July 12, 2025 • 39 mins
Recapping the week that saw the Guardians rebound from a ten game losing streak to knocking off four wins in a row on the road. Plus, conversations with two key contributors to the wins this week in Angel Martinez and Brayan Rocchio. Also, the weekly Farm Report with V.P. of Player Development Stephen Osterer talking Columbus Clippers. That's all on this edition of Guardians Weekly with Jim Rosenhaus on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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. Jimros in house along
with you from Chicago. This weekend, the Guardians playing the
White Sox in what is scheduled to be a four
game series. A little weather struggle on Thursday night, but
on Friday, the Guardian's able to get in some of
the action over at rate Feel the ballpark for the
(01:17):
White Sox that has been renamed once again. Guardians closing
out play pre All Star break with a lengthy road trip,
and we'll have the weekend review that started unbelievably well
in Houston earlier this week. Coming up a little bit
later on in the show, we'll have a full Minor
league update from Vice president of player Development Stephen Osterer,
and we'll also hear from a couple of infielders for
(01:41):
the Guardians on Hell Martinez, who also plays some center field,
and Brian Rochio, the shortstop who's back at it for
the Guardians, both swinging hot bats. But first that wee
can review and we'll take a time out and come
back with that after this time out on the Cleveland
Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
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Speaker 2 (03:05):
Jim ros announced back with you. We're in Chicago where
the Guardians are taking on the White Sox this weekend,
and it has been a great week for the Guardians.
After enduring a ten game losing skid, they headed out
on the road after a tough loss Sunday at home
against the Tigers to extend that losing streak to ten games.
And they were facing a Houston Astros ball club that
(03:27):
had the best record in baseball since June the first,
and they were coming off a three game series sweep,
blowing out the Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium on a nightly basis,
So it certainly looked like an uphill battle. But that
was the challenge, starting on Monday night in Houston, and
with good pitching on both sides early in this one,
Colton Gordon for Houston, Tanner Biby for the Guardians. Here's
(03:51):
the old one, swung on, bouncing ball back to the mound.
Bibby's got it and he'll underhand flip it to Santana
at first for the out. A three up, redown inning,
and we'll head to the fifth. Still no score in Houston.
In the fifth, the Guardian's got something going. A pair
of singles to start the inning. Brian Rochio moved the
runners up with a sack bunt, and then Stephen Kwan
(04:12):
came through Gordon from the stretch. Here's his pitch, swung
online off the glove of Gordon. He falls down, the
ball trickles to Altuve, the second baseman. All hands are safe.
The Guardians take the lead on a base hit, and
it looks like Gordon is okay after that line drive
(04:33):
us not a rocket off the bat of Kwan, but
enough is Kwan will get credit for an RBI base
it and the Guardians take a lead. Two batters later,
two men on and Jose Ramirez stepped in. Here's the
pitch and Ramirez launches it high and deep to left.
Home run Jose.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Ramirez, and there is the big inning for the Guardians.
Three run blast for Ramirez and Cleveland takes a four
nothing lead. Well, leave a de Jose Ramirez to get
it done. Home run number fifteen now with forty two
(05:15):
runs driven in and there is the big two out
base it for the Guardians and it's a home run
for Ramirez. So finally the big inning for the Guardians
and a big lead. But Houston, well, they didn't back down.
They responded in a big way with four runs in
their own in the bottom half of the fifth inning,
(05:36):
and just like that, the game.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Was all tied up at four. The Guardians responded in
the sixth a double from on Hell Martinez, a walk
to bow Naylor and that brought Brian Rochio to the plate.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Now the Yo two swung on line the third off
the glove of parades down the left field line. It'll
roll to the corner into score. Martinez coming home. Nailer
throat of the plate, first slide safe and a two
run double into the left field corner by Brian Rocchio
has given Cleveland the lead back at six to four.
(06:10):
Houston guy within a run with a solo home run
in the bottom half of the sixth inning, but the
Guardians got that run right back in the ninth thanks
to David Fry. Now the payoff hit high in the
air to deep left, Tremmeel going back, Tremmeel near the wall.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Tremmeel jumps in. This ball is gone.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
He got into that little triangle out there where the
wall juts from three point fifteen out to three sixty six.
Tremmeel disappeared from our review jumping up and that ball
somehow's snuck out and a huge home run by David Fry,
(06:52):
his third.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And that set it up for Emmanuel Class to close
the door with a two run lead.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
The pit swung on a high shopper to second. Schneman
gloves throws Boggie. The streak is dead. Cleveland ends a
ten game slide, and they do it against the hottest
team in baseball since June first. They beat the Astros
seven to five.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
W a satisfying win for the Guardians to get back
in the win column for the first time in a
week and a half. Tuesday night, still in Houston, the
Guardians didn't waste any time getting the scoring started. In
this one top half of the first inning, Nolan Jones
singled and then once again it was Jose Ramirez doing
the damage.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
The pitch swung at.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Hit high, deep to right, Hawaii back and gone Jose
Ramirez for the second night in no row. This time
got a change up and a moonshot to right and
the Guardians with a tune nothing lead and Ramirez with
(07:59):
two runs and five RBIs in one game and one
at bat here tonight and Jose Ramirez is out of
it big time.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
The Astros scored a run in the bottom half of
the first to make it two to one, and then
the Guardians went back to work in the third with
doubles from Brian Rochio and then Nolan Jones. Now the
three to one swung and ripped in the right tensi
basit near the line. This is going to go all
the way to the wall in the score is Rochio
(08:33):
a stand up RBI double for Nolan Jones. He has
a two hit game, He's got his twenty third RBI
and Cleveland's got a three to one lead, and Nolan
Jones got into a hitter's count, and then Nolan Jones
got a pitch that he could.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Pull for an RBI double.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Still in the third, two men on and two men out,
with Daniel Steaman at the plate.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
The O one to Schneeman and one in the right field.
It'll score two base hit Schneeman, Jones scores, Ramirez scores.
Cleveland is taking it to Hunter Brown five to one.
Guardians and give Daniel Schneeman a huge two out, two
(09:17):
runs single and the steal by Ramirez results in another run,
and the Guardians have scored more runs in three innings
tonight than what Hunter Brown gave up in the entire
month of June.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Then in the fourth, Brian Rochio's big series continued. Here's
the one zero and he blast one high and deep
right field.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
How run Brian Rocchio? Oh, what a series.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Rokio is having the huge double last night and now
a double at a homer tonight it is six to
one Cleveland and they are hitting Hunter bre harder than
any team has this season. But back came the Astros
once again. Two runs in the fifth cut the Guardians
lead to six to four, and then two more in
(10:10):
the eighth, and we were back to even at six six.
Neither team was able to score in the ninth. On
who extra innings the game went. Stephen Kuan was the runner,
starting at second base before the Guardians. In the top
of the tenth, he moved up to third on a
bunt and then a walk to Jose Ramirez Carlos Santana
and that would load the bases for on Hell Martinez.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
One in one. The count Hater's ready. Here it comes.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Swung on, hit in the air, deep left, humble, back
humble in front of the wall.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
This bolt on into grand slam on Hell Martinez, fist
race rounding the bases.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
He barely snuck it over the nineteen football into the
Crawford seats. It's a grand slam and the Guardians have
taken a ten to six lead. In the tenth off
of Josh Hater and on Hill Martinez. With everybody out
(11:16):
of the dugout welcoming him on the third day side
of the park and just about all thirty thousand heading
for the exits in Unison.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
That would be plenty.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
As I Monu will class a slam the door shut
on the Astros in the bottom half of the tenth inning.
He lets it fly and Smith swings and missus bogie.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
What a game for Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Led six to one, tied six to six, win it
in the tenth on a two out grand slam to
left beyond Hill Martinez.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Off Josh Hater.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Ten to six Guardians in ten have beaten the Astros. Man.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
We will hear from Martina a little bit later on
in our show what a week he's had at the plate.
And as the Guardians are going for the sweep on
Wednesday night again, they got that early lead with the
hero from Tuesday, Martinez stepping in the pit.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Swung on him high and deep to left. This ball's
way out of here on hell Martinez. Wow, what a
blast to left and the Guardians have a one nothing lead.
He snuck one over last night. He hammered one out
of here tonight and seven home runs for Martinez. That's
(12:33):
his fourth when batting right handed, and Cleveland's got a
one nothing lead on a no doubt about a bomb
to left for on Hell Martinez man.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
After that, Jose Ramirez, his big road trip continued. Now
the kick and delivery and he sends one in the
air to deep left.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
This ball's got a chance.
Speaker 7 (12:53):
It is gone.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And for the third consecutive ball game, Jose Ramirez, he
has hit a home run. He hit that off his
front foot. He went down and gulfed a change up
out of here the left and the Guardians have a
two nothing lead on the back to back home runs
(13:15):
and now Jose Ramirez hits his seventeenth and three straight
home runs for Jose Ramirez in this series. That would
be it for scoring until the seventh when the Guardians
put two men on and Jonathan Rodriguez delivered a big
base hit. Now the two to one swung on a
high chopper in the left. It's a base hit. Ramirez scores,
(13:39):
Santana scores.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Fry stops at second for nothing.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Cleveland a high chop single between third and short in
the left field for Jonathan Rodriguez, and Cleveland has come
up with two. Rod Rigus RBIs two and three on
the mound. It was another terrific start for slate Seconi
maybe his best yet. This is Seconi's last start before
(14:05):
the All Star break. Boy, he's done a great job
mixing up his pitches and of course Austin Headges brilliant
behind the plate in his game calling now the one
two strike.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Him out looking at the heat.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Why they had humbles Head spinning seven in the books
for nothing?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Houston got a little closer with two runs in the
eighth to make it four to two, and in the
ninth again it was a monuo classe a this time,
though unavailable he worked the previous three games, so Paul
Sewald came on to try and close things out for
a Guardian's sweep.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
The one to two delivery and straight three call poll game.
How about that?
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Ten straight losses to a three game sweep in Houston
and the Guardians completed with a four to two win tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Thursday's game in Chicago was rained out as the scene
shifted on this road swing to the Windy City. That
made for a split doubleheader on Friday. Game one, the
Guardians kept it rolling. They got the scoring started in
the second with one big swing from Daniel Schneman.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The pitch swung on rocket in the deep right field and.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Way out of here.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Daniel Schneaman with his ninth home run, no doubt about it,
line drive home run to right and the Guardians have
a one nothing lead. That is only the eighth home
run giving up all year by Shane Smith, and Schneman
hit a four hundred and eight feet well over the
(15:43):
bullpen into the seats beyond the bullpen and right. The
next batter was On hell Martinez and his big week continued.
The pitch swung on drill deep right field again. This
ball is gone, just did sneak over the fence in
right All beat off the bat of On hell Martinez
(16:04):
and the Guardians go back to back again and it's
two nothing.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Chicago answered in the bottom half of the second with
a two run home run from Luis Robert and it's
staytiede at two until the sixth when Carlos Santana came
to the plate with a man aboard. Alexander Sets delivers
and the pitch hammered deep to center.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Field and Don.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Carlos Santana just to the left of straightaway center has
put Cleveland on top four to two. Boy that he'd
pound that baseball, so Santana with a two out, two
run home run to center field and the Guardians back
on top four to two. Santana home run number eleven,
(16:55):
the fourth home run that he has hit right handed.
He hit that four one hundred and eighteen feet to
center and on the mound.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Aside from the home run he gave up in the second,
Logan Allen was brilliant pitching deep into this one.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Allan's pitch swinging and a mess. What away to finish
for Logan Allen. What a job he's done again here
Today's giving up one hit, folks, That's it. And Logan
Allen has been absolutely brilliant since he gave up that
one hit the home run, as he has set down
(17:30):
fourteen in a row, and the Guardians laid four to
two going to the seventh. Kate Smith and Hunter Gaddis
each worked a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth
innings respectively, and then Classe was on in the ninth
to try and close it out again. The set the
pitch and the hit swung on grounded the second Steaming
Gloves Throws ballgame and the Cleveland Guardians have now captured
(17:55):
four straight after dropping ten.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
In a row, so the Guardians extended that winning streak
to four games and it ended in the nightcap as
the game went eleven innings. That's where the White Sox
would win it by a final score of five to four.
Stay with us when we come back. We will hear
from on Hell Martinez, Brian Rochio, and Vice President of
(18:18):
Player Development Stephen Osterer as we continue with Guardians Weekly
after this timeout.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
It's Guardians Weekly as we join you from Chicago this weekend,
the Guardians and the Chicago White Sox closing out play
pre All Star Break. They'll have action on Saturday afternoon
and then also on Sunday afternoon, and then it's the
four day All Star Break on Hell. Martinez put on
quite a show in Houston earlier this week. A couple
of home runs, including a tenth then and grand slam
(19:01):
on Tuesday night A propelled the Guardians to attend to
six win and it came off of one of the
game's best closers and Josh Hater And the next day
we talked to Martinez about his strategy heading into that
at back compete.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
That's all that you can do, you know, like you
gotta be paying attention to like what he's doing, like
from the dug out, like that way when you go
into the balls, like you know what to do. But like, honestly,
all the all that I was trying to do is
just like competing, trying to be accountable for the team.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Did you think it was gonna go out when you
hit it because of the short porch there and left?
Speaker 8 (19:37):
Yeah, I mean I knew that I get better. It's
just like it was going up, so I was like
I would fit defeat.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
And that feeling when when you cross home played and
you get back with your teammates after such a big
base at what is that like?
Speaker 8 (19:52):
It feels really good honestly, you know, but like I
gotta switch the paste right away and like be focused
like to what I it's going on in the game
and after that go to defense. So honestly enjoy it.
But like gottas just the.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Base joined by Onhell Martinez who hit the grand slam
that ended up winning the game last night, and it helped.
Since you've been back it it seems like you've had
some of your ups and downs, but you battled through
those and are a little more consistent this time. Around.
What's been the biggest key this year that's allowed you
to make good progress?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Just keep learning, you know, like we're playing, we're playing
the baseball. So like you say, it's a young career
and I just gotta be able to I just I
dislivel and show what I'm able to do. So honestly,
you just keep playing the game and keep learning.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
And having that chance to go through some tough stretches.
How has that helped you, knowing that that you're gonna
still get some playing time and be able to see
if you can improve again.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Yeah, I mean we got a great staff, We've got
a great people support you around, so that helps a lot.
And I mean, just a young career, like we we
face a lot of good pictures, Like you gotta adjust
to that. You gotta be able to keep coming to
the field and like trying to do you best and
eventually it's gonna show up.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
And you were doing it as a switch hitter. You
were relating that you picked that up at a very
young age. Tell us how young you were and who
encouraged you to hit from the left side after growing
up as a right handed hitter.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
Yeah, my dad and my dad, I remember like so young.
He told me, like, I feel like you you're gonna
be able to hit both sides, and I would like
you to try it. So I didn't, like, it feels
really good.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Did you think initially that they would be really tough
or has it been easier than maybe you thought it
might be.
Speaker 8 (21:39):
No, he's just like he's another part of my game,
you know, Like I just like being young. Like honestly,
we don't think how about none of that, you know,
we just like gotta go to the play and have fun.
But like growing up and like learning how to like
separate like right side from the left side, let's side
from the right side, just like another part of my gaming,
I gotta learn how.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
To do it.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And another part part of your game is defensively in
field outfield and last night, and it's been like this
a couple of games where you've gone back and forth
a couple of times, it seems. And what are those
nights like where they're asking you to play two very
different positions in the same game.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Normal, you know, because like I'm still playing and having fun.
So I mean it's it's very normal for me. Like
I said, it's just like you gotta learn how to
turn the page like real quick and be accountable for
the team, like be able to do you best and
help help the team.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And it was a tough stretch team drop ten in
a row, but now two really nice wins. How different
is it in the clubhouse after a couple of nice
wins like that?
Speaker 8 (22:37):
No, it's not. You know, it's a long season and
we know, you know, like we are family and we
keep together, so like it doesn't matter what we're going through.
We are family and we're gonna go through.
Speaker 9 (22:47):
Hell.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Great to have you along. Thank you, Thank you. That
is on Hell Martinez, who again is swinging a hot bat,
playing well defensively at second base and in center field
as he continues to go back and forth between both.
Brian Roeko is back with the ball club, playing shortstop
on an everyday basis while the Guardians wait for the
recovery from injury for their other shortstop, Gabriel Arius. But
(23:09):
it's been Rokio is playing like he was a year
ago down the stretch and on end of the postseason.
He had a big night in Houston in Mondays seven
to five win that snapped the ten game losing skid.
He had to go ahead to run double. Also a
pair of big sacrifice bunts, and he says those bunts
are just as satisfying as an extra base hit.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
I mean, that's that's really important for me, like help
the team and in part of the of the game,
and that's huge. Get those bone to to get the
running position in close to to bring to home.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Everyone thinks it's easy get a bunt down, you know,
and if you don't, it's all come on. But how
hard is it to face major league pitching and get
upun down fair?
Speaker 9 (23:52):
I mean, it's pretty hard. It's really hard. He's more
hard when they throw a out of aspy. It's hard
to bund the ouspie. So I got a practice, a
lot of bond practice for for those moments. Get idle
it more easy.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And when you come through in a big spot like
you did with with the two run double, you worked
hard to get back here. And how much of that
hard work came into play in that at bat allowing
you to come through.
Speaker 9 (24:17):
I mean, I'm trying to get my confidence down, like
get get good good to be trying to put the
ball in play and trying to don't do much.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
And obviously it comes down to helping the team win.
And this team had gone through a stretch and obviously
you're well aware of that. When you look at some
of the little things that a team needs to do
to win, how many of those came in to play
last night? Do you think for this team to get
back in a winning situation?
Speaker 9 (24:47):
I mean, we every every time we fight him from
the first out to the last hout. That's that's why
we are so good, so good playing baseball because we
fight him from the first first time of the game
for the last time of the game.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Scardian shortstop Bryan Rokio joining us back with the big
club after a stint in the minor leagues, and it's
never easy to go back. But what did you learn
during your time in Columbus that's been helpful since you
came back.
Speaker 9 (25:15):
I learned a lot of stuff, to be honest, Like no,
who I am as a player. That's the biggest thing
for me. Practice am my hitting bar and my defensive
bar basement in bar, Like trying to be consistent to
get back to the with the team.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
And you had that really good stretch at the last
month or so of the season last year, and then
your postseason was really good? Does it it give you
some appreciation for how difficult that can be, that to
have that success when when you do have to go
back to the minor leagues the following season.
Speaker 9 (25:50):
I mean it's part of the process, you know, Like
I'm trying to take those moments like a sample for
me and get better to come to come again to
the team, I help the team win.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Rugless Odor third base coach for the Guardians. But he's
been there at different stages in your career. Explain what
he means to you. How does he help you, not
only now, but maybe even earlier in your career.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
I mean, he's like my father in baseball. He teach
me a lot of stuff. He teach me how to
how to be inside the play, outside the play. How
can I be better playing baseball? I mean he's he's
huge for me being together.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
To have someone like that that knows you as well
as anybody here. Now, how helpful can that be? A
think going forward?
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Huge?
Speaker 9 (26:43):
Huge, because he's he's still teach me. That's that's why
I have I also said here in the ability because
he teached me a lot of stuff. So that's pretty
good for me.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Ryan, Thank you so much for coming by.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
At Young shortstop Brian Rochio having a solid weekend after
some time at Triple A. Columbus really playing well here
with the big club once again. We'll take a time
out and then we'll come back with our final segment.
We'll hear from Vice President of Player Development Steven Osterer,
who has been keeping an eye on Columbus. And you
know there are some big names down there, and we'll
tell you about them when we come back after this.
Speaker 10 (27:22):
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 5 (27:28):
Why would we trade our best player?
Speaker 10 (27:31):
Well, at least you got to watch him in person
when he was here.
Speaker 9 (27:34):
I named my only son after.
Speaker 10 (27:35):
Him, so you'll always remember his name.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
Yeah, but what do I do with this jersey?
Speaker 10 (27:40):
Luckily the company has a great return policy. I warrant
for six seasons at least your Hollanado or protected with
a bundle from Progressive Progressive Casualty interns company have to
let another interists not available in those states are.
Speaker 7 (27:52):
Situations Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
It's Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhaus joining you from Chicago, where
the Guardians are closing out play free All Star Break
with a series against the White Sox. Stephen Ostro is
the vice president of player development for the Guardians, and
we check in with him on a regular basis find
out what's going on in the farm system. Well, we'll
talk tripa a Columbus this week with Osti and Chase. Delatter,
(28:35):
of course, is the name that everyone wants to know
about and everyone waits patiently for perhaps his first outings
at the major league level. Ostro talks about what he's
seen recently from Delatter in terms of his development.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Yeah, I mean Chase has been back in Columbus, Rummels,
I think two months at this point, building up his
workload and getting his body to just adapt the playing
five of six games at this point and even four
games in a row. So I think last week was
the first time in two years that he's played four
games and in four days, and one of those was
(29:10):
as a d H. So you know, it's adapting to
that and getting his body able to handle those types
of workloads. But he's doing really well right now. His
surface and underlying numbers are are really good. He's you know,
still elite, you know, at not chasing and making contact
and doesn't strike out a ton. You know, he's shown
i think, real signs of growing as a hit. It
(29:31):
from like a preparation standpoint. You know, he's not overthinking
as he's getting into the box or in the box,
and he's just kind of maximizing his compete mode so
to speak, as he's as he's at the plate. So
you know, the work defensively has also been an arrow up.
You know, he's his arm strength has gotten better. He's
put a lot of work into that over the last
(29:51):
year in a bit and his first steps and jumps
have been improved as well. So he's getting a lot
of time in the corner outfielders, becoming a more well
rounded defensetive player as well. And you know, it can
be really hard for these guys at this level to
keep their head where their where their feet is, you know,
and you know when they're really close like Chases, you know,
(30:12):
it can be difficult to stay focused. For a lot
of credit to Chase and how he's approached the day
to day and where he's put his mindset in his
focus in terms of development, because it doesn't stop even
when he gets to the major leagues and there's still
a lot for Chase to continue to work on. So
he's been really good in the last couple of months
about that.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
And how refreshing is it to finally be able to
talk about and work with him on on development things
instead of worrying so much about that health side of
it for him.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Yeah, I mean that's that's always uh, that positive for
guys that are coming back, is you know, being able
to switch the mindset from am I healthy? To what
can I attack aggressively in my pregame.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
And what can I attack, you know, in game.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
To get better as a baseball player. So you know,
obviously Chases had some unfortunate injuries in the past, and
I think his mindset right now has been really positive
towards attacking the development side.
Speaker 7 (31:07):
So really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Stephen Oster is joining us the vice president of player
development for the Guardians.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Staying with Columbus.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
And we talked so much about Chase the lottter, but
there's another kid down there having an outstanding season offensively,
ce Jkafis, And what do you see from him as
he gets deeper into this season and maybe to that
point where a year ago he started to tail off
a little bit. How is he holding up as he
gets deeper into this one.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yeah, I mean he's continuing to hit. So I think
at this point as z average is hovering around three
under it, his ops is maybe a tick over nine
to twenty, and he's playing well defensively, so offensively, there's
still the work to be done maintaining posture and his
loading and trying to help his back path maybe make
(31:52):
him a bit more resilient to secondary pitches, breaking balls
and higher end vielows. But I mean he's a really
good hitter and he's adjusted well to the level and
the jump to triple A. Again, I think the tail
off part is, you know, sometimes just navigating and we've
talked about this, just navigating the physicality and the routines
and making it through a really long professional season and CJ,
(32:16):
you know, headed into this offseason with a really good
mindset of you know, tacking on the required physical motor
and some fat free mass and getting stronger and more prepared.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
To do it.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
And he's upheld that so far this year, and I
think that's allowed him to just be more consistent as
we kind of hit to the All Star break, So
you know, credit to him for tackling that this offseason,
maintaining his work, you know, both on and off the
field so far in Columbus and you know, he's been
really good and it'll be exciting to watch him play
(32:49):
in the Futures game in a couple of days with
Parker Messik.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
And you mentioned defensively coming along nicely outfield, something new
for him. How has that gone and what are some
of the things you see there?
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Yeah, no, it's gone well. And I think we, you know,
as you do sometimes in Triple A, trying to balance
where guys are at from a development standpoint and exposure
to different positions and build up the skill set, which
is what we've been trying to do with CJ and
the outfield. But at the same time, you know, he's
not the only player on the roster and you have
to make sure that the reps are there for other
(33:21):
players to develop and work on their skill sets. So
it hasn't been a full fledge jumped fully into the outfield.
He's played quite a bit and he's he's gotten, you know,
better in that regard, but you know there's still the
solidifying him at first base and ensuring that, you know,
other outfielders are getting the reps that they need to.
So a bit of a juggling act at any point
(33:43):
with guys, you know, in the Triple A space, especially
with the forty man guys that are there. But CJ
has been really good about making the improvements and is
working pretty hard you know, in the pregame prep as well,
even when he's not playing in the outfield that day.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
We're joined by Steven Oster, the vice president of player
development for the Guardian Stocking Triple A Columbus. This week
on the mound at Triple A. You mentioned Cjkaphus going
to the Futures Game as part of All Star Week.
Parker Messik will as well, and gosh, you look at
him and it seems like he's taken every start and
been able to develop along those lines. And what's been
(34:18):
particularly impressive to you about his season.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Yeah, he's done really well this year in Columbus making
that adjustment and again, similar to CJ, it'll be excited
to watch him throw in the Futures Game in a
couple of days. But Parker's strike throwing and weak contact
has been really good. You know, it's been increasing over
the last month for sure, and I think, yeah, the
underlying the bat missing has always been a strength of his,
(34:42):
so you know, mixing that all together is resulting in
him going out and performing very well in triple A. Yeah,
I think there's you know, some tweaks that he's been
making over the last few weeks. He's mixed in a
lot more sinkers, you know, new offering this year, and yeah,
I think there's some room for him to refine his
plan of attack, specifically to right handed hitters, and you know,
(35:05):
honing in on his pitch shapes and how they're moving,
and really just also taking care of the physical side,
because again, it's a long season and up until this point,
he's made every start and he has a history of
doing that. But you know, just like any other picture,
we're trying to just make sure that they're healthy and
prepared to throw every single game. So for a guy
like Parker who's about to take on most likely the
(35:28):
most amount of work he's ever thrown in a year,
you know, we want to make sure that he's physically
prepared and in a good spot to do so. But
you know, he's super mature, he's a really hard worker
and has great self awareness. So yeah, I think the
improvements that we've seen this year, and you know, being
open to adjust some things and tweak some things as
(35:49):
he's confronted higher level hitters and better competitors, I think
we'll continue to see him grow as a picture.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, moving forward, and just wrapping up this week. You've
been in Cleveland in recent weeks to help out with
draft preparation and from from that standpoint, player developments role
in the draft for Cleveland. How involved are you and
your staff and what are some of the things that
you would help with as they prepare for a draft day.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Yeah, so draft preps started for us a few months ago,
and player development is really tied into the process of
knowing those players. So we've had you know, various members
digging in on players and assessing them over the last
few months, which honestly is a lot of fun. I
think that carries over into more excitement and care for
(36:42):
the players when you do get them into the system.
And yeah, it's happening in a couple of days, you know,
Sunday night, there's rounds one to three where I think
we're going to have the twenty seventh pick overall, and
then four more of that day by way of some
comp round picks. But you know, player to development really
digs in and supports the process overall. And you know,
(37:04):
it's a very exciting time of the year, you know,
for everyone and player development, when you're about to hit
the All Star break and there's excitement about bringing in
some new talent.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Well, it's a busy week, I'm sure, and a lot
of excitement as new players will come into the system
and who knows, maybe we'll be talking about them as
early as next season on our weekly visits. But Austin,
thanks a lot for stopping by. Enjoyed the All Star break,
and we'll talk to you soon. Thank you, Rosie. A
lot of good stuff this week from Steven Ostro, the
vice president of player development for the Guardians, talking Triple
(37:34):
A Columbus, some players getting awfully close to the major
league level and it'll be interesting to see if they
get those opportunities in the season's second half.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Thanks so much as always to Brian Matse for all
of his help each and every week on Guardians Weekly
until next week when we join you from back home.
The Guardians will open play out of the All Star
Break at Progressive Field with a series against the Athletics.
This is Jim Rosenhause finding you that you've been listening
to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio network.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
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. Jimros in house along
with you from Chicago. This weekend, the Guardians playing the
White Sox in what is scheduled to be a four
game series. A little weather struggle on Thursday night, but
on Friday, the Guardian's able to get in some of
the action over at rate Feel the ballpark for the
(01:17):
White Sox that has been renamed once again. Guardians closing
out play pre All Star break with a lengthy road trip,
and we'll have the weekend review that started unbelievably well
in Houston earlier this week. Coming up a little bit
later on in the show, we'll have a full Minor
league update from Vice president of player Development Stephen Osterer,
and we'll also hear from a couple of infielders for
(01:41):
the Guardians on Hell Martinez, who also plays some center field,
and Brian Rochio, the shortstop who's back at it for
the Guardians, both swinging hot bats. But first that wee
can review and we'll take a time out and come
back with that after this time out on the Cleveland
Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Progressive Nos Sports brings people together like you've gotta feel
bad for people who don't even get it. Some people
will never know what it's like to see their favorite
teams hopes decided by ping pong ball to draft the
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Speaker 4 (02:10):
Or not.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
I mean, sure, it's silly for your happiness to hinge
on the success of a twenty year old entry level employee,
but you just can't help yourself. The stress is exhilarating.
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Speaker 2 (03:05):
Jim ros announced back with you. We're in Chicago where
the Guardians are taking on the White Sox this weekend,
and it has been a great week for the Guardians.
After enduring a ten game losing skid, they headed out
on the road after a tough loss Sunday at home
against the Tigers to extend that losing streak to ten games.
And they were facing a Houston Astros ball club that
(03:27):
had the best record in baseball since June the first,
and they were coming off a three game series sweep,
blowing out the Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium on a nightly basis,
So it certainly looked like an uphill battle. But that
was the challenge, starting on Monday night in Houston, and
with good pitching on both sides early in this one,
Colton Gordon for Houston, Tanner Biby for the Guardians. Here's
(03:51):
the old one, swung on, bouncing ball back to the mound.
Bibby's got it and he'll underhand flip it to Santana
at first for the out. A three up, redown inning,
and we'll head to the fifth. Still no score in Houston.
In the fifth, the Guardian's got something going. A pair
of singles to start the inning. Brian Rochio moved the
runners up with a sack bunt, and then Stephen Kwan
(04:12):
came through Gordon from the stretch. Here's his pitch, swung
online off the glove of Gordon. He falls down, the
ball trickles to Altuve, the second baseman. All hands are safe.
The Guardians take the lead on a base hit, and
it looks like Gordon is okay after that line drive
(04:33):
us not a rocket off the bat of Kwan, but
enough is Kwan will get credit for an RBI base
it and the Guardians take a lead. Two batters later,
two men on and Jose Ramirez stepped in. Here's the
pitch and Ramirez launches it high and deep to left.
Home run Jose.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Ramirez, and there is the big inning for the Guardians.
Three run blast for Ramirez and Cleveland takes a four
nothing lead. Well, leave a de Jose Ramirez to get
it done. Home run number fifteen now with forty two
(05:15):
runs driven in and there is the big two out
base it for the Guardians and it's a home run
for Ramirez. So finally the big inning for the Guardians
and a big lead. But Houston, well, they didn't back down.
They responded in a big way with four runs in
their own in the bottom half of the fifth inning,
(05:36):
and just like that, the game.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Was all tied up at four. The Guardians responded in
the sixth a double from on Hell Martinez, a walk
to bow Naylor and that brought Brian Rochio to the plate.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Now the Yo two swung on line the third off
the glove of parades down the left field line. It'll
roll to the corner into score. Martinez coming home. Nailer
throat of the plate, first slide safe and a two
run double into the left field corner by Brian Rocchio
has given Cleveland the lead back at six to four.
(06:10):
Houston guy within a run with a solo home run
in the bottom half of the sixth inning, but the
Guardians got that run right back in the ninth thanks
to David Fry. Now the payoff hit high in the
air to deep left, Tremmeel going back, Tremmeel near the wall.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Tremmeel jumps in. This ball is gone.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
He got into that little triangle out there where the
wall juts from three point fifteen out to three sixty six.
Tremmeel disappeared from our review jumping up and that ball
somehow's snuck out and a huge home run by David Fry,
(06:52):
his third.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And that set it up for Emmanuel Class to close
the door with a two run lead.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
The pit swung on a high shopper to second. Schneman
gloves throws Boggie. The streak is dead. Cleveland ends a
ten game slide, and they do it against the hottest
team in baseball since June first. They beat the Astros
seven to five.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
W a satisfying win for the Guardians to get back
in the win column for the first time in a
week and a half. Tuesday night, still in Houston, the
Guardians didn't waste any time getting the scoring started. In
this one top half of the first inning, Nolan Jones
singled and then once again it was Jose Ramirez doing
the damage.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
The pitch swung at.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Hit high, deep to right, Hawaii back and gone Jose
Ramirez for the second night in no row. This time
got a change up and a moonshot to right and
the Guardians with a tune nothing lead and Ramirez with
(07:59):
two runs and five RBIs in one game and one
at bat here tonight and Jose Ramirez is out of
it big time.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
The Astros scored a run in the bottom half of
the first to make it two to one, and then
the Guardians went back to work in the third with
doubles from Brian Rochio and then Nolan Jones. Now the
three to one swung and ripped in the right tensi
basit near the line. This is going to go all
the way to the wall in the score is Rochio
(08:33):
a stand up RBI double for Nolan Jones. He has
a two hit game, He's got his twenty third RBI
and Cleveland's got a three to one lead, and Nolan
Jones got into a hitter's count, and then Nolan Jones
got a pitch that he could.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
Pull for an RBI double.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Still in the third, two men on and two men out,
with Daniel Steaman at the plate.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
The O one to Schneeman and one in the right field.
It'll score two base hit Schneeman, Jones scores, Ramirez scores.
Cleveland is taking it to Hunter Brown five to one.
Guardians and give Daniel Schneeman a huge two out, two
(09:17):
runs single and the steal by Ramirez results in another run,
and the Guardians have scored more runs in three innings
tonight than what Hunter Brown gave up in the entire
month of June.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Then in the fourth, Brian Rochio's big series continued. Here's
the one zero and he blast one high and deep
right field.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
How run Brian Rocchio? Oh, what a series.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Rokio is having the huge double last night and now
a double at a homer tonight it is six to
one Cleveland and they are hitting Hunter bre harder than
any team has this season. But back came the Astros
once again. Two runs in the fifth cut the Guardians
lead to six to four, and then two more in
(10:10):
the eighth, and we were back to even at six six.
Neither team was able to score in the ninth. On
who extra innings the game went. Stephen Kuan was the runner,
starting at second base before the Guardians. In the top
of the tenth, he moved up to third on a
bunt and then a walk to Jose Ramirez Carlos Santana
and that would load the bases for on Hell Martinez.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
One in one. The count Hater's ready. Here it comes.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Swung on, hit in the air, deep left, humble, back
humble in front of the wall.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
This bolt on into grand slam on Hell Martinez, fist
race rounding the bases.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
He barely snuck it over the nineteen football into the
Crawford seats. It's a grand slam and the Guardians have
taken a ten to six lead. In the tenth off
of Josh Hater and on Hill Martinez. With everybody out
(11:16):
of the dugout welcoming him on the third day side
of the park and just about all thirty thousand heading
for the exits in Unison.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
That would be plenty.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
As I Monu will class a slam the door shut
on the Astros in the bottom half of the tenth inning.
He lets it fly and Smith swings and missus bogie.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
What a game for Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Led six to one, tied six to six, win it
in the tenth on a two out grand slam to
left beyond Hill Martinez.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Off Josh Hater.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Ten to six Guardians in ten have beaten the Astros. Man.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
We will hear from Martina a little bit later on
in our show what a week he's had at the plate.
And as the Guardians are going for the sweep on
Wednesday night again, they got that early lead with the
hero from Tuesday, Martinez stepping in the pit.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Swung on him high and deep to left. This ball's
way out of here on hell Martinez. Wow, what a
blast to left and the Guardians have a one nothing lead.
He snuck one over last night. He hammered one out
of here tonight and seven home runs for Martinez. That's
(12:33):
his fourth when batting right handed, and Cleveland's got a
one nothing lead on a no doubt about a bomb
to left for on Hell Martinez man.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
After that, Jose Ramirez, his big road trip continued. Now
the kick and delivery and he sends one in the
air to deep left.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
This ball's got a chance.
Speaker 7 (12:53):
It is gone.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And for the third consecutive ball game, Jose Ramirez, he
has hit a home run. He hit that off his
front foot. He went down and gulfed a change up
out of here the left and the Guardians have a
two nothing lead on the back to back home runs
(13:15):
and now Jose Ramirez hits his seventeenth and three straight
home runs for Jose Ramirez in this series. That would
be it for scoring until the seventh when the Guardians
put two men on and Jonathan Rodriguez delivered a big
base hit. Now the two to one swung on a
high chopper in the left. It's a base hit. Ramirez scores,
(13:39):
Santana scores.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Fry stops at second for nothing.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Cleveland a high chop single between third and short in
the left field for Jonathan Rodriguez, and Cleveland has come
up with two. Rod Rigus RBIs two and three on
the mound. It was another terrific start for slate Seconi
maybe his best yet. This is Seconi's last start before
(14:05):
the All Star break. Boy, he's done a great job
mixing up his pitches and of course Austin Headges brilliant
behind the plate in his game calling now the one
two strike.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Him out looking at the heat.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Why they had humbles Head spinning seven in the books
for nothing?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Houston got a little closer with two runs in the
eighth to make it four to two, and in the
ninth again it was a monuo classe a this time,
though unavailable he worked the previous three games, so Paul
Sewald came on to try and close things out for
a Guardian's sweep.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
The one to two delivery and straight three call poll game.
How about that?
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Ten straight losses to a three game sweep in Houston
and the Guardians completed with a four to two win tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Thursday's game in Chicago was rained out as the scene
shifted on this road swing to the Windy City. That
made for a split doubleheader on Friday. Game one, the
Guardians kept it rolling. They got the scoring started in
the second with one big swing from Daniel Schneman.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The pitch swung on rocket in the deep right field and.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Way out of here.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Daniel Schneaman with his ninth home run, no doubt about it,
line drive home run to right and the Guardians have
a one nothing lead. That is only the eighth home
run giving up all year by Shane Smith, and Schneman
hit a four hundred and eight feet well over the
(15:43):
bullpen into the seats beyond the bullpen and right. The
next batter was On hell Martinez and his big week continued.
The pitch swung on drill deep right field again. This
ball is gone, just did sneak over the fence in
right All beat off the bat of On hell Martinez
(16:04):
and the Guardians go back to back again and it's
two nothing.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Chicago answered in the bottom half of the second with
a two run home run from Luis Robert and it's
staytiede at two until the sixth when Carlos Santana came
to the plate with a man aboard. Alexander Sets delivers
and the pitch hammered deep to center.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Field and Don.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Carlos Santana just to the left of straightaway center has
put Cleveland on top four to two. Boy that he'd
pound that baseball, so Santana with a two out, two
run home run to center field and the Guardians back
on top four to two. Santana home run number eleven,
(16:55):
the fourth home run that he has hit right handed.
He hit that four one hundred and eighteen feet to
center and on the mound.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Aside from the home run he gave up in the second,
Logan Allen was brilliant pitching deep into this one.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Allan's pitch swinging and a mess. What away to finish
for Logan Allen. What a job he's done again here
Today's giving up one hit, folks, That's it. And Logan
Allen has been absolutely brilliant since he gave up that
one hit the home run, as he has set down
(17:30):
fourteen in a row, and the Guardians laid four to
two going to the seventh. Kate Smith and Hunter Gaddis
each worked a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth
innings respectively, and then Classe was on in the ninth
to try and close it out again. The set the
pitch and the hit swung on grounded the second Steaming
Gloves Throws ballgame and the Cleveland Guardians have now captured
(17:55):
four straight after dropping ten.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
In a row, so the Guardians extended that winning streak
to four games and it ended in the nightcap as
the game went eleven innings. That's where the White Sox
would win it by a final score of five to four.
Stay with us when we come back. We will hear
from on Hell Martinez, Brian Rochio, and Vice President of
(18:18):
Player Development Stephen Osterer as we continue with Guardians Weekly
after this timeout.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
It's Guardians Weekly as we join you from Chicago this weekend,
the Guardians and the Chicago White Sox closing out play
pre All Star Break. They'll have action on Saturday afternoon
and then also on Sunday afternoon, and then it's the
four day All Star Break on Hell. Martinez put on
quite a show in Houston earlier this week. A couple
of home runs, including a tenth then and grand slam
(19:01):
on Tuesday night A propelled the Guardians to attend to
six win and it came off of one of the
game's best closers and Josh Hater And the next day
we talked to Martinez about his strategy heading into that
at back compete.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
That's all that you can do, you know, like you
gotta be paying attention to like what he's doing, like
from the dug out, like that way when you go
into the balls, like you know what to do. But like, honestly,
all the all that I was trying to do is
just like competing, trying to be accountable for the team.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Did you think it was gonna go out when you
hit it because of the short porch there and left?
Speaker 8 (19:37):
Yeah, I mean I knew that I get better. It's
just like it was going up, so I was like
I would fit defeat.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
And that feeling when when you cross home played and
you get back with your teammates after such a big
base at what is that like?
Speaker 8 (19:52):
It feels really good honestly, you know, but like I
gotta switch the paste right away and like be focused
like to what I it's going on in the game
and after that go to defense. So honestly enjoy it.
But like gottas just the.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Base joined by Onhell Martinez who hit the grand slam
that ended up winning the game last night, and it helped.
Since you've been back it it seems like you've had
some of your ups and downs, but you battled through
those and are a little more consistent this time. Around.
What's been the biggest key this year that's allowed you
to make good progress?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Just keep learning, you know, like we're playing, we're playing
the baseball. So like you say, it's a young career
and I just gotta be able to I just I
dislivel and show what I'm able to do. So honestly,
you just keep playing the game and keep learning.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
And having that chance to go through some tough stretches.
How has that helped you, knowing that that you're gonna
still get some playing time and be able to see
if you can improve again.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Yeah, I mean we got a great staff, We've got
a great people support you around, so that helps a lot.
And I mean, just a young career, like we we
face a lot of good pictures, Like you gotta adjust
to that. You gotta be able to keep coming to
the field and like trying to do you best and
eventually it's gonna show up.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
And you were doing it as a switch hitter. You
were relating that you picked that up at a very
young age. Tell us how young you were and who
encouraged you to hit from the left side after growing
up as a right handed hitter.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
Yeah, my dad and my dad, I remember like so young.
He told me, like, I feel like you you're gonna
be able to hit both sides, and I would like
you to try it. So I didn't, like, it feels
really good.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Did you think initially that they would be really tough
or has it been easier than maybe you thought it
might be.
Speaker 8 (21:39):
No, he's just like he's another part of my game,
you know, Like I just like being young. Like honestly,
we don't think how about none of that, you know,
we just like gotta go to the play and have fun.
But like growing up and like learning how to like
separate like right side from the left side, let's side
from the right side, just like another part of my gaming,
I gotta learn how.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
To do it.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And another part part of your game is defensively in
field outfield and last night, and it's been like this
a couple of games where you've gone back and forth
a couple of times, it seems. And what are those
nights like where they're asking you to play two very
different positions in the same game.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Normal, you know, because like I'm still playing and having fun.
So I mean it's it's very normal for me. Like
I said, it's just like you gotta learn how to
turn the page like real quick and be accountable for
the team, like be able to do you best and
help help the team.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And it was a tough stretch team drop ten in
a row, but now two really nice wins. How different
is it in the clubhouse after a couple of nice
wins like that?
Speaker 8 (22:37):
No, it's not. You know, it's a long season and
we know, you know, like we are family and we
keep together, so like it doesn't matter what we're going through.
We are family and we're gonna go through.
Speaker 9 (22:47):
Hell.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Great to have you along. Thank you, Thank you. That
is on Hell Martinez, who again is swinging a hot bat,
playing well defensively at second base and in center field
as he continues to go back and forth between both.
Brian Roeko is back with the ball club, playing shortstop
on an everyday basis while the Guardians wait for the
recovery from injury for their other shortstop, Gabriel Arius. But
(23:09):
it's been Rokio is playing like he was a year
ago down the stretch and on end of the postseason.
He had a big night in Houston in Mondays seven
to five win that snapped the ten game losing skid.
He had to go ahead to run double. Also a
pair of big sacrifice bunts, and he says those bunts
are just as satisfying as an extra base hit.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
I mean, that's that's really important for me, like help
the team and in part of the of the game,
and that's huge. Get those bone to to get the
running position in close to to bring to home.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Everyone thinks it's easy get a bunt down, you know,
and if you don't, it's all come on. But how
hard is it to face major league pitching and get
upun down fair?
Speaker 9 (23:52):
I mean, it's pretty hard. It's really hard. He's more
hard when they throw a out of aspy. It's hard
to bund the ouspie. So I got a practice, a
lot of bond practice for for those moments. Get idle
it more easy.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And when you come through in a big spot like
you did with with the two run double, you worked
hard to get back here. And how much of that
hard work came into play in that at bat allowing
you to come through.
Speaker 9 (24:17):
I mean, I'm trying to get my confidence down, like
get get good good to be trying to put the
ball in play and trying to don't do much.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
And obviously it comes down to helping the team win.
And this team had gone through a stretch and obviously
you're well aware of that. When you look at some
of the little things that a team needs to do
to win, how many of those came in to play
last night? Do you think for this team to get
back in a winning situation?
Speaker 9 (24:47):
I mean, we every every time we fight him from
the first out to the last hout. That's that's why
we are so good, so good playing baseball because we
fight him from the first first time of the game
for the last time of the game.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Scardian shortstop Bryan Rokio joining us back with the big
club after a stint in the minor leagues, and it's
never easy to go back. But what did you learn
during your time in Columbus that's been helpful since you
came back.
Speaker 9 (25:15):
I learned a lot of stuff, to be honest, Like no,
who I am as a player. That's the biggest thing
for me. Practice am my hitting bar and my defensive
bar basement in bar, Like trying to be consistent to
get back to the with the team.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
And you had that really good stretch at the last
month or so of the season last year, and then
your postseason was really good? Does it it give you
some appreciation for how difficult that can be, that to
have that success when when you do have to go
back to the minor leagues the following season.
Speaker 9 (25:50):
I mean it's part of the process, you know, Like
I'm trying to take those moments like a sample for
me and get better to come to come again to
the team, I help the team win.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Rugless Odor third base coach for the Guardians. But he's
been there at different stages in your career. Explain what
he means to you. How does he help you, not
only now, but maybe even earlier in your career.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
I mean, he's like my father in baseball. He teach
me a lot of stuff. He teach me how to
how to be inside the play, outside the play. How
can I be better playing baseball? I mean he's he's
huge for me being together.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
To have someone like that that knows you as well
as anybody here. Now, how helpful can that be? A
think going forward?
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Huge?
Speaker 9 (26:43):
Huge, because he's he's still teach me. That's that's why
I have I also said here in the ability because
he teached me a lot of stuff. So that's pretty
good for me.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Ryan, Thank you so much for coming by.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
At Young shortstop Brian Rochio having a solid weekend after
some time at Triple A. Columbus really playing well here
with the big club once again. We'll take a time
out and then we'll come back with our final segment.
We'll hear from Vice President of Player Development Steven Osterer,
who has been keeping an eye on Columbus. And you
know there are some big names down there, and we'll
tell you about them when we come back after this.
Speaker 10 (27:22):
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Speaker 5 (27:28):
Why would we trade our best player?
Speaker 10 (27:31):
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when he was here.
Speaker 9 (27:34):
I named my only son after.
Speaker 10 (27:35):
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Speaker 7 (27:38):
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Speaker 10 (27:40):
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Speaker 7 (27:52):
Situations Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
It's Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhaus joining you from Chicago, where
the Guardians are closing out play free All Star Break
with a series against the White Sox. Stephen Ostro is
the vice president of player development for the Guardians, and
we check in with him on a regular basis find
out what's going on in the farm system. Well, we'll
talk tripa a Columbus this week with Osti and Chase. Delatter,
(28:35):
of course, is the name that everyone wants to know
about and everyone waits patiently for perhaps his first outings
at the major league level. Ostro talks about what he's
seen recently from Delatter in terms of his development.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Yeah, I mean Chase has been back in Columbus, Rummels,
I think two months at this point, building up his
workload and getting his body to just adapt the playing
five of six games at this point and even four
games in a row. So I think last week was
the first time in two years that he's played four
games and in four days, and one of those was
(29:10):
as a d H. So you know, it's adapting to
that and getting his body able to handle those types
of workloads. But he's doing really well right now. His
surface and underlying numbers are are really good. He's you know,
still elite, you know, at not chasing and making contact
and doesn't strike out a ton. You know, he's shown
i think, real signs of growing as a hit. It
(29:31):
from like a preparation standpoint. You know, he's not overthinking
as he's getting into the box or in the box,
and he's just kind of maximizing his compete mode so
to speak, as he's as he's at the plate. So
you know, the work defensively has also been an arrow up.
You know, he's his arm strength has gotten better. He's
put a lot of work into that over the last
(29:51):
year in a bit and his first steps and jumps
have been improved as well. So he's getting a lot
of time in the corner outfielders, becoming a more well
rounded defensetive player as well. And you know, it can
be really hard for these guys at this level to
keep their head where their where their feet is, you know,
and you know when they're really close like Chases, you know,
(30:12):
it can be difficult to stay focused. For a lot
of credit to Chase and how he's approached the day
to day and where he's put his mindset in his
focus in terms of development, because it doesn't stop even
when he gets to the major leagues and there's still
a lot for Chase to continue to work on. So
he's been really good in the last couple of months
about that.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
And how refreshing is it to finally be able to
talk about and work with him on on development things
instead of worrying so much about that health side of
it for him.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
Yeah, I mean that's that's always uh, that positive for
guys that are coming back, is you know, being able
to switch the mindset from am I healthy? To what
can I attack aggressively in my pregame.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
And what can I attack, you know, in game.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
To get better as a baseball player. So you know,
obviously Chases had some unfortunate injuries in the past, and
I think his mindset right now has been really positive
towards attacking the development side.
Speaker 7 (31:07):
So really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Stephen Oster is joining us the vice president of player
development for the Guardians.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
Staying with Columbus.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
And we talked so much about Chase the lottter, but
there's another kid down there having an outstanding season offensively,
ce Jkafis, And what do you see from him as
he gets deeper into this season and maybe to that
point where a year ago he started to tail off
a little bit. How is he holding up as he
gets deeper into this one.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yeah, I mean he's continuing to hit. So I think
at this point as z average is hovering around three
under it, his ops is maybe a tick over nine
to twenty, and he's playing well defensively, so offensively, there's
still the work to be done maintaining posture and his
loading and trying to help his back path maybe make
(31:52):
him a bit more resilient to secondary pitches, breaking balls
and higher end vielows. But I mean he's a really
good hitter and he's adjusted well to the level and
the jump to triple A. Again, I think the tail
off part is, you know, sometimes just navigating and we've
talked about this, just navigating the physicality and the routines
and making it through a really long professional season and CJ,
(32:16):
you know, headed into this offseason with a really good
mindset of you know, tacking on the required physical motor
and some fat free mass and getting stronger and more prepared.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
To do it.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
And he's upheld that so far this year, and I
think that's allowed him to just be more consistent as
we kind of hit to the All Star break, So
you know, credit to him for tackling that this offseason,
maintaining his work, you know, both on and off the
field so far in Columbus and you know, he's been
really good and it'll be exciting to watch him play
(32:49):
in the Futures game in a couple of days with
Parker Messik.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
And you mentioned defensively coming along nicely outfield, something new
for him. How has that gone and what are some
of the things you see there?
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Yeah, no, it's gone well. And I think we, you know,
as you do sometimes in Triple A, trying to balance
where guys are at from a development standpoint and exposure
to different positions and build up the skill set, which
is what we've been trying to do with CJ and
the outfield. But at the same time, you know, he's
not the only player on the roster and you have
to make sure that the reps are there for other
(33:21):
players to develop and work on their skill sets. So
it hasn't been a full fledge jumped fully into the outfield.
He's played quite a bit and he's he's gotten, you know,
better in that regard, but you know there's still the
solidifying him at first base and ensuring that, you know,
other outfielders are getting the reps that they need to.
So a bit of a juggling act at any point
(33:43):
with guys, you know, in the Triple A space, especially
with the forty man guys that are there. But CJ
has been really good about making the improvements and is
working pretty hard you know, in the pregame prep as well,
even when he's not playing in the outfield that day.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
We're joined by Steven Oster, the vice president of player
development for the Guardian Stocking Triple A Columbus. This week
on the mound at Triple A. You mentioned Cjkaphus going
to the Futures Game as part of All Star Week.
Parker Messik will as well, and gosh, you look at
him and it seems like he's taken every start and
been able to develop along those lines. And what's been
(34:18):
particularly impressive to you about his season.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Yeah, he's done really well this year in Columbus making
that adjustment and again, similar to CJ, it'll be excited
to watch him throw in the Futures Game in a
couple of days. But Parker's strike throwing and weak contact
has been really good. You know, it's been increasing over
the last month for sure, and I think, yeah, the
underlying the bat missing has always been a strength of his,
(34:42):
so you know, mixing that all together is resulting in
him going out and performing very well in triple A. Yeah,
I think there's you know, some tweaks that he's been
making over the last few weeks. He's mixed in a
lot more sinkers, you know, new offering this year, and yeah,
I think there's some room for him to refine his
plan of attack, specifically to right handed hitters, and you know,
(35:05):
honing in on his pitch shapes and how they're moving,
and really just also taking care of the physical side,
because again, it's a long season and up until this point,
he's made every start and he has a history of
doing that. But you know, just like any other picture,
we're trying to just make sure that they're healthy and
prepared to throw every single game. So for a guy
like Parker who's about to take on most likely the
(35:28):
most amount of work he's ever thrown in a year,
you know, we want to make sure that he's physically
prepared and in a good spot to do so. But
you know, he's super mature, he's a really hard worker
and has great self awareness. So yeah, I think the
improvements that we've seen this year, and you know, being
open to adjust some things and tweak some things as
(35:49):
he's confronted higher level hitters and better competitors, I think
we'll continue to see him grow as a picture.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, moving forward, and just wrapping up this week. You've
been in Cleveland in recent weeks to help out with
draft preparation and from from that standpoint, player developments role
in the draft for Cleveland. How involved are you and
your staff and what are some of the things that
you would help with as they prepare for a draft day.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Yeah, so draft preps started for us a few months ago,
and player development is really tied into the process of
knowing those players. So we've had you know, various members
digging in on players and assessing them over the last
few months, which honestly is a lot of fun. I
think that carries over into more excitement and care for
(36:42):
the players when you do get them into the system.
And yeah, it's happening in a couple of days, you know,
Sunday night, there's rounds one to three where I think
we're going to have the twenty seventh pick overall, and
then four more of that day by way of some
comp round picks. But you know, player to development really
digs in and supports the process overall. And you know,
(37:04):
it's a very exciting time of the year, you know,
for everyone and player development, when you're about to hit
the All Star break and there's excitement about bringing in
some new talent.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Well, it's a busy week, I'm sure, and a lot
of excitement as new players will come into the system
and who knows, maybe we'll be talking about them as
early as next season on our weekly visits. But Austin,
thanks a lot for stopping by. Enjoyed the All Star break,
and we'll talk to you soon. Thank you, Rosie. A
lot of good stuff this week from Steven Ostro, the
vice president of player development for the Guardians, talking Triple
(37:34):
A Columbus, some players getting awfully close to the major
league level and it'll be interesting to see if they
get those opportunities in the season's second half.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Thanks so much as always to Brian Matse for all
of his help each and every week on Guardians Weekly
until next week when we join you from back home.
The Guardians will open play out of the All Star
Break at Progressive Field with a series against the Athletics.
This is Jim Rosenhause finding you that you've been listening
to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio network.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping
Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance
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