WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:04.839 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. 2 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:10.279 Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians 3 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:12.599 fans save hundreds on car insurance. 4 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:12.159 Hi everyone, Welcome to Guardian's Weekly. Jim Rosenhause joining you 5 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.640 still in Northeast Ohio, the frozen tundra of Cleveland and 6 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.000 areas beyond as it's our final show from Northeast Ohio 7 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:24.319 before we head to spring training. Our show next week 8 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:27.439 we'll em and eight from the Guardian Spring training complex 9 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:31.519 in Goodyear, Arizona, on the morning of the first Cactus 10 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.280 League game for the Guardians. So some great stuff coming up. 11 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:38.439 The pitchers and catchers have reported officially workouts are underway. 12 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.680 Basically the entire team is there, even though position players 13 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:45.719 don't have to report until Monday. So some great stuff 14 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:50.680 going on and finally some hard baseball talk to get 15 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:54.599 with you about, and that'll start next week. This week's show, 16 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:56.760 good show lined up for you. We're going to meet 17 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.959 the new Vice president of player Development for the Guardians. 18 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:04.200 His name is Stephen Oasterer. They used to call it 19 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:08.800 the Farm Director. And we'll hear from Stephen in our 20 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:12.439 next segment. The second half of our show reason it's 21 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:16.639 important though, what a lineage of farm directors that Cleveland 22 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.439 has had over the years, and player development is such 23 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.240 a vital part of everything they do to keep them 24 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:26.719 relevant and successful. And we will visit with the latest 25 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.759 man who's going to take over that position and oversee 26 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.919 the minor league department, which is such a key to 27 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.400 everything the Guardians do. So that's the second half of 28 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.879 our show today. When we take a break here and 29 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:40.800 come back from the break, we'll continue with our look 30 00:02:40.840 --> 00:02:44.319 around the American League Central Division. Yes, there are heavy 31 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.560 contenders like the Tigers, the Royals, and maybe the Twins 32 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:52.840 to knock off the Guardians and overtake them after Cleveland 33 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.280 won the division a year ago. One team that really 34 00:02:55.319 --> 00:03:00.840 struggled historically, so the Chicago White Sox, who set a 35 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:03.800 new Major League record for losses in a single season 36 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.680 with one hundred and twenty one a year ago. Where 37 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:09.280 do they go from there? We'll find out when we 38 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:12.719 visit with Lenn Casper, the radio voice for the Chicago 39 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:15.400 White Sox, when we come back after this time out. 40 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:26.319 Progressive Nos, there's so many great things about being a 41 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.560 sports fan, like scoring the company box seats. How great 42 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:33.120 is that trick place that actually worked. Prevent defense when 43 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.599 your team is winning by a lot, and even more 44 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.159 preventive prevent defense is they're hanging on by a thread. 45 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:40.680 And of course saving money when you bundle your home 46 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.400 and auto with progressive, that's pretty great, just like trick 47 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:44.719 plays that actually work. 48 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:46.639 Yeah, but how often does that happen? 49 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:51.199 Complaining about sports not so great? Progressive casualty interns, company 50 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:57.919 affiliates and other insurists not available in all states or situations. 51 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:10.280 Socks down to their last strength clause as ready, here's 52 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:13.479 the two pitch a slang. 53 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:16.040 In a miss ball game. He got him on a 54 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:21.519 wicked slider. Any manual class where there's forty fourth, Say 55 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:27.480 Cleveland pitching strikes out eighteen White Sox today and they 56 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:37.279 get the sweep six to four. Welcome back to Guardians 57 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:40.480 Weekly and we continue our look around the American League 58 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.959 Central Division Guardians rivals for the season to come. And 59 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.839 this week we're joined by the fine broadcaster for the 60 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:50.680 Chicago White Sox, Len Casper. As we talked White Sox 61 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.879 baseball and Len, let's get out of the way. Obviously, 62 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:57.360 just a tough, tough season a year ago, a record 63 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.839 breaking season for the wrong reasons for the White Sox. 64 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.959 And you know we were talking earlier. When you're in it, 65 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:07.279 it probably doesn't seem quite as bad as maybe it 66 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:10.199 seems from the outside. But just how tough was that 67 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.079 for everybody involved with a ball club that's trying to 68 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.000 win games. 69 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.279 Well, first of all, happy new year, Rosie. Good to 70 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.319 hear your voice and looking forward to seeing you coming 71 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.399 up in spring training. But yeah, twenty four was not 72 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.519 a ton of fun. Losing is never fun, and when 73 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:32.560 you finish eighty games under five hundred, it's tough on everybody. 74 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:36.480 It cost a good manager and a good man, Pedro 75 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:40.720 Griffol's job in August after a twenty one game losing streak. 76 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.519 But you know, if you kind of dig under the 77 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:47.600 hood a little bit, the White Sox actually were pretty competitive, 78 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:52.680 and it felt like you could count the games that 79 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:58.199 were blowouts and over early. Probably on one hand, it 80 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.800 felt like a lot of the games ended up getting 81 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:05.000 out of hand, maybe late when you're not using your 82 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:07.240 you know, your eight bullpen guys. 83 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:09.480 So if they would be down three to. 84 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.920 Two in the seventh, all of a sudden, they give 85 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.720 up three and they're down six to two. And you know, 86 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:16.480 maybe a couple more in the eighth and it's not 87 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:18.800 you know, eight to two, and it looks like a blowout, 88 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:22.480 but the game felt pretty close. Certainly, as broadcasters, our 89 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:26.480 jobs to inform and entertain, and we just took it 90 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.240 one day at a time, one game at a time, 91 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:31.439 to use the old cliche, and I thought Darren Jackson 92 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.160 was terrific, and you know, we did what we could 93 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.480 to keep the listeners entertained. But I think when the 94 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:42.680 season ended, everybody was happy to look forward to twenty five. 95 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.319 And I know we'll get into kind of the bigger 96 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.000 picture stuff here in a second, but there's a lot 97 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:50.600 of turnover and a lot of new faces, and a 98 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:54.000 lot of the guys who were part of this windows 99 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.439 so to speak, for the last few years have moved on. 100 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.240 So you're going to see a lot of new people. 101 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:01.920 I think with the Whites when the Guardians play. 102 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:06.480 Them, to your point about sometimes it maybe the record 103 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:08.920 is worse than what it actually should be or could be. 104 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.560 Don't tell the Guardians that the White Sox were a pushover, 105 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:17.519 because that season series was extremely competitive, and certainly Chicago 106 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.639 gave Cleveland all it could handle. Most of the season, 107 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:22.720 and I thought a really neat thing toward the end 108 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:25.839 of the year. Grady Sizemore took over and managed the 109 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.600 ball club toward the end, and we talked about a 110 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:32.399 little bit during those games. Of all the people who 111 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:34.959 have come through here as a player, I don't think 112 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:36.839 Grady would be near the top of the list for 113 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.720 someone you thought would be a major league manager. But 114 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.399 visiting with him, it sounded like he enjoyed the heck 115 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.680 out of it. And what were your impressions of the 116 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:48.079 job that Grady Sizemore did in a limited role? Yeah, 117 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:50.399 I agree, I agree, And again the record wasn't great, 118 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:53.480 but the White Sox won five of six to end 119 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:58.600 the season, and I thought Grady did a terrific job. 120 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:03.240 As you know, he's pretty quiet and reserved and has 121 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:07.240 always been a gamer, but he realized when he became 122 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.600 a manager that he would have to open up a 123 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:11.839 little bit. And I know he joked that his wife 124 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.040 told him, like, where's this guy been all those years? 125 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:16.040 You know at the ballpark? 126 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:19.480 But there's a lot of passion inside, and you know, 127 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.279 he didn't get the full time managerial job, but I 128 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:23.959 think he'll manage again at some point. 129 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:26.279 And when Will Vennable, who. 130 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:29.680 Did get the job, talked to Chris Getz, it was 131 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:34.559 imperative that Grady is part of this thing. So I'm 132 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.120 really happy that he's still on the coaching staff and 133 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:40.080 that experience he got in the last six weeks or 134 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:41.080 so of last season. 135 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:41.960 I think we're very. 136 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:46.600 Valuable for him and his reputation in the organization and 137 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.000 in that clubhouse. Is Sterling White Sox broadcaster Len Casper 138 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:54.279 joining us as we continue our previews of American League 139 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:58.120 Central Division rivals for the Guardians with spring training close 140 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.879 at hand. You mentioned Will Vennable the manager. What have 141 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.120 you learned about him in a short period of time 142 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:07.759 before spring training begins as he takes over a major 143 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:12.039 rebuilding job. Well, I was fortunate to be with Will 144 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.519 on the other side of Chicago. He was on Joe 145 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:18.559 Madden's staff for a couple of years, and I was 146 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.399 immediately impressed with Will. He kind of got out of 147 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.799 the playing mode and went into the front office situation 148 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.919 and then wanted to be back in uniform. So he's 149 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.480 kind of a lifer. His dad, Max, was an outfielder 150 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.519 in the Big League, so he grew up around the game. 151 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:38.519 He was a two sports star in high school and 152 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.399 actually wanted to play basketball, and he was really good 153 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:45.159 basketball player at Princeton. And you know, he and Chris Young, 154 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:49.399 who's now running the baseball operations in Texas, those two 155 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.879 guys paths were very similar. They both were at Princeton, 156 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:55.600 they both played basketball, they both played baseball, So really 157 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:58.799 smart guys. And Will had a nice major league career 158 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:01.879 as a player. And you think about the managers he's 159 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:07.080 been around as a coach, Madden, Cora, and. 160 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:08.919 Bochie, that's not bad. 161 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:14.039 He was right next to Bruce Bochie in twenty three 162 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.960 when they won the World Series. So not only did 163 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:20.080 he play for some really good managers, but he has 164 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:23.600 been on the staffs of some really good ones as well. 165 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:27.279 And as I said, he's just incredibly bright. I think 166 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:31.639 he understands coming in that patients will be required. But again, 167 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.840 a really competitive guy who I'm sure we'll want to 168 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:36.759 win sooner than later, for sure. 169 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.320 It seems like the challenge for any team that's trying 170 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:44.200 to get back to relevance, how young do you go, 171 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:48.360 how many established veterans do you keep around? And I 172 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.000 know the White Sox have made some moves in the 173 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:55.360 off season. How young will this team be and how 174 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.600 much of a concern is that. 175 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.799 I think pitching wise, it'll be really young. Martin Perez 176 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:07.399 will likely be the de facto number one, the veteran 177 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:10.799 left hander who actually was a teammate of Will Venables 178 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:14.559 at one point in Texas. But pitching is kind of 179 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.799 the thing right now, and some teams, you know, go 180 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.440 the position player route, right They graft a lot of 181 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.799 position players they trade for pitching. The White Sox have 182 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:28.679 kind of turned course a little bit and have decided 183 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:32.320 they're going to go with power arms, particularly left These 184 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:37.279 the names Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith. Keep those in mind 185 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:40.799 as we move forward. I don't know if you'll see 186 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:44.159 either of those guys. Probably not Schultz. Smith's, you know, 187 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.679 it was a first round pick last year out of college. 188 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:49.120 I think he could be on the pretty fast track. 189 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.039 I don't know, And that's a good question for Chris 190 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.279 Getz and Will in the front office in terms of 191 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:57.519 how much they want to push or how hard they 192 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:02.159 want to push that young pitching. I think position player wise, 193 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:05.799 the key guy is going to be Colson Montgomery, who 194 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:08.120 had been their top prospect, had a tough year triple 195 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:11.480 A last year, but I would anticipate that he'll be 196 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:16.080 the White Sox shortstop at some point this season. There's 197 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:20.840 another Montgomery, Braydon Montgomery, an outfielder they got from Boston 198 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:25.240 and the Garrett Crochet trade. So, as I said before, 199 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.120 you're gonna hear a lot of names that maybe aren't 200 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:31.320 too familiar. But Luis Robert Jr. Still here the center fielder. 201 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.720 There have been there's been a lot of talk that 202 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:36.039 he could be on the trading block at some point, 203 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:40.960 and it wouldn't surprise me if that happens. But you know, uh, 204 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.120 that's a tough guy to give up if if in 205 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:46.840 fact that ever came to pass, because he's got superstar potential. 206 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.200 He's shown flashes of it coming off a down year 207 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.799 last year. I would anticipate he'll be really good this year. 208 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:57.399 And you mentioned his name and he was part of that. Gosh, 209 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.159 it doesn't seem like that long ago that it was 210 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.679 a good young core of some really athletic players who 211 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:08.080 were kind of scratching the surface. And is there a 212 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:11.679 feeling sometimes that it had never quite hit the way 213 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:13.159 they maybe they thought it would. 214 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:14.879 For sure. 215 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:18.519 Twenty one was my first year with the White Sox 216 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:21.679 that was the ninety three win team that got bounced 217 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:24.559 by Houston in the postseason. But that team was loaded, 218 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:29.120 and you know, you think of Joann Mancata, Tim Anderson. 219 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:32.639 Obviously Jose Abray was older but was kind of the 220 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:36.519 leader of the bunch, and then on the pitching side, 221 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.960 Lucas Giolito, and they signed Liam Hendrix, and they had 222 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.360 Kendall Graveman and at one point Joe Kelly and I 223 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.759 mentioned Crochet and Michael Kopek. You know, they've all moved on. 224 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.639 They've all moved on, and it kind of makes your 225 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.039 head spin at times to realize that it wasn't that 226 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:57.159 long ago that they had arguably the most talented team, 227 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:00.080 certainly in the division, if not the American League. But 228 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.320 things change quickly, and I think I go back to 229 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.720 the old adage, when you're really good, you never kind 230 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.039 of contemplate that you'll have a downswing. And when you're 231 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.759 struggling like the Socks have the last two years, it's 232 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:13.639 hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 233 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:17.080 But I do think that there's a chance that the 234 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:21.200 White Sox can be really competitive sooner than later, and 235 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.799 it's going to be a very young looking team. I 236 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:27.240 guess the cop would be the Royals, right. I think 237 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.480 that's kind of what the White Sox are trying to 238 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:33.840 do if you had to make another comparison in the division. 239 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.320 And I think that every team in this division always 240 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.519 looks up to the Guardians in terms of the way 241 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:43.120 they play the game, especially defensively. That's been a problem 242 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:44.720 for the White Sox, and I think they want to 243 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:48.000 get better defensively, want to have a little more team speed, 244 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.720 and that's where the youth comes. 245 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:54.039 In Lenn Gasper joining US broadcaster for the White Sox, 246 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:57.799 and Len it the fan dynamic and you touched on 247 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.919 it before we get started about their and fan fest. 248 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:07.000 And here it's a one team town. It's the Cleveland 249 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:10.440 Guardians during baseball season, but obviously in Chicago it's a 250 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:14.039 two team city and it always seems like an uphill battle. 251 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:17.639 Anyway for the White Sox. How are they doing trying 252 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.600 to build that relationship with their fans again and and 253 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.720 get them excited about a team that that had a 254 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.679 tough year a year ago. 255 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.799 Yeah, you know, I've found here. You know, the fans 256 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:31.120 are really smart, They're incredibly passionate, they're they're they're not 257 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:35.960 afraid to boo, as you've experienced here, and yet they'll cheer, uh, 258 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:39.960 you know, the next breath if you do something really well. 259 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:43.200 So I was impressed that the fans continue to come 260 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:46.519 back last year when it was obvious that this season 261 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.440 was headed south pretty pretty fast. We just had a 262 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:55.679 socks fest in Bridgeport, a few blocks from the ballpark 263 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:58.720 a couple of weeks ago, and the turnout was great 264 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.480 and the fans were really into it. And yeah, of 265 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:04.120 course everybody's ticked off at how things have gone here, 266 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:07.279 and it's a little bit of a stop talking. Let's 267 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:11.360 go play and let's show people that we've changed and that, 268 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.159 you know, the future is very bright. So I have 269 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.159 no doubt that there are some fans who tuned out 270 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.919 this team last year. But you know, when you get 271 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:24.519 young and you start feeling like you're looking towards something 272 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.559 as opposed to looking in your rear view mirror of 273 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:29.720 what might have been, that that is really exciting. And 274 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:32.879 even though this team, you know, went through this six 275 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.360 or seven years ago, this is the state of the 276 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:39.519 game right now. And instead of you know, trying to 277 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:44.120 band aid this thing organizationally they have really dug in 278 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:49.240 on resupplying the system with as many top prospects as possible. 279 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.559 And you know, the one thing you don't ever really 280 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.399 want to hang your hat on as well, we have 281 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:57.320 the third best farm system in baseball like that. At 282 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:00.159 the end of the day, it matters, I guess to 283 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.840 a degree, but it's all about what are you doing 284 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:05.960 at the big league level. But having said that, I 285 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.279 think the idea is to graduate these prospects and get 286 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.359 them to the big league sooner than later, and you know, 287 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.160 get them helping this team win games. 288 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:17.000 Yeah, sometimes you feel like you'll have a good farm 289 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:20.720 system because you haven't had success at the major league level, 290 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:23.440 so it leads to some good draft picks and there 291 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.119 you go. But it'll be exciting and I know we're 292 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.359 looking forward to We train not too far from the 293 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.079 White Sox out in the Phoenix area, so we'll have 294 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:33.839 a chance to see you and the team a couple 295 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:36.000 of times in spring training and that always good to 296 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.519 catch up. Thank you for coming. 297 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:41.039 By, absolutely, Rosie. And for the second straight year, the 298 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.079 White Sox will be The Guardian's opponent for the home 299 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.599 opener in Cleveland. I don't believe there's an eclipse this year. 300 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.920 I have to tell you, especially when you have a 301 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:54.400 forty one and one twenty one season, that was one 302 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.400 of the big highlights for me. That was really an 303 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.359 incredible day and I know you and I were standing 304 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.480 near each other when when it all happened. 305 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:04.079 That's Lenn Casper, radio voice for the Chicago White Sox, 306 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:07.200 and thanks so much for him and his time. Today. 307 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:09.279 We'll take a break. While we come back, we'll talk 308 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:13.279 farm system for the Guardians. Their new vice president of 309 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:51.960 player Development, Stephen Oaster, joins us next. Welcome back to 310 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.680 Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse back with you in northeast Ohio. 311 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.440 Our last show here before we head out to Goodyear, 312 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:02.160 Arizona and Guardian Spring training. That's where our shows will 313 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:04.640 be for the next month and a half before the 314 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:08.880 regular season begins. Also part of spring training. The minor 315 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:12.160 league system such a big key for the Guardians over 316 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:16.480 the years. And the new vice president of player development 317 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:20.200 is Stephen Oaster. The farm director and over the years 318 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:25.480 Man oh Man has Cleveland had some tremendous farm directors. 319 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.880 You can go back to the days of Mark Shapiro 320 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:31.759 back in the early nineties, John Farrell, who became a 321 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:36.160 major league manager after his time as farm director. He 322 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.240 has moved on to some great things and had a 323 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:40.440 fine career. He was a farm director at one point 324 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:44.680 in time. Neil Huntington, farm director in Cleveland, eventually a 325 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:48.440 major league general manager with Pittsburgh, and the list goes 326 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:51.720 on and on. Ross Atkins, who's now the GM in Toronto. 327 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:55.720 He was a farm director here in Cleveland. More recently anyway, 328 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.720 James Harris, who is now an assistant general manager for 329 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:03.720 the Guardians, and Rob sorfolio the most recent and Rob 330 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.640 took a position, a high level position with the Saint 331 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:11.039 Louis Cardinals this offseason, opening the door for Steven Osterer, 332 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:14.880 who is absolutely excited for the opportunity. This will be 333 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.799 his sixth season in the organization, as he has been 334 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.720 on that pitching side, starting as the pitching Resource coordinator 335 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:27.000 and then the director of pitching Development the last three seasons. 336 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.359 Now he oversees the entire minor league department. He knows 337 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:33.200 the history of the position he's in and he's excited 338 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.920 to get started. 339 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.680 Yeah, thanks, Jim. 340 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:40.200 Certainly exciting to step into the role, but also acknowledge 341 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.680 that there's some pretty heavy hitters, you know, leading up 342 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:47.319 to me taking it on. So yeah, just trying to 343 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.319 trying to continue on with a lot of the great 344 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:52.240 process and culture that you know, we're said and have 345 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.519 been set by the organization, uh, you know before doing this, 346 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.039 and you know, again like leaning on a lot of 347 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.400 the people that are also still here and have served 348 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.799 in this role that you have already been really helpful 349 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:09.359 in the transitions. So excited overall, you know about the job, 350 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:11.880 Excited about the state of the farm system and the 351 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:15.599 organization and you know what twenty twenty five as for us. 352 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:20.519 And certainly you have a great background in the organization 353 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.079 in terms of player development, and explain where you've been 354 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:27.079 in such a key area that has been really the 355 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.480 backbone of Cleveland and that's pitching. 356 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:30.759 Yeah. 357 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:35.079 Yeah, So I came into the organization in twenty twenty 358 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:40.359 in that pandemic year as a pitching resource coordinator or 359 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.799 effectively effectively trying to just support process and you know, 360 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.720 support some of the things that we were already doing 361 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:49.480 at a really high level. And you know, I think 362 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.440 at that time we were trying to integrate a little 363 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:55.720 bit more of the biomechanical information and set process and 364 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.599 you know, try to move forward with everything that comes, 365 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:03.480 you know from that. Vein So started there, served in 366 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.640 that role for a couple of years and then transitioned 367 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:10.400 into the director of Pitching role ahead of the twenty 368 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.319 two story season. 369 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:14.160 Yeah, and I've been doing that since. 370 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.839 Effectively helping lead the process, culture and people in that 371 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:23.640 department and you know, supporting proader domains to you effectively 372 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:27.440 continue to carry on this tradition of the pitching development 373 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:31.799 that you know obviously has been a huge role, you know, 374 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:34.400 and piece of pride I think for the organization for 375 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.039 a long time. 376 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:40.000 It's interesting you mentioned processes and technologies in there too, 377 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:42.759 and and all the things that are different than maybe 378 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:47.920 ten years ago when when developing pitchers in How much 379 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:51.359 do you find players want that now and really embrace 380 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:55.160 it and almost feel if they don't have it they're 381 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.960 falling behind. 382 00:22:56.599 --> 00:23:00.480 Yeah, the amount of information has exploded, you know, and 383 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:04.440 I think the players obviously, uh, you know, understand that 384 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.680 that that that has happened. 385 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.599 Yeah. 386 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:09.720 I think our organization does an incredible job of you know, 387 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:12.880 partnering with the player to you know, not just tell 388 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:15.119 them what to do, but be an active participant. 389 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.599 Uh. 390 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:17.720 You know, with them in their journey and support them. 391 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:20.759 So you know, the players are you know, being fed 392 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:25.920 information not just internally with the organization, and uh, you know, 393 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:28.880 there's a lot of the public sphere that again like 394 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:32.400 they are pumping out information, pumping out you know a 395 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:35.119 lot of content around some of the things that are 396 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:38.799 becoming more online in the pitching world, and I think 397 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:41.880 there there's a huge appetite for players to to use that. 398 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.039 And you know, our goal as an organization is to 399 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:47.519 be able to understand as much as we possibly can 400 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:50.880 to support them and use that information to our advantage. 401 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.720