February 13, 2026 • 39 mins
Guardians slugger David Fry, and starter Slade Cecconi join the show as they get set to report to Goodyear. Plus, continuing to preview the AL Central Division with the Kansas City Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre. 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 (00:51):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along
with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, last of
our Hot Stove shows from northeast Ohio before heading out
to spring training. That's where we will join you next week.
So good times ahead, as we'll have reports from Goodyear
(01:13):
throughout the spring and then on into the regular season,
which begins on March the twenty sixth. A lot to
get to on this week's show. In the second half
of our program, we will hear from Ryan Lefever, the
long time broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals, and give
us an update on the Royals hopes for the twenty
twenty six campaign. We'll also visit with Guardians pitcher Slade
(01:35):
Secone get his thoughts on the season ahead, as well
as a brief look back at a year ago real
breakthrough season for him. But first, we had a chance
to catch up with David Fry recently about midway through
the offseason, as he continued to make his way back
from an injury plagued twenty twenty five campaign. Remember back
in twenty twenty four, he was an All Star, hitting
(01:57):
fourteen home runs and driving in fifty one, playing several
different positions including first third, the outfield, also catching, so
a little bit of everything for David Frye a designated
hitter as well. But last year, coming off of Tommy
John surgery, a late start, and then at the end
of the year, with a week to go, he was
(02:18):
struck in the face with a pitch from Trek Scooble
that ended his year before the postseason began. When we
caught up with him, he looked great. Things are progressing
very well for him as spring trainings right around the corner,
and he says the biggest change this offseason another addition
to the fry family.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, it's been an unbelievable blessing. I have a second
daughter in the timing of it to where I get
to be at home and just be dad for a
little bit and learn how to take care of two
girls now, which I say to take care of. My
wife does most of the work. But it's been super
fun and nice. Now kind of like getting back into
a normal offseason doing baseball stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And certainly want to know how you do, how you
are doing after a really scary injury at the tail
end of the regular season, How things going with your
recovery and getting back to baseball.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, feeling feeling great as of like last week. Clear
to like have normal workout, hit, throw, do everything. Definitely
a god thing that it wasn't anything more serious, and
I just had to miss a few weeks and kind
of back and getting ready for this next season.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And when you look back on it, that stretch end
of regular season and then a postseason run, I'll be
at short What was that like for you? And how
important was it to be able to come around here
during the postseason and be around your teammates.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Huge, I mean it's I mean, it's why you play
the regular season. The goal in the regular season is
to make the playoffs. Then when you make the playoffs,
the goal is to win the World Series. And just
that run that we had in the last month of
the season, that was a part of most of it
playing but even after I got hit, just like just
the way the team came together and you know, the
playoffs are so much fun. I wasn't even allowed to
(04:03):
be in the dugout. I was in the clubhouse, but
just being those games are just so different and there's
so much energy, and we were super excited. I was
hoping that we would get stay in Cleveland a little
bit longer, but hopefully we can change that.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
This year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You mentioned a run at the end and it was
uncommon historically, so to be able to complete the job
and win a division. What was it like going through
that on a day to day basis, maybe late August
and then on into September.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So much fun.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I mean that just the group that we have, it's
no matter what's happening, we have so much fun together,
whether we're in the clubhouse, out there playing whatever it is,
at the hotel together and there was never any like,
oh gosh, panic, we're not playing good whatever. It was just, hey,
we just keep doing what we're doing. We know at
the end of the day the results are going to
(04:51):
finally come. And it took a while, but they finally didn't.
It was just I remember looking at Bow and Hedgy
like the last week of the year and I was like,
I don't think you guys called a barrel in like
a month like our pictures didn't give up any runs,
but it was really cool to be a part of
and just especially with what our pitchers did, just watching
them kind of carry us that last month.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
David Fry joining us obviously with an injury where it
was sustained. I know the plan was full recovery, Timmy John, You're.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Going to catch a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Is that still the plan going in the next season?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, I think so. Whenever we kind of talked about
it was kind of like maybe how twenty four was
where I'm able to catch and then go to other
positions as needed. But that's kind of how I'm preparing
this offseason is get ready to catch as much as
possible and then you know, just kind of like every
other year with me, whatever situation arises, be ready to
play whatever position they tell me, and I'll be happy
(05:44):
with it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Everybody does their off seasons differently. For you, what does
that mean? Where do you do your workouts? And how
far along are you at this point?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So, yeah, we're in Louisiana now, we're building next to
my wife's parents, and we're about thirty minutes from where
I went to college, and so I still know a
couple of the coaches up there pretty well, and I
just go up there. They have full weight room, workout facilities,
and obviously cages and stuff, so I get to work
out there and then go home and be dad for
the rest of the day. And it's a nice break
(06:14):
from the traveling all over the place. And then you
have to once spring training comes, get the girls ready
to travel.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And follow me everywhere just because it's fun. The name
of the town that your college is in Nacketish, Nacketish.
Try and spell that, folks, you'll never get it, but
thank goodness, you can pronounce it. That's awesome, swing Lise.
It just seemed like it was a challenge to get
where you'd like to be able to get it to
a good spot. Hear this offseason so far and feel
(06:44):
real confident going into spring training.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, I've started hitting some and just kind of looking back,
I think during the rehab process, you know, maybe gotten
some bad habits. I don't know if it was me
trying to baby it with my elbow or if it
was just you know, hitting and you don't really really
and you get into bet some bad habits and then
all of a sudden, it's go face rode on Scooble
and Freed and it's like, all right, got to be
(07:07):
ready to go, and you're kind of playing catch up.
But yeah, I feel really good about where we're at.
I've been in contact with Fink, our our hitting coach,
and he's had a lot of good stuff for me,
and feel super confident where we're at and kind of
getting ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
He mentioned the team and why it was so fun
to be a part of that a year ago and
at least so far, not a whole lot of changes
and the good cast of characters it seems to be
coming back. What is it that makes this group click
that maybe allows them to overcome some tough times and
get where they want to be.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yeah, I think it's just I mean, it's like kind
of cliche as it is. I guess we just like
really love being around each other. It's just a group
that knows how to have fun but also prepare really
really well. I think our staff mixed with our players
do a great job every week of preparing for each series,
and I think that kind of gives us a little
advantage before the game even start of Okay, even if
(08:02):
they might have a slight advantage. Here, here's how we're
going to overcome it by preparing and our team buys
into it, and we're also we just have a lot
of really talented guys in there.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
How much do you keep track of what's going on
with other teams, different transactions, things like that as a
big part of this team. Is that something you keep
track of daily or you just kind of figure it
out when you get the spring training?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, I would say, especially this offseason having our second daughter,
I've been on my phone very little, So I try
to keep up with like the major dates that happen
and see what's happening with things. But yeah, if you
were to ask me what's kind of happening in the
baseball world right now, I wouldn't be able to tell you.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
All right, most importantly, and we'll end on this. We're
recording this in the clubhouse. The clubhouse dynamic. You locker
fairly close, if not right next to Austin Hedges. How
do you keep it together in that situation? And how
much of a challenge is that?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Very challenging. I have probably the hardest job on the
team because I have to keep him in check all year.
I mean, you got to deal with a dirty locker.
He's probably smelling a little bit that day, and then
he's just he's just loud, and you got to keep
him in check and you never know what you're gonna
hear that day and uh no, But being serious, I'm
very happy he's coming back and all gladly take on
(09:24):
the role of trying to keep him in check all year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I was going to ask you what was your reaction
when he resigned?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Good or bad?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Very happy, but I got my work cut out fair enough. David,
great to see you, Thanks for coming by. Yeah, thank you.
It's David Frye certainly is optimistic about what lies ahead
for twenty twenty six. Same holds true for Slate Secni,
the Guardian starting pitcher. We'll visit with him next time
at Cleveland Clinic. Guardians Radio on that board.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
The post Career Day press conference.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Progress, Can you tell us what happened during career.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Day, biomedical researcher. The kids just weren't impressed.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
How did you feel when your son called in the
backup embarrassed?
Speaker 3 (10:05):
And I knew it would be a fireman.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
It's always a fireman. It's a cliche, but a crowd favorite.
He had an AX and everything. I can't compete with that.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And will the fireman be helping your son with his
side fare project?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Hope not. I'm literally a scientist. I don't like it
or not. Sometimes you need a backup. That's why there's
Progressive to protect your home. In Autore's a catch tea
terms something aphelious another insurvers now available in those seats
of situations.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Seconi in a good rhythm throwing strikes and he has
had hitters off balance from the get go. Here's secone's
pitch swig and I miss Strength three. He strikes out
the side.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Now the two two delivery that Strength three called painted
the outside corner at ninety six miles an hour. Wow,
Slate Seconi reaching back for a little extra.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Welcome back, Guardie and Weekly Jim Rosenhouse back with you
from Progressive Field, downtown Cleveland. Guardian's getting ready for full
squad workouts at spring training. They begin next week. The
pitchers are there already, including Slade Seconi, who we caught
up with midway through the off season.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Last year.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
A breakthrough year for Seconi as major League highs and
starts with twenty three innings pitched, with one hundred and
thirty two finished seven and seven and was a mainstay
in that starting rotation, and he says the trade prior
to last season that brought him from Arizona changed everything
for him.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
Yeah, I mean it certainly changed the trajectory of my career,
being traded here and being given the opportunity that I
was given and being in a position to take advantage
of it. I think there's a lot to build on
off of last year. I certainly know that I did
not reach my ceiling or my potential, but from where
I was in twenty four to where I got to
(11:57):
in twenty five, the progress was very eye opening to
show you what that potential could be if I just continue,
you know, working hard and doing the right things.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Just visiting with you in spring training, even before you
threw a regular season pitch for the team, it just
seemed like you were excited about what was going on
and what was it that you realized pretty early on
that could be really good for you Here.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
I saw that my interests in Cleveland's interests were aligned,
and we both saw areas in me that needed improvement.
But we also saw the good that I did, and
we were able to have very specific plans put in
place to attack the things that I needed to do
(12:44):
better without losing my strengths.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Slats of Coni joining us, breakthrough year for you, and
you were a part of that run at the end
of the season that saw this team reach the postseason
number one win a division which was historically unlikely. I
think others were thinking it, but you said it when
things were at their worst. What gave you confidence in
July to say this team could make the postseason when
(13:10):
it looked like an insurmountable challenge.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Just the guys in this locker room. I saw the
way that they showed up after the losses. You know,
nobody came in here and carried one day to the next,
or one pitch or a bat or a poor outing
or poor game to the next. It was good, bad,
and different. Next day was a clean slate, new day,
new opportunity, and I took I took a lot of
(13:35):
crap online for what I said. A lot of people
called me to losion, a lot of people said I
was off my rocker, you know, and not in here,
not nobody in here. Ever, there's never a point in
time where any money in this building agreed with any
of those statements that people were saying outside this building,
and that is another reason why we did what we did,
was because we didn't listen to the noise and the
(13:56):
things that people outside this building who don't know what
goes on inside this building.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We're saying from a fans perspective, We're watching this development
and it was really fun and each day seemed to
be more fun than the next because of what was happening.
What was it like in here as you got closer
to accomplishing what you wanted to Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
We've played that win playlist a lot. After Games Man,
we still knew every song by each word. You know,
it was fun. We were in here freaking. I mean,
we had guys in the locker a couple over from
me playing Super Smash Bros. After games we were as
some guys drinking beer. We had some guys that, you know,
we're just happy to be here and just enjoying the ride.
(14:37):
And I mean, it was it was you know, the
vibes were perfect. And even after the losses, you know,
we weren't coming in here hanging our heads. I mean,
we weren't partying or listening to music or anything, but
we were like, you know, we lost today. We did
some things, Well, we did something's bad. Let's learn from
what we didn't do great and show up tomorrow and
be better.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
So obviously you want to go further than it turned
out the team was able to. But what is that
done this offseason? As you've talked to different guys on
the team you're here for the mid December workouts in
terms of focus for next season and what you want
to carry maybe a step further or too.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Well, you know, from the looks of it right now,
it seems like we're pretty much returning the entire September
staff that went on that incredible run, along with the
pitching staff that was responsible for, you know, helping us
do that, and you know, the catchers that were calling
all the pitches, and you know, everybody that was a
(15:37):
part of that September run is going to be back
in this building on April first.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
And I think that.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Gives us so much confidence that it's like, hey, if
we just work and we all just get a little
bit better. We were already so good, you know, last year, we.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Were so good.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
If we just get a little bit better and charp
it up a little bit of this, a little bit
of that, and stay a little bit healthier and just
do the little things a little tiny bit better, and
we have a legitimate chance to be a top five
pitching staff in this in this league, and also be
the cheapest pitching staff in this league, which is a
really nice, really nice mix.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Changing the subject completely earlier today, had a chance to
visit with Doug Nacasey Rare in a Major league clubhouse.
Our two guys who played on the same travel ball
team at eight or nine or ten somewhere in there we.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Were still in the little fields.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Man.
Speaker 6 (16:33):
We've known each other since we were ten years old.
We played together a team called Team Florida growing up,
and we've known each other ever since. Yeah, as soon
as I got traded, I think he was one of
the first people I tried to reach out to because
I was like, I get to like, I mean, he
knows my dad, you know, I know his parents. Like
I think we stayed each other's houses when we were
(16:54):
like eleven years old, like, and it was really like
a full circle moment.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And he said, you guys just bled teams and only
lost like four games. Can you confirm that information?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Correct?
Speaker 6 (17:04):
We actually in two years we did lose a total
of four games. We would actually most of the terms
we played at least half of them we would play up
or we would play with we were eleven years old,
playing like with wood bats, because like it was like
it was getting to the point where we would like
we went. We went played Cooperstown and we won tournament
Cooperstown and there was one team the entire week we
didn't run role like it was just it was one
(17:25):
of those teams that was special.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Is the thought of playing in the major leagues? Does
it start then or even maybe even earlier where realistically
you're thinking, you know what, I'm playing in the big
league someday.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
I don't think it started then, but I think the
love of the game really blossomed at that age. And
there were some high end Division One players and another
big leaguer, Gunner pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. I think
he underwent hiple abram surgery. But he's another guy on
that team. Such three big leaguers on one ten year
old baseball team, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
At starting pitcher Slate Seconi and again he's already at
spring and getting ready for a new year, and a
lot of optimism there from him supremely confident, and that's
what you need certainly to make it through and have
success in the major leagues. Stay tuned, we'll have more
to come as we take a look at the Kansas
City Royals, our American League's Central Division opponent. Previews continue
(18:18):
after this.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Kate Smith, He's ready here he fires pitched high in
the air, medium deep break. Jones is under a ball game.
What a huge win for Cleveland. Kate Smith takes care
of business in the night and the Guardians take three
out of four from Kansas City.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It's Guardians Weekly and we continue our look around the
division rivals the American League Central for the Guardians, and
this week we take a look at the Kansas City Royals,
a team that two years ago made the postseason. Last
year just a slight step back, but trying to reload
and see if they can be contenders again. And we're
joined by Ryan Lafever, longtime broadcaster now for the Royals,
(19:29):
former Watertown Indian in the Cleveland farm system. We always
like to mention that Ry, Ryan, how you doing surviving
Watertown weather in the Midwest the last week or so.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Yeah, I don't think we got it like you did, Rosie,
but by Kansas City standards, we got a fair amount
of snow and it's cold.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Well, I know you're looking forward to getting down to
spring training, and when you look at your ball club
from a year ago, what were some of the things
that held them back that maybe weren't and readily top
of mind from just the casual fan that caused them
to come up a little bit short. Playoff wise, Well.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
We weren't as healthy as in twenty twenty four. I
mean we were amazingly healthy in twenty twenty four. We
lost Vinnie Passwinino to a wrist injury at the end
of August, and that was the first and really the
only significant injury they had in all of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Totally different last year.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
The entire starting rotation at some point went on the
injured list, some guys more than once. Chris Bubich, who
was having a breakout season and was a cy Young
candidate for a while, he made one start in the
second half and he was done. We had injuries on
the positional player side. The Royals led the league hitting
(20:52):
with runners and scoring position in twenty twenty four. They
struggled in twenty twenty five are all the objective reasons
why they didn't play like they did in twenty twenty four.
The subjective reason I will defer to my longtime radio
(21:14):
partner Denny Matthews, who's getting ready for his fifty eighth
year broadcasting Royal Teames. But about twenty five years ago,
and I don't excuse me, Rosie, I don't remember who
we were talking about. But Denny said something that I've
never forgotten and I think it applied to us, and
(21:34):
he said, have you ever noticed that when my team
has an unexpectedly good year, just out of the blue,
they make a monumental leap forward, it always seems like
the next year they regress.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
I thought that was interesting and I paid close attention
to that, and I've seen.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
That play out more times than not, and there are
a lot of reasons for it. One of them would
be when you have an unexpectedly good year, sometimes everything
just seems to fall into place and it just appears
to be a lot easier than it actually is. And
then it's just, you know, human nature to go in
and say, well, we're going to even be even better
(22:17):
this year. And so I think the expectations were high
amongst some people last year. The other part that Denny
said was, but if they can learn from that year,
when they take a step forward, look out the next year.
So we're hoping that that comes true for us and
(22:38):
that the expectations were a little high. They took a
backslide last year. If they're healthy and they learned something
from last year, hopefully this is the lookout year for us.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
And they made some moves in the offseason to improve
the ball club. Any one or two of those moves
stand out to you that could be especially helpful for
this team.
Speaker 7 (22:58):
Well, one area of improvement they've needed for several years
now is more production in the outfield. We have a
pretty good defensive outfield, but not very productive offensively.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
So we got Lane Thomas.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
And we're hoping he's gonna be more healthy for us
than he was for you. And you know, with his
strength against left hand pitching, we've got an opportunity for
him to slide in nicely. We have a left hand
hitting center fielder Kyle Isbel who's poised to have a
(23:36):
breakout season. He's a well above average defensive center fielder.
He's a left hand hitter who struggles at times against
left hand pitching, so Lane Thomas could fill in there.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
And then we have a young top prospect, Jack.
Speaker 7 (23:50):
Cagleone who made his big league debut last year and
just really struggled, really struggled offensively at the big league level.
He's a left hand hitter, so Lane Thomas might be
able to slide in there as well. And then we
got a player from the Brewers in a trade, Isaac Collins,
a little spark plug, five foot eight guy, good defensive player.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
On bass type of a guy. And we got him in.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
A trade for on Hell Serpa, a lefty that we've
had for a while, and they're going to plug him
in mostly in left field. But I still think Rosie,
there's there's there's still some things on the table for them.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
I think they want to get a bona.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
Fide impact bat in the outfield and that that would
make a world of difference for us.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Well, it sounds like a lot of teams in the
in the same boat as there, including here in Cleveland
for sure. Hey, you look at at who's leading things
for your ball club. And Matt Quatero signed an extension
and surprised at all that the faith that the organization
is showing in him.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Not at all.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
I think he should have gotten some Manager of the
Year votes last year. I mean, certainly he didn't accomplish
what Steven vote did.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
I mean, that was amazing.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
As an outsider, I can't imagine what it was like
for you guys day to day down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
I was so exciting.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
But with all the things that I mentioned to you,
the fact that we still had a winning season last
year was pretty remarkable. And if we go back three seasons, Rosie,
we lost one hundred and six games in twenty twenty three,
that was mac Utrero's first year. That tied for the
worst season in Royal's history. The next year he goes
(25:34):
to the playoffs. That's never happened in Major league history.
A team loses one hundred and six or more games
and goes to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
The next year.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
And he had them so prepared that, I mean, his
fingerprints were all over that. And then everything goes wrong
last year and they still have a winning season, and
our record was very close to what it was before.
I mean you opened by saying, you know, we fell
a tad short, and we really did.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
It was they really rallied at the end to get
a winning season.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
And so.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
You know, we in the industry, we reward people when
they make it to the playoffs and they win World Series.
But I think there's and then people get fired when
the team doesn't perform at all. And I also think
there's a gray area in there where managers don't get
enough credit.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
And I think mac Ratro did.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
An outstanding job because this team could have easily fallen
to ten or fifteen games above five hundred when one
thing after another kept going wrong, But he.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Kept them focused and they still had a winning season.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Ryan Lafever joining US Kansas City Royals longtime broadcaster and
Ryan some off the field things for this offseason. The
past couple of years, it seems like the Royals have
been awfully close to nailing down firm plans for a
new ballpark. This offseason, the Chiefs, who share that plot
(26:59):
of land with with the Royals in a different part
of the parking lot, it seems they got a new stadium.
What does that mean for the Royals and where do
things stand in terms of playing at a different ballpark
than Kaufman Stadium.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
Well, nobody wants to leave Coffin Stadium, including our owner
former minority owner of the Indians, John Sherman, and but
it's just not economically viable for us in today's climate.
It's we need more than a stadium. We need an
(27:36):
entertainment district. We need to find ways to draw revenue
outside of what happens in the confines of Coffin Stadium
and Kaffin Stadium is a beautiful stadium. It's a beloved
stadium throughout all of Major League Baseball, and.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
You can imagine how people feel about it here in
Kansas City. But it's just time.
Speaker 7 (27:57):
And they have done so loose economic study since I've
been here to see if they could do something like
that at what's called the Truman Sports Complex, where you know,
we share the parking lot with the Chiefs. And the
bottom line was that people just came to the realization
that when the Chiefs and the Royals are not playing,
nobody's going to drive out there and have dinner or
(28:19):
stay at a hotel or have a convention or anything.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
So it was it was off the table for both teams.
Speaker 7 (28:27):
There was a well, there was always the speculation that
we would move, which we will, we would move, and
then the Chiefs would have that piece of property all
to themselves, but Kansas was a major player. You know,
we have a really unique situation in that, you know,
most people don't know that outside of Kansas City. Most
people don't know that Kansas City is one big city
(28:49):
that's cut in half by the state line. There's a
Kansas City, Missouri. That's where the main downtown is and
that's where the Chiefs and the Royals play, and then
there's Kansas City, Kansas, and the state of Kansas was was.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
A major player and trying to get both teams.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
Once the vote failed a couple of years ago to
build a new stadium for the Royals and renovate Arrowhead Stadium,
Kansas stepped up right away. And we have a unique situation, Rosie,
where the teams could cross the state.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Line and really not impact the fans that much.
Speaker 7 (29:23):
You know, it's not like moving from you know, one
state to another and you're five hundred miles away. So
you got two states fighting for the teams, but it
really doesn't affect the fan that.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
Much as far as distance goes to the stadium.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
So the Chiefs got what they wanted, and we expected
that based on the run that they've had and that's
no surprise, and now.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
You know the Royals are still waiting to make a decision.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
The unfortunately, the rally cry through the media and the
politicians and Kansas City has been you know, one of
the Royals going to make up their mind. But this
is a fifty year decision that the Royals are making here,
and they don't have the luxury that the Chiefs do
right now of everyone saying what do you want and
where do you want it, and we'll do whatever we can.
(30:13):
So they've got to sift through their options, which have
changed now because the Chiefs have decided that they're going
to Kansas So I know there's some frustration, But at
the same time, I give our ownership team credit because
they're not going to be rushed into making decision on
a stadium. They're going to make a decision when it's
time to make a decision.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
While you're at Kaufman Stadium. And you mentioned it earlier,
the good defensive outfield and how important that is in
Kansas City, maybe not as important in the coming season.
Tell us about the outfield dimensions and how drastic the
changes are expected to be.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
Well, here's one of the advantages of analytics is that
it didn't take them very long to start getting the
data for how many balls our hitters would have hit
out of most Major League ballparks and would not at
Kaffin Stadium, and it was it was a pretty pretty
high number. Now, our ballpark actually produces more offense than
(31:15):
people think. It's not a great ballpark for home runs,
but you know, similar to cors Field, that if you
don't get it over the fence, there's some big gaps
out there, and singles turned into doubles and doubles turned
into triples. And if you have a team with speed
like we had in twenty fourteen. In twenty fifteen, we
didn't need much power because we had elite speed and
(31:38):
we are able to use that big ballpark to our advantage. Well,
now we have some speed, but we also have some power,
and they're being hurt, and we also believe that we
have the pitching staff.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Here's where the analytics come in as well.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
The analytics show that bringing the fences in will not
hurt our pitching staff by and large, just based on
their track record and their style of pitching. And then
the third part is what we just discussed. I mean,
we're going to be gone in five years, so you know,
had we stayed longer, if this was our home for
the next twenty or thirty years, you know, they might
(32:13):
have been a little more conservative with the dimensions. But
for the roster that they have both pitching and offense,
and the length of time that we're going to be
a Kaffin Stadium, they decided that the best move would
be to bring in the fences ten and no more
than ten feet. And there's still some dimensions that are
going to remain the same, but it's mostly the power allies.
(32:36):
I mean, you've done enough games there, Rosie. I mean
three eighty five to left and right center field. I
mean it's it's unless it's the summertime and the winds
blown out. I mean wall scraper home runs at best.
And so that's really the part of the ballpark where
they're going to.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Bring it in.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
And to your point about the home runs, I feel
like two years ago I saw a number where if
Aaron Judge had played his home game in Kansas City
and Bobby Witt had played at Yankee Stadium, maybe the
MVP vote would have been different.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Don't get us started on that one. Let me tell
you that I spent I spent last year. I took
it a step further.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
But I spent last year asking a lot of writers
and of course no one would admit this, but I
know it's true. If Bobby Wood Junior had the season
he had for the Yankees and Aaron Judge had the
season he had for the Royals, would Aaron Judge still.
Speaker 5 (33:32):
Be the unanimous MVP? And and you know most of
them said yes. And I was like, give me a break.
And I know I'm preaching to the choir in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Well, and you know what, let's finish though, what just
one of the feel good stories in the game because
of how he plays and what he's meant to her franchise,
your day to day with with Bobby Witt Junior. What
does he mean? And has you know for the longest time,
Salvador Perez seemed to be that team leader and probably
(34:03):
still is. But where is Bobby wit starting to slot
in in terms of importance to that franchise?
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Well, since you brought him up, I'll start with Salvi,
and Salvi is you know, he's our Jose Ramirez.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
He's more outgoing than Jose Ramirez is. But just the.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Example, every single day, playing every day, playing hard every day.
I mean, I mean, did Jose Ramirez have surgery this offseason?
I mean, it's just remarkable to me that he puts
the years he puts up every year and then you
find out he had a broken wrist or a torn
ligament in his ankle or something like that, and he.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Played through it.
Speaker 7 (34:38):
Salvi's the same way, and it's his team, but he understands.
He's also a very humble man, and he understands what
Bobby Wood Junior means.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
He understands how good Bobby is and how good he's
going to be.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
And he's really pushed Bobby to be more of a
vocal leader because one thing for sure, Bobby leads by example.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
Plays every day, he plays hard, he makes no excuses.
He's the he was won the Hard and Hustle Award
back to back years. And I think.
Speaker 7 (35:09):
Kansas City has been a really good fit for him,
similar to Jose Ramirez. I mean, I'm assuming Rosie that
Jose Ramirez has had opportunities to say no to some
of those extensions and that's the free agent market, but
he realizes he's got it pretty good in Cleveland.
Speaker 5 (35:27):
He's comfortable in Cleveland, so why mess with that?
Speaker 7 (35:30):
And I think Bobby, Bobby and Salby both feel the
same way about Kansas City. But Bobby had a down
year last year, and I think he's still got some
MVP votes that way down down the road.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
But he's he's special, doesn't like to talk a lot,
hates talking about himself. But I wouldn't be surprised, Rosie
that at.
Speaker 7 (35:50):
The end of this year we don't find that he
has found his voice in the clubhouse and becomes more
of a vocal leader.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
All part of the growing up process in Major League
Baseball in so many ways, and he is fun to
watch and obviously a treasure for the Royals franchise. Ryan
left Fever always great to catch up, but he will
see in a couple of weeks down in Arizona.
Speaker 5 (36:13):
See you soon, Rosie. Good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
At his longtime broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals, Ryan
left Fever. Stay tuned more to come after this.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
A progressive home and auto bundle can protect you around
the clock, but we can't protect you from those painful
moments in sports.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
I can't believe we blew a five touchdown lead.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Sure, but you got to feel like they were going
to win for almost the entire game, but I was
about to buy playoff tickets, so you were prepared for
a good time. That's pretty nice.
Speaker 7 (36:46):
It's the worst loss any team has ever had.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
And you got to witness history.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Okay, we're done here.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Well, at least you're home in auto or protected with
a bundle from Progressive Progressive Casual Canterns Company affiliates another
in tourists not available in U States A situations.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Welcome back to Progressive Field. Jim Rosenhouse back with you
on Guardians Weekly as we wrap things up for our
Hot Stove shows with this show today. Next week we
will be in Goodyear and our show will be the
morning of the exhibition opener for the Guardians as they'll
take on the Reds next Saturday with a three to
zero five first pitch. Hammy'll bring that to you on
(37:35):
the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Pitchers and catchers have
reported full squad starting workouts officially on Tuesday, so we're there, folks.
The off seasons behind us. The season is to begin soon,
with spring training starting next week and the regular season
on March the twenty sixth. That's going to do it.
(37:57):
For this week's edition of Guardians Weekly. Thanks has always
Ryan Motsee for helping to put together our shows each
and every week until next week when we join you
from Goodyear. This is Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that you've
been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians
Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
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 (00:51):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along
with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, last of
our Hot Stove shows from northeast Ohio before heading out
to spring training. That's where we will join you next week.
So good times ahead, as we'll have reports from Goodyear
(01:13):
throughout the spring and then on into the regular season,
which begins on March the twenty sixth. A lot to
get to on this week's show. In the second half
of our program, we will hear from Ryan Lefever, the
long time broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals, and give
us an update on the Royals hopes for the twenty
twenty six campaign. We'll also visit with Guardians pitcher Slade
(01:35):
Secone get his thoughts on the season ahead, as well
as a brief look back at a year ago real
breakthrough season for him. But first, we had a chance
to catch up with David Fry recently about midway through
the offseason, as he continued to make his way back
from an injury plagued twenty twenty five campaign. Remember back
in twenty twenty four, he was an All Star, hitting
(01:57):
fourteen home runs and driving in fifty one, playing several
different positions including first third, the outfield, also catching, so
a little bit of everything for David Frye a designated
hitter as well. But last year, coming off of Tommy
John surgery, a late start, and then at the end
of the year, with a week to go, he was
(02:18):
struck in the face with a pitch from Trek Scooble
that ended his year before the postseason began. When we
caught up with him, he looked great. Things are progressing
very well for him as spring trainings right around the corner,
and he says the biggest change this offseason another addition
to the fry family.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, it's been an unbelievable blessing. I have a second
daughter in the timing of it to where I get
to be at home and just be dad for a
little bit and learn how to take care of two
girls now, which I say to take care of. My
wife does most of the work. But it's been super
fun and nice. Now kind of like getting back into
a normal offseason doing baseball stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And certainly want to know how you do, how you
are doing after a really scary injury at the tail
end of the regular season, How things going with your
recovery and getting back to baseball.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, feeling feeling great as of like last week. Clear
to like have normal workout, hit, throw, do everything. Definitely
a god thing that it wasn't anything more serious, and
I just had to miss a few weeks and kind
of back and getting ready for this next season.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And when you look back on it, that stretch end
of regular season and then a postseason run, I'll be
at short What was that like for you? And how
important was it to be able to come around here
during the postseason and be around your teammates.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Huge, I mean it's I mean, it's why you play
the regular season. The goal in the regular season is
to make the playoffs. Then when you make the playoffs,
the goal is to win the World Series. And just
that run that we had in the last month of
the season, that was a part of most of it
playing but even after I got hit, just like just
the way the team came together and you know, the
playoffs are so much fun. I wasn't even allowed to
(04:03):
be in the dugout. I was in the clubhouse, but
just being those games are just so different and there's
so much energy, and we were super excited. I was
hoping that we would get stay in Cleveland a little
bit longer, but hopefully we can change that.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
This year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
You mentioned a run at the end and it was
uncommon historically, so to be able to complete the job
and win a division. What was it like going through
that on a day to day basis, maybe late August
and then on into September.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So much fun.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I mean that just the group that we have, it's
no matter what's happening, we have so much fun together,
whether we're in the clubhouse, out there playing whatever it is,
at the hotel together and there was never any like,
oh gosh, panic, we're not playing good whatever. It was just, hey,
we just keep doing what we're doing. We know at
the end of the day the results are going to
(04:51):
finally come. And it took a while, but they finally didn't.
It was just I remember looking at Bow and Hedgy
like the last week of the year and I was like,
I don't think you guys called a barrel in like
a month like our pictures didn't give up any runs,
but it was really cool to be a part of
and just especially with what our pitchers did, just watching
them kind of carry us that last month.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
David Fry joining us obviously with an injury where it
was sustained. I know the plan was full recovery, Timmy John, You're.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Going to catch a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Is that still the plan going in the next season?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, I think so. Whenever we kind of talked about
it was kind of like maybe how twenty four was
where I'm able to catch and then go to other
positions as needed. But that's kind of how I'm preparing
this offseason is get ready to catch as much as
possible and then you know, just kind of like every
other year with me, whatever situation arises, be ready to
play whatever position they tell me, and I'll be happy
(05:44):
with it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Everybody does their off seasons differently. For you, what does
that mean? Where do you do your workouts? And how
far along are you at this point?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So, yeah, we're in Louisiana now, we're building next to
my wife's parents, and we're about thirty minutes from where
I went to college, and so I still know a
couple of the coaches up there pretty well, and I
just go up there. They have full weight room, workout facilities,
and obviously cages and stuff, so I get to work
out there and then go home and be dad for
the rest of the day. And it's a nice break
(06:14):
from the traveling all over the place. And then you
have to once spring training comes, get the girls ready
to travel.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And follow me everywhere just because it's fun. The name
of the town that your college is in Nacketish, Nacketish.
Try and spell that, folks, you'll never get it, but
thank goodness, you can pronounce it. That's awesome, swing Lise.
It just seemed like it was a challenge to get
where you'd like to be able to get it to
a good spot. Hear this offseason so far and feel
(06:44):
real confident going into spring training.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, I've started hitting some and just kind of looking back,
I think during the rehab process, you know, maybe gotten
some bad habits. I don't know if it was me
trying to baby it with my elbow or if it
was just you know, hitting and you don't really really
and you get into bet some bad habits and then
all of a sudden, it's go face rode on Scooble
and Freed and it's like, all right, got to be
(07:07):
ready to go, and you're kind of playing catch up.
But yeah, I feel really good about where we're at.
I've been in contact with Fink, our our hitting coach,
and he's had a lot of good stuff for me,
and feel super confident where we're at and kind of
getting ready for the season.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
He mentioned the team and why it was so fun
to be a part of that a year ago and
at least so far, not a whole lot of changes
and the good cast of characters it seems to be
coming back. What is it that makes this group click
that maybe allows them to overcome some tough times and
get where they want to be.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yeah, I think it's just I mean, it's like kind
of cliche as it is. I guess we just like
really love being around each other. It's just a group
that knows how to have fun but also prepare really
really well. I think our staff mixed with our players
do a great job every week of preparing for each series,
and I think that kind of gives us a little
advantage before the game even start of Okay, even if
(08:02):
they might have a slight advantage. Here, here's how we're
going to overcome it by preparing and our team buys
into it, and we're also we just have a lot
of really talented guys in there.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
How much do you keep track of what's going on
with other teams, different transactions, things like that as a
big part of this team. Is that something you keep
track of daily or you just kind of figure it
out when you get the spring training?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, I would say, especially this offseason having our second daughter,
I've been on my phone very little, So I try
to keep up with like the major dates that happen
and see what's happening with things. But yeah, if you
were to ask me what's kind of happening in the
baseball world right now, I wouldn't be able to tell you.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
All right, most importantly, and we'll end on this. We're
recording this in the clubhouse. The clubhouse dynamic. You locker
fairly close, if not right next to Austin Hedges. How
do you keep it together in that situation? And how
much of a challenge is that?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Very challenging. I have probably the hardest job on the
team because I have to keep him in check all year.
I mean, you got to deal with a dirty locker.
He's probably smelling a little bit that day, and then
he's just he's just loud, and you got to keep
him in check and you never know what you're gonna
hear that day and uh no, But being serious, I'm
very happy he's coming back and all gladly take on
(09:24):
the role of trying to keep him in check all year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I was going to ask you what was your reaction
when he resigned?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Good or bad?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Very happy, but I got my work cut out fair enough. David,
great to see you, Thanks for coming by. Yeah, thank you.
It's David Frye certainly is optimistic about what lies ahead
for twenty twenty six. Same holds true for Slate Secni,
the Guardian starting pitcher. We'll visit with him next time
at Cleveland Clinic. Guardians Radio on that board.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
The post Career Day press conference.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Progress, Can you tell us what happened during career.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Day, biomedical researcher. The kids just weren't impressed.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
How did you feel when your son called in the
backup embarrassed?
Speaker 3 (10:05):
And I knew it would be a fireman.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
It's always a fireman. It's a cliche, but a crowd favorite.
He had an AX and everything. I can't compete with that.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And will the fireman be helping your son with his
side fare project?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Hope not. I'm literally a scientist. I don't like it
or not. Sometimes you need a backup. That's why there's
Progressive to protect your home. In Autore's a catch tea
terms something aphelious another insurvers now available in those seats
of situations.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Seconi in a good rhythm throwing strikes and he has
had hitters off balance from the get go. Here's secone's
pitch swig and I miss Strength three. He strikes out
the side.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Now the two two delivery that Strength three called painted
the outside corner at ninety six miles an hour. Wow,
Slate Seconi reaching back for a little extra.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Welcome back, Guardie and Weekly Jim Rosenhouse back with you
from Progressive Field, downtown Cleveland. Guardian's getting ready for full
squad workouts at spring training. They begin next week. The
pitchers are there already, including Slade Seconi, who we caught
up with midway through the off season.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Last year.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
A breakthrough year for Seconi as major League highs and
starts with twenty three innings pitched, with one hundred and
thirty two finished seven and seven and was a mainstay
in that starting rotation, and he says the trade prior
to last season that brought him from Arizona changed everything
for him.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
Yeah, I mean it certainly changed the trajectory of my career,
being traded here and being given the opportunity that I
was given and being in a position to take advantage
of it. I think there's a lot to build on
off of last year. I certainly know that I did
not reach my ceiling or my potential, but from where
I was in twenty four to where I got to
(11:57):
in twenty five, the progress was very eye opening to
show you what that potential could be if I just continue,
you know, working hard and doing the right things.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Just visiting with you in spring training, even before you
threw a regular season pitch for the team, it just
seemed like you were excited about what was going on
and what was it that you realized pretty early on
that could be really good for you Here.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
I saw that my interests in Cleveland's interests were aligned,
and we both saw areas in me that needed improvement.
But we also saw the good that I did, and
we were able to have very specific plans put in
place to attack the things that I needed to do
(12:44):
better without losing my strengths.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Slats of Coni joining us, breakthrough year for you, and
you were a part of that run at the end
of the season that saw this team reach the postseason
number one win a division which was historically unlikely. I
think others were thinking it, but you said it when
things were at their worst. What gave you confidence in
July to say this team could make the postseason when
(13:10):
it looked like an insurmountable challenge.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Just the guys in this locker room. I saw the
way that they showed up after the losses. You know,
nobody came in here and carried one day to the next,
or one pitch or a bat or a poor outing
or poor game to the next. It was good, bad,
and different. Next day was a clean slate, new day,
new opportunity, and I took I took a lot of
(13:35):
crap online for what I said. A lot of people
called me to losion, a lot of people said I
was off my rocker, you know, and not in here,
not nobody in here. Ever, there's never a point in
time where any money in this building agreed with any
of those statements that people were saying outside this building,
and that is another reason why we did what we did,
was because we didn't listen to the noise and the
(13:56):
things that people outside this building who don't know what
goes on inside this building.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We're saying from a fans perspective, We're watching this development
and it was really fun and each day seemed to
be more fun than the next because of what was happening.
What was it like in here as you got closer
to accomplishing what you wanted to Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
We've played that win playlist a lot. After Games Man,
we still knew every song by each word. You know,
it was fun. We were in here freaking. I mean,
we had guys in the locker a couple over from
me playing Super Smash Bros. After games we were as
some guys drinking beer. We had some guys that, you know,
we're just happy to be here and just enjoying the ride.
(14:37):
And I mean, it was it was you know, the
vibes were perfect. And even after the losses, you know,
we weren't coming in here hanging our heads. I mean,
we weren't partying or listening to music or anything, but
we were like, you know, we lost today. We did
some things, Well, we did something's bad. Let's learn from
what we didn't do great and show up tomorrow and
be better.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
So obviously you want to go further than it turned
out the team was able to. But what is that
done this offseason? As you've talked to different guys on
the team you're here for the mid December workouts in
terms of focus for next season and what you want
to carry maybe a step further or too.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Well, you know, from the looks of it right now,
it seems like we're pretty much returning the entire September
staff that went on that incredible run, along with the
pitching staff that was responsible for, you know, helping us
do that, and you know, the catchers that were calling
all the pitches, and you know, everybody that was a
(15:37):
part of that September run is going to be back
in this building on April first.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
And I think that.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Gives us so much confidence that it's like, hey, if
we just work and we all just get a little
bit better. We were already so good, you know, last year, we.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Were so good.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
If we just get a little bit better and charp
it up a little bit of this, a little bit
of that, and stay a little bit healthier and just
do the little things a little tiny bit better, and
we have a legitimate chance to be a top five
pitching staff in this in this league, and also be
the cheapest pitching staff in this league, which is a
really nice, really nice mix.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Changing the subject completely earlier today, had a chance to
visit with Doug Nacasey Rare in a Major league clubhouse.
Our two guys who played on the same travel ball
team at eight or nine or ten somewhere in there we.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Were still in the little fields.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Man.
Speaker 6 (16:33):
We've known each other since we were ten years old.
We played together a team called Team Florida growing up,
and we've known each other ever since. Yeah, as soon
as I got traded, I think he was one of
the first people I tried to reach out to because
I was like, I get to like, I mean, he
knows my dad, you know, I know his parents. Like
I think we stayed each other's houses when we were
(16:54):
like eleven years old, like, and it was really like
a full circle moment.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
And he said, you guys just bled teams and only
lost like four games. Can you confirm that information?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Correct?
Speaker 6 (17:04):
We actually in two years we did lose a total
of four games. We would actually most of the terms
we played at least half of them we would play up
or we would play with we were eleven years old,
playing like with wood bats, because like it was like
it was getting to the point where we would like
we went. We went played Cooperstown and we won tournament
Cooperstown and there was one team the entire week we
didn't run role like it was just it was one
(17:25):
of those teams that was special.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Is the thought of playing in the major leagues? Does
it start then or even maybe even earlier where realistically
you're thinking, you know what, I'm playing in the big
league someday.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
I don't think it started then, but I think the
love of the game really blossomed at that age. And
there were some high end Division One players and another
big leaguer, Gunner pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. I think
he underwent hiple abram surgery. But he's another guy on
that team. Such three big leaguers on one ten year
old baseball team, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
At starting pitcher Slate Seconi and again he's already at
spring and getting ready for a new year, and a
lot of optimism there from him supremely confident, and that's
what you need certainly to make it through and have
success in the major leagues. Stay tuned, we'll have more
to come as we take a look at the Kansas
City Royals, our American League's Central Division opponent. Previews continue
(18:18):
after this.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Kate Smith, He's ready here he fires pitched high in
the air, medium deep break. Jones is under a ball game.
What a huge win for Cleveland. Kate Smith takes care
of business in the night and the Guardians take three
out of four from Kansas City.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It's Guardians Weekly and we continue our look around the
division rivals the American League Central for the Guardians, and
this week we take a look at the Kansas City Royals,
a team that two years ago made the postseason. Last
year just a slight step back, but trying to reload
and see if they can be contenders again. And we're
joined by Ryan Lafever, longtime broadcaster now for the Royals,
(19:29):
former Watertown Indian in the Cleveland farm system. We always
like to mention that Ry, Ryan, how you doing surviving
Watertown weather in the Midwest the last week or so.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Yeah, I don't think we got it like you did, Rosie,
but by Kansas City standards, we got a fair amount
of snow and it's cold.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Well, I know you're looking forward to getting down to
spring training, and when you look at your ball club
from a year ago, what were some of the things
that held them back that maybe weren't and readily top
of mind from just the casual fan that caused them
to come up a little bit short. Playoff wise, Well.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
We weren't as healthy as in twenty twenty four. I
mean we were amazingly healthy in twenty twenty four. We
lost Vinnie Passwinino to a wrist injury at the end
of August, and that was the first and really the
only significant injury they had in all of twenty twenty four.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Totally different last year.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
The entire starting rotation at some point went on the
injured list, some guys more than once. Chris Bubich, who
was having a breakout season and was a cy Young
candidate for a while, he made one start in the
second half and he was done. We had injuries on
the positional player side. The Royals led the league hitting
(20:52):
with runners and scoring position in twenty twenty four. They
struggled in twenty twenty five are all the objective reasons
why they didn't play like they did in twenty twenty four.
The subjective reason I will defer to my longtime radio
(21:14):
partner Denny Matthews, who's getting ready for his fifty eighth
year broadcasting Royal Teames. But about twenty five years ago,
and I don't excuse me, Rosie, I don't remember who
we were talking about. But Denny said something that I've
never forgotten and I think it applied to us, and
(21:34):
he said, have you ever noticed that when my team
has an unexpectedly good year, just out of the blue,
they make a monumental leap forward, it always seems like
the next year they regress.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
I thought that was interesting and I paid close attention
to that, and I've seen.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
That play out more times than not, and there are
a lot of reasons for it. One of them would
be when you have an unexpectedly good year, sometimes everything
just seems to fall into place and it just appears
to be a lot easier than it actually is. And
then it's just, you know, human nature to go in
and say, well, we're going to even be even better
(22:17):
this year. And so I think the expectations were high
amongst some people last year. The other part that Denny
said was, but if they can learn from that year,
when they take a step forward, look out the next year.
So we're hoping that that comes true for us and
(22:38):
that the expectations were a little high. They took a
backslide last year. If they're healthy and they learned something
from last year, hopefully this is the lookout year for us.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
And they made some moves in the offseason to improve
the ball club. Any one or two of those moves
stand out to you that could be especially helpful for
this team.
Speaker 7 (22:58):
Well, one area of improvement they've needed for several years
now is more production in the outfield. We have a
pretty good defensive outfield, but not very productive offensively.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
So we got Lane Thomas.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
And we're hoping he's gonna be more healthy for us
than he was for you. And you know, with his
strength against left hand pitching, we've got an opportunity for
him to slide in nicely. We have a left hand
hitting center fielder Kyle Isbel who's poised to have a
(23:36):
breakout season. He's a well above average defensive center fielder.
He's a left hand hitter who struggles at times against
left hand pitching, so Lane Thomas could fill in there.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
And then we have a young top prospect, Jack.
Speaker 7 (23:50):
Cagleone who made his big league debut last year and
just really struggled, really struggled offensively at the big league level.
He's a left hand hitter, so Lane Thomas might be
able to slide in there as well. And then we
got a player from the Brewers in a trade, Isaac Collins,
a little spark plug, five foot eight guy, good defensive player.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
On bass type of a guy. And we got him in.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
A trade for on Hell Serpa, a lefty that we've
had for a while, and they're going to plug him
in mostly in left field. But I still think Rosie,
there's there's there's still some things on the table for them.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
I think they want to get a bona.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
Fide impact bat in the outfield and that that would
make a world of difference for us.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Well, it sounds like a lot of teams in the
in the same boat as there, including here in Cleveland
for sure. Hey, you look at at who's leading things
for your ball club. And Matt Quatero signed an extension
and surprised at all that the faith that the organization
is showing in him.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Not at all.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
I think he should have gotten some Manager of the
Year votes last year. I mean, certainly he didn't accomplish
what Steven vote did.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
I mean, that was amazing.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
As an outsider, I can't imagine what it was like
for you guys day to day down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
I was so exciting.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
But with all the things that I mentioned to you,
the fact that we still had a winning season last
year was pretty remarkable. And if we go back three seasons, Rosie,
we lost one hundred and six games in twenty twenty three,
that was mac Utrero's first year. That tied for the
worst season in Royal's history. The next year he goes
(25:34):
to the playoffs. That's never happened in Major league history.
A team loses one hundred and six or more games
and goes to the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
The next year.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
And he had them so prepared that, I mean, his
fingerprints were all over that. And then everything goes wrong
last year and they still have a winning season, and
our record was very close to what it was before.
I mean you opened by saying, you know, we fell
a tad short, and we really did.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
It was they really rallied at the end to get
a winning season.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
And so.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
You know, we in the industry, we reward people when
they make it to the playoffs and they win World Series.
But I think there's and then people get fired when
the team doesn't perform at all. And I also think
there's a gray area in there where managers don't get
enough credit.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
And I think mac Ratro did.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
An outstanding job because this team could have easily fallen
to ten or fifteen games above five hundred when one
thing after another kept going wrong, But he.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Kept them focused and they still had a winning season.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Ryan Lafever joining US Kansas City Royals longtime broadcaster and
Ryan some off the field things for this offseason. The
past couple of years, it seems like the Royals have
been awfully close to nailing down firm plans for a
new ballpark. This offseason, the Chiefs, who share that plot
(26:59):
of land with with the Royals in a different part
of the parking lot, it seems they got a new stadium.
What does that mean for the Royals and where do
things stand in terms of playing at a different ballpark
than Kaufman Stadium.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
Well, nobody wants to leave Coffin Stadium, including our owner
former minority owner of the Indians, John Sherman, and but
it's just not economically viable for us in today's climate.
It's we need more than a stadium. We need an
(27:36):
entertainment district. We need to find ways to draw revenue
outside of what happens in the confines of Coffin Stadium
and Kaffin Stadium is a beautiful stadium. It's a beloved
stadium throughout all of Major League Baseball, and.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
You can imagine how people feel about it here in
Kansas City. But it's just time.
Speaker 7 (27:57):
And they have done so loose economic study since I've
been here to see if they could do something like
that at what's called the Truman Sports Complex, where you know,
we share the parking lot with the Chiefs. And the
bottom line was that people just came to the realization
that when the Chiefs and the Royals are not playing,
nobody's going to drive out there and have dinner or
(28:19):
stay at a hotel or have a convention or anything.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
So it was it was off the table for both teams.
Speaker 7 (28:27):
There was a well, there was always the speculation that
we would move, which we will, we would move, and
then the Chiefs would have that piece of property all
to themselves, but Kansas was a major player. You know,
we have a really unique situation in that, you know,
most people don't know that outside of Kansas City. Most
people don't know that Kansas City is one big city
(28:49):
that's cut in half by the state line. There's a
Kansas City, Missouri. That's where the main downtown is and
that's where the Chiefs and the Royals play, and then
there's Kansas City, Kansas, and the state of Kansas was was.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
A major player and trying to get both teams.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
Once the vote failed a couple of years ago to
build a new stadium for the Royals and renovate Arrowhead Stadium,
Kansas stepped up right away. And we have a unique situation, Rosie,
where the teams could cross the state.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Line and really not impact the fans that much.
Speaker 7 (29:23):
You know, it's not like moving from you know, one
state to another and you're five hundred miles away. So
you got two states fighting for the teams, but it
really doesn't affect the fan that.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
Much as far as distance goes to the stadium.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
So the Chiefs got what they wanted, and we expected
that based on the run that they've had and that's
no surprise, and now.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
You know the Royals are still waiting to make a decision.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
The unfortunately, the rally cry through the media and the
politicians and Kansas City has been you know, one of
the Royals going to make up their mind. But this
is a fifty year decision that the Royals are making here,
and they don't have the luxury that the Chiefs do
right now of everyone saying what do you want and
where do you want it, and we'll do whatever we can.
(30:13):
So they've got to sift through their options, which have
changed now because the Chiefs have decided that they're going
to Kansas So I know there's some frustration, But at
the same time, I give our ownership team credit because
they're not going to be rushed into making decision on
a stadium. They're going to make a decision when it's
time to make a decision.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
While you're at Kaufman Stadium. And you mentioned it earlier,
the good defensive outfield and how important that is in
Kansas City, maybe not as important in the coming season.
Tell us about the outfield dimensions and how drastic the
changes are expected to be.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
Well, here's one of the advantages of analytics is that
it didn't take them very long to start getting the
data for how many balls our hitters would have hit
out of most Major League ballparks and would not at
Kaffin Stadium, and it was it was a pretty pretty
high number. Now, our ballpark actually produces more offense than
(31:15):
people think. It's not a great ballpark for home runs,
but you know, similar to cors Field, that if you
don't get it over the fence, there's some big gaps
out there, and singles turned into doubles and doubles turned
into triples. And if you have a team with speed
like we had in twenty fourteen. In twenty fifteen, we
didn't need much power because we had elite speed and
(31:38):
we are able to use that big ballpark to our advantage. Well,
now we have some speed, but we also have some power,
and they're being hurt, and we also believe that we
have the pitching staff.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Here's where the analytics come in as well.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
The analytics show that bringing the fences in will not
hurt our pitching staff by and large, just based on
their track record and their style of pitching. And then
the third part is what we just discussed. I mean,
we're going to be gone in five years, so you know,
had we stayed longer, if this was our home for
the next twenty or thirty years, you know, they might
(32:13):
have been a little more conservative with the dimensions. But
for the roster that they have both pitching and offense,
and the length of time that we're going to be
a Kaffin Stadium, they decided that the best move would
be to bring in the fences ten and no more
than ten feet. And there's still some dimensions that are
going to remain the same, but it's mostly the power allies.
(32:36):
I mean, you've done enough games there, Rosie. I mean
three eighty five to left and right center field. I
mean it's it's unless it's the summertime and the winds
blown out. I mean wall scraper home runs at best.
And so that's really the part of the ballpark where
they're going to.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
Bring it in.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
And to your point about the home runs, I feel
like two years ago I saw a number where if
Aaron Judge had played his home game in Kansas City
and Bobby Witt had played at Yankee Stadium, maybe the
MVP vote would have been different.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Don't get us started on that one. Let me tell
you that I spent I spent last year. I took
it a step further.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
But I spent last year asking a lot of writers
and of course no one would admit this, but I
know it's true. If Bobby Wood Junior had the season
he had for the Yankees and Aaron Judge had the
season he had for the Royals, would Aaron Judge still.
Speaker 5 (33:32):
Be the unanimous MVP? And and you know most of
them said yes. And I was like, give me a break.
And I know I'm preaching to the choir in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Well, and you know what, let's finish though, what just
one of the feel good stories in the game because
of how he plays and what he's meant to her franchise,
your day to day with with Bobby Witt Junior. What
does he mean? And has you know for the longest time,
Salvador Perez seemed to be that team leader and probably
(34:03):
still is. But where is Bobby wit starting to slot
in in terms of importance to that franchise?
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Well, since you brought him up, I'll start with Salvi,
and Salvi is you know, he's our Jose Ramirez.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
He's more outgoing than Jose Ramirez is. But just the.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Example, every single day, playing every day, playing hard every day.
I mean, I mean, did Jose Ramirez have surgery this offseason?
I mean, it's just remarkable to me that he puts
the years he puts up every year and then you
find out he had a broken wrist or a torn
ligament in his ankle or something like that, and he.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Played through it.
Speaker 7 (34:38):
Salvi's the same way, and it's his team, but he understands.
He's also a very humble man, and he understands what
Bobby Wood Junior means.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
He understands how good Bobby is and how good he's
going to be.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
And he's really pushed Bobby to be more of a
vocal leader because one thing for sure, Bobby leads by example.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
Plays every day, he plays hard, he makes no excuses.
He's the he was won the Hard and Hustle Award
back to back years. And I think.
Speaker 7 (35:09):
Kansas City has been a really good fit for him,
similar to Jose Ramirez. I mean, I'm assuming Rosie that
Jose Ramirez has had opportunities to say no to some
of those extensions and that's the free agent market, but
he realizes he's got it pretty good in Cleveland.
Speaker 5 (35:27):
He's comfortable in Cleveland, so why mess with that?
Speaker 7 (35:30):
And I think Bobby, Bobby and Salby both feel the
same way about Kansas City. But Bobby had a down
year last year, and I think he's still got some
MVP votes that way down down the road.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
But he's he's special, doesn't like to talk a lot,
hates talking about himself. But I wouldn't be surprised, Rosie
that at.
Speaker 7 (35:50):
The end of this year we don't find that he
has found his voice in the clubhouse and becomes more
of a vocal leader.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
All part of the growing up process in Major League
Baseball in so many ways, and he is fun to
watch and obviously a treasure for the Royals franchise. Ryan
left Fever always great to catch up, but he will
see in a couple of weeks down in Arizona.
Speaker 5 (36:13):
See you soon, Rosie. Good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
At his longtime broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals, Ryan
left Fever. Stay tuned more to come after this.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
A progressive home and auto bundle can protect you around
the clock, but we can't protect you from those painful
moments in sports.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
I can't believe we blew a five touchdown lead.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Sure, but you got to feel like they were going
to win for almost the entire game, but I was
about to buy playoff tickets, so you were prepared for
a good time. That's pretty nice.
Speaker 7 (36:46):
It's the worst loss any team has ever had.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
And you got to witness history.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Okay, we're done here.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Well, at least you're home in auto or protected with
a bundle from Progressive Progressive Casual Canterns Company affiliates another
in tourists not available in U States A situations.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Welcome back to Progressive Field. Jim Rosenhouse back with you
on Guardians Weekly as we wrap things up for our
Hot Stove shows with this show today. Next week we
will be in Goodyear and our show will be the
morning of the exhibition opener for the Guardians as they'll
take on the Reds next Saturday with a three to
zero five first pitch. Hammy'll bring that to you on
(37:35):
the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Pitchers and catchers have
reported full squad starting workouts officially on Tuesday, so we're there, folks.
The off seasons behind us. The season is to begin soon,
with spring training starting next week and the regular season
on March the twenty sixth. That's going to do it.
(37:57):
For this week's edition of Guardians Weekly. Thanks has always
Ryan Motsee for helping to put together our shows each
and every week until next week when we join you
from Goodyear. This is Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that you've
been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians
Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping
Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance
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