back in seventeen and 42 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:03.000 eighteen in terms of the cheating scandal, but he continues to be one of 43 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.960 the great clutch players in the game today and his three run home run got 44 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.039 it done for Houston on Friday night. On the other side, the Diamondbacks 45 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:15.319 look dead as they were swept to in a row in Philly. But it's 46 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:19.079 been a different story with that series shifting to Phoenix and last night Alec Thomas 47 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:24.839 a pinch hit home run that really spurred on a big rally in the eighth 48 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:29.240 inning and the Diamondbacks square that series at two wins apiece. And again if 49 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.720 you're tuned to this on Saturday, a big game coming up on Saturday night 50 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:36.759 in Phoenix, Game five before they head back to Philly for Game six early 51 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:41.399 next week. So some good stuff in terms of the postseason. Hopefully have 52 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:44.800 had a chance to watch some of it and it's been enjoyable for you. 53 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.680 You'd love for the Guardians to be there, but not to be this season, 54 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:53.199 but some entertaining games and it'll be interesting to see who eventually is in 55 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.639 the World Series to decide this year's chance. Well, stay with us when 56 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.959 we come back. We'll talk pitching with the minor league pitching coordinator for the 57 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.639 Guardians. Some good stuff from Joel Mangron that's coming your way next on the 58 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:13.399 Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Baseball, basketball, pickleball, those are sports 59 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.759 and people love sports. If you love sports, you should know this. 60 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.920 Drivers who switch and say with Progressive could save hundreds to saving of anything to 61 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.720 do with sports. No, the people love sports. So I'm yelling sports 62 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:30.399 out. Hockey, swimming, go not all sports of the word ball in 63 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:34.399 there to save big. When you switch to Progressive, those sports jeams Progressive 64 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:50.879 Casualty Insurance Company affiliates, potential savings will vary. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly, 65 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:56.720 Jim Rosenhouse along with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, and earlier 66 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:00.879 this week we had a chance to head out to Phoenix, Arizona to buy 67 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:02.439 a phone. We didn't have a chance to go out there, but Joel 68 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.800 Mangram is out there. He's the pitching coordinator for the minor league system. 69 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:12.120 He just completed his fourth season in that role for Cleveland. Two seasons prior 70 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:16.079 to that as the pitching coach for the Arizona Summer League entry in the Guardians 71 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:20.040 organization. Doing some great work and as he will highlight, it is not 72 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:24.079 just him. It is a team effort, and he'll mention he'll name names 73 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:29.680 and mentioned some of the great people who work in that pitching factory pitching development 74 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:32.319 machine, however you want to term it. Young pitching has been such a 75 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:36.639 key for this organization to keep things going at a winning level for the most 76 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:41.279 part. And when we caught up with Joel, he was out in the 77 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:46.279 Arizona Fall League and also doing some things at the complex, the Goodyear Complex 78 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.639 for the Guardians, and he filled us in on what's going on this time 79 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:54.839 of year out in Goodyear. Hey, Jim, really appreciate you having me 80 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.319 on. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun to be a part of 81 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.360 this, to be a part of the organization one but a part of this 82 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:06.240 pitching group and get to be around this group of kids in each new group 83 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:11.959 that we get each years, adding to our family, and it's been a 84 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.600 real pleasure in my life and I've really enjoyed it a lot, that's for 85 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:18.800 sure. And we're catching you at a time of year where there's things going 86 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:23.519 on at the Goodyear Complex and what do you see out there when you go 87 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:28.000 in at this time of year and what are certain pictures working on to try 88 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:30.000 and be ready to go and make those next steps in twenty twenty four. 89 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:35.480 Great question. So we've got, you know, several different groups of pictures 90 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:40.439 in the building. Currently, we've got a group that's building up for our 91 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:46.199 Velocity camps. They kind of really get to going with high intensity throwing by 92 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:53.600 early November. We've got another group of essentially young starting pitching prospects that are 93 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:59.120 in the weight room trying to you know, attack their physical goals as well 94 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:05.360 as begin there their ramp up for next season what they're throwing. And then 95 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.879 we've got essentially a third group that their primary focus is the weight room and 96 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:15.519 they haven't started throwing yet, but they're in a high perchasey phase or a 97 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:20.120 strength phase, trying to get stronger and bigger and be ready to start throwing 98 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:22.639 here in about a couple of weeks. And you mentioned that, and not 99 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.519 to get too deep into the weeds on it, but there's that strength component 100 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:31.519 obviously, But how much is it, uh, things that that you're able 101 00:08:31.559 --> 00:08:37.399 to identify with your staff from maybe a mechanics standpoint or a usage standpoint that 102 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:43.120 really helps these young pitchers be ready to go well, Jim, I mean, 103 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:48.759 as you're you're well aware of your baseball man, I mean it's mechanical 104 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:56.039 efficiency and the delivery is a really important component to pitching and being able to 105 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:00.480 execute pitches and you know, make the ball move, get the ball to 106 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:03.360 the best spots in the strike zone and and out of the strike zone, 107 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:09.600 as well as throwing harder. That's obviously a very important part of our org 108 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:16.039 philosophy and has been there for quite a while. We're joined by Joel Mangram, 109 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:18.879 who's the pitching coordinator for the Cleveland Guardians and their minor league system, 110 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:24.519 and Juliet you took over for Reuben Dieblo, who had developed just a great 111 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.879 reputation. And it's not just you, and I know you want to give 112 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:31.600 credit to others, uh that team philosophy. Who are some of the others 113 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.679 that are a part of this and why does that work at this point in 114 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:41.000 time in terms of development? Yeah, great question. Uh, you know, 115 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:46.360 it's it's never really been a one man show. It's been a group. 116 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:50.480 It's been a team from Eric Bender, who's been around with the organization 117 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:56.519 for a long time now, who kind of really heads our department, and 118 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:00.399 you know, obviously for they are starting with our major league staff, Carl 119 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:07.679 Williams and those guys and Joe Torres down to our director of pitching Stephen Osper 120 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:11.759 and assistant director Ben Johnson, and myself and Caleb and and honestly, really 121 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:16.440 that the glue that really makes our pitching group work is our pitching coaches that 122 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:22.159 are affiliates and complexes from you know, Triple A all the way down to 123 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.360 the d s AL. I mean, those are the guys that are really 124 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:28.039 on the ground with our with our players daily. Uh. They're the ones 125 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:35.080 that are loving on them, you know, pushing them, encouraging them and 126 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:41.440 working as a group. Has become really the Cleveland Guardian way. That's the 127 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:45.399 only way that I've known since I've been here. And uh, it makes 128 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:50.480 it really dynamic from the standpoint of although you may lose staff members to you 129 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:56.200 know, other organizations, I mean, our our org has their own way 130 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:01.399 of developing pitching. And it just continues to out because we have a process. 131 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:07.759 You put the team first, and we put our players first. And 132 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.720 you mentioned all this and and I think it really stands out in a season 133 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:18.039 like the one just passed, where again three rookie starting pitchers carried the weight 134 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:22.519 and kept the team in contention for a long long time. Uh. And 135 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:26.519 when that happens, you hear people refer to to Cleveland as that pitching factory 136 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:31.039 or classroom or or however it's referred to. And there are other organizations that 137 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:33.960 are doing it well also, But when you hear things like that and you 138 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:39.279 see the results of the major league level, what's that sense of pride that 139 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:43.480 that you and your staff feel as you go about your daily work. Oh, 140 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:46.399 it definitely makes you proud. It makes you proud to be a part 141 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:52.960 of something bigger than just yourself. You know, it makes you proud of 142 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.240 the players because you know where they came from from, you know, acquiring 143 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:01.679 them our player acquisition group, you know, collaborating with our pitching group, 144 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.840 and then you know, our pitching group collaborating with other domains, and then 145 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:11.559 watching those guys go have success the major league level. It really makes you 146 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:16.480 proud to be a part of that, and you know, you just it 147 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.879 really becomes a family, which is you know, really unique in professional sports. 148 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:26.840 It's we definitely have something culture wise that most do not. You know, 149 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:30.720 to your point, there's there's other organizations that are doing a nice job 150 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:35.440 of developing pitching, but we we like to think of it as a you 151 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.720 know, call it a factory, but we we like to think of it 152 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:43.120 as a family. Joel Mangram joining us. He's a pitching coordinator for the 153 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.360 Cleveland Guardians and joelas fall you you have an opportunity to be the pitching coach 154 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:50.919 for one of the entries in the Arizona Fall League up in Peoria, and 155 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:58.639 obviously that features members of the Guardians organization. And what's that experience been like 156 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.960 for you as especially for a pitching standpoint where I know you have to be 157 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:05.480 careful in terms of innings and things like that for some of these kids. 158 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:09.600 But what is that experience like in the Fall League where it seems like the 159 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:16.360 the level of play is really really strong. Yeah, Jim, It's it's 160 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:18.360 been nice to be back out on the field every day and you know, 161 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:24.559 building a relationships with the players and getting to coach a little bit again. 162 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.480 It is it's a it's a really strong league. It's been a lot of 163 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:33.080 fun to watch every night, to watch our guys go out there and compete. 164 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:39.120 It's it's definitely been a new experience for me as far as you know, 165 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:43.080 getting the coach in the Fall League and watching some of our better players 166 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:50.039 go out, you know, really attack today. And we obviously get the 167 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:52.159 daily reports and see the lines. In this day and age, there's there's 168 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:58.559 no secrets out there in terms of prospects. But obviously Chase the louder And 169 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:03.799 and Kyle Manzardo or have big falls. But on that pitching side, a 170 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:05.919 kid who spent most of his season at Lynchburg, Ryan Webb, it looks 171 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:09.200 like he has has really taken some steps forward. And what have you seen 172 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.919 from him, especially in the fall at a time where maybe not a lot 173 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:20.759 of pitchers have that opportunity. Yeah, it's Manzo and and and Chase are 174 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:26.399 worth the price of admission every day, that's for sure. It's it's kind 175 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:31.440 of nice to to see those guys go out and uh, you know and 176 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:35.000 really swing the bat the way that they are currently and and kind of really 177 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.519 get their name out there, even even more so than what they had up 178 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.240 you know, up to this Fall league. But uh, but Webby is 179 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:46.759 has been a pleasant surprise. You know, he's always been a really really 180 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:54.519 competitive person. He has really started to turn himself into a pitcher and you 181 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:00.679 know, learn the nuances of his craft and you know, really developed secondary 182 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:03.240 and attack the strikers home and get ahead of hitters and and it's nice to 183 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:07.480 see him be able to start putting some guys away and striking some people out. 184 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.399 So for someone like that who spent most of a season at the high 185 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.480 A level, how big a jump in competition is this for him this fall? 186 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:20.080 Well, it's it's definitely a little bit of a jump, that's for 187 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:24.360 sure. But you know, Ryan Pisson to the University of Georgia, so 188 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:28.440 he's an SEC guy. I mean, he's accustomed to having to make some 189 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:33.159 jumps from high school to the SEC and then the SEC to professional baseball, 190 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.960 and he's adapted nice. I mean, you know, he had a little 191 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:39.039 bit of a learning curve last night. You know, the way that we 192 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.639 talk about it is just your your A day, your B day, and 193 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.440 your C day. And you know, when you're you're not gonna have an 194 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.759 A day every single night, but you have to be able to be competitive 195 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:52.440 and keep your team in it and pitch and and do those things and not 196 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:56.720 blow up the bullpen as well. And you know, these are good learning 197 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:02.200 experiences for him. So it's been it's been nice to see him adapt and 198 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:07.320 move forward and continue to develop. And not to put you on the spot, 199 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:11.000 but maybe a name or two as well, that that we should keep 200 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.200 an eye on maybe this fall or at some point in spring training. That 201 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:21.720 that is exciting to really get to keep a watch on as things go by. 202 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:25.879 Yep, Ron Webb's a good name. Another really really good name, 203 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:30.360 Joey Cantillo. He's somebody that are our group takes a ton of pride in 204 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:34.799 watching him pitch. There's several names, you know, obviously, Rosie, 205 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:40.480 that that we're really really proud of, we're excited to see, you know, 206 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:45.039 from Cad Smith to Doug Naczy. You know, we we've got a 207 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.879 couple more guys that we feel, you know, can really help our Measure 208 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:51.240 League team at some point over the next couple of years, and we're excited 209 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:55.759 to continue to see them develop. And in closing, we're talking earlier. 210 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.919 Obviously you're on your way into the Goodyear Complex for the camps, the office 211 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.759 and camps, and you're working in the Arizona Fall League. What's the off 212 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:08.920 season anymore for baseball? Do you have one? Just there isn't one. 213 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:14.599 You get a couple of weeks around Christmas, you know. But it's not 214 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:17.240 a job, you know, Rose, I mean, it's just this is 215 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.400 a passion for us all. I mean, that's the the wonderful thing about 216 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:22.839 our organization. I mean from Chris Antinneti all the way down. I mean, 217 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:26.680 there's there's not much of an off season. It's you know, it's 218 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.000 daily. How can we make this organization better? And on our side and 219 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.880 pitching, it's it's about our players and you know, what can we help, 220 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:37.559 what can we do to to you know, help our major league team 221 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:41.839 win the World Series? It has been fun to watch and last year just 222 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:47.480 another great example of how important it is to develop your own pitching and the 223 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:51.000 Guardians do it as well as anybody in baseball. And Joel, thanks a 224 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:53.599 lot for coming by and sharing some thoughts and enjoy the rest of the fall. 225 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.960 Awesome. Thank you so much for having me on. It's Joel Mangram, 226 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:02.880 the pitching coordinator for the Guardians minor league system. Stay tuned more to 227 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:11.799 come after this on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Don't go away, 228 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:37.559 folks, Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse back with you from Progressive 229 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:44.279 Field in downtown Cleveland, and it's time now for our regular offseason segment to 230 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:48.960 look back at some of the great games of the prior season, and in 231 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:53.400 twenty twenty three, we're gonna combine this into three games and what became the 232 00:18:53.599 --> 00:19:00.319 Josh Naylor Clutch Hitting Weekend. This was in May at Progressive Field against Los 233 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:06.680 Angeles Angels. Naylor, by weekend's end, in consecutive games three straight games, 234 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:10.519 would hit a home run in the eighth inning or later to put the 235 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:14.319 Guardians in front. They actually lost the first game of that series on a 236 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:18.519 Friday night, but came back to win the next two in dramatic fashion thanks 237 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:23.279 to Naylor's heroics. And it turned out to be noteworthy because no one since 238 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:27.880 nineteen sixty one, that's the Expansion era, had ever hit go ahead home 239 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:33.640 runs in the eighth inning or later in three consecutive games. Naylor did it 240 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:37.960 this past May, and here's how it went. The Guardians on Friday night, 241 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.440 May the twelfth were taking on the Angels. Cleveland kind of middling along 242 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.480 in a five hundred mode or so. They were three games under the five 243 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:51.319 hundred mark at this point at seventeen and twenty on the season, third place 244 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:53.759 in the division. And meanwhile, the Angels came to town. They were 245 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:59.440 twenty and eighteen but they were still healthy. Otani was healthy and playing, 246 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:03.640 and jo Hey Otani of course went on to a tremendous season before he missed 247 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:10.200 the last two plus months due to injury issues. Mike Trout also missing significant 248 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:14.400 time, but he was on the roster and in the lineup during that series 249 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:18.599 in May. So the Marquee stars for an Angels team that thought it could 250 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:22.920 do damage in the Al West, and at that time certainly was positioned to 251 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:26.079 do so. It set up a really intriguing series, and on that Friday 252 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.480 night, the Guardians got on the board in the first inning. A triple 253 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:33.799 by Ahmed Rosario brought Jose Ramirez to the plate. They're not going to give 254 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:37.480 him anything to hit here, or you wouldn't think now. They bring the 255 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:42.000 infield in a little closer to the pitch and he swings and drives one to 256 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:47.799 deep center. Trout on the run track near the wall, and he makes 257 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:52.680 the catch, slams into the wall, falls to the turf and hangs on 258 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:59.880 and he'll be a sac fly for Ramirez and it's won nothing Cleveland and Trout 259 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:04.480 hung on after slamming into the wall just as he got to the wall to 260 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:11.920 make that catch. And Jose Ramirez with RBI number twenty one. Cleveland added 261 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:15.599 another run in the second inning with a runner at third and Miles Straw looking 262 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:21.480 to come through, and the pitch and Straw lifts one in the air at 263 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:25.839 best medium deep center. Trout's got it. Here comes the tag. Here's 264 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:29.720 the throat of the plate. The slide head first and nailers in safely, 265 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.480 and he's hurt. He got underneath the tag of thice and he is holding 266 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:40.240 that left arm as he is slow to get up. Meanwhile, Logan Allen 267 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:42.960 was on the mound for the Guardians the rookie in the third inning. He 268 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.279 had his hands full facing two of the game's best hitters in Mike Trout and 269 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:52.000 show hey Otani, but he was up to the task. Here's the set 270 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:55.920 by Allen. The pitch and he got him swinging, and Mike Trout, 271 00:21:55.960 --> 00:22:00.160 after a good at bat, becomes the third strikeout victim. Two down the 272 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.559 inning, two men aboard, Cleveland up to nothing, and here show hey 273 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:07.720 o'tani. Here's the set and the one to two pitch from Allen to Otani. 274 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:12.359 Swing and a mess chase the slider down and away, and the kid 275 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:18.160 worked out of it. Striking out Trout and O'tani. Now in the fourth 276 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:21.960 inning, the high powered Angels, they got their offense going, scoring three 277 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:25.720 times to take a three to two lead, but it didn't last long as 278 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:29.400 in the fifth the Guardians had a couple of men on base, with Josh 279 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:33.799 Bell at the plate, Anderson from the stretch delivers and Bell swings chops it 280 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.799 slowly to third. Up with it, the third baseman Rendon pros to second 281 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:42.680 in time for the force, but scoring from third on the play is Kwan 282 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:49.960 and the Guardians have tied the ballgame on the fielder's choice ground out off the 283 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:55.720 bat of Josh Bell. We move on to the eighth inning, still tied 284 00:22:55.759 --> 00:23:00.400 at three. Josh Naylor's big weekend was just beginning. Second inning here from 285 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:07.799 aunt Moore, he fires Naylor with a drive Toddy Bright center bay back god 286 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:18.559 uh, no doubt about it. Bomb to the bullpen and right center. 287 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:26.400 Josh Naylor will take his time circling the Vases and the Guardians. Now with 288 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:33.799 a four to three lead here in the eighth inning, and for Josh Naylor, 289 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:40.200 that is his fourth foram run of the season, and maybe that'll get 290 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:45.839 him going now. Unfortunately, in the ninth inning, an error, a 291 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:49.799 rare error by gold Gloves second basement Andresi Menez, who very well would be 292 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:53.279 the favorite to win that gold Glove again and that will be announced in the 293 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:57.480 coming weeks. Well, his error led to two unearned runs and the Angels 294 00:23:57.559 --> 00:24:02.920 escaped with a five to four win in Game one of the series. So 295 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:06.400 on we went to Saturday, the second game of the series. The Angels 296 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:10.599 jumped out to a quick one nothing lead, with Mickey Moniac leading off the 297 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:14.240 game with a solo home run. Then in the third inning, they were 298 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:18.440 looking for more with the Dangerous show Hey Otani at the plate. The pitch 299 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:22.400 swung online to left that Subey said, down the line, it kicks toward 300 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:27.160 the wall and goes to the wall. That'll score. Moniac Trout stops the 301 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:33.400 third and O'tani on a two strike pitch shot one the other way for an 302 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:37.680 RBI double. Anthony Rendon followed with a sacrifice fly that made it a three 303 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:42.160 nothing Angels lead, and it stayed that way until the sixth inning when the 304 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:47.319 Guardians got things going. Stephen Kuan let it off with a walk, stole 305 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:51.759 second, and then Ahmed Rosario came to the plate now the two to two 306 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:56.359 swung on yank to left down the line, it goes it's a fair ball, 307 00:24:56.920 --> 00:25:00.720 rick Ass into the left field corner. Kwan will score, and a 308 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:06.240 Beta Rosario with an RBI double down into that left field corner, and the 309 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:11.920 Guardians are on the board and they now trail it three to one. Rosario 310 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:15.200 came around to score on a wild pitch that made it a one run game 311 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:18.720 at three to two, but the Angels answered with a run in the seventh, 312 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:22.960 two more in the eighth that made it a six to two Los Angeles 313 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:26.640 lead, and things did not look good for the Guardians. However, in 314 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:30.359 the bottom half of the eighth inning, back to back one out singles by 315 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:34.799 Kwan and Rosario brought Jose Ramirez to the plate. A swing and a smash 316 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:38.720 in the right that's a ase hit. Kwan will be waved home. Rasario 317 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:45.279 scampers to third and the Guardians trail it six to three. A third straight 318 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:52.880 hitoff once a SoSE Ramirez with an RBI single to right. Following Jose, 319 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:57.880 Josh Bell came through the one swung on Grimbo base hitting or right, that'll 320 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:03.279 score Rosario. Ramirez makes the turn he's on his way to third hits a 321 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:08.680 six to four game, the fourth straight hit in the inning bill with an 322 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:15.119 RBI single to right, and the Guardians are banking business and manager Phil Nevian 323 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:19.559 is out of the dugout heading to the mound. Man, wouldn't you know 324 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:25.400 it? Next up, Josh Naylor stepped in looking for a little more of 325 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:30.680 that eighth inning magic. Six to four angels nailor one swing of the ban 326 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:37.880 could rip the lid off this place to Paris ready infield bank. Here it 327 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:55.680 comes and Nailer swings and drives it hide to right away back. They're hysterical 328 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:03.839 and progressive. Feel all three bond, all right. Josh Naylor in the 329 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:10.400 eighth inning for the second night in a row, and the Guardians have scored 330 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:18.079 five, and they have come from nowhere to take the lead seven to six. 331 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:22.640 Here in the eighth inning and Naylor with his fifth home run and the 332 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:29.680 biggest of the season. Two batters later, it was Andre Semenz now the 333 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:41.480 pitch, a swing and a drive high date to right their segos. Andre 334 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:51.920 Siemens hits his third hits a six run eighth and the Guardians have now a 335 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:56.880 two run lead on a couple of home runs off Ryan to param eight to 336 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:03.079 six Cleveland here in the eighth and in the ninth the monnual classe Needing a 337 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:08.319 day off well, they turned to Trevor Stephen to close things out. Runners 338 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:14.440 at second and third, two down, eight to six Cleveland. The one 339 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:19.359 to one pitch swung a jam Job roll toward third, Ramirez Klobs throws ball 340 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:27.440 game. What a win for the Guardians. Trevor Stefan able to work through 341 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:33.640 the ninth inning and get his second save of the season, and Cleveland with 342 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:40.920 easily its biggest win of the year, rallying for six in the eighth inning, 343 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:47.200 and the Guardians a winner tonight over the Angels by a final score of 344 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:52.000 eight to six. So a real nice win. And again Naylor now at 345 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.880 back to back games where he hit home runs in the eighth inning to put 346 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:57.640 his team in front, and Saturday night, May the thirteenth that led to 347 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:03.599 a win and an opportunity had a series win for the Guardians with the finale 348 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:07.119 coming up on that Sunday afternoon. The Guardians got the scoring started in the 349 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:11.920 second inning, two men on, two men out for Will Brennan. Will 350 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:15.559 Brennan taps one back up the middle behind second, off the glove of natle 351 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:19.319 Caram's in the right field that will enable Nailer to score. Throught a second 352 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:25.880 and Brennan able to elude the tag with his hand sliding in front of the 353 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:32.240 bag, and the Guardians get a run on an air by the shortstop Zach 354 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.640 Nettle. That would be all the scoring for a while. And this one 355 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:40.319 is Tanner Biby was dominant on the mound for Cleveland. Tanner Baby. This 356 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:47.279 is his fourth major league start and my goodness says he been impressive again here 357 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:52.880 today the young man out of cal State Fullerton with a payoff and he got 358 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:59.000 him swinging man again. Ninety five miles an hour on the fastball he has 359 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:04.079 sat ninety five. And if you wonder what's the difference, Well, sometimes 360 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:08.920 the guy may hit ninety five once or twice, but he is sitting ninety 361 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:14.839 five miles an hour. In other words, his average fastball is ninety five 362 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:18.519 miles an hour today. Otani, the American League Rookie of the Year in 363 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:25.799 twenty eighteen, the American League Most Valuable Player in twenty twenty one. The 364 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:32.279 pitch swing MS struck him out again. Pitch down and in and Biby has 365 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:36.960 struck out seven two down here in the seventh. But in the eighth inning, 366 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.400 the Angels finally broke through for a run to tie the game at one 367 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:45.599 on a sack fly by old friend Geo or Sheela. So the Guardian's hoping 368 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:48.680 for another eighth inning rally and they got it started with Miles Straw picking up 369 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:53.440 a basit he moved up on a Stephen Kuan sack bunt. I'm ed Rosario 370 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:57.119 grounded out for the second out in the inning, and with first base open, 371 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:03.319 the Angels intentionally walked Jose Ramirez, who would lead the American League by 372 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:07.480 season's in in intentional walks, and that brought mister eighth inning to the plate. 373 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:14.640 Josh Naylor, now the two oz pitch, swung out and blasted Hi 374 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:23.119 Dade to right. This is done. Can you believe it? Three games 375 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:30.400 in a row, three home runs for Josh Naylor, all in the eighth 376 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:37.200 inning. Wow, a two out, three run homer to right with winds 377 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:45.960 gusting in and Naylor is some kind of strong, and the Guardians have a 378 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:52.200 four to one lead with two down in the eighth inning, as Josh Naylor 379 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:59.960 has taken a painte out of a Hollywood script. What a moment for Nail 380 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:02.799 and the Guardians. And they needed all of those runs because in the ninth 381 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:07.359 the Angels wouldn't go away. Emmanuel Classe gave up three straight hits to start 382 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:13.160 the inning. Shohei Otani and Taylor Ward each drove in a run to cut 383 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:16.480 the Guardians lead to one, and with two outs, Brandon Drury was at 384 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:22.000 the plate facing Classe. Here's the set, here's the pitch, swung on 385 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:28.680 ground ball to short Brozario to second Bowl game and the Guardians have a hung 386 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:35.559 on to win a series from the Angels. And the final score here today 387 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:40.880 it was Cleveland four and the Angels three. So a nice win not only 388 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:44.920 in the game but also the series for the Guardians. And again, as 389 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:50.799 mentioned, Josh Naylor became the first player since nineteen sixty one the Expansion Error, 390 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.400 to hit a home run in three consecutive games in the eighth inning or 391 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:59.519 later to put his team in front. And after the game, Naylor talked 392 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:04.839 about his series and the trio of eight thenning home runs. Yeah, you 393 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:08.319 had those home runs in the eighth on Friday and yesterday, so well, 394 00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:12.440 were you thinking when they want those days to get to you to day, 395 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.720 just put the ball and play hard, get a good pitch to hit, 396 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:20.920 kind of make sure it's in the zone. I can, you know, 397 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:24.079 hit a line drive on to score a runner. I was just trying to 398 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:27.279 score one run. I thank god, you know I was able to get 399 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:30.119 everyone else in. But yeah, no, I was just just trying to, 400 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:34.480 you know, get a good hit and hit something hard where no feeler 401 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:39.640 was heard of before this series. What do you felt this weekend? Maybe 402 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:45.640 a tribute to be able to walk in this week or something. I don't 403 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:50.359 know. I think he's just baseball, to be honest, he's got to 404 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:52.519 ride the wave. Some weeks are gonna be good, some weeks are gonna 405 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.599 be bad. Some days are gonna be great, some days are gonna be 406 00:33:53.640 --> 00:34:00.359 bad. I don't know. You see, as a baseball player, you 407 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:04.359 just keep working. You just you keep you keep grinding, you keep just 408 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:07.559 trying to have fun or remember it's a kid's game. I think for me 409 00:34:07.679 --> 00:34:12.280 personally, just taking myself out of the equation and remember remember why I do 410 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:15.119 it. I do it for my brother, is my family, my friends. 411 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:19.840 So I think that takes a lot of pressure off of me and focusing 412 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:23.880 on individual stats or whatever the case may be. Yeah, I just I 413 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:27.440 thank you. As a baseball player, you just you have to learn how 414 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.440 to ride the wave and sometimes it's not going to be going well and sometimes 415 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:32.599 it's going to be going off the charts, and you know, but you 416 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:37.159 got to stay even keeled. Is that difficult to do to learn to just 417 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:43.840 like you just said, Yeah, I think it took me a few years 418 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:50.480 into pro ball to kind of learn it and watch other players kind of Yeah, 419 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:53.840 I guess just ride that wave and be be kind of even killed. 420 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:57.360 It's tough. It's tough as a player because you always want to be great. 421 00:34:57.360 --> 00:35:00.679 You always want to do great things for your team, great things for 422 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:04.760 as an individual. But I think realizing that this game is hard enough, 423 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.840 and you know, if you do do some certain some cool things a certain 424 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:12.239 day, like you'd be really happy and pride of yourself. And you know, 425 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:15.159 if you if you don't do good things one day, don't don't beat 426 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:17.159 yourself up too much that you know, there's God willing is another day you 427 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:21.400 play, you know, another game. So there it is. I look 428 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:25.000 back at one of the fun weekends of the twenty twenty three season, Guardian's 429 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:30.000 taking two out of three from the Angels on a wild weekend and certainly a 430 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:34.000 great weekend at the plate for Josh Naylor, who would go on to hit 431 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:37.960 seventeen home runs on the season and drive in ninety seven, a career high 432 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:42.320 for him. And bear in mind he missed a month due to that oblique 433 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:45.360 entry in August. Surely he would have had more than one hundred runs driven 434 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:49.599 in this year for Cleveland. Stay tuned, well, I have more to 435 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:52.360 come as we wrap up this edition of Guardians Weekly after this time out on 436 00:35:52.400 --> 00:36:00.760 the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network, score out of bound. Those are sports 437 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:05.239 words. Some people hear any sportsword and they can't help but listen. Like 438 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:08.360 drive drive is another sports word, and drivers who switch and save with Progressive 439 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:13.519 could save hundreds. You might say those savings are on par with the best 440 00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:15.360 in the league. You see, parr is also a sports word, So 441 00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:19.920 I know you're still listening, and that's called covering our bases. Okay, 442 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:22.360 I'm done now, but I'm serious about drivers saving big with Progressive. Now, 443 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:40.400 I'm really done. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates potential savings will vary. 444 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:45.239 Jim Rose announced back with you. It's Guardians Weekly from Progressive Field in 445 00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:49.800 downtown Cleveland. Our final segment, and as always, we want to remind 446 00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:53.199 you you can hear our show on the Guardians Radio Network. Several stations picking 447 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:59.320 up our show each week, including WTAM in Cleveland, our flagship station, 448 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:02.639 Saturday's at five o'clock at least for the time being. We'll keep you up 449 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:07.440 to date if that changes, and you can also hear the show in podcast 450 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:12.719 form wherever you download your favorite podcast. So until next week, thanks go 451 00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:15.400 out as always to Brian Motse for putting together our show each and every week 452 00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:21.000 until next week. This is Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that you've been listening to 453 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:37.280 Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. 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