November 8, 2025 • 39 mins
National Baseball writer Anthony Castrovince joins the show to break down the World Series, MLB's offseason, and the state of the game heading into 2026. Plus, a look back at another memorable game from this past season as the Guardians clinch a spot in October in our Game Of The Week. That's all on this edition of Guardians Weekly with Jim Rosenhaus on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians
fans save hundreds on car insurance.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jimmeros in house along
with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, and this
our first true hot stove show as all baseball activity
in the major leagues is complete with the completion of
the World Series last week, and we will visit with
Anthony Kastrovins from MLB dot Com, always a great friend
(01:20):
of the show, former Indians dot com B reporter based
here in Cleveland, but now very much on the national stage,
and he followed the World Series every step of the way,
so he'll fill us in on some of the ebbs
and flows of what turned out to be a really
entertaining World Series, and also have some observations on the
state of the game heading into the offseason with the
(01:41):
twenty twenty six campaign approaching next spring. We will also
have our Game of the Week segment as we continue
on heading into our break after Thanksgiving, and this week's game,
the night that the Guardians clinched a postseason berth with
a dramatic walkoff hit by pitch against the Texas Rangers,
(02:02):
and that triggered locker room celebration. So a lot of
fun to be had there, and we'll hear some of
those highlights in just a little bit on our show today.
But first I look at some news and notes of
the week, and great news for guardians. Outfielder Steven Kwan
named the Gold Glove Award winner in left field for
(02:23):
a fourth consecutive season his four seasons in the major leagues.
How about that. More on that in a moment, but
some of the nitty gritty on what helped him win
that award, not just reputation and the eye test that
if you attended games or watch or listen, you know
Kwan is a highlight waiting to happen. But statistically, and
(02:44):
they're getting more and more precise on defensive measurements with
each passing season. He finished with twenty two defensive runs
saved and that led all major league players at their
respective positions. He also led all major league left fielders
with a fielding run value of plus twelve. You know,
he has a great arm thirteen outfield assists and a
(03:08):
lot of it, not just the arm, but positioning getting
to the ball quickly and unloading it quickly. He's so
good at that, and that led to thirteen outfield assists
for an outfield overall, that was best in baseball. The
Guardians as a team put together thirty five outfield assists
and that's a big reason why they became a postseason
(03:28):
club over the last four seasons. His first four in
the Major league's, Kwan ranked second among major league fielders
with sixty eight defensive run saved. He trails only Cincinnati
third baseman Cabrian Hayes, who has seventy five defensive run saved.
So what does it mean for Kwan as a player
who has won the award in four consecutive seasons and
(03:51):
his first four seasons in the Major leagues? In terms
of Cleveland history, he's the fourth player to earn Gold
Glove honors in four or more consecutive seasons. Vic Power
from nineteen fifty eight to sixty one did it. He
was the first, Then Kenny Lofton from ninety three to
ninety six, and of course the great almar of his scale.
(04:12):
He had a tremendous run from nineteen ninety four to
two thousand and one. Kwan is the first player in
Cleveland history to win the Gold Glove in each of
his first four seasons, the first player in the major
leagues to do that since Nolan Aronato ripped off ten
consecutive seasons of Gold Glove play at third base to
(04:32):
start his career from twenty thirteen through the twenty twenty
two seasons. So tremendous company for Kwan. We hope to
have him on the show before we shut it down
for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday break, So will effort
that over the next couple of weeks or so to
try and get him on and talk about outfield excellence.
(04:53):
Other news and notes for the Guardians. They had to
clean up their roster in anticipation of the winter meetings
coming up. So all teams in baseball you may have
noticed a flurry of activity in terms of releases adding
players to their forty man roster, taking players off the
forty man roster. The Guardian's no different interesting move, and
at some point in tom we'll talk to either Chris
(05:16):
Antonetti or Mike Chernoff or Matt Foreman about it. But
they declined the club option that they had on left
handed pitcher John Means who had been coming back from
Tommy John surgery, was unable to quite make it back
in time. At the end of the season, they just
didn't have a spot to see him pitch, and they
declined that option for twenty twenty six. On means outrighted
(05:38):
to Triple A Columbus. Left handed Colby Allard, who really
had a fine season out of the pen for Cleveland.
Also right handed Ben Lively making his way back from
Tommy John surgery, infielder Will Wilson, who we saw quite
a bit of catchered, dom Nunez who's been in the
organization the past couple of seasons now, and left handed
reliever Matt Crook who spent more most of the season
(06:01):
at Triple A Columbus. They were all outrighted to Columbus.
They all could elect free agency, and they all did.
That doesn't mean they're gone from the organization. They could
resign on minor league deals with the major league invite
to spring training, so we'll see a lot of That's
a comfort level for the players involved and the team
as well. Activated from the sixty day injured list and
(06:23):
added to the roster. Outfielder Will Brennan coming back from
Tommy John surgery. Left hander Sam henschis making his way
back from shoulder issues and surgery, and also right handed
reliever Andrew Walters the same coming back from an arm
issue that needed surgery and actually a lat issue for
(06:43):
Andrew Walters coming back from surgery. So they have all
been activated and we'll see if they're ready to go
for spring training twenty twenty six. The forty man roster
is now at thirty seven, so some wiggle room to
add some youngsters who need to be protected from the
Rule five draft out of the minor system or acquiring
a player via trade or free agency. So now pretty
(07:05):
busy week in terms of transactions. When we come back,
we'll take a look back at one of the great
games of twenty twenty five. It was near the end
of the regular season and resulted in a clubhouse blowout
of celebration. That's coming your way next on the Cleveland
Plant Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Join us on Tuesday, December second, as we celebrate the
very best in Cleveland sports. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall
of Fame Class of twenty twenty five Induction ceremonies presented
by Echohealth and.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Events Source, featuring Steve a.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Miojch Tianna Madison, Wanda Ford, Jack Turbin and Chris Fielman,
who will join the more than five hundred and fifty sports.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Grades already enshrined.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Tickets and information available at clevelandsports Hall dot com.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
The post Crip Assembly dress Golfrin.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Well, Michael, you had some trouble putting the grip together today?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
What went wrong?
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You know those instructions can be tough, and you saw
the outcome here.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
You've said when your wife pulled you and called in
the backup.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
No, I mean the baby needs a cred to sleep,
and so whatever it takes.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You've got a.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Changing table to put together.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
Next.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
It's got a lot of drawers. What's your coming?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
We're done here, I.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Like it or not.
Speaker 8 (08:21):
Sometimes you need a backup. That's why there's Progressive to
protect your home in Auto, Progressive Cash Teamjerms Company affilias
other insoveris no available in those states of situations.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, the Maccots Guardians Weekly, Jim Rose in the house
along with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland and
in our off season shows before we come back from
our break covering Thanksgiving, Christmas in New year's We like
to take a look back at some of the great
games of twenty twenty five, and it was kind of
top heavy near the end in terms of some of
(08:58):
the dramatic games, and none big than a chance to
clinch a playoff berth officially on the second to last
day of the regular season. That was that home series
against the Texas Rangers, and on a Saturday evening, it
was the Guardians and Rangers, with Cleveland having their own
destiny controlled, where a win and they clinched a playoff spot.
(09:19):
The Rangers had already been eliminated despite a decent season
with a late rush, but they came in at eighty
one and seventy nine, the Guardians eighty six and seventy four.
Coming in the pitching matchup, Jacob Latz, a former Kent
State product. He was on the hill for Texas against
lefty Joey Cantillo for the Guardians, and the Rangers struck
first with a run in the first inning, but the
(09:40):
Guardians responded in the bottom of the inning to out
hit from Jose Ramirez, brought the recently recalled Jonathan Rodriguez
to the plate.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Now the set to look back the pitch swung on
hit high hit.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Deep to right center. This ball about that.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Jonathan Rodriguez his second home run he had sixteen in Columbus. Wow,
he's never had a bigger hit in his young major
league career. You talk about a shot in the arm
for this ball club. Two to one, Cleveland with the
(10:28):
lead on a towering two run home run to right
center here in the first well.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
And isn't that how it went down the stretch for Cleveland.
No matter who was in the lineup, how much they
had played during the regular season, some of the youngsters
really proved to be key down the stretch, and Rodriguez
sure was that last weekend of the regular season. Texas
tied the game at two on a solo home run
from adalist Garcia in the fourth, and then good pitching
on both sides made runs hard to come by.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Cage Smith hands chest tie checks, third, comes to the
plate runner at first, ghost pitch swung on a miss
Hi throw the second, my henches, they've.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Got a rundown.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Rochio throws to the plate head first, a tech to slide.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Hetches tigs out more coming home.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
How about that Texas tried to pull off a double
steal Hetches threw high a second Rochio made only being catch.
They had Young in the rundown, and as he ran
him back toward first, Rochio fired a strike to home
and they get Dylan Moore trying to score. Boy, it's
(11:36):
not October yet, but it feels like it, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Steven Volk going to his closer in.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
The eighth and attention packed game with Texas stays tied
at two in.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
The middle of ending number eight.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
The Guardians could not get a run across in the
bottom of the eighth inning, and Kate Smith was back
out there in the ninth.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
Capacity crowd back on the feet. They've been in a
playoff mode this entire homestand the one too swam on
as high heat took care of him. Cleveland's got a
chance to walk it off and punch their ticket to
the postseason. Bottom of the ninth, coming up to two
(12:19):
from downtown.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Cleveland Rangers reliever Robert Garcia. He would get two quick
outs to start the bottom of the ninth, but then
a walk to Jonathan Rodriguez brought Kyle Manzardo to the plate.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Now the set and the pitch swung on, lifted in
the air, shallow left Freeman coming hard, he toops pasa
helpens being left home. Now he puts the brakes on,
goes back to third. Wisely, Ruggi o'dor waved him home,
then put up the stop side Freeman tried to make
(12:53):
a diving catch and the ball almost skipped by him again,
and he got a club on it, kept it in
front of him where the game would have been over.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Then Texas intentionally walked Gabrielarius to load the bases, set
up a force at any base. Good strategy, But CJ. Cafus,
who was at the plate, and he foiled the plan
in dramatic fashion.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
Capus in justice forty third Major League game, trying to
send this place into a frenzy, bases loaded, two down
in the ninth to two game, the pitch in him.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Game playoffs again.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
And Cleveland for the eighth time in the last thirteen years,
you will have another.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
October to remember. CJ.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Capus, drilled by the pitch with the bases loaded, singing
in the winning run. And Cleveland has stunned Texas in
the bottom of the nineteen three to two and the
Guardians become the sixth and final American League playoff team
(14:22):
and two years in a row, Steven Vote and this
coaching staff have taken Cleveland to October baseball.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
And after the game, the celebration was on and unlikely
if you look back to where this team was in
July of this season, but it was a fun time
in the Guardians clubhouse. Chris Antonetti's joining US President of
Baseball Operations, chrisy, Look, you've been through a lot of
these now, but I imagine this year is a little
bit more special considering the roller coaster ride this team had.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
Yeah, they're all special, but this one is particularly sweet.
This group and the resilience save show and consistently throughout
the course of the season has been really extraordinary.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I can't remember a year where we face.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
As much adversity as we have and to still have
the opportunity to play baseball is in October is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
We saw you in Chicago when there were some off
field things going on, and to go from that to
where you are now, When did you feel like this
team could put some things behind them and play good
baseball and get to this point?
Speaker 9 (15:23):
I'm not sure, Rosie. I think the one thing that
sets this group of part is just focusing on what's
in front of them today. And you know, we went
through some tough stretches, lost ten in a row, Had
you know, lost a couple of players going into Houston,
our season could have gone a number of different directions.
And by just focusing on trying to be the best
we could that day and taking care of each other,
our guys are standing here celebrating now.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Steven Voe was manager of the Year last year, better
this year with what he's done.
Speaker 9 (15:48):
Both years are great any time you're playing in October,
he's done a great job. But I would say, yeah, Stephen,
the consistency that he's showing throughout the course of the year,
the steady leadership, the way he helps guys continue to
believe in themselves that they're going to go out there
and succeed.
Speaker 10 (16:01):
It's contagious.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Chris, Thank you appreciate it. That's Chris Antonetti. Chris Antonetti,
President of Baseball Operations, who is the architect along with
this front office that put together a team that never
quit with some great pieces, particularly pitching wise, and among
those who have done some good work. Got the call
early tonight and Kate Smith, you're the closer for this
(16:25):
team down the stretch. And I know you've talked about
just wanting to be a part of helping this team
get here. Now, is this what you're talking about?
Speaker 10 (16:32):
Absolutely? This is why we grind all off season, all
seasonally enough this to be able to do this. That's
what we're here for. That's the goal.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
And it seemed like you got better and better after
some hiccups along the way in terms of closing. How
did you get to a good place where you could
put the games that got away behind you and then
come back stronger the next day.
Speaker 10 (16:51):
Yeah, that's part of the game, is that you're gonna
have his and lows. But part of the learning aspect
is how do you respond from that? How do you
bounce back? How do you learn to be consistent? How
do you learn from what they hit are trying to
adjust and do to you? And how do you make
adjustments and play that cat and mouse game. And the
beauty of being in the bullpen is that whether if
you have a rough one or a good one, you
get to forget about it, You get to move on,
You get to get ready to pitch the next day.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Teammates are a big part of this. You mentioned the
other day, Austin Hedges, without a doubt, the team leader
that would not let anyone quit on this season. What
do you mean by that? When? When was he saying that?
What was he saying to get you guys in a
good place?
Speaker 10 (17:25):
Yeah, I mean, you know, just like anybody else. We've
had some highs lows this year.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
He's awarding the championship belt. I'm guessing it's going to
Jonathan Rodriguez. Jonathan Rodriguez, I believe, for the first time
this season, gets the wrestling belt that they give to
the star of the game. What timing for that young man.
(17:52):
So there it was the night that the Guardians clinched
a postseason birth. Next week, we will revisit the game
that allowed them to complete an historic Major League comeback
to win the division. That's next week. Coming up next,
we'll check in with MLB dot COM's Anthony castor Vince
and talk World Series, state of the game, what's ahead
(18:15):
in the off season, and much much more that comes
your way next the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Welcome
(18:46):
back to Guardians Weekly. We are joined now by good
friend of the program, Anthony Castro Vince from MLB dot Com.
As he was on the case for a lot of
the postseason and all of the World Series, which just completed.
So no more games, real games of baseball until spring
training begins in the major leagues in mid February to
(19:08):
late February. And Anthony, I think, by all accounts, one
of the best World Series in quite some time, and
a lot of people saying it's the best of all time,
but certainly a great one in entertaining. And when you
are in it every day and you cover it, did
you come away with that when it was all said
and done.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
You know. I've covered the World Series every year since
twenty ten, Rosie, and there's a few that stand out,
like twenty eleven, of course, the Cardinals, you know, the
huge comeback in Game six and the Rangers down, you know,
one strike away from the World Series twice, and the Cardinals.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Pulled off in Game six.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Game seven isn't as strong there, but that World Series
will always stick out because of that Game six twenty
sixteen here in Cleveland, of course against the Cubs.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
I know, we you know, we try to forget elements
of that, but the raj Damis.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
Stone run and Game seven and just you know what
that series meant to both franchises with the two long
droughts and the Cubs of course ending one hundred and
eight year drought.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
I mean, that's an all timer. But and then twenty
seventeen was really good as well.
Speaker 7 (20:10):
The first six games, like I would, I thought we
were on track for maybe the greatest World Series ever.
Then Game seven was kind of a dud and the
Astros just ran away with that one.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
So where I'm going with this is twenty.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Twenty five had at all, Like I legitimately think that
was the best World series top to bottom I've ever seen.
I would put it up against anything historically even I
just think it was that strong, Like the games were compelling.
You had the eighteen in game in Game three was
Showyo Tani with an all time offensive performance. You had
the Blue Jays just kind of punching up. There were
the heavy underdogs, but you know, winning games one, four,
(20:43):
and five, and then the Dodgers come back and do
something that unfortunately we lived through here in Cleveland in
twenty sixteen, where the home team's going into Game six
up three games to two and the road team wins
the last two games, in Game seven being as epic
as it was going to next tradings. I think it
was even better than the Game seven and twenty sixteen,
just because of the late inning drama. You know, the
(21:05):
ninth inning was incredible and something unfortunately people in Toronto
are going to be I don't know, and people on
the Blue Jays are gonna be kicking themselves for that
ninth inning forever, unfortunately.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
But it was great theater, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
You mentioned ad and obviously for the Dodgers, a tremendous
win back to back now World Series titles. But even
though I think a lot of people had them as
an underdog going in, was there that tremendous feeling of
a missed opportunity on the part of the Blue Jays.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
One thousand million percent?
Speaker 7 (21:41):
You know, they they came out of that series really
feeling like, you know, they were as good as the Dodgers,
and in many ways they outplayed the Dodgers over the
course of that series, you know, in terms of their
run production for sure, I mean, They're pitching overall was
probably better. But these very small things can just unravel,
(22:01):
you you know, and that ninth inning, it's just one
thing after another.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
When you go back and rewatch it obviously.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
You know, Jeff Hoffman hangs a pitch to Miguel Rojas,
who had not had a hit in almost a month,
and he's able to you know, hit that game tying
home run that you would probably put right up there
with the Raj Davis home run. And in terms of
just where did that come from? And how do we
have a brand new ball game all of a sudden
and the bottom of the ninth, you know, Blue Jay's
had their chances, and Isaiah Connor Falleffo of course, was.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
On third base and slides into home plate.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
And you know it's been all kinds of discourse about
his lead at third Should you have had a longer lead,
a bigger lead. I don't know about all that, but
I do know that he could have gone standing up
at home plate, you know, try to run through the
plate like you run through first base or head first
slide would have had better.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Odds of scoring there.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
I mean, as it stands, you know, it was a
force out, and it was a fraction of a second,
you know, separating when from losing basically so in Game
seven in the World serieson in the bottom.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Of the night.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
I mean, you can't ask for better drama than that,
but you also can't ask for more regret than that
if you are the Toronto Blue Jays.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Anthony kastrovinch joining us from MLB dot Com former Guardians
are Well, Indians beat writer back in the day for
Indians dot Com and Anthony along those lines. There was
a real Cleveland flavor to that Blue Jays roster. So
many key players at one point in time it spent
time here and were able to talk to any of
(23:30):
them about that or at least have your own thoughts
on it in terms of what those players had become
for a Blue Jays team that maybe they weren't here
just for circumstances.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
Yeah, you know, I talked to Bieber a little bit
about that obviously with the trade you know, mid season,
and he ended up in a really good spot. I mean,
if you're gonna be dealt from the only organization you've
ever known, that was a great situation to go into.
You know, the clubhouse was really cohesive and he was
part of that. They welcomed him with open arms and
obviously he got to go to the Big Dance. You know,
(24:02):
he got to go to the World Series. That's pretty cool.
I didn't turn out so well for him at the
end there, you know, gave up.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
The go ahead a home run.
Speaker 7 (24:08):
But I think overall, I thought he pitched really well
for the Blue Jays, and you know, should should do him,
you know, should serve him well in free agency. But
you know those other guys, you know him and as
Miles Straw, Ernie Clement, my gosh, what a postseason.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
That guy had thirty one hits.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
They just kind of you watch the Blue Jays and
it was like an expanded version of the Guardians and
that they have the contact skills and the base running,
but with power too, you know. And they got some
big boppers in that lineup, of course, blat Gerrow Junior being.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
A pre eminent one. But so it's kind of the
best of both worlds in that lineup.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
And it was really fun to lotch just a really
tight together team and talked to Mark Schapiro and Ross
Adkins talked to Shapiro quite a bit actually over the
course of that series, and you know, he he went
up there from Cleveland at the end of twenty fifteen
going into twenty sixteen, and.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
They were a successful franchise at that time.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
They were in the LCS back to back years, and
of course lost to the Indians in twenty sixteen. But
you know, he took over at a time where their
farm system was pretty barren, and once that big league
team started to fizzle out, you know, guys got older.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
It was a rebuild project, and it was not.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
It was a successful one in some ways and not
in other ways. And they had they had three teams
reached the playoffs, but they could not win a playoff game.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
They just couldn't get it done.
Speaker 7 (25:34):
And they could not win the division, you know, against
some big boys in that division. But this year, for
whatever reason, I don't think some of those other teams
were any less talented than this one.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
But this one, you know.
Speaker 7 (25:44):
They were eight games back at the Yankees in May,
and then in June they just turned it on and
never looked back, and they ended up winning the division
and going all the way to the World Series in
Game seven against the team that again was heavily favored.
So got to give them a lot of credit for
what they built there. It'd be interesting to see where
it goes from here, because I think the Blue Jays
are finally like punching at their weight when it comes
(26:05):
to their market size, and they have all of Canada
eyes upon them. I think like a quarter of the
country was turned into these World Series games, which is
pretty crazy. So they got the financial might to go
with a good farm system to go with obviously a
really good big league club, so they could be a
real force.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Well, you mentioned talking to Mark Shapiro, and my goodness,
what a difference a period of time can make, because
it's spring training to add and sign Vladi Guerrero yet
and the Guardians were up there in May, and boy,
it just was a bad vibe. Not necessarily in the
clubhouse because as you mentioned it, it became really tight,
but just the city seemed to be down on the
(26:44):
Blue Jays and certainly down on Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. Yeah,
did he reference that at all? And why maybe it changed?
Speaker 7 (26:52):
Well, you know I brought that up where Well, first
of all, you know, I said, I don't remember you
ever handing out five hundred million dollars in Cleveland. He
did that with Flag Guerrero Junior at the beginning of
the year, and you know, they didn't play particularly well
that first month and a half two months even after
that contract was signed. But that contract did change things
in a significant way. It did shift the conversation from
(27:16):
you know, everybody looking at a team that finished in
last place last year and had its you know, its
biggest star nearing free agency, and its front office perhaps
on thin ice. You know, Shapiro was in the last
year of his deal and John Schneider the manager as well,
so you know, it could have gotten very ugly there,
very quickly had they not.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
Signed Guerrero like they did.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
The conversation when they did have a slower start in April,
and may could have been you know, snowballing upon itself
where they're looking like a trade deadline seller and a
team going back into rebuild mode.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
But having that stability of Guerrero did help.
Speaker 7 (27:52):
And you know, they they did have enough talent to
not be totally panicked when it came to the start.
Iou I think anybody was running away and hiding in
the American League this year, you know, or last year
for that matter. So so they had some time to
kind of piece things together, and he talk to people
in that club, and yeah, they had a couple series
in June where they started to look at each other
(28:13):
and go okay, the way we play the game is
something real. I think they really started to run the
bases better. That was a big thing for them at
that point in time. And like I said, they had
the contact ability, so they had some really nice things
working for them that when they did start to come fruition,
it started to look pretty real pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Anthony Castervinz joining us MLB dot com on the World
Series and Anthony, I think an underlying theme throughout the
series and maybe not as much toward the end because
of the way it panned out, But a lot of
people thought there was the big discussion if the Dodgers win,
is it good or bad for baseball with the looming
(28:55):
contract coming up between the players and owners when it
was all said and done, too much about that or
or a very real issue for the game, especially looking
ahead now.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
I think the financial disparities in baseball are a major issue.
I don't think that the outcome of a seven game
series is going to move that needle one way or another.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I mean, the situation is what it is regardless of
who won.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
And you know, ultimately the Dodgers, yes we're the big, bad,
big spending Dodgers, but they're playing a team with the
fifth highest pay roll in baseball and like I said,
a five hundred million dollars first basement.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
So it's not like, you know, it.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
Wasn't really a David versus Goliath situation as much as
people tended to try.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
To point it paint it that way. But yeah, I
mean huge.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
You've major revenue disparities, you know, from one market to
the next, and you know, different spending capabilities, and you know,
there's a there's not a cap there's a luxury tax,
which obviously some teams are content to just blow right past.
And I don't know, to me, I think maybe the
biggest issue that's maybe realistic to address is the deferral
(29:59):
situation because the Dodgers are a three hundred million dollar team,
that's more like a four hundred something million dollar team
because they have these deferred deals, most notably of course
to show heo Tani. So you know, to have that
amount of money deferred up front is a real benefit
for them, there's no question about it. And they've they've
(30:19):
probably made back every dollar they owe to show hey Tani,
and then some from the endorsements from the uh, you know,
partnerships they have in Japan because of him.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
That's the greatest contract baseball in terms of.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
Being you know, it's seven hundred million dollar deal, but
it's so heavily deferred.
Speaker 5 (30:35):
It's that it's amazingly it's team friendly. So things like that.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
You know, that's something that's you know, potentially maybe that
could be addressed in this collective bargain agreement. I don't know,
but obviously, you know, there's it's a huge issue for
the sport when one team can spend three hundred something
million and then you have other teams spending around one
hundred million or even less. You know, you just see
that it becomes very noticeable on the October stage, you know,
(31:03):
when one team just has so much more depth and
just so many more good players. It makes a difference
come October. You know, we say it all the time
that like, you can be really smart and get everything
right and build a team on a budget that gets
to October. And in the case of Cleveland, they've done
it routinely to their credit. But once you get in
that environment, man, I mean, you better have people who
(31:24):
can hit the ball over the wall, and you better
have depth, and you know those things cost money.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well, it's certainly something that bears watching as we get
closer after the twenty twenty six season and hopefully heading
into baseball in twenty twenty seven, we'll see with that
contract up the CBA Anthony, as regular listeners of the
program know, and then you're a regular guest, a friend
of the show, so to speak, the big time Bruce
(31:49):
Springsteen fan. Just to frame that, how many times have
you seen him live in concert.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Sixty the Big sixty sixty? None in twenty twenty unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
And who knows if he goes back out on tour again,
either solo or with the EA Street Band. He did
have a movie come out though recently, Springsteen Deliver Me
from Nowhere. You had a chance to see it? Do
we have a movie review at the very least for
this year's edition of our Springsteen Update?
Speaker 9 (32:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Well, I mean I had to see this thing. I've
I was hearing from friends about it, I'm reading about it.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
I'm on the road for the World Series and the
games don't start till eight pm, so I'm like, I'm
going to the noon show in downtown Toronto. You know.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
So I was able to see it despite the World Series, and.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
You know, get my Bruce fixed, you know, despite the
lack of concerts this year. But I gotta tell you, Rosie,
like it was definitely made for people like me, where
you know these stories that you've heard all these years
about the making of the Nebraska album and and what
Bruce was going through personally, and and you know, recording
Born Usa an acoustic format and then bringing it to
(32:56):
the band and he blow it out electric wise, and
that works, but the other Braska material didn't work for
electric Like this is all cool for me as a uber.
Speaker 5 (33:04):
Obsessive Bruce Springsteen fan.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
I don't know if the average person will care about
this story, but I mean it is from an artistic perspective,
it was a very bold choice of the Boss to
go acoustic at that point in time, just as the
star was really rising and he's on the cusp of
the Born Usa superstardom. But in between he you know,
before he does that, he does this, you know, very
stark and depressed album of acoustic songs.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
So that's you know, if.
Speaker 7 (33:31):
You're into art, like super into art and the artistry
of music, sure go check it out. But like, I
don't know, I was just fascinated, Like I can't believe
this is a movie that was I was thinking the
whole time, and I didn't even get upset like I
thought i'd be more upset with like, you know, factual
errors or timeline errors or.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
Whatever you but that stuff didn't bother me. Overall.
Speaker 7 (33:50):
I thought it was a solid movie. I just don't
know how wide the audience is for it. I think
the box office numbers so far show that unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Well, we appreciate the review. Hey, just circling back. Show
number sixty? Was that the one on the beach in
Asbury Park?
Speaker 5 (34:04):
That was?
Speaker 7 (34:05):
And if I never see another show, I mean that
that was a like way to go out, Rosie. It
was a perfect end of summer night, the waves crashing
on the beach as Bruce is singing Sandy and your
toes are in the sand of the of the Jersey Shore, like,
oh my gosh, I think you died and gone to heaven.
So it's been the past calendar year for Bruce Fann
between that and Tracks two, which was seven unreleased albums
(34:28):
that he unearthed, and then the best thing to come
out this whole movie thing, Rosie is you.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Get the Electric Nebraska was finally put out.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
That's where he tried to do the album with the band,
so those those tracks have finally come out as well.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
So it's been a great year and you had a
great World Series to be a part of.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 7 (34:45):
I got to listen to Electron Nebraska while flying over
Nebraska while covering the World Series.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
So that's a good week.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
That is that. You know what, we can't do better
than that, so we're gonna let it go right there. Anthay, Hey,
great to have you on as always and enjoy some
time off. The baseball season can be long, but certainly
worth it in the end when you have a World
Series like we did this year, and we'll look forward
to seeing it at spring training.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
No doubt. Sounds good, Rosie, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
That's Anthony Caster Vince from MLB dot Com. Stay tuned
more to come after this.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
The post career day press conference brought to you might
progress it.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Ythey can you tell us what happened during career Day.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
I'm a biomedical researcher.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
The kids just weren't impressed.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
How did you feel when your son called in the
backup embarrassed? And I knew it would be a fireman.
It's always a fireman.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
It's a cliche but a crowd favorite. He had an
accent everything.
Speaker 8 (35:42):
I can't compete with that.
Speaker 5 (35:44):
And will the fireman be helping your son with his
science fair project?
Speaker 8 (35:47):
Hope not.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
I'm literally a scientist.
Speaker 8 (35:49):
Flank it or not. Sometimes you need a backup. That's
why there's Progressive to protect your home in auto where's
a catch? Team terms something aphilius another one chevers no
available in those streats of situations.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Welcome back, Jim Rosenhouse back with you at Progressive Field,
Downtown Cleveland. Our final segment of this week's show, Guardians Weekly,
Rolling On and a couple of notes for you if
you're planning ahead for the holiday season, looking for something
fun to give that Guardians or just general baseball fan
in your family if they want to go in style
at Progressive Field next season. That great new spot that
(36:29):
was such a hit with everybody this year, whether you
were looking for premium seating or just a really neat
spot to watch the game with great food and beverage options,
the North Coast Social, the Key Bank North Coast Social
spot down that left field line took the place of
the Terrace Club and really became a great spot for
so many throughout the course of the season. They have
(36:52):
plans as low as ten games if you want to
get a partial season ticket package, so check it out
at guardians dot com slash Premium and you can view
all the different options there. Also, it's never too early
to look at the spring training. The schedules out for
Goodyear next spring, and the Guardians get things going on
(37:13):
February the twenty first against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Bombpark,
and they will be in Goodyear through the game on
the twenty second of March, also against the Reds to
close out the Goodyear portion. They'll have a couple of
games against the Diamondbacks again after that downtown at Chase
Field before they start the regular season against the Mariners
(37:36):
in Seattle on March the twenty sixth. But if you
want to make those plans, flights launching all that kind
of good stuff and plan ahead for February, spring training
begins with that first game on the twenty first of
February against the Reds. That's going to do it for
this week's show. So glad that you could join us
for a little while on your weekend or anytime if
(37:58):
you catch us online or on the apps as a podcast.
Thanks to Brian Motse has always for his help and
putting together our shows each and every week and until
next week. This is Jim rosen House reminding you that
you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic
Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping
Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance
Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians
fans save hundreds on car insurance.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jimmeros in house along
with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, and this
our first true hot stove show as all baseball activity
in the major leagues is complete with the completion of
the World Series last week, and we will visit with
Anthony Kastrovins from MLB dot Com, always a great friend
(01:20):
of the show, former Indians dot com B reporter based
here in Cleveland, but now very much on the national stage,
and he followed the World Series every step of the way,
so he'll fill us in on some of the ebbs
and flows of what turned out to be a really
entertaining World Series, and also have some observations on the
state of the game heading into the offseason with the
(01:41):
twenty twenty six campaign approaching next spring. We will also
have our Game of the Week segment as we continue
on heading into our break after Thanksgiving, and this week's game,
the night that the Guardians clinched a postseason berth with
a dramatic walkoff hit by pitch against the Texas Rangers,
(02:02):
and that triggered locker room celebration. So a lot of
fun to be had there, and we'll hear some of
those highlights in just a little bit on our show today.
But first I look at some news and notes of
the week, and great news for guardians. Outfielder Steven Kwan
named the Gold Glove Award winner in left field for
(02:23):
a fourth consecutive season his four seasons in the major leagues.
How about that. More on that in a moment, but
some of the nitty gritty on what helped him win
that award, not just reputation and the eye test that
if you attended games or watch or listen, you know
Kwan is a highlight waiting to happen. But statistically, and
(02:44):
they're getting more and more precise on defensive measurements with
each passing season. He finished with twenty two defensive runs
saved and that led all major league players at their
respective positions. He also led all major league left fielders
with a fielding run value of plus twelve. You know,
he has a great arm thirteen outfield assists and a
(03:08):
lot of it, not just the arm, but positioning getting
to the ball quickly and unloading it quickly. He's so
good at that, and that led to thirteen outfield assists
for an outfield overall, that was best in baseball. The
Guardians as a team put together thirty five outfield assists
and that's a big reason why they became a postseason
(03:28):
club over the last four seasons. His first four in
the Major league's, Kwan ranked second among major league fielders
with sixty eight defensive run saved. He trails only Cincinnati
third baseman Cabrian Hayes, who has seventy five defensive run saved.
So what does it mean for Kwan as a player
who has won the award in four consecutive seasons and
(03:51):
his first four seasons in the Major leagues? In terms
of Cleveland history, he's the fourth player to earn Gold
Glove honors in four or more consecutive seasons. Vic Power
from nineteen fifty eight to sixty one did it. He
was the first, Then Kenny Lofton from ninety three to
ninety six, and of course the great almar of his scale.
(04:12):
He had a tremendous run from nineteen ninety four to
two thousand and one. Kwan is the first player in
Cleveland history to win the Gold Glove in each of
his first four seasons, the first player in the major
leagues to do that since Nolan Aronato ripped off ten
consecutive seasons of Gold Glove play at third base to
(04:32):
start his career from twenty thirteen through the twenty twenty
two seasons. So tremendous company for Kwan. We hope to
have him on the show before we shut it down
for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday break, So will effort
that over the next couple of weeks or so to
try and get him on and talk about outfield excellence.
(04:53):
Other news and notes for the Guardians. They had to
clean up their roster in anticipation of the winter meetings
coming up. So all teams in baseball you may have
noticed a flurry of activity in terms of releases adding
players to their forty man roster, taking players off the
forty man roster. The Guardian's no different interesting move, and
at some point in tom we'll talk to either Chris
(05:16):
Antonetti or Mike Chernoff or Matt Foreman about it. But
they declined the club option that they had on left
handed pitcher John Means who had been coming back from
Tommy John surgery, was unable to quite make it back
in time. At the end of the season, they just
didn't have a spot to see him pitch, and they
declined that option for twenty twenty six. On means outrighted
(05:38):
to Triple A Columbus. Left handed Colby Allard, who really
had a fine season out of the pen for Cleveland.
Also right handed Ben Lively making his way back from
Tommy John surgery, infielder Will Wilson, who we saw quite
a bit of catchered, dom Nunez who's been in the
organization the past couple of seasons now, and left handed
reliever Matt Crook who spent more most of the season
(06:01):
at Triple A Columbus. They were all outrighted to Columbus.
They all could elect free agency, and they all did.
That doesn't mean they're gone from the organization. They could
resign on minor league deals with the major league invite
to spring training, so we'll see a lot of That's
a comfort level for the players involved and the team
as well. Activated from the sixty day injured list and
(06:23):
added to the roster. Outfielder Will Brennan coming back from
Tommy John surgery. Left hander Sam henschis making his way
back from shoulder issues and surgery, and also right handed
reliever Andrew Walters the same coming back from an arm
issue that needed surgery and actually a lat issue for
(06:43):
Andrew Walters coming back from surgery. So they have all
been activated and we'll see if they're ready to go
for spring training twenty twenty six. The forty man roster
is now at thirty seven, so some wiggle room to
add some youngsters who need to be protected from the
Rule five draft out of the minor system or acquiring
a player via trade or free agency. So now pretty
(07:05):
busy week in terms of transactions. When we come back,
we'll take a look back at one of the great
games of twenty twenty five. It was near the end
of the regular season and resulted in a clubhouse blowout
of celebration. That's coming your way next on the Cleveland
Plant Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Join us on Tuesday, December second, as we celebrate the
very best in Cleveland sports. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall
of Fame Class of twenty twenty five Induction ceremonies presented
by Echohealth and.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Events Source, featuring Steve a.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Miojch Tianna Madison, Wanda Ford, Jack Turbin and Chris Fielman,
who will join the more than five hundred and fifty sports.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Grades already enshrined.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Tickets and information available at clevelandsports Hall dot com.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
The post Crip Assembly dress Golfrin.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Well, Michael, you had some trouble putting the grip together today?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
What went wrong?
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You know those instructions can be tough, and you saw
the outcome here.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
You've said when your wife pulled you and called in
the backup.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
No, I mean the baby needs a cred to sleep,
and so whatever it takes.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You've got a.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Changing table to put together.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
Next.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
It's got a lot of drawers. What's your coming?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
We're done here, I.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Like it or not.
Speaker 8 (08:21):
Sometimes you need a backup. That's why there's Progressive to
protect your home in Auto, Progressive Cash Teamjerms Company affilias
other insoveris no available in those states of situations.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, the Maccots Guardians Weekly, Jim Rose in the house
along with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland and
in our off season shows before we come back from
our break covering Thanksgiving, Christmas in New year's We like
to take a look back at some of the great
games of twenty twenty five, and it was kind of
top heavy near the end in terms of some of
(08:58):
the dramatic games, and none big than a chance to
clinch a playoff berth officially on the second to last
day of the regular season. That was that home series
against the Texas Rangers, and on a Saturday evening, it
was the Guardians and Rangers, with Cleveland having their own
destiny controlled, where a win and they clinched a playoff spot.
(09:19):
The Rangers had already been eliminated despite a decent season
with a late rush, but they came in at eighty
one and seventy nine, the Guardians eighty six and seventy four.
Coming in the pitching matchup, Jacob Latz, a former Kent
State product. He was on the hill for Texas against
lefty Joey Cantillo for the Guardians, and the Rangers struck
first with a run in the first inning, but the
(09:40):
Guardians responded in the bottom of the inning to out
hit from Jose Ramirez, brought the recently recalled Jonathan Rodriguez
to the plate.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Now the set to look back the pitch swung on
hit high hit.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Deep to right center. This ball about that.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Jonathan Rodriguez his second home run he had sixteen in Columbus. Wow,
he's never had a bigger hit in his young major
league career. You talk about a shot in the arm
for this ball club. Two to one, Cleveland with the
(10:28):
lead on a towering two run home run to right
center here in the first well.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
And isn't that how it went down the stretch for Cleveland.
No matter who was in the lineup, how much they
had played during the regular season, some of the youngsters
really proved to be key down the stretch, and Rodriguez
sure was that last weekend of the regular season. Texas
tied the game at two on a solo home run
from adalist Garcia in the fourth, and then good pitching
on both sides made runs hard to come by.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Cage Smith hands chest tie checks, third, comes to the
plate runner at first, ghost pitch swung on a miss
Hi throw the second, my henches, they've.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Got a rundown.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Rochio throws to the plate head first, a tech to slide.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Hetches tigs out more coming home.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
How about that Texas tried to pull off a double
steal Hetches threw high a second Rochio made only being catch.
They had Young in the rundown, and as he ran
him back toward first, Rochio fired a strike to home
and they get Dylan Moore trying to score. Boy, it's
(11:36):
not October yet, but it feels like it, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Steven Volk going to his closer in.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
The eighth and attention packed game with Texas stays tied
at two in.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
The middle of ending number eight.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
The Guardians could not get a run across in the
bottom of the eighth inning, and Kate Smith was back
out there in the ninth.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
Capacity crowd back on the feet. They've been in a
playoff mode this entire homestand the one too swam on
as high heat took care of him. Cleveland's got a
chance to walk it off and punch their ticket to
the postseason. Bottom of the ninth, coming up to two
(12:19):
from downtown.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Cleveland Rangers reliever Robert Garcia. He would get two quick
outs to start the bottom of the ninth, but then
a walk to Jonathan Rodriguez brought Kyle Manzardo to the plate.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Now the set and the pitch swung on, lifted in
the air, shallow left Freeman coming hard, he toops pasa
helpens being left home. Now he puts the brakes on,
goes back to third. Wisely, Ruggi o'dor waved him home,
then put up the stop side Freeman tried to make
(12:53):
a diving catch and the ball almost skipped by him again,
and he got a club on it, kept it in
front of him where the game would have been over.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Then Texas intentionally walked Gabrielarius to load the bases, set
up a force at any base. Good strategy, But CJ. Cafus,
who was at the plate, and he foiled the plan
in dramatic fashion.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
Capus in justice forty third Major League game, trying to
send this place into a frenzy, bases loaded, two down
in the ninth to two game, the pitch in him.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Game playoffs again.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
And Cleveland for the eighth time in the last thirteen years,
you will have another.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
October to remember. CJ.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Capus, drilled by the pitch with the bases loaded, singing
in the winning run. And Cleveland has stunned Texas in
the bottom of the nineteen three to two and the
Guardians become the sixth and final American League playoff team
(14:22):
and two years in a row, Steven Vote and this
coaching staff have taken Cleveland to October baseball.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
And after the game, the celebration was on and unlikely
if you look back to where this team was in
July of this season, but it was a fun time
in the Guardians clubhouse. Chris Antonetti's joining US President of
Baseball Operations, chrisy, Look, you've been through a lot of
these now, but I imagine this year is a little
bit more special considering the roller coaster ride this team had.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
Yeah, they're all special, but this one is particularly sweet.
This group and the resilience save show and consistently throughout
the course of the season has been really extraordinary.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
I can't remember a year where we face.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
As much adversity as we have and to still have
the opportunity to play baseball is in October is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
We saw you in Chicago when there were some off
field things going on, and to go from that to
where you are now, When did you feel like this
team could put some things behind them and play good
baseball and get to this point?
Speaker 9 (15:23):
I'm not sure, Rosie. I think the one thing that
sets this group of part is just focusing on what's
in front of them today. And you know, we went
through some tough stretches, lost ten in a row, Had
you know, lost a couple of players going into Houston,
our season could have gone a number of different directions.
And by just focusing on trying to be the best
we could that day and taking care of each other,
our guys are standing here celebrating now.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Steven Voe was manager of the Year last year, better
this year with what he's done.
Speaker 9 (15:48):
Both years are great any time you're playing in October,
he's done a great job. But I would say, yeah, Stephen,
the consistency that he's showing throughout the course of the year,
the steady leadership, the way he helps guys continue to
believe in themselves that they're going to go out there
and succeed.
Speaker 10 (16:01):
It's contagious.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Chris, Thank you appreciate it. That's Chris Antonetti. Chris Antonetti,
President of Baseball Operations, who is the architect along with
this front office that put together a team that never
quit with some great pieces, particularly pitching wise, and among
those who have done some good work. Got the call
early tonight and Kate Smith, you're the closer for this
(16:25):
team down the stretch. And I know you've talked about
just wanting to be a part of helping this team
get here. Now, is this what you're talking about?
Speaker 10 (16:32):
Absolutely? This is why we grind all off season, all
seasonally enough this to be able to do this. That's
what we're here for. That's the goal.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
And it seemed like you got better and better after
some hiccups along the way in terms of closing. How
did you get to a good place where you could
put the games that got away behind you and then
come back stronger the next day.
Speaker 10 (16:51):
Yeah, that's part of the game, is that you're gonna
have his and lows. But part of the learning aspect
is how do you respond from that? How do you
bounce back? How do you learn to be consistent? How
do you learn from what they hit are trying to
adjust and do to you? And how do you make
adjustments and play that cat and mouse game. And the
beauty of being in the bullpen is that whether if
you have a rough one or a good one, you
get to forget about it, You get to move on,
You get to get ready to pitch the next day.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Teammates are a big part of this. You mentioned the
other day, Austin Hedges, without a doubt, the team leader
that would not let anyone quit on this season. What
do you mean by that? When? When was he saying that?
What was he saying to get you guys in a
good place?
Speaker 10 (17:25):
Yeah, I mean, you know, just like anybody else. We've
had some highs lows this year.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
He's awarding the championship belt. I'm guessing it's going to
Jonathan Rodriguez. Jonathan Rodriguez, I believe, for the first time
this season, gets the wrestling belt that they give to
the star of the game. What timing for that young man.
(17:52):
So there it was the night that the Guardians clinched
a postseason birth. Next week, we will revisit the game
that allowed them to complete an historic Major League comeback
to win the division. That's next week. Coming up next,
we'll check in with MLB dot COM's Anthony castor Vince
and talk World Series, state of the game, what's ahead
(18:15):
in the off season, and much much more that comes
your way next the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Welcome
(18:46):
back to Guardians Weekly. We are joined now by good
friend of the program, Anthony Castro Vince from MLB dot Com.
As he was on the case for a lot of
the postseason and all of the World Series, which just completed.
So no more games, real games of baseball until spring
training begins in the major leagues in mid February to
(19:08):
late February. And Anthony, I think, by all accounts, one
of the best World Series in quite some time, and
a lot of people saying it's the best of all time,
but certainly a great one in entertaining. And when you
are in it every day and you cover it, did
you come away with that when it was all said
and done.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
You know. I've covered the World Series every year since
twenty ten, Rosie, and there's a few that stand out,
like twenty eleven, of course, the Cardinals, you know, the
huge comeback in Game six and the Rangers down, you know,
one strike away from the World Series twice, and the Cardinals.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Pulled off in Game six.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Game seven isn't as strong there, but that World Series
will always stick out because of that Game six twenty
sixteen here in Cleveland, of course against the Cubs.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
I know, we you know, we try to forget elements
of that, but the raj Damis.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
Stone run and Game seven and just you know what
that series meant to both franchises with the two long
droughts and the Cubs of course ending one hundred and
eight year drought.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
I mean, that's an all timer. But and then twenty
seventeen was really good as well.
Speaker 7 (20:10):
The first six games, like I would, I thought we
were on track for maybe the greatest World Series ever.
Then Game seven was kind of a dud and the
Astros just ran away with that one.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
So where I'm going with this is twenty.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Twenty five had at all, Like I legitimately think that
was the best World series top to bottom I've ever seen.
I would put it up against anything historically even I
just think it was that strong, Like the games were compelling.
You had the eighteen in game in Game three was
Showyo Tani with an all time offensive performance. You had
the Blue Jays just kind of punching up. There were
the heavy underdogs, but you know, winning games one, four,
(20:43):
and five, and then the Dodgers come back and do
something that unfortunately we lived through here in Cleveland in
twenty sixteen, where the home team's going into Game six
up three games to two and the road team wins
the last two games, in Game seven being as epic
as it was going to next tradings. I think it
was even better than the Game seven and twenty sixteen,
just because of the late inning drama. You know, the
(21:05):
ninth inning was incredible and something unfortunately people in Toronto
are going to be I don't know, and people on
the Blue Jays are gonna be kicking themselves for that
ninth inning forever, unfortunately.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
But it was great theater, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
You mentioned ad and obviously for the Dodgers, a tremendous
win back to back now World Series titles. But even
though I think a lot of people had them as
an underdog going in, was there that tremendous feeling of
a missed opportunity on the part of the Blue Jays.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
One thousand million percent?
Speaker 7 (21:41):
You know, they they came out of that series really
feeling like, you know, they were as good as the Dodgers,
and in many ways they outplayed the Dodgers over the
course of that series, you know, in terms of their
run production for sure, I mean, They're pitching overall was
probably better. But these very small things can just unravel,
(22:01):
you you know, and that ninth inning, it's just one
thing after another.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
When you go back and rewatch it obviously.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
You know, Jeff Hoffman hangs a pitch to Miguel Rojas,
who had not had a hit in almost a month,
and he's able to you know, hit that game tying
home run that you would probably put right up there
with the Raj Davis home run. And in terms of
just where did that come from? And how do we
have a brand new ball game all of a sudden
and the bottom of the ninth, you know, Blue Jay's
had their chances, and Isaiah Connor Falleffo of course, was.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
On third base and slides into home plate.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
And you know it's been all kinds of discourse about
his lead at third Should you have had a longer lead,
a bigger lead. I don't know about all that, but
I do know that he could have gone standing up
at home plate, you know, try to run through the
plate like you run through first base or head first
slide would have had better.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Odds of scoring there.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
I mean, as it stands, you know, it was a
force out, and it was a fraction of a second,
you know, separating when from losing basically so in Game
seven in the World serieson in the bottom.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Of the night.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
I mean, you can't ask for better drama than that,
but you also can't ask for more regret than that
if you are the Toronto Blue Jays.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Anthony kastrovinch joining us from MLB dot Com former Guardians
are Well, Indians beat writer back in the day for
Indians dot Com and Anthony along those lines. There was
a real Cleveland flavor to that Blue Jays roster. So
many key players at one point in time it spent
time here and were able to talk to any of
(23:30):
them about that or at least have your own thoughts
on it in terms of what those players had become
for a Blue Jays team that maybe they weren't here
just for circumstances.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
Yeah, you know, I talked to Bieber a little bit
about that obviously with the trade you know, mid season,
and he ended up in a really good spot. I mean,
if you're gonna be dealt from the only organization you've
ever known, that was a great situation to go into.
You know, the clubhouse was really cohesive and he was
part of that. They welcomed him with open arms and
obviously he got to go to the Big Dance. You know,
(24:02):
he got to go to the World Series. That's pretty cool.
I didn't turn out so well for him at the
end there, you know, gave up.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
The go ahead a home run.
Speaker 7 (24:08):
But I think overall, I thought he pitched really well
for the Blue Jays, and you know, should should do him,
you know, should serve him well in free agency. But
you know those other guys, you know him and as
Miles Straw, Ernie Clement, my gosh, what a postseason.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
That guy had thirty one hits.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
They just kind of you watch the Blue Jays and
it was like an expanded version of the Guardians and
that they have the contact skills and the base running,
but with power too, you know. And they got some
big boppers in that lineup, of course, blat Gerrow Junior being.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
A pre eminent one. But so it's kind of the
best of both worlds in that lineup.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
And it was really fun to lotch just a really
tight together team and talked to Mark Schapiro and Ross
Adkins talked to Shapiro quite a bit actually over the
course of that series, and you know, he he went
up there from Cleveland at the end of twenty fifteen
going into twenty sixteen, and.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
They were a successful franchise at that time.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
They were in the LCS back to back years, and
of course lost to the Indians in twenty sixteen. But
you know, he took over at a time where their
farm system was pretty barren, and once that big league
team started to fizzle out, you know, guys got older.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
It was a rebuild project, and it was not.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
It was a successful one in some ways and not
in other ways. And they had they had three teams
reached the playoffs, but they could not win a playoff game.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
They just couldn't get it done.
Speaker 7 (25:34):
And they could not win the division, you know, against
some big boys in that division. But this year, for
whatever reason, I don't think some of those other teams
were any less talented than this one.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
But this one, you know.
Speaker 7 (25:44):
They were eight games back at the Yankees in May,
and then in June they just turned it on and
never looked back, and they ended up winning the division
and going all the way to the World Series in
Game seven against the team that again was heavily favored.
So got to give them a lot of credit for
what they built there. It'd be interesting to see where
it goes from here, because I think the Blue Jays
are finally like punching at their weight when it comes
(26:05):
to their market size, and they have all of Canada
eyes upon them. I think like a quarter of the
country was turned into these World Series games, which is
pretty crazy. So they got the financial might to go
with a good farm system to go with obviously a
really good big league club, so they could be a
real force.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Well, you mentioned talking to Mark Shapiro, and my goodness,
what a difference a period of time can make, because
it's spring training to add and sign Vladi Guerrero yet
and the Guardians were up there in May, and boy,
it just was a bad vibe. Not necessarily in the
clubhouse because as you mentioned it, it became really tight,
but just the city seemed to be down on the
(26:44):
Blue Jays and certainly down on Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. Yeah,
did he reference that at all? And why maybe it changed?
Speaker 7 (26:52):
Well, you know I brought that up where Well, first
of all, you know, I said, I don't remember you
ever handing out five hundred million dollars in Cleveland. He
did that with Flag Guerrero Junior at the beginning of
the year, and you know, they didn't play particularly well
that first month and a half two months even after
that contract was signed. But that contract did change things
in a significant way. It did shift the conversation from
(27:16):
you know, everybody looking at a team that finished in
last place last year and had its you know, its
biggest star nearing free agency, and its front office perhaps
on thin ice. You know, Shapiro was in the last
year of his deal and John Schneider the manager as well,
so you know, it could have gotten very ugly there,
very quickly had they not.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
Signed Guerrero like they did.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
The conversation when they did have a slower start in April,
and may could have been you know, snowballing upon itself
where they're looking like a trade deadline seller and a
team going back into rebuild mode.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
But having that stability of Guerrero did help.
Speaker 7 (27:52):
And you know, they they did have enough talent to
not be totally panicked when it came to the start.
Iou I think anybody was running away and hiding in
the American League this year, you know, or last year
for that matter. So so they had some time to
kind of piece things together, and he talk to people
in that club, and yeah, they had a couple series
in June where they started to look at each other
(28:13):
and go okay, the way we play the game is
something real. I think they really started to run the
bases better. That was a big thing for them at
that point in time. And like I said, they had
the contact ability, so they had some really nice things
working for them that when they did start to come fruition,
it started to look pretty real pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Anthony Castervinz joining us MLB dot com on the World
Series and Anthony, I think an underlying theme throughout the
series and maybe not as much toward the end because
of the way it panned out, But a lot of
people thought there was the big discussion if the Dodgers win,
is it good or bad for baseball with the looming
(28:55):
contract coming up between the players and owners when it
was all said and done, too much about that or
or a very real issue for the game, especially looking
ahead now.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
I think the financial disparities in baseball are a major issue.
I don't think that the outcome of a seven game
series is going to move that needle one way or another.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I mean, the situation is what it is regardless of
who won.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
And you know, ultimately the Dodgers, yes we're the big, bad,
big spending Dodgers, but they're playing a team with the
fifth highest pay roll in baseball and like I said,
a five hundred million dollars first basement.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
So it's not like, you know, it.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
Wasn't really a David versus Goliath situation as much as
people tended to try.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
To point it paint it that way. But yeah, I
mean huge.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
You've major revenue disparities, you know, from one market to
the next, and you know, different spending capabilities, and you know,
there's a there's not a cap there's a luxury tax,
which obviously some teams are content to just blow right past.
And I don't know, to me, I think maybe the
biggest issue that's maybe realistic to address is the deferral
(29:59):
situation because the Dodgers are a three hundred million dollar team,
that's more like a four hundred something million dollar team
because they have these deferred deals, most notably of course
to show heo Tani. So you know, to have that
amount of money deferred up front is a real benefit
for them, there's no question about it. And they've they've
(30:19):
probably made back every dollar they owe to show hey Tani,
and then some from the endorsements from the uh, you know,
partnerships they have in Japan because of him.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
That's the greatest contract baseball in terms of.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
Being you know, it's seven hundred million dollar deal, but
it's so heavily deferred.
Speaker 5 (30:35):
It's that it's amazingly it's team friendly. So things like that.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
You know, that's something that's you know, potentially maybe that
could be addressed in this collective bargain agreement. I don't know,
but obviously, you know, there's it's a huge issue for
the sport when one team can spend three hundred something
million and then you have other teams spending around one
hundred million or even less. You know, you just see
that it becomes very noticeable on the October stage, you know,
(31:03):
when one team just has so much more depth and
just so many more good players. It makes a difference
come October. You know, we say it all the time
that like, you can be really smart and get everything
right and build a team on a budget that gets
to October. And in the case of Cleveland, they've done
it routinely to their credit. But once you get in
that environment, man, I mean, you better have people who
(31:24):
can hit the ball over the wall, and you better
have depth, and you know those things cost money.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well, it's certainly something that bears watching as we get
closer after the twenty twenty six season and hopefully heading
into baseball in twenty twenty seven, we'll see with that
contract up the CBA Anthony, as regular listeners of the
program know, and then you're a regular guest, a friend
of the show, so to speak, the big time Bruce
(31:49):
Springsteen fan. Just to frame that, how many times have
you seen him live in concert.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Sixty the Big sixty sixty? None in twenty twenty unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
And who knows if he goes back out on tour again,
either solo or with the EA Street Band. He did
have a movie come out though recently, Springsteen Deliver Me
from Nowhere. You had a chance to see it? Do
we have a movie review at the very least for
this year's edition of our Springsteen Update?
Speaker 9 (32:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Well, I mean I had to see this thing. I've
I was hearing from friends about it, I'm reading about it.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
I'm on the road for the World Series and the
games don't start till eight pm, so I'm like, I'm
going to the noon show in downtown Toronto. You know.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
So I was able to see it despite the World Series, and.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
You know, get my Bruce fixed, you know, despite the
lack of concerts this year. But I gotta tell you, Rosie,
like it was definitely made for people like me, where
you know these stories that you've heard all these years
about the making of the Nebraska album and and what
Bruce was going through personally, and and you know, recording
Born Usa an acoustic format and then bringing it to
(32:56):
the band and he blow it out electric wise, and
that works, but the other Braska material didn't work for
electric Like this is all cool for me as a uber.
Speaker 5 (33:04):
Obsessive Bruce Springsteen fan.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
I don't know if the average person will care about
this story, but I mean it is from an artistic perspective,
it was a very bold choice of the Boss to
go acoustic at that point in time, just as the
star was really rising and he's on the cusp of
the Born Usa superstardom. But in between he you know,
before he does that, he does this, you know, very
stark and depressed album of acoustic songs.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
So that's you know, if.
Speaker 7 (33:31):
You're into art, like super into art and the artistry
of music, sure go check it out. But like, I
don't know, I was just fascinated, Like I can't believe
this is a movie that was I was thinking the
whole time, and I didn't even get upset like I
thought i'd be more upset with like, you know, factual
errors or timeline errors or.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
Whatever you but that stuff didn't bother me. Overall.
Speaker 7 (33:50):
I thought it was a solid movie. I just don't
know how wide the audience is for it. I think
the box office numbers so far show that unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Well, we appreciate the review. Hey, just circling back. Show
number sixty? Was that the one on the beach in
Asbury Park?
Speaker 5 (34:04):
That was?
Speaker 7 (34:05):
And if I never see another show, I mean that
that was a like way to go out, Rosie. It
was a perfect end of summer night, the waves crashing
on the beach as Bruce is singing Sandy and your
toes are in the sand of the of the Jersey Shore, like,
oh my gosh, I think you died and gone to heaven.
So it's been the past calendar year for Bruce Fann
between that and Tracks two, which was seven unreleased albums
(34:28):
that he unearthed, and then the best thing to come
out this whole movie thing, Rosie is you.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Get the Electric Nebraska was finally put out.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
That's where he tried to do the album with the band,
so those those tracks have finally come out as well.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
So it's been a great year and you had a
great World Series to be a part of.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 7 (34:45):
I got to listen to Electron Nebraska while flying over
Nebraska while covering the World Series.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
So that's a good week.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
That is that. You know what, we can't do better
than that, so we're gonna let it go right there. Anthay, Hey,
great to have you on as always and enjoy some
time off. The baseball season can be long, but certainly
worth it in the end when you have a World
Series like we did this year, and we'll look forward
to seeing it at spring training.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
No doubt. Sounds good, Rosie, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
That's Anthony Caster Vince from MLB dot Com. Stay tuned
more to come after this.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
The post career day press conference brought to you might
progress it.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Ythey can you tell us what happened during career Day.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
I'm a biomedical researcher.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
The kids just weren't impressed.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
How did you feel when your son called in the
backup embarrassed? And I knew it would be a fireman.
It's always a fireman.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
It's a cliche but a crowd favorite. He had an
accent everything.
Speaker 8 (35:42):
I can't compete with that.
Speaker 5 (35:44):
And will the fireman be helping your son with his
science fair project?
Speaker 8 (35:47):
Hope not.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
I'm literally a scientist.
Speaker 8 (35:49):
Flank it or not. Sometimes you need a backup. That's
why there's Progressive to protect your home in auto where's
a catch? Team terms something aphilius another one chevers no
available in those streats of situations.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Welcome back, Jim Rosenhouse back with you at Progressive Field,
Downtown Cleveland. Our final segment of this week's show, Guardians Weekly,
Rolling On and a couple of notes for you if
you're planning ahead for the holiday season, looking for something
fun to give that Guardians or just general baseball fan
in your family if they want to go in style
at Progressive Field next season. That great new spot that
(36:29):
was such a hit with everybody this year, whether you
were looking for premium seating or just a really neat
spot to watch the game with great food and beverage options,
the North Coast Social, the Key Bank North Coast Social
spot down that left field line took the place of
the Terrace Club and really became a great spot for
so many throughout the course of the season. They have
(36:52):
plans as low as ten games if you want to
get a partial season ticket package, so check it out
at guardians dot com slash Premium and you can view
all the different options there. Also, it's never too early
to look at the spring training. The schedules out for
Goodyear next spring, and the Guardians get things going on
(37:13):
February the twenty first against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Bombpark,
and they will be in Goodyear through the game on
the twenty second of March, also against the Reds to
close out the Goodyear portion. They'll have a couple of
games against the Diamondbacks again after that downtown at Chase
Field before they start the regular season against the Mariners
(37:36):
in Seattle on March the twenty sixth. But if you
want to make those plans, flights launching all that kind
of good stuff and plan ahead for February, spring training
begins with that first game on the twenty first of
February against the Reds. That's going to do it for
this week's show. So glad that you could join us
for a little while on your weekend or anytime if
(37:58):
you catch us online or on the apps as a podcast.
Thanks to Brian Motse has always for his help and
putting together our shows each and every week and until
next week. This is Jim rosen House reminding you that
you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic
Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping
Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance
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