WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:04.879 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians radio network. 2 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:10.320 Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians 3 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:12.640 fans save hundreds on car insurance. 4 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:54.640 Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians' Weekly. Jim Rosen House along 5 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:58.479 with you this weekend as we join you from Progressive Field, 6 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.479 which will be quite the place in just a little while. 7 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:03.719 If you're tuned to this on the radio as it 8 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:08.319 airs on Saturday mornings. If you're tuned in on podcast form, well, 9 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:11.040 you'll know the results of Game one of the American 10 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.840 League Division Series, which begins Saturday afternoon with a one 11 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:19.719 toh eight perst pitch the Guardians and the Detroit Tigers 12 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.239 in this best of five series. Good show lined up 13 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:24.920 for you Today, we'll hear from Sandy Alomar Junior, a 14 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:29.560 veteran of Cleveland postseasons. We'll also visit with Rob Sorfolio 15 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.319 a minor league report from Rob, the director of player 16 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:34.959 development for the Guardians. We'll hear some of the thoughts 17 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:39.239 midweek from President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti. But first 18 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:42.079 we visit with Andre not who will be joining the 19 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:46.079 radio coverage during the course of the postseason. On loan 20 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.840 from Balley's Sports and he'll be joining Tom and I 21 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:51.239 during the course of the radio broadcast, and we had 22 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:53.680 a chance to catch up with him earlier this week 23 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.359 as the team was going through their sim games and 24 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.680 extensive practice work to stay sharp during the week long 25 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:04.799 layoff between games. And when we caught up with Andre, 26 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:07.680 we talked about how great it is for the Guardians 27 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:09.639 to be back in the postseason. 28 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.840 It's awesome to be back because you never know and 29 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:13.960 you can't take it for granted. And I will say, 30 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:15.879 and on my role, my job, it's been a blessing 31 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.439 to be here the last ten eleven years because you 32 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:20.199 don't get this all the time, right, so to be 33 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.960 able to see this and be around it and to 34 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:26.400 see this team grow. I'm looking forward to the next month, maybe. 35 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:29.520 After the way last season ended and the off season 36 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:34.319 was kind of quiet, new manager, everything, question Mark wise, 37 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:37.159 going into spring training, is this a big surprise to 38 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.080 you or could you see some things building in the 39 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:42.240 spring that indicated, Hey, the Guardians might be a better 40 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:43.560 team than a lot of people. 41 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.840 Think, Yes and no. 42 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:46.840 I think at the beginning of spring training you kind 43 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:48.879 of saw everybody come back and when you saw Bieber 44 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:50.240 and the way he kind of came back. You're like, 45 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:51.759 you know what if you got Bieber at the top 46 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:53.680 of your rotation. And I'm saying this for a reason. 47 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:55.879 You know you're gonna be good every fifth day, and 48 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.599 what we saw from Bible last year, you kind of 49 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:59.680 watch and you're like, Okay, top of rotation's gonna be 50 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.159 pretty goo and you have class. So I say that 51 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.000 because what six days in seven days in Biby goes down. 52 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:07.719 Bibby, I'm sorry, Biab goes down. 53 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:12.240 And no, I'm completely shocked because usually when you go 54 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.319 from one manager to another, and look, we've got like 55 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:16.560 three or four playoff teams that you know they got 56 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:18.199 in this year with the first time managers. That doesn't 57 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:21.840 happen often. But it was surprising. But it's not because 58 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:23.879 a lot of those guys in twenty twenty two that 59 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.599 kind of shocked the world. They're all here and I 60 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:28.879 think they took they didn't like what happened last year, 61 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:30.759 and you're around these guys. You know these guys, but 62 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:33.680 they were frustrated how they came off as a team 63 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.120 last year. They felt like they left Tito down, they 64 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.800 felt like they let each other down. So I think 65 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.639 I took that for granted and how much that it 66 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:43.800 matters to that core group of guys, you know, like that, 67 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.520 I'm not completely shocked, but I will say, starting off 68 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:48.319 seven and two on the road, I remember coming home 69 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.280 and kind of like, you know, your little guys like 70 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:52.319 we're gonna be good this year, and I'm like and 71 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.000 I'm like, so, I don't know, I'm buddy, we haven't 72 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.560 played at home yet. But so it's hard to answer 73 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:59.240 because I mean, I'm still in shock a little bit, 74 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:01.240 but it's kind of cool though at the same time. 75 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:05.280 Well, you have a superstar in Jose Ramirez who's been 76 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:08.080 a great player, and this might be his I think 77 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.800 it is his greatest season of a lot of great ones. 78 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:13.599 What did you see from the pit on a nightly 79 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:17.240 basis that says this guy is just above and beyond 80 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:18.879 so many other players in baseball. 81 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:20.920 It starts like three o'clock. 82 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:23.480 Like I always tell kids or tell people, like you 83 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:26.680 want to know who the great players are, they're usually 84 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:31.839 whether it's basketball, I've covered covered NBA by baseball, Josh 85 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.480 Naylor and Jose Ramirez and Himy are in the cages 86 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:36.600 at two o'clock. You know this two o'clock, three o'clock 87 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:40.639 for a seven o'clock game, And it's amazing watching that work. 88 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:43.639 And in Saint Louis. Just like a couple of weeks ago, 89 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.439 after the Friday night game, I went to Jose before 90 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:49.120 we did a postgame interview and I said, hey, man, 91 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:50.439 I think this is. 92 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.920 The best year you've ever had defensively. And he snapped 93 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.000 at me and said, who told you that? 94 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.279 In a way only Jose can and and I laughed, 95 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.120 and I go, no, I watch and he goes, he 96 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:04.160 goes this or twenty twenty two, he goes. But it 97 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:05.839 mattered to me. I lost a little weight. I wanted 98 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.639 to move better. He said, you watch the work hem 99 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.639 he puts in. I think that motivated him. He doesn't 100 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.639 want to let the other infielders down, as kind of 101 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:14.959 what he told me. He doesn't want to be a 102 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:19.199 step behind. So I can't even mention the numbers like offensively, 103 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:21.079 I'm gonna go off of the work that he does 104 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:24.480 pregame the losing the weight. He wanted to steal bases. 105 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:26.560 He didn't want anybody else to have more stolen bases 106 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.279 than him on this team. And that's not a bad thing, 107 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:31.480 you know, And I think he loves he loves hear 108 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.600 In Kwan say. I watch everything that he does. He 109 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:38.319 loves that Naylor. He's taken on the superstar status and 110 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:42.120 the best way possible. So forget forty thirty nine thirty nine. 111 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.519 To me, it's seeing him work and throw that ball 112 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:47.279 across the diamond when he's going right towards me where 113 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:49.600 that throws have been accurate all season long. 114 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:53.079 Talking about Jose Ramirez, one of the best in the game. 115 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:57.199 Andre not is joining us. You're four minutes in. You're 116 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:59.079 usually on the other side of these podcasts. How are 117 00:05:59.079 --> 00:05:59.959 you doing all right? Over there? 118 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.319 It is difficult? I'm where are you going with this? 119 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:07.480 All right? We record this on Wednesday. We don't know 120 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.639 the opponent yet, that's okay. We're talking about some other stuff, 121 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.199 the teams trying to stay sharp. We were just outside. 122 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:17.079 We had to do this inside because they've piped noise 123 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:20.680 in to make it seem as realistic as possible. But 124 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.160 what is your takeaway from the organized chaos that's going 125 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.040 on out there where they're really getting some stuff done. 126 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:28.360 I've been asked this question, obviously because it's the story 127 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.439 of Cleveland, like, oh, you got too much time, and 128 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.319 we've seen in the past it can't hurt you. I've 129 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:36.120 never been concerned because of how these guys have worked 130 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.519 all year long. And Rosie, I'm being dead serious. I've 131 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:42.240 had I've told you, I've had multiple coaches from other 132 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:44.399 teams go man, and I won't say teams, but one 133 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.399 of them is in our division and not in the playoffs. 134 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:51.279 Well, you've narrowed it down considerably this year. 135 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:52.480 I'm believing it at that. 136 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.279 But they people are marveling at how they work. The 137 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:01.560 infield practice, the outfield practice, the throws, catching stuff. So 138 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.879 this week is almost for this crew. This is this 139 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.439 is what they do best. And I think it's awesome 140 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:09.800 what they're doing. And I think you have a young 141 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:12.759 enough team that's so hungry and knock on wood, you 142 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:14.560 haven't really had a lot of you know, to the 143 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:16.319 guys out in the field, had a lot of injuries. 144 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:18.360 I think this is the perfect team to go through 145 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:20.519 this because they're willing to go out here three days, 146 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:22.879 four days in a row and do this. The excitement 147 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:26.319 is there now. Obviously at one oh seven, if you 148 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.079 don't throw strikes early on doesn't matter what you've done 149 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.360 all week. But I really do, and I'm I do 150 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.560 think they're set up for it. And like yesterday, I'll 151 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:35.600 be honest, I kind of wanted to see what were 152 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.759 the Yankees doing? You know, what were the Phillies doing, 153 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:41.199 What were the Dodgers doing? And I saw Mookie Bets 154 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:44.079 on the Jimmy Kimmel Live, like, so I like what 155 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:45.560 we're doing more than Jimmy Kimmel Live. 156 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.600 I saw Yankees and they might have done some other stuff, 157 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:52.519 but it seemed just like standard batting practice, whereas the 158 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:56.439 Guardians have their hitters facing Logan Allen yesterday. I mean 159 00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:59.319 it's someone who's, you know, a major league pitcher who 160 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:02.040 is here with the TRIPA A club. Quite a few 161 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:03.959 of them are, and we'll see that again the rest 162 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.360 of the week. 163 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.199 I think it's great because, yeah, you want to win 164 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.160 the World Series, that's what you're here for. But it's 165 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:11.040 also as great in development, like you have a A 166 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.160 and look for these this team to be successful year 167 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:16.360 in year out. You got to cut the corners of 168 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:17.920 some places, you got to do other little things. And 169 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:19.319 the only reason I bring this up, I just read 170 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.319 a great story on Gunnar Henderson and in twenty twenty 171 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:25.160 during the pandemic, because this does remind you of the 172 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.839 pandemic a little bit. The noise and you know it's baseball, 173 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.800 but there's nobody in the stands. But Gunner Henderson really 174 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:34.120 went from just drafted and not ready to play in 175 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.039 the big leagues to he and Adley Rushman went to 176 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.240 their their site and they got as many at bats 177 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.279 as they could, and they both look at it as 178 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:45.480 they made a lot of jumps. Because of that time 179 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:48.799 in twenty twenty when no one was watching, I feel like, yes, 180 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:50.639 it's great for the team today. Like you said, Logan 181 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:52.600 Allen's one of the lead He was one of the 182 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:54.519 leaders and wins for this team this year. If you 183 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.559 look at it, I think it's great because they it's 184 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.440 competitive still. It's still like there's nobody taking you know, stats, 185 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:03.240 but you know the guys are And I think that's 186 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.639 what this really is about. It's about competition. And like 187 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:07.279 you said, you can hit off the cage all day long, 188 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.919 but when you're up there and you're against a guy 189 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.519 that you've watched pitch this year and you know he 190 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:11.519 might throw me. 191 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.039 A change up. 192 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.480 That keeps the mind sharp for when you get into 193 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.399 a game in the playoffs. 194 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.600 Again, we don't know the matchup, whether it's Houston or Detroit. 195 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:23.279 Taking that out of the equation, I'm gonna say it 196 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:25.879 comes down to how the Guardians play regardless. If they 197 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:29.480 play their game, they should be just fine despite some 198 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:33.120 real challenges, regardless of who it is. What do you 199 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:35.879 see key for this team to do well that they've 200 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:38.720 done all season that that will get them past this round. 201 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:41.639 The easy way would say score four runs. I will 202 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.440 say the hard way is win the first three innings 203 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.639 because I feel like if you go through the lineup 204 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.360 the first time pitching wise, and you don't give anything 205 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:51.960 up and you can scratch a run or two off early, 206 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.279 the pressure pressure goes over to the to the other 207 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:58.600 dugout because they know and we all know from twenty 208 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:01.519 sixteen on. And I'm not saying we're gonna Andrew Miller fall, 209 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:04.799 but we might. If you're winning going in the fourth inning, 210 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:09.000 especially at home, the other team's getting nervous. So I 211 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.759 agree with you. You have to play your ball no matter 212 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.759 who you're playing. And if they're leading after four innings 213 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:17.879 or so, and you know that Canadian Kate Smith is 214 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:19.399 getting up there and he's ready to go for an 215 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.679 inning or two, and Classe may be available for two 216 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.360 innings early on. I'm guessing it. No one has told 217 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.279 me that. But suddenly, if you've got five innings and 218 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.240 I'm telling you can get four from the guys that 219 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.159 we know, I think that puts a. 220 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.559 Lot of pressure on everybody in Major League Baseball. 221 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.080 I really do. 222 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.240 How are you doing with this week off? 223 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.000 Ah? 224 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.840 You know what I've been to soccer practice, softball games, 225 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:41.600 baseball games. 226 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.639 I need to get back to work. 227 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.759 That is Andre, not who will be back to work 228 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:48.840 with us, Tom and I on the radio broadcast and 229 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.519 also doing some good stuff for five Sports as well. Andre, 230 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.840 thanks a lot for come bye. Appreciate it. 231 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.519 It's the best. I was nervous the whole time. If 232 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.440 you got me through a Rosie. 233 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:59.519 It's Guardians Weekly and we will have more after things 234 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.480 don't go away, Folks. 235 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:09.759 Progressive presents Renter's MVP's Most Valuable Possessions. Today's MVP, Tom 236 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:13.000 Kelly's carbon fiber mountain bike. Because more than riding his 237 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:16.080 carbon fiber mountain bike, Tom loves telling people about his 238 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:19.440 carbon fiber mountain bike. Friends, family, even a local barista 239 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:21.960 knows about his carbon fiber mountain bike. And that's why 240 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.759 Tom's carbon fiber mountain bike if you haven't heard about it, 241 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.600 is today's MVP. Keep your most valuable possessions protected by 242 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.960 bundling your printers and auto insurance with Progressive Progressive Casually 243 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:34.240 Insurance Company affiliates. Another Injuri is not available in all states. 244 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:47.519 Now the payoff pitch too hemans swung and ripter Right, 245 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.960 there's a basin. 246 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.240 Getting third coming for home promises. 247 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:57.480 He will score in The Cardinals are headed to October. 248 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.120 Humorros announced back with you. It's Guardians Weekly from Progressive 249 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.879 Field in downtown Cleveland. I hope you can join us 250 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:08.840 later on on this Saturday, Game one of the American 251 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:12.080 League Division Series between the Guardians and the Tigers, with 252 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.200 the warm up show starting at twelve thirty five, first 253 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:19.360 pitch one oh eight and the Guardians they earned the 254 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:22.320 buye with the second seat in the American League. American 255 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.600 League Central Division champions and Chris Antonetti met with the 256 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:29.519 media earlier this week and he was asked about what 257 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:33.600 his expectations were back at the start of this season. 258 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.320 I think we go into every year trying to be 259 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:39.039 the best team we can be. And I think the 260 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.320 mindset that we try to have is show up every 261 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.639 day working to prepare for the game and try to 262 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.519 get better. And if every individual in the environment shows 263 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:49.639 up with that mindset and tries to do that, you know, 264 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:51.000 you look up at the end of the year and 265 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:53.159 see how many wins you have. And I think that's 266 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:56.080 been a defining attribute for this team from day one, 267 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.039 is that's how this group showed up in spring training, 268 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.679 and our coach staff and voter did a great job 269 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.919 of cultivating that mindset, and you know, they showed up 270 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.879 a lot every day this year, and I think that. 271 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:08.960 Put us in the position we'll see it. 272 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.600 I think Stephen a lot of the attributes that we 273 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:14.080 talked about of who he is as a person and 274 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:18.320 as a leader, and this great foundation of knowledge and 275 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:21.200 experiences that he had, but it always seeking to learn 276 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:24.080 and grow and get better and tap into resources. And 277 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:27.600 every day Steven attacks a job with what can I 278 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:30.480 do today to help the organization and what can I 279 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.960 learn today to be a better version of myself tomorrow. 280 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:35.799 And I think that's not only a successful attribute for Steven, 281 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.799 but some of our coaches and other leaders across the organization. 282 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:42.879 Underrated. 283 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.879 What is this that you got it that's. 284 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.600 Such a in some way, Zach, It's a hard question 285 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.120 to answer because I don't have I'm not sure I've 286 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:53.879 got the great pulse of how national media might define 287 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:56.679 him as, how they would rate him as underrated or 288 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.960 so that's a hard thing for me to answer. But 289 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.639 I think what I would say is some of the 290 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:05.360 things that he does are difficult to fully appreciate because 291 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.080 you can look up and look at the stat line 292 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:09.320 and see what he brings, and that in and of 293 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.320 itself is extraordinarily impressive. But those of us that are 294 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:15.440 around him, you guys get great visibility to see how 295 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.720 he approaches the game, the type of effort and energy 296 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:21.799 he has from throughout every pitch of the entire season, 297 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.600 the conversations he has in the dugout, the way he's 298 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:27.759 helping his teammates get better, the leader he is in 299 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.240 the clubhouse. Some of those things that are more difficult 300 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.279 to observe, I think continue to help differentiate Jose and 301 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.960 may understate the impact that he has on us as 302 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.720 an organization and on our major league team. 303 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:41.279 This is dur film It's pretty amazing too. 304 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.639 All these games he plays. 305 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:45.159 Yeah, does he play with a lot of bumps and 306 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.000 bruises sometimes? 307 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.039 Oh he is. 308 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.960 Jose's extraordinarily tough. I mean, do you guys remember last 309 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.039 year when he had probably should have had surgery on 310 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.120 his hand and doctors are saying, you know you, most 311 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.840 guys would have surgery, and Hosy said, no, I'm not 312 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:01.080 only going to not have surgery, put me in the 313 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:06.080 lineup tomorrow. That's just who Hosey is. He loves playing baseball. 314 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:08.279 He loves everything about it. He wants to be out 315 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:12.440 there every day. And he's really really tough and plays 316 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:16.759 through a lout basis. He's got incredible instincts. I mean 317 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:19.039 he has he picks up on things with pitchers, and 318 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.720 he puts in a lot of work and he spends 319 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.919 time with Sandy and JT to understand how he can 320 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.759 position himself for success. But he's got great instincts on 321 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:32.360 the basis, he's a really smart, fundamentally sound baseball player. 322 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:35.799 Your concern level for the bullpen back in March, if 323 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.519 there's a couple of you know, born pieces, if you 324 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:43.039 were any offseason, if you ask me, the concern level 325 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.440 about various aspects of the team, and in the bullpen 326 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:50.600 in particular, I'll say I'm concerned. It's just really hard 327 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:54.279 to predict, as we've seen firsthand. I think what we 328 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.240 try to do organizationally is try to expand the number 329 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:02.000 of options and alternatives we have, because we recognize putting 330 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.919 together a good bullpen and a bullpen that performs at 331 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:08.639 a high level often takes contribution from places maybe you 332 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.320 weren't initially expecting. So the more options we can have, 333 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:14.240 the better. And I think what we've seen is, you know, 334 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:17.600 guys worked really hard and put themselves in a position 335 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.000 to contribute when there were opportunities, and that's really all 336 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.799 we can ask. 337 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:27.799 Responded. 338 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:32.759 I mean, it's hard when you you know, you lose 339 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:36.840 a pitcher and teammate and leader like you know, Shane Bieber, 340 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:40.799 because we not only would we not have him immediately 341 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.480 around the team, you know, to contribute on the field, 342 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.960 but we wouldn't have his presence on what is he 343 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:49.000 continues to be a really young staff and young team, 344 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:52.600 so we knew that other players would have to step 345 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:56.360 up and fill that void. And it's taken It took 346 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.159 us a while to get our footing on that over 347 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.559 the course of the season, and uh, I think we 348 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:03.039 have a better group of pitchers that are more prepared 349 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.000 to succeed today than we did. You know when that 350 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.440 initially happened back in April. 351 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:11.599 How was it to get to buy the second seed. 352 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:16.799 I think it's helpful. I mean, just the math of it, right, 353 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.400 we don't there's no chance we could get eliminated in 354 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:22.000 the in the wildcard round. So that's a good thing, 355 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.480 and it gives us a chance to advance the division series. 356 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.920 Let our guys come in rested and ready to go. 357 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.920 And what we've tried to do is be really deliberate 358 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:34.160 this week about the environments we're creating to keep our 359 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:37.240 guys ready and ready to compete on Saturday. 360 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.039 You know, about the time off, I would. 361 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.720 Say it's a trade off. The benefit is you get 362 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.400 time off. The downside is you're not in the major 363 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:51.559 league environment, facing live major league pitching in the normal 364 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:54.200 cadence that you would be during the season. But on balance, 365 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.039 I think I'd still take the trade off, and I'd 366 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.920 want to buy for the reasons that we've talked. 367 00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:02.119 About christ Eddie talking about those pros and cons of 368 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:05.240 the five day layoff. Rob Sorfolio is the director of 369 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:08.319 player Development, and when we come back, he will talk 370 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.599 about some of the things that the Guardians are doing 371 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.079 to augment what will be a twenty six man roster. 372 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:36.839 That's next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Welcome 373 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.759 back to Guardians Weekly. We're joined now by Rob Sorfolio, 374 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.279 the director of player Development for the Guardians, and the 375 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:46.880 season is complete for the Guardian's minor league affiliates. But Rob, 376 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:50.920 I wanted to start with some very important baseball activity 377 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.720 that we have seen this week at Progressive Field, with 378 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:56.759 several players who are in the minor league system coming 379 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.720 up to help with the simulated games, and I know 380 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:03.759 for them it doesn't end when those games stop. Heading 381 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.279 into the opener of the postseason for the Guardians on Saturday, 382 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:11.880 explain what's going on for a dozen to fifteen players 383 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:15.039 who you want to have on hand as a taxi 384 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.759 squad of sorts, and where they're getting their work in 385 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:20.960 and how much you're doing to keep them up to speed. 386 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:24.400 Yeah, So it's you know, it's a unique time a 387 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:28.200 year where triple A season is over, but you know, 388 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:31.759 we have we have to have a group of players 389 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:36.039 essentially that are an injury away or a move away 390 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:41.319 between series, whatever it might be, to actually keep some 391 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:47.880 guys hot and ready to potentially contribute to some playoff series. 392 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.519 And so it's it's a little challenging to do when 393 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:53.880 there's no more games to play. And you know, we 394 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.319 took the Triple A season as far as we could 395 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.119 by getting to the playoffs, which was phenomenal, and now 396 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:03.000 we kind of have to facilitate our own spring training 397 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:09.519 like environment to actually keep a handful of players ready 398 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:12.119 to go just in case they're needed up at the 399 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.599 up at the major league level. So, as you said, 400 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:18.480 about ten to fifteen guys that currently are training with 401 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.599