News and Notes for Friday, October 25th, 2024
Chris Valaika left the Guardians to reunite with Terry Francona on the Reds.
Let’s find a replacement who is an Andres Gimenez whisperer. That’s my main request.
The World Series starts tonight at 8:08 PM EST, with the Yankees at the Dodgers. Go L.A.!
Check out the latest Disgusting Baseball Podcast with Matt Dallas and I as we review the postseason and start looking ahead to 2025 a little.
Brendan Gulick on Twitter has been posting a lot of clips from the end of season press conference with POBO Chris Antonetti and manager Stephen Vogt, so here are some of those. Follow Brendan @brendangulick22 on Twitter.
Last year at this time, Stephen Vogt was trying to land his dream job.
12 months later, he was 3 wins away from taking the #Guardians to the World Series.
So how will he approach his first offseason as Cleveland’s manager?#Guardsball pic.twitter.com/UI0gAP8hLv
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Emmanuel Clase was the best closer in baseball during the Guardians 162-game regular season, but he had 3 really tough playoff outings that have left a lingering taste for Cleveland fans.
Here’s what Stephen Vogt said of Clase’s season and his demeanor as he goes into the… pic.twitter.com/fnKzBO5p3A
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Postseason baseball gives you so many chances to second guess yourself as a manager.
Would Stephen Vogt do anything differently if he had a mulligan? #Guardsball pic.twitter.com/ohR3UBwUPf
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Andres Gimenez is a defensive wizard, probably the best overall defensive player in the Major Leagues.
But how can he become a more consistent offensive threat? That’s what Chris Antonetti knows is the biggest question for their star 2B in 2025. #Guardsball pic.twitter.com/3pcOSTQPLV
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Chris Antonetti made it clear the #Guardians would like to have Shane Bieber back and they’ll continue to support his rehab, but also acknowledged he’s earned the right to be a free agent and test the market. #Guardsball pic.twitter.com/PGNrqWbU4r
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Thoughtful responses from Vogt and Antonetti about the progress they felt Bo Naylor made behind the plate this year (including a really high compliment about ALCS Game 5) and David Fry’s future as a Major League catcher.#Guardsball pic.twitter.com/vVjKJkrqfD
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
Chris Antonetti says the #Guardians have a lot to weigh this offseason.
It’s a delicate balance when they consider how they’re going to aggressively give young players they drafted the chance to prove themselves, while trying to supplement the roster with proven Major League… pic.twitter.com/pLhne3OXc1
— Brendan Gulick (@brendangulick22) October 23, 2024
If you listen to the latest Selby is Godcast patreon, it’s clear that Antonetti was hemming and hawing about payroll again, so, unsurprisingly, we should not expect a significant increase in salary. It’s inexcusable if that’s the case, and I’ll rip them for it if it is. But I’m not going to spend the next three months hoping for different. Just wait and see, I guess.