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 --> 00:01:04.719 fans save hundreds on car insurance hi veryone. 4 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.879 Welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosanaus along with you with 5 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:12.079 another one of our off season hot stove shows. As 6 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.920 we get closer and closer to the beginning of spring 7 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.159 training and our shows emanating from Goodyear and the Guardian 8 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:21.040 Spring Training Complex. There but a good show lined up 9 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.719 for you today. As always, we will visit with the 10 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:27.879 brand new hitting coach for the Cleveland Guardians, Grant Fink, 11 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.959 who has been in the organization for quite some time 12 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.640 but gets his first chance at coaching at the major 13 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:35.799 league level. We'll talk to him about that and the 14 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.920 challenges associated with that coming up shortly in the second 15 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:41.799 half of our show. Hope you can stay with us 16 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.359 as we continue our look around the American League's Central 17 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.040 Division and some of the rivals for the Guardians. And 18 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.480 this week we'll preview the Minnesota Twins with their fine 19 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.159 radio voice, Chris Addabury, so we'll get to that in 20 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:59.560 the second half of our show. On the transaction front 21 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.200 for the guard Guardians, they continue to bolster their depth 22 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:06.840 in terms of pitching by signing veteran free agent left 23 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.560 hander Colby Allard to a minor league contract and non 24 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:13.919 roster invite to major league camp. He's twenty seven pitched 25 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:17.120 last season with the Phillies, and in fact, he appeared 26 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:21.080 in seven games for Philadelphia, including four starts, one of 27 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:24.960 which came against Cleveland, but for the most part last 28 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.599 season spent the year at the Triple A level. He's 29 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:31.120 pitched in the Major leagues with Atlanta and Texas in 30 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:34.400 previous seasons, so the Guardian's hoping that he can provide 31 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.120 some starting pitching depth heading into spring training. So that's 32 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:42.560 on the transaction front. As promised, we will visit after 33 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.120 our break with the new hitting coach for the Cleveland Guardians, 34 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:50.080 Grant Fink. Grant had spent the last three seasons in 35 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:54.039 the Guardians minor league organization as their minor league hitting coordinators, 36 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.400 so that means he really had a chance to work 37 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:59.719 with and oversee most of the young players who have 38 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:01.759 moved through the system and then now have made their 39 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:05.800 way to the major leagues. He began his professional coaching 40 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.159 career with Cleveland back in twenty seventeen. He had been 41 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:13.319 in the organization as a player for three seasons following 42 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:17.240 his draft in the twenty third round in twenty thirteen 43 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:20.599 out of Missouri Western State University, and he'll be part 44 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:23.719 of that hitting group that still features Dan Puente. He'll 45 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.840 return for his second season on the staff, and Jason 46 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.159 Esposito is back as well. He had spent the twenty 47 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.719 twenty three and twenty four seasons as the Major League 48 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:37.000 club's run production coordinator. But it is Fink who takes 49 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:41.240 over as the major league hitting coach, and obviously that's 50 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:44.120 something that he's very much looking forward to, and we'll 51 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.240 talk to him about that when we return after this 52 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:51.000 time out. I'm a Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. 53 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:57.199 We're going to be here a while today, folks, switching 54 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:01.120 to progressive is a game winning call, and that reminds 55 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.800 us of other game winning calls in the history of sports. 56 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.560 So it was the fourth quarter and went down by five, 57 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:08.120 sweat pouring down my face. 58 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:10.080 Suddenly it hit me, if only I could. 59 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:12.719 Rep part of the towel around my forehead, and that's 60 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.400 how I became the first basketball player. 61 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.000 It's a wear ahead band. Okay, not really a game 62 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.839 winning call, but it was a good call. You can 63 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.800 make one two switch to Progressive and you could save hundreds. 64 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.279 Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states. 65 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.079 The wind up and delivery of swinging another line, drive 66 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.079 base hip to the gap in left center. Another three 67 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:49.199 hit game for Stephen kwond He is something else now. 68 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:52.800 The set in the one swung and ripped the first 69 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:55.000 over the head of the league, bring whistle down the 70 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:57.959 right fair line, kicks into the corner, put on a 71 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.480 sweat to third man. Sarto went standing with a two bagger. 72 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.319 The bitch swung on light right pace, hit coleft center. 73 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:09.600 Sand Tanna does it again. O Naylor tamped to the 74 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:13.279 mound his first time up and the Guardians catcher sends 75 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.680 a liner toward the gamp and right center on the runners. 76 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.199 Robert he drops of acent. This will score two runs. 77 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.439 You know all of our roster plays, we use everybody 78 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.399 and so many different steps up. That's what good teams do. 79 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:26.839 That's what that's what a good team does. 80 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:28.759 Is it doesn't have to be one or two guys 81 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:29.279 every night. 82 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:32.920 The Pitts swung in and rip deep bright there she 83 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:44.000 goes another two iron for Jose Ramirez. Not even Jack 84 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:48.199 Nicholas could hit a two iron like that, and the 85 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:54.120 Guardians have a seven to two lead, and Ramirez has. 86 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:59.879 Four home runs in his last three games. Jose Ramire 87 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:06.800 with three more army eyes tonight twenty eight homers, ninety 88 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:12.120 army eyes and yes, Virginia, he very much is an 89 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.000 American League MVP candidate. 90 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.720 Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. We are joined now by 91 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:25.360 the new Guardians hitting coach Grant Fink, who takes over 92 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:28.279 for Chris Bleaka who moved on to the Cincinnati Reetz 93 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:32.959 in the off season, and granted first off, congratulations, thanks 94 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.480 for joining the show. This has to be a really 95 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:38.399 special time for you as you were named major league 96 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:39.000 hitting coach. 97 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.560 Yeah, well, I appreciate it. It definitely is an exciting 98 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:46.560 time for me and my family and we're just excited to, 99 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.600 you know, be a part of the organization at this 100 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:52.560 level where I kind of came up in so really 101 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.680 looking forward to going. 102 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.199 And when you look at that, for a lot of fans, 103 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.920 your name might be new to them, but you are 104 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:04.040 are certainly not new to the organization. And explain some 105 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.839 of your background and how far that goes even back 106 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:08.120 to your playing days. 107 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.639 Yeah, So I was draft in twenty thirteen, played a 108 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:14.759 few years here in our minor leagues, and when I 109 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.800 finished playing, they asked me to be a coach, and 110 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:19.800 I wasn't ready to do it at first, so I 111 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.800 went and played a year of independent ball after that 112 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:26.040 and realized quickly that I wanted to get back into coaching, 113 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:30.800 and thankfully there was an opportunity here, which was amazing 114 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:33.720 because this is the place I really wanted to be, 115 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:38.000 the people here, and then I spent about three years 116 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.759 as a hitting coach, and then three years as a 117 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:43.319 hitting coordinator, and then most recently this opportunity to come 118 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.519 up to the major league staff. 119 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:49.519 And we were talking earlier. Obviously, relationships are huge when 120 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:53.120 you're coaching, whether it's pitching or hitting, and the majority 121 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:55.000 of this team you've worked with in the past, and 122 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:58.319 explain how much of an advantage that can be, especially 123 00:07:58.319 --> 00:07:59.480 in this spot. 124 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.199 Yeah. Well, I've had other friends that have gone to 125 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:04.319 be major league hitting coaches and they have to spend 126 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.879 their first you know, a few months getting to know 127 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:09.240 everyone at a deeper level. 128 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.040 And I've been. 129 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:14.079 Around this team pretty much ninety five percent of it 130 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:17.759 for majority of their careers, and that's going to be 131 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.319 awesome to just kind of hop in and start right 132 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:23.680 off with their relationship and not that awkward beginning of 133 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:27.079 getting to know each other's personalities and styles. There's a 134 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:29.079 few players that I'll probably need to build a little 135 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:33.200 deeper relationship with early, but overall, I mean long background 136 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.879 with a lot of players on our squad. 137 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.440 Grant Fink is joining us. He's a Guardian's new hitting 138 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.639 coach for the upcoming season. And Grant you mentioned that 139 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:45.440 that transition from playing to coaching. You weren't quite ready 140 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.240 when the initial thought was put out there by the organization. 141 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:53.759 But while you were still playing, were you thinking long 142 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:57.519 term that maybe when your playing career was done, that 143 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.519 coaching would be something that you'd enjoy. 144 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.159 Oh? 145 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:04.799 Why, Yeah, absolutely. I knew before I even went into 146 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:07.919 pro ball that at some point, when my cleats were off, 147 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.159 that I would definitely move into the coaching ranks. I 148 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:15.200 just I've always enjoyed impacting other people and helping other 149 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:18.799 people achieve their goals, and I felt like coaching would 150 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.679 give you a chance to, you know, stay in the 151 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:24.159 game and do something you love, but also put you 152 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:27.159 right on that platform to help others, and that's something 153 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:30.519 that I've always been passionate about, and especially within the 154 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.399 game of hitting. So I remember, even my last year 155 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.159 playing in our organization, I didn't get much playing time, 156 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:40.519 so I just dove into the people around me and 157 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:43.039 tried to help in any way I can. And that's 158 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.000 really when I knew like my passion was going to 159 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:47.200 be in coaching and developing. 160 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.559 And obviously we see the work that the hitting team 161 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.960 puts in at the major league level last three years, 162 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.480 though you've been a coordinator, so you're throughout the minor 163 00:09:57.559 --> 00:10:02.720 league system. How much of a similarity is there to 164 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:05.240 the things that you're trying to teach the younger hitters 165 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:07.840 so that when they get here it might not be 166 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.399 all that foreign to them continuity wise. How important can 167 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:12.639 that be for an organization? 168 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:17.039 So I think it's massively important, and us as an organization, 169 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:20.879 we pride ourselves in alignment from the major leagues all 170 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:26.240 the way to our dr academy, So ultimately being in 171 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:28.639 a coordinator role last year, I spent a lot of 172 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:31.120 time in person and on the phone with our major 173 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:35.919 league staff and then every level down from there, and 174 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:38.559 it just it helps with messaging, It helps with the 175 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:44.600 continuity of not just messaging, but ideas and systems and processes. 176 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:49.120 So that's something that makes it going to be a 177 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:52.679 little less new for me because I was so involved 178 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:56.320 in the process last year that I understand exactly where 179 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:59.120 they're coming from and what if the steps are to 180 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.200 continue to building on that vision. 181 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:04.519 One of the themes a year ago, especially early on, 182 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.320 was I don't know if trying to hit for more 183 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.840 powers is the right way to say it, but certainly 184 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:14.200 taking some chances early in the account, which was different 185 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:18.240 from the year before to some extent from that contact approach. 186 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.399 How about heading into this season, as you take a 187 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.399 dive into to what went well, what needs to be 188 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:26.759 worked on for the coming year among the hitting group, 189 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.279 any changes in that approach or do you try and 190 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.519 just refine what worked well a year ago. 191 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.399 I think we're just going to continue to build on it. 192 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.639 We have an incredibly athletic team and a lot of 193 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:40.720 our players can get the bat to the ball, and 194 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:43.080 I would think this year we're going to put a 195 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.960 lot more emphasis on decision making and continue to learn 196 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.960 how to take chances and you know, maximize our power 197 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.159 when it's the right time, but also continue to play 198 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.960 that gritty baseball that we've been playing in the last 199 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.519 couple of years. There's no reason why we can't do 200 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:59.440 both of those things. And I think we've set a 201 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.240 foundation in our minor leagues the last few years and 202 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.639 it's moved its way up into the big leagues. And 203 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:08.320 when Val was here, we worked hard together to you know, 204 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.679 work on those transitions. So just continuing with moving the 205 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.000 needle there. We saw some progress last year and we're 206 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.919 going to continue to push that a little bit as 207 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.720 we go in the next few years. 208 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.679 Grant Fink, the Guardian's new hitting coach, joining us here 209 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.960 on Guardian's Weekly, and Grant wanted to touch on a 210 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:27.840 couple of players that you may have worked with quite 211 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:30.639 a bit the last several seasons, and one who made 212 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.960 an immediate impact and then had one of the biggest 213 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.919 blows in the postseason, as John Kenzie. Noel explain what 214 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.840 you saw from him and what allowed him to take 215 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.240 that next step and not only get to the major 216 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:45.440 leagues but contribute in some key spots. 217 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.159 Yeah, you got to give John Kenzie a ton of credit. 218 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.879 He made a decision last year to spend the majority 219 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.960 of his offseason I think probably ninety percent of his 220 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:57.679 off season in Arizona in the building with us, other 221 00:12:57.720 --> 00:13:01.720 than a short stint and winter ball, and he was 222 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:05.159 dedicated to changing his body, working on his decision making, 223 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:09.279 and just becoming a more complete hitter. And he accomplished that. 224 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.720 And we saw what he did in Triple A and 225 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:14.080 in the role that he had in the big leagues, 226 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.559 what he did in the postseason. This is just the 227 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.759 first year of him getting exposed to that game at 228 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:24.480 that level. So we're really excited for this offseason again, 229 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.879 he's going to be in a building with us a 230 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.159 lot here in Arizona, continuing to build on the things 231 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:32.240 that he worked on last year. Super proud of him 232 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.240 in the effort and then getting to see him get 233 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.519 rewarded for some of that and help the team win 234 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:38.440 some ballgames was really cool to see. 235 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:42.159 And another young player who made really nice strides from 236 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.559 day one to the end of the season was Brian Rokio. 237 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:47.279 And you may have sounds like you may have worked 238 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.240 with him more than anybody else in a variety of roles. 239 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.559 How has he come along from a really young player 240 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:57.480 just getting his feet wet and pro ball to where 241 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.120 he is now. 242 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.720 He was a funny one. I've spent a ton of 243 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:05.559 time with him, from this first time coming over to 244 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.080 the States to his first two years in affiliate baseball. 245 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:12.840 I was his hitting coach. We've had an awesome relationship, 246 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.200 and his growth through his time in the minor leagues 247 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.480 and into the big leagues has been incredible, not just 248 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:21.279 as a hitter, but as a defender and as a person. 249 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.799 Just continuing to build himself up as a hitter, I 250 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.519 think will be an important piece. We watched the way 251 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:32.799 he played defense this year. It was outstanding, and he's 252 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:35.679 got a lot of talent in there at the plate. 253 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.440 And as he starts to become more confident and more 254 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.799 confident and more confident, I think you'll see that playing 255 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.519 on the field and. 256 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.919 On the other end of the spectrum. One of the 257 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:46.960 great hitters in the game as Jose Ramirez as a 258 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.919 new hitting coach number one, how do you handle one 259 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.360 of the best hitters in baseball to get the most 260 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:57.639 out of him? And then also you go back a 261 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.919 little ways with him, don't you? 262 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.440 Yeah? I mean I was a player at the same 263 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.639 time Hosey was a player. In our minor league system, 264 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:07.120 so I've spent some time around him. I've actually been 265 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.720 asked that question, like, Hey, what what are you going 266 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.600 to do with Hosey? And I just think it's a funny. 267 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:16.039 It's a funny question because the person Hosey is and 268 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.840 the way he approaches the game, it's a It makes 269 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:23.480 coaches jobs really easy because he's always pushing to get better, 270 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:26.399 and he's not afraid to try new things, and he's 271 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.320 not afraid to, you know, push the limits. So ultimately 272 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:32.600 my job is just going there and support him and 273 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:35.240 give him some avenues to continue to grow in the game. 274 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.480 He's already shown that he can do that really quickly, 275 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.720 and I'm excited to just be around him and learn 276 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.759 from him and help him develop and continue to develop 277 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.519 into a leader in our clubhouse and help us win 278 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.639 some ball games. 279 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.440 Late in the season, Grant Fink joining us the new 280 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.200 hitting coach for the Guardians, and Grant will end on 281 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:59.039 this see obviously a tremendous season for the team reaching 282 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:03.759 the American League Championship Series. You spend your off season 283 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.399 in Arizona and head into the complex on a regular basis. 284 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.639 It used to be players that show up a couple 285 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.879 of weeks before maybe or right at the report date 286 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:16.519 for spring training. But how active is that building throughout 287 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.159 the off season now with players just trying to get 288 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:21.399 better and be ready to go for twenty twenty five. 289 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:24.879 Oh, it's incredible. We have players here year round, and 290 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.720 you know, I've been here in this complex for the 291 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:32.200 entire year for about seven years now, and every year 292 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:36.120 it's growing. The amount of staff and resources that our 293 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.000 organization is putting in play here for players is amazing. 294 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.840 And when you do that, all of a sudden, players 295 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.559 want to come. So we have everyone from multiple major 296 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.960 league players to first year players straight out of the 297 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.480 draft that you know, spend time in this building in 298 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.799 the offseason, and it's just a testament to the organization 299 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.360 and you know the impact they want to have on 300 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:59.240 not only player development, but continuous development at the major 301 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:02.279 league level. So it's been a blast to be down 302 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:04.799 here and experience that in the growth of this building 303 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.200 and just what it means to this organization and our 304 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.440 future success. 305 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:10.279 Well, you will be a big part of that, to 306 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:13.480 be sure. Grant, thanks a lot for coming by. Congratulations again, 307 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.720 and we'll catch up with you soon. 308 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.480 Thank you. 309 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:15.839 So much. 310 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.839 I appreciate you having me. 311 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.680 At is major league hitting coach Grant Fink, starting his 312 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.640 first season in that role for Cleveland after spending the 313 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:27.519 last three and the organization is the minor league hitting coordinator, 314 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:30.119 taking over for Chris Fleka, who moves down the road 315 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:33.559 to Cincinnati. He'll be the hitting coach for Terry Francona's 316 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:37.039 Reds in twenty twenty five, and Fink will be joined 317 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.759 once again by Dan Puente his second season as an 318 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:43.240 assistant hitting coach, and Jason Esposito is back for a 319 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.400 third season as part of the hitting team as well. 320 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:49.240 So a good group there to get the offense going 321 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.519 in the right direction. In twenty twenty five. Stay with 322 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.799 us when we come back. Chris Addabury will join us. 323 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:58.319 He's the radio voice for the Minnesota Twins. We continue 324 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:01.000 our look around the American League Central Division with a 325 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.079 Twins preview for you that's coming your way shortly on 326 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:06.400 the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. 327 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:42.440 Durand's ready and the pitch to Will Brennan, a swing and. 328 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:46.960 A drive, Hi date to ride this ball. 329 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.839 And a walk up three run home run for Will 330 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:02.640 Brennan and a mop seen at home and through it all, 331 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:07.960 the Guardians have beaten the Twins and sweep them out 332 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:13.119 of Cleveland today five to two on a two out, 333 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:18.000 game winning three run home run to right by Will Brennan. 334 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:25.000 And some way, somehow, this ball club continues to find 335 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:29.200 ways to win games, and they do it today in 336 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.480 dramatic fashion. 337 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.039 Welcome back to the Guardians Weekly. We continue with our 338 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:39.559 look around the American League's Central Division, at the Guardian's 339 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:42.920 rivals and certainly a team that they have battled with 340 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.640 the past several seasons, the Minnesota Twins. That's our subject 341 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.599 this week, and they're fine. Radio voice Chris Addabury has 342 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:53.480 joined us from points up north before he heads the 343 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.799 spring training and gets out of the cold of Minneapolis. 344 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.759 And Chris, always great to have you on. How's your 345 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.519 winter going. 346 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:02.559 Rosie going great, I will say, and I think most 347 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:04.799 Guards fans would agree with me. The high point of 348 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.279 my winner was when Tommy got the call for the 349 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.000 Freck Award. That was probably the high point. 350 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:13.200 And yes, very much so. And it will be a 351 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.960 fun summer, to be sure, as Tom Hamilton will be 352 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.160 heading into the Hall of Fame in late July. And 353 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.960 as we look around the division. Obviously, everybody trying to 354 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:25.319 make some improvements. But boy, with Minnesota, it just seems 355 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:31.680 like the prevailing news content is about some uncertainty about 356 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:35.160 ownership and what's going on there sale of the team potentially, 357 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.839 and and how is that impacting what they're trying to 358 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:39.279 do to get ready for the season. 359 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.240 Well, the for sale sign is definitely up, and the 360 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.759 team came out in the poll that family, who's like 361 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:48.240 the third or fourth longest ownership group in place in 362 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:51.839 the league right now, which is amazing, has said let's 363 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:56.000 let's it's it's it's for sale, and so the you know, 364 00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:00.279 they're they're working through. Obviously that's a very complicated process. 365 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:03.440 It's a pretty limited group of buyers. There's been very 366 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:07.720 little said publicly. I know, the ishbas from the Suns 367 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:10.880 have been mentioned publicly. You know, I've always been told 368 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:13.759 by people like it's always the people you don't read 369 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:16.359 about the paper that are probably closer than others. I know. 370 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:20.519 There's been a lot of interest, nothing permanent, nothing finite. 371 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:23.400 So in the wake of that, our long standing team 372 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.240 president is retiring. Derek Falvey, who Cleveland fans will remember, 373 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.200 is going to go from being just the baseball ops 374 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.759 guy to being the president of everything, the business side 375 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.799 and the baseball side, while Dave as he retires, kind 376 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:39.039 of facilitates the sale. So we got a new GM 377 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:42.240 and Jeremy zol who I really like. All that being said, 378 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.799 because that's a ton of chaos. Business is usual in 379 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:47.839 terms of kind of the putting the team together. We've 380 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.200 got new hitting coaches, which is I think kind of 381 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.480 a big deal. We've got a lot of the same players, 382 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:58.079 and I think our fan base is so burned by 383 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.920 what happened at the end of last year with our 384 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:04.559 massive historical collapse, that they're pretty negative right now. They're like, 385 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:08.240 you're not doing anything. You know, we don't even you're 386 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:10.319 not spend any money. It didn't sign any big free agents. 387 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.359 And that being said, I think we're going to be 388 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:14.240 pretty good. I think we've got a lot of good 389 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.920 players coming back. So it's a weird spot to be 390 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:21.720 in because there's chaos, but there's also stability at certain points. 391 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.000 And I think that you'd be nuts not to think 392 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:27.359 that the Twins in Cleveland, they are again going to 393 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:29.759 be battling through the top of the division this summer. 394 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.119 And you look back at last year, and Minnesota certainly 395 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:36.240 at various points in the season right there up among 396 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:38.359 the division leaders and what turned out to be a 397 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:43.319 great division. But injury wise, is it fair to say 398 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:46.480 it just was the injuries at a certain point in 399 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.960 time became too much to overcome because of who was 400 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.519 unavailable down the stretch. 401 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:55.359