April 19, 2025 • 39 mins
Looking back at the Guardians series in Baltimore, along with a big win in the opener in Pittsburgh. Plus, two of the Guards hottest hitters Gabrieal Arias and Angel Martinez stop by to talk about their strong starts to the season. Also, the weekly Farm Report with V.P. of Player Development Steven Osterer with a look at the Lynchburg Hillcats. That's all on this edition of Guardians Weekly with Jim Rosenhaus on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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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. Hi, everyone, welcome to
(01:00):
the Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from PNC
Park in Pittsburgh this weekend where the Guardians are taking
on the Pirates in an interleague matchup. Cleveland winning the
opener on Friday night ten to seven, and we'll have
more on that shortly, but just to let you know,
coming up on our show this week, we will hear
from Gabriel Arius and on Helm Martinez, two of the
(01:22):
hottest titters for the Guardians over the last week or so.
Will also be joined by Paul Sewald, Guardian's reliever, and
Joe Torres, the assistant pitching coach for the Guardians, and
will take a look at Single A Lynchburg what their
roster has in store for this season with the vice
president of player Development, Stephen Osterer. That's coming up in
(01:44):
just a little while, but first our look back at
the week that was the week in review and for
the Guardians, it started with the opener of the road
trip in Baltimore. This current road trip started in Baltimore
with a three game series on Tuesday night and the
game scoreless until the third. That's when the Guardians loaded
the bases for Jose Ramirez. The seven pitch swung on,
(02:08):
hid in the air deep enough to get a run
home left center. It'll be caught by Mullins, the center fielder,
and he'll throw the third, tagging and scoring his nailer.
Everybody else stays put in Cleveland with a one nothing lead,
Jose Ramirez the sacond fly to medium deep left center,
his ah RBI. The Guardians had that one nothing lead.
(02:31):
It was still one nothing in the fifth, when on hell,
Martinez got something started. His next pitch is swung on
and lifted high in the air to right. Will the
wind take it? O'Neill's back and you'll have to play
this one off the high wall and right on his
way to third? Now is Martinez The crow is offline
and sliding under the tag attempt. Is Martinez in safely
(02:56):
at third? That was a towering blast, and if the
wind is not blowing toward right, it's probably caught and
maybe even shy of the warning track by O'Neill. But
it was hit so high and deep enough that it
just kept carrying, and O'Neill played it off the wall.
He made a strong throw in and an accurate throw
(03:16):
might have caught Martinez at third trying to get in
there with a triple, and he did. Bo Naylor brought
Martinez home with a sack fly to make it to nothing,
and then with a runner on, Stephen Kuan stepped in.
Here's the pitch, swung on and launched high and deep
to right. If it's fair, it's gone, and it is
(03:37):
a fair ball. Home run. Stephen Kuan with a two
run shot, and the Guardians open up a four nothing lead.
H Kwan hited a ton and it stayed fair down
that right field line. Home run number three on the
season for Kwan and the Guardians with the big now
(04:00):
able to open things up looking for more. In the
sixth inning, runners at the corners, the two to two
swung on hit in the air, medium deep left center
third sack fly of the night, Loreano with a catch,
Arius with a tag score staying put is Martinez at second,
and Cleveland continues to be the best in baseball when
(04:23):
it comes to the sack fly, and the Guardians with
three of them, tonight, now leading it by a score
five to nothing, and then Stephen Kuan delivered to bring
home one more the pitch, Kuan with a broken bat
chopper in the hole in the right field off the
glove of Matteo in the right a base hit in
(04:44):
the score from second Martinez and the Guardians now lead
at six to nothing, give Stephen Kuan his second hit,
third RBI of the game. He banged win in the
hole on the right side. Mateo, the second baseman going
toward four first, tried to make the big play but
just had a glance off his glove in the right field,
(05:08):
and Kwan with a three RBI night, giving him eleven
on the year. Meanwhile, on the mound, Logan Allen was
turning in his best outing of the young season. Now
the payoff and strike three called, and O'Neill knew it.
Logan Allen has racked up six strikeouts in this one
(05:28):
hit shutout. The only Orioles hit e Cedric Mullens single
in the fifth inning. That's been it. The oriol struck
for a run in the seventh, two more in the
eighth that made it a six to three ball game,
and it would be up to Emmanuel class A to
nail down the save in the ninth. Now the one
two swung out another fly ball fairly deep left, Kwan
(05:52):
Back reaches up big six catch ball game and the
Guardians start the road trip beating the Oreo'll six to
three here in Baltimore. So a nice start to the
series in Baltimore, but the Orioles bounce back with a
nine to one win over the Guardians on Wednesday night,
and they backed it up with a six to two
(06:12):
victory over Cleveland on Thursday night to take the series.
So the Guardians came to Pittsburgh having dropped two out
of three in Baltimore, and what a wild night it
was on Friday night here at P and C Park.
The Pirates jumped on top as their slugger O'Neil Cruz
led off the bottom of the first inning with a
solo home run. But the Guardians got their scoring started
(06:33):
in the third with Bo Naylor leading things off the
bitch swing in a drive deep center field cruise, going
back track walk on bau Nailer the dead center and
the Guardians have tied the game at one, but and
he get into that one later in the third a
(06:54):
couple of two out singles, one from Lane Thomas, another
from Jose Ramirez and then Kyle Mannzardo stepped in and
the two pitch swung online drive. This will get down
a one hop base it up against the wall and
right in the scores Thomas Mansardo on his wait a
second Ramirez coming home throw slide.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Tag he is out.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
At the plate. Josey went in with a head first slide.
Try to get in the backside of home plate. Strong
throw in gets Jose Ramirez head home plate. Does Cleveland
challenge the call? They do not. It'll go as a
two out RBI double. Ramirez thrown out of the plate
(07:39):
to in the inning, but Cleveland's got a two to
one lead. Pittsburgh tied it at two with a run
in the bottom half of the third inning, but in
the fourth, with two men on, bo Naylor delivered again.
Next pitch to him has swung on drilled toward the
alley right center. It gets down for a base hit
and it gets past Cruise up against the wall. One
(08:00):
run is in that Santana right behind him. Arius Hey
scores standing up on a double off the bat of
Bowe Nailer, and the Guardians take a four to two lead.
The Guardians added a run in the fifth on a
Pirate's error, making it five to two, and on the mound,
Luis Ortiz turned in a solid outing against his former club.
(08:23):
Here's the old one, swung on and drilled high in
the air to deep center. Back on it. Thomas, he's there,
makes the catch and it's another three up pre down
inning for Luis Ortez. We head to the sixth Guardians five,
Pirates two. Then in the seventh the Guardians pulled away
two walks and Elaine Thomas single loaded the bases for
(08:45):
John Kenzie Noel. Now the one one swung on line
drive deep left field, Sowinski back mover's head, one hops
the wall, battle score Thomas Premier's behind him, Santana to
third and John Ten's see no Weel rips a two
run double the left and Cleveland's got a seven to
(09:05):
two lead, and the big Man gets his biggest hit
of the young campaign, a pitch that was up and
in and somehow he pulled the hands in and still
drove it to deep left over the head of Sewinsky
and Cleveland as tonight, at least for twenty four hours,
(09:28):
erased a lot of frustrations that built up in Baltimore,
and then Gabriel Arrius made it back to back two baggers.
The pitch swung on line, drive to left field near
the line, Swinsky on the run and gets down the
ase hit. He'll cut it off near the line, but
two more runs score, throw out a second and a
stand up double for Arius as Santana and Noel score.
(09:51):
It's four more here in the seventh and Cleveland has
blown it open, leading nine to two. Arius is second.
You can hit tonight, second double of the year, ten
rbies on the year, and that'll be all for the
massil and product. Kyle Nicholas Brian Rochio added a sack
(10:13):
fly in the seventh inning to make it a five
run inning and a ten to two Guardians lead. But
in the seventh Pittsburgh belt at a couple of home runs,
cutting the lead to ten to five. Two more in
the ninth made it ten to seven. But Emmanuel Classe
came on in the ninth and he was trying to
nail down another c clause one strake away. Here it
(10:35):
comes sing NMS ballgame the Guardians when what becomes a
white nutler. They led ten to two. They finish off
The Pirates ten to seven, So it's start to the
series here in Pittsburgh and the series continues on Saturday
afternoon with a four h five first pitch, and the
(10:57):
series continues on Sunday rap Up Sunday Easter Sunday with
a one p thirty five start. Stay with us, We'll
have more to come after this.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
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Speaker 1 (11:53):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly, Jim ros at House along
with you from B and C Park in Pittsburgh where
the Guardians are taking on the Pirates this weekend. And
two of the keys offensively for Cleveland may be a
surprise to some as it's been Gabrielarius and on Hell
Martinez who have been red hot the last week or so,
(12:13):
and we had a chance to catch up with both. First,
Gabriel Arius that great start going both offensively and defensively,
and we had a chance to visit with him along
with translator Agi Rivera. Arius talked about what he believes
has led to the strong start, and.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
The key has come down to matouk maturity and growing
up a little bit and understanding more of the game
and the preparation that I'm able to put before every
single game.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
You mentioned preparation, and I know for you the off
season is important. Explain what you did this offseason that
may have been helpful before if spring training even began,
and no.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
One of your Comnezuela Juano.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Was a combination of different factors. The fact that you
know what I was working in Triple A and then
being able to execure it in Venezuela and winter ball
because there's a really good lead to work on those stuffs.
You know, I work, particularly in my pitch selection and
having a good approach after every av So I feel
it was really important for me to combine those and
put it in practice, both in Venezuela and Triple A.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
And you mentioned Triple A. There's good hitting coaches here,
but at Triple A there's one that always gets a
lot of positive feedback and junior bit chances. What does
he mean to you and how did he help you
last summer when you needed it at.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
That level you comes in Miami.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
The key was for him how he was on top
of me in terms of the whole follow up of
every day. You know, there are a little moments where
I feel uncomfortable. I wasn't enjoying what I was doing
in terms of the adjustments and mechanical adjustments, and I
wasn't feeling myself on the plate. But he was consistent
enough to be staying with me to the whole process
and I allowed me to be where I am now.
So I feel the key how much involved he was
with us in the process and how much he helped
(13:57):
us to create the new version of a heater that
I am today.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All Right, not to bury the lead, but you're replacing
one of the best second basement in baseball defensively, and
on opening day here the home opener here, a couple
of great plays. He made some really good plays so far,
which we kind of knew that you were a good
defender at short What is has his mindset been trying
to take over that spot and maybe not be overwhelmed
(14:21):
by by some of the things that the Vandre Jimenez
had done over the years.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
But I'm your that's how you're not.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
It would be really hard to put the table estra
pressure on my mind in terms of trying to replace
with somebody. We knew that the quality of player that
he meant as was and you know Platini in golgolog
and all this accolades that he got. But for me
is important. It's just the emphasis that I put on
my preparation, how important it is to be focusing and
preparing and what I know I can do in the field.
And I think that's what I've been focusing on, basically
(14:55):
understanding that I can be a good defensive player, and
how can I prepare to be that player every day?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
And certainly a big plus. You one of the best
throwing arms in baseball, and how long have you been
able to just wing it with the best of them,
And any advice for kids who are trying to build
up their arm and be good infielders.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
So I feel as a kid, I used my arm
as a weapon and many other environments other than baseball.
You know, when I was playing as kids with my cousins,
if they did something to me, I wanted to retaliate.
Instead of trying trying to punch or something, I will
just throw stones at them. So that's funny. Allows me
to develop that strength in the early age. And and
(15:34):
I don't know, it's been always natural to me. It's
been always like that. But big part of what I've
been mentioning in terms of preparation this year, I included
some of that preparation to my arm, you know, doing
specific drills and arm care. So I felt like it's
even better now where what is to mean in the past,
But what I can tell to kids is just you know,
the importance of prepare prepared every aspart of your game.
In this case, the arm is very important to do
(15:54):
all the preparation and strengthening that you need, regardless of
the conditions of the arm that you have. Like like
I have.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Gabby, thank you for the time. Appreciate it. Ogi, thank you,
thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
That's Gabrielarius with translation help from Augi Rovero and at Hell.
Martinez also off to a great start since coming up
about a week ago from the minor leagues a couple
of weeks in Columbus to get his swing going, and
when we caught up with him earlier this week, he
talked about the keys to his quick start.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
Since I started the season in Columbus is like my
off season, it was really good. I put a lot
of work in the off season and just like take
over to the season.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
And when you look back at spring training, I know,
obviously you want to win a job and be on
the club at the beginning, but what are some of
the challenges that you had in the spring that caused
you to start the year at Columbus.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Yeah, I just like nobody want to have about a
string training, you know, But like he's so early in
the year. I know, like the last year, I have
like a great year in a great mountain of spring training,
like I was doing great, but like the spring training
don't usually goes well for me. So when they sent
it back to Colombus. All that I was to do
his say positive mentally, and I know at some point
(17:03):
I was going to be back.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
And I know you mentioned Junior Bretantas in the past.
What did he find that allowed you to turn things
around at the play?
Speaker 5 (17:10):
No, he just helped me out to find my rhythm back.
You know, like this is a really hardest wore, especially
like hitting, you gotta try to just say as most
consistems you can with your rhythm and screen trending. It
was like it was not there. So he just helped
me out to find my rhythm, my right approach and
like get back to the to the big league. I
(17:30):
really want to thank him because he's a guy.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Defensively, you're still very young as an outfielder, but center field,
you made some great plays over the weekend back home.
What's been the key out there that's allowed you to
have good success and seemingly be able to play the
position without missing a beat?
Speaker 5 (17:47):
How fun now? It is like a lot of a
lot of work in the off season. Two, Like I
got a great coaches in the off season that helped
me out, like prepared to play in the outfield and
back when I came to the spring training. It like
a lot of work here with a coach of at
that's the key.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Hell, thanks for coming, bye, appreciate it. Thank you. That's
on Hell Martinez, who really has swung the bat well
and played good defense too. For the Guardian, stay with
us when we come back. We'll visit with veteran reliever
Paul Seawald. That's next the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
(18:37):
Seawalt's ready. The bitch swang and a miss. He struck
him out with a ninety mile an hour fastball. And
when you ask Paul Seawald, why do you get more
than a strikeout an enemy throwing in the low nineties,
it's because of his arm angle. He's got kind of
that low three quarter slot. And he said, my fastball right,
(19:00):
and it's almost an optical allusion to the hitter. Here's
his pitch swaying and a miss. Strike three got him
with the high fastball and on three pitches, Seawald makes
quick work of Vargas. The one too swung on popped
him up. Third baseman Jose Ramirez right near the bag
(19:21):
makes the catch. Paul Seawald cruises through the seven. Welcome
back to p and C Park in Pittsburgh, where the
Guardians have taken the first game of this three game
weekend series against the Pirates. That was on Friday night,
and a big one today I'll face Paul Skeens, one
of the best pitchers in the game today and last
year's Rookie of the Year. He's going for Pittsburgh with
(19:43):
a four h five start on Saturday. Paul Seawald has
been a nice addition to the Guardian's bullpen as the
veteran who has closed games on a regular basis for
both Seattle and Arizona adds that experience, and when we
caught up with them earlier this week, he said, you
never really know what to expect when joining a new club,
but he couldn't imagine a better fit than what he's
(20:06):
had here in Cleveland so far.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
Yeah, I mean, it's hard not to fit in with
this group. They have a great bunch of guys, great
bunch of coaches. Front off, everyone in the staff has
been fantastic since I got here, so that made that
made that transition very easy. And you know, the best
bullpen in baseball. That's why I kind of wanted to
come here this offseason and and you know, I just
wanted to see if you know, they would rub off
on me.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
And it's it's been. It's been good so far in
the first three weeks. You mentioned that best bullpen in
baseball year ago. Bullpens can be volatile. It's hard to
back that up, but it almost seems like it's better
so far this year. And what are you seeing out
there that that maybe a thought it was and and
now that you're around.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
It, Yeah, inconsistent bullpens can be volatile. If you have
a chunk of your bullpen that just are really good pitchers,
they tend not to be quite as volatile. We're talking
about guys that really just could be just dominant relievers. Right,
Claus has done this for five years now. You know,
I've been in this league a long time. If you
get enough guys who've done it, then it's not necessarily
(21:01):
as volatile as people think it can be. So it
just really just you just want to go out there
and continue to do what they did really well last year,
which just throw really quality strikes with really quality stuff
and that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
That's not a volatile thing. And your quality stuff looks
a little bit different than than maybe some of the others.
And how important can that be for a bullpen to
have some different looks out there.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Yeah, I think it gives I think it just gives
voter a lot of options. You know, you can't pitch
the same three guys in every game. We would love
to Kate to have Kate Smith throw every inning of
every game, but it's not realistic. So you have to
figure out, well, where does Pulse will match up, where
does Tim Herron match up, and kind of you know,
maybe give Kate a knight off every once in a
while to make sure that you can get you can
still get outs based off of whatever you know angles
(21:44):
we have coming out of the bullpen.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Have you been in the league long enough and have
enough of a track record where if a pitcher's going
well or maybe not going well, that you feel it
that you can help someone along or be that sounding
board for them.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Yeah, I think that was part of part of what
they brought me in to do. We have a lot
of young guys that you know, are looking at their
first season after a long postseason. I think that's something
that everyone needs to learn and and you know, I
think I'm just they've been pitching so well, they haven't
really needed any you know, mental guidance. But I'm just
here to be, you know, a little bit of a
sounding board and kind of understand. You know, I've been
(22:18):
in every role in the bullpen. I've been, you know,
the guy who gets optioned twenty five times in a season.
I've been the guy who's a long reliever. I've been
the guy who sets up. I've been the closer. I
kind of know, you know, all the goods and all
the bads through through these nine seasons. So I just
want to help, you know, give some people some guidance
just on how to make sure that they're ready, how
to bounce back, that.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Sort of think policy. While joining US Guardians Reliever, you
mentioned health and how important that is, and you went
through it last year where you had some hiccups. What
did anything different this year that that you're trying to
focus on that can keep you good to go from
start to finish.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Yeah, I think the oblique and the neck were really
just it was just unfortunate luck more than anything. From
everything I've talked to doctors, I've talked to trainers, it
wasn't necessarily my routine, I you know, I'm as dedicated
as anybody to making sure that I'm here early and
doing a ton of body work to make sure that
I'm ready for the game. And you know, this game,
you just move your body as fast as you can
(23:12):
trying to swing a bat, throw a pitch. Sometimes you're
gonna hurt yourself. So that was the first time I've
ever been injured. It killed me to just not be
available that just it just didn't feel right. So just
doing everything I can, I think, maybe more body conscious,
just being aware of everything and kind of making sure
that I'm on top of everything. If I feel anything,
let's just you know, attack it for the next week
and make sure that we get rid of it. So
(23:33):
just I just want to go out there and pitch
as many games as I can and be as healthy
as I can for one to sixty two, and that's
my best way to help the team.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
You've been to Cleveland with the opposition. You just spent
a home stand there as a member of the Cleveland Guardians.
What do you learn about the city and maybe about
the fans through that first home stand, especially opening day
on the home opener.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
Now, the home opener is great, I've had nothing but
great interactions. When I come to Progressive Field, I've you know,
I've come early, I've come in the middle, I've come
in the late, and uh, you know, the fans seem
to seem to be very very into the team, very
you know, anti opponent, which I enjoy, and and just
trying to make sure that they are. They're cheering on
the Guardian. So I've had nothing but good experience as
a visitor as well, and and I appreciate not being
(24:13):
in the top open, just getting uh, just getting talked
through the whole game. I feel a lot better down
down there in the dungeon that we have, so can't
wait for it to warm up. That'll make Cleaveland a
lot better once it starts to warm up. But we're
good so far.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And let's talk about that. Some some cold days in Cleveland,
some cold days in Baltimore. How are the bullpens? And
what do you guys do to to make sure that
you can stay warm and still be able to perform
when you get that call?
Speaker 6 (24:37):
Well at home, you know they have a great room
for us. You know that we have a heater, and
we you know, you're kind of no one's more than
three feet away from the heater at home, So it
really helps in that in that that you know, staying warm,
you kind of do your exercise, you throw your weight
of balls, you kind of stay warm, you get your jackets.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
It's not a big deal.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I'll kind of you know, you go up there to
warm up and you don't. You're not necessarily feeling that cold.
So it was a pretty good situation at home, which
is nice. The road is not nearly as generous. So,
like I said, I'm not sure that heaters worked yesterday
in the bullpen and in Baltimore, so we'll we'll just
have to try and get a little warmer weather, especially
in Pittsburgh and the team starting to get a crank in.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
And it's so early yet, but what are you seeing
good signs outside of even the bullpen that has you
excited about what could be.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
Yeah, you don't want to put anything, put too much
emphasis on anything in a small sample size like a
nine game road trip or even a six game homestand
but you just want to see guys take you know,
quality of bats, try and walk, try and drive pitch
counts up, just trying to make sure that they get
their timing, like you know, Jose is one of the
best players in the world, and he hasn't even really
(25:38):
you know, done his thing other than that one special
game in Anaheim. And we have a pretty good record.
That's pretty good. You know, that's a pretty good thing
to hang our hat on that. You know, he's a
guy who can carry a team for a month, two months, like,
just by himself.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So that gives us a lot of confidence. Oh, it'll
happen at some point that he's done his draft record. Paul,
thanks a lot for coming. I appreciate it absolutely, thanks
for having me. Had to relief pitcher Paul Seewald, who's
done some nice work out of that Guardian's bullpen so
far this season. One of the pitching coaches that he
works with is assistant pitching coach Joe Torres. Joe has
been added for a couple of seasons now helping out
(26:13):
on the pitching front, and he explains what his role
looks like as part of Carl Willis's expanded staff this season.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Well, I mean a lot of it. I mean, like
you said, support the best way I can support all
of our coaches and our players. So whether that's you know,
a delivery, you know, aspect if that's a something in
the data, anything with their pitch profiles. I mean, it
could be really anything. It's vast and it's general and vague,
I guess. But I'm trying to support any way I
(26:43):
can to the players. And during the games it's just
a little checkpoints if we see something off right, and
you know, keeping them focused back to get back in
the zone.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Is more of your heavy lifting pre game and throughout
the course of the week, working with different pitchers and
the various scouting meetings thing like that.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Yeah, well, I mean it's important for me to know
our guys inside and out right and and and so
the work that we do between starts is huge, right,
and being able to identify what we need to do
for themselves to be at their strengths, but then also
for them to go and compete in their next start.
So yeah, there's a lot of heavy lifting in between
starts and the practice pregame, and then during game it's
(27:23):
just more little touch ups and then supporting Carl and
the staff with any bits of information that might be
you know, you know, falling through the cracks. I guess.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Joe Torres joining us, he's the Guardian's assistant pitching coach,
coaching and teaching. Uh, no matter whether you're a Hall
of Fame player or someone who maybe hasn't even played
pro ball, was at the college level something like that.
It seems like teaching and getting points across in a
in a great way as an art form almost And
(27:53):
how have you developed that during your time in this organization,
both in the minor leagues and now at the major
league level.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Yeah, you're right, man, I think they're one of the same,
coaching and teaching and now you see at the major
league level, and I think across the league that the
players are getting younger and younger, right, So there's still
a lot of development happening at that major league level.
And it's something that we kind of prode ourselves on
here and it's something that the organization provides us great
resources to us where it's not just we're looking at deliveries,
(28:20):
we're looking at bout mechanics. Where mean, we're working at
our craft as coaches, as teachers. So we have a
lot of great support systems within the organization and resources
that we use. But it's just a constant learning, right,
It's just constantly always asking questions and being open and
trying to find ways to get better, in ways to
connect with players, because that's really what it is, being
able to connect with them and listen to them first
(28:41):
and foremost.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
And for a perspective as a player, my goodness, you
went through it all as a professional player after being
drafted very high by the Angels. How has that come
into play for you in terms of knowing or at
least having an idea of what some of these guys
are going through just to get here.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Yeah, I'd like to think it helps. I mean I
think for me it was like the career didn't go
and the path that I would you know, would have
hoped for. But I think that career is what really
set me up to to help these players out now
and to be a coach. And again, like I said earlier,
is just is being there to listen because it's the
first thing that guys. Guys will tell you what's on
(29:22):
their mind. They'll tell you what direction we need to
take them and help them with if we just listen
to them. And you know, I feel like that's something
that you know, I kind of think back in my
career's like man, if maybe maybe if I spoke up
more maybe somebody heard me. It's a different way there,
would you know, be something I could do to have
helped me. But you know, that's why I'm just trying
to be here and be a sounding board and listen
(29:43):
to these guys and do whatever I can and kind
of help them out.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
And the group that you're in personality wise, it seems
like yourself, Carl Willis and Brad Goldberg couldn't be more
different from the outside. But but is that what makes
it work and and those different personalities coming together to
really help the staff as a whole.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I think so, right, we all need balance in our lives, right,
Like I mean, so, I think we work really well together.
I mean, obviously, Carl is the best of what he does,
and we are so grateful to have him around every
single day. His experience and just but it's the human
being that he is the first and foremost, so you know,
we're so grateful to have him. And you know, Beg
and I work really well together in tandem, have great conversations,
(30:23):
bouncing things off each other and trying to again how
can we impact players and you know, do the best
we can for this team and this organization.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
It's really rolling well on this home stand, that's for sure.
But for a long time it's been going well. Joe,
thanks after the time, appreciate.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
It all right, Thank you, Rosie.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
That's Joe Torres, a Guardian's assistant pitching coach, doing some
real nice work along with Brad Goldberg and pitching coach
Carl Willis as well. Stay with us when we come back.
It's a farm report with Steven Oster, the vice president
of player Development. We'll talk single a Lynchburg next.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
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Speaker 1 (31:45):
He delivers pit swung un banged in the center, another
base hit Garcia, Big Tourney's hustling to third, Martinez throwing
the fly of the tank out at third. There's Garcia,
Oh what a throw. Bye on Hell Martinez, a perfect
strike on the fly and Mike cal Garcia, maybe trying
(32:08):
to get the Royals going, maybe being a little bit
too aggressive, but trying to make things happen, is gunned
down trying to go first to third on a single
to center by Bobby Witt Junior. And you can't make
a better throw than on Hell Martine's just made. Now
(32:30):
the one too, swung and banged in the whole right field.
A third hit for on Hell Martinez. He may tell
the folks in the apartment complex he was living in
in Columbus, you can rent that baby out somebody else.
No way, he's going back anytime soon. Welcome back to
(32:51):
Guardians Weekly. It's our final segment from Pittsburgh this week,
and we check in on single eight Lynchburg is part
of our Farm Report with Vice President Development Stephen Osterer,
and there's a couple of eighteen year olds in Lynchburg
this year and Luis morejo and well being Francisca and
Osty talks about some of the challenges facing players at
(33:13):
that young of an age in a full season league.
Speaker 8 (33:16):
I mean, they're tremendous players, first and foremost. They both
had a little bit of a taste of it last year,
and you know, we'd never want to send a guy
out where they're going to fail. We want them to
face adversity and be challenged. These guys will be challenged
a little bit that level over the course of the year,
but they're incredibly talented players. So you know, as any
(33:36):
young players they get exposure to a full season out
in affiliate, there's gonna be a lot of learning and
self awareness that you know, they'll try to understand a
little bit more about what it takes to be a professional.
But skill sets are off the charts pitching wise. Braylen
Dody intriguing sounds like another young guy, but maybe.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Advanced, very advanced.
Speaker 8 (33:56):
So he was a thirty sixth overall pick last year
for US high school kid wright who can sit comfortably
in the mid nineties. I think the thing that stick
out the most to us was his feel for his delivery,
feel for his body, feel for the pitches out of hand,
and his ability to create really big shapes. So he
came to us way advanced for a nineteen year old
(34:18):
relative to a lot of guys that we've had have
had a lot of success long term. Really excited to
continue to refine things and build out the routines and
continue to build out the vision of what he could become.
But he's starting from a really high level of control
and self awareness.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
When you look at Jacob Zibn, a twenty two drafted
sometimes it takes a little while for guys to get
going what have been some of his challenges, But why
is he ready now to tackle a full season club.
Speaker 8 (34:45):
Yeah, so twenty two pick who was really young when
we drafted him and unfortunately suffered some elp er injuries
over the last few years that limited him his ability
to get out and pitch. So he's come in in
a really good spot physically and from a health standpoint
and mentally, and getting him out to an affiliate will
be really exciting for us. Obviously, when you're a young
(35:07):
player and you haven't had the opportunity, that can be
really challenging to stay focused and motivated, and it's a
struggle when you're eighteen or nineteen years old. So getting
Jacob back out there and seeing him compete will be
a lot of fun for a lot of people in
this organization. But when he's healthy, he's a mid nineties
arm with you have some good execution and ability to
(35:30):
kind of move the ball around. So we're thrilled that
he can get back out there.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
And you have a couple of kids who are drafted
last year who may eventually get to Lynchburg maybe soon,
who knows, but they're going to start out in Arizona.
Chase Mopley and Joey Oki. How are you handling them
and why are you handling him in this way based
on their skill set?
Speaker 8 (35:52):
Yeah, I mean these two guys nineteen year olds, very
talented and throw exceptionally hard. When you have that combination,
and you're trying to just progress them at an appropriate
level for their own development of the things that they
need to do to stay healthy and consistent over time.
In both of these guys cases, I mean, they came
(36:13):
in ready to go, but we want to make sure
that we progress them slowly in an environment that we
can control. A little bit to ensure that not only
are they making progress, but they're healthy. So in both
of these guys's cases, starting in the ACL and continue
to build out some of the volume and the workloads
so that when they are capable and ready to go
out to an affiliate, they're able to thrive and not
(36:35):
just try to survive week to week. Incredibly excited both
those guys, the two draft picks from last year. You know,
on top of Doughty, they've got a really bright futures
and when you throw really hard. We're going to take
a little bit of a little bit of time with.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Them and when you look at if they do get
to Lynchburg and some of the other guys we talked
about there. Jordan Smith is the manager, and you alluded
to some of the challenges full season first time I'm
for a young player, why is he the ideal manager
to be there and lead them through that.
Speaker 8 (37:05):
He's been there and he's been around it. He understands
what that means to be that player. And Jordan's done
a really good job over the last few years managing
the relationships and gaining the trust and guiding those players
to the things that they need to do. To be successful,
not in the moment, but over the long term. So
(37:26):
Jordan again, similar to all of our managers, we're really
lucky that we have these guys, and we're really lucky
that they are able to share from and learn have
the players learn from their experiences.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
That is Stephen Osterer, the vice president of Player Development,
bringing us up to date on single A Lynchberg. And
as we move forward, now that takes care of our
season previews for all of the minor league clubs, will
start to get some updates on the seasons that are
happening as we speak, and there are some good ones
going at all levels of the Guardiance Minor League system.
(37:58):
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Thanks so much as always to Brian Motse for all
of his help. Until next week when we join you
from back home in downtown Cleveland. This is Jim rosen
House reminding you and you've been listening to Guardians Weekly
on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has
(38:23):
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. Hi, everyone, welcome to
(01:00):
the Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from PNC
Park in Pittsburgh this weekend where the Guardians are taking
on the Pirates in an interleague matchup. Cleveland winning the
opener on Friday night ten to seven, and we'll have
more on that shortly, but just to let you know,
coming up on our show this week, we will hear
from Gabriel Arius and on Helm Martinez, two of the
(01:22):
hottest titters for the Guardians over the last week or so.
Will also be joined by Paul Sewald, Guardian's reliever, and
Joe Torres, the assistant pitching coach for the Guardians, and
will take a look at Single A Lynchburg what their
roster has in store for this season with the vice
president of player Development, Stephen Osterer. That's coming up in
(01:44):
just a little while, but first our look back at
the week that was the week in review and for
the Guardians, it started with the opener of the road
trip in Baltimore. This current road trip started in Baltimore
with a three game series on Tuesday night and the
game scoreless until the third. That's when the Guardians loaded
the bases for Jose Ramirez. The seven pitch swung on,
(02:08):
hid in the air deep enough to get a run
home left center. It'll be caught by Mullins, the center fielder,
and he'll throw the third, tagging and scoring his nailer.
Everybody else stays put in Cleveland with a one nothing lead,
Jose Ramirez the sacond fly to medium deep left center,
his ah RBI. The Guardians had that one nothing lead.
(02:31):
It was still one nothing in the fifth, when on hell,
Martinez got something started. His next pitch is swung on
and lifted high in the air to right. Will the
wind take it? O'Neill's back and you'll have to play
this one off the high wall and right on his
way to third? Now is Martinez The crow is offline
and sliding under the tag attempt. Is Martinez in safely
(02:56):
at third? That was a towering blast, and if the
wind is not blowing toward right, it's probably caught and
maybe even shy of the warning track by O'Neill. But
it was hit so high and deep enough that it
just kept carrying, and O'Neill played it off the wall.
He made a strong throw in and an accurate throw
(03:16):
might have caught Martinez at third trying to get in
there with a triple, and he did. Bo Naylor brought
Martinez home with a sack fly to make it to nothing,
and then with a runner on, Stephen Kuan stepped in.
Here's the pitch, swung on and launched high and deep
to right. If it's fair, it's gone, and it is
(03:37):
a fair ball. Home run. Stephen Kuan with a two
run shot, and the Guardians open up a four nothing lead.
H Kwan hited a ton and it stayed fair down
that right field line. Home run number three on the
season for Kwan and the Guardians with the big now
(04:00):
able to open things up looking for more. In the
sixth inning, runners at the corners, the two to two
swung on hit in the air, medium deep left center
third sack fly of the night, Loreano with a catch,
Arius with a tag score staying put is Martinez at second,
and Cleveland continues to be the best in baseball when
(04:23):
it comes to the sack fly, and the Guardians with
three of them, tonight, now leading it by a score
five to nothing, and then Stephen Kuan delivered to bring
home one more the pitch, Kuan with a broken bat
chopper in the hole in the right field off the
glove of Matteo in the right a base hit in
(04:44):
the score from second Martinez and the Guardians now lead
at six to nothing, give Stephen Kuan his second hit,
third RBI of the game. He banged win in the
hole on the right side. Mateo, the second baseman going
toward four first, tried to make the big play but
just had a glance off his glove in the right field,
(05:08):
and Kwan with a three RBI night, giving him eleven
on the year. Meanwhile, on the mound, Logan Allen was
turning in his best outing of the young season. Now
the payoff and strike three called, and O'Neill knew it.
Logan Allen has racked up six strikeouts in this one
(05:28):
hit shutout. The only Orioles hit e Cedric Mullens single
in the fifth inning. That's been it. The oriol struck
for a run in the seventh, two more in the
eighth that made it a six to three ball game,
and it would be up to Emmanuel class A to
nail down the save in the ninth. Now the one
two swung out another fly ball fairly deep left, Kwan
(05:52):
Back reaches up big six catch ball game and the
Guardians start the road trip beating the Oreo'll six to
three here in Baltimore. So a nice start to the
series in Baltimore, but the Orioles bounce back with a
nine to one win over the Guardians on Wednesday night,
and they backed it up with a six to two
(06:12):
victory over Cleveland on Thursday night to take the series.
So the Guardians came to Pittsburgh having dropped two out
of three in Baltimore, and what a wild night it
was on Friday night here at P and C Park.
The Pirates jumped on top as their slugger O'Neil Cruz
led off the bottom of the first inning with a
solo home run. But the Guardians got their scoring started
(06:33):
in the third with Bo Naylor leading things off the
bitch swing in a drive deep center field cruise, going
back track walk on bau Nailer the dead center and
the Guardians have tied the game at one, but and
he get into that one later in the third a
(06:54):
couple of two out singles, one from Lane Thomas, another
from Jose Ramirez and then Kyle Mannzardo stepped in and
the two pitch swung online drive. This will get down
a one hop base it up against the wall and
right in the scores Thomas Mansardo on his wait a
second Ramirez coming home throw slide.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Tag he is out.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
At the plate. Josey went in with a head first slide.
Try to get in the backside of home plate. Strong
throw in gets Jose Ramirez head home plate. Does Cleveland
challenge the call? They do not. It'll go as a
two out RBI double. Ramirez thrown out of the plate
(07:39):
to in the inning, but Cleveland's got a two to
one lead. Pittsburgh tied it at two with a run
in the bottom half of the third inning, but in
the fourth, with two men on, bo Naylor delivered again.
Next pitch to him has swung on drilled toward the
alley right center. It gets down for a base hit
and it gets past Cruise up against the wall. One
(08:00):
run is in that Santana right behind him. Arius Hey
scores standing up on a double off the bat of
Bowe Nailer, and the Guardians take a four to two lead.
The Guardians added a run in the fifth on a
Pirate's error, making it five to two, and on the mound,
Luis Ortiz turned in a solid outing against his former club.
(08:23):
Here's the old one, swung on and drilled high in
the air to deep center. Back on it. Thomas, he's there,
makes the catch and it's another three up pre down
inning for Luis Ortez. We head to the sixth Guardians five,
Pirates two. Then in the seventh the Guardians pulled away
two walks and Elaine Thomas single loaded the bases for
(08:45):
John Kenzie Noel. Now the one one swung on line
drive deep left field, Sowinski back mover's head, one hops
the wall, battle score Thomas Premier's behind him, Santana to
third and John Ten's see no Weel rips a two
run double the left and Cleveland's got a seven to
(09:05):
two lead, and the big Man gets his biggest hit
of the young campaign, a pitch that was up and
in and somehow he pulled the hands in and still
drove it to deep left over the head of Sewinsky
and Cleveland as tonight, at least for twenty four hours,
(09:28):
erased a lot of frustrations that built up in Baltimore,
and then Gabriel Arrius made it back to back two baggers.
The pitch swung on line, drive to left field near
the line, Swinsky on the run and gets down the
ase hit. He'll cut it off near the line, but
two more runs score, throw out a second and a
stand up double for Arius as Santana and Noel score.
(09:51):
It's four more here in the seventh and Cleveland has
blown it open, leading nine to two. Arius is second.
You can hit tonight, second double of the year, ten
rbies on the year, and that'll be all for the
massil and product. Kyle Nicholas Brian Rochio added a sack
(10:13):
fly in the seventh inning to make it a five
run inning and a ten to two Guardians lead. But
in the seventh Pittsburgh belt at a couple of home runs,
cutting the lead to ten to five. Two more in
the ninth made it ten to seven. But Emmanuel Classe
came on in the ninth and he was trying to
nail down another c clause one strake away. Here it
(10:35):
comes sing NMS ballgame the Guardians when what becomes a
white nutler. They led ten to two. They finish off
The Pirates ten to seven, So it's start to the
series here in Pittsburgh and the series continues on Saturday
afternoon with a four h five first pitch, and the
(10:57):
series continues on Sunday rap Up Sunday Easter Sunday with
a one p thirty five start. Stay with us, We'll
have more to come after this.
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Speaker 1 (11:53):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly, Jim ros at House along
with you from B and C Park in Pittsburgh where
the Guardians are taking on the Pirates this weekend. And
two of the keys offensively for Cleveland may be a
surprise to some as it's been Gabrielarius and on Hell
Martinez who have been red hot the last week or so,
(12:13):
and we had a chance to catch up with both. First,
Gabriel Arius that great start going both offensively and defensively,
and we had a chance to visit with him along
with translator Agi Rivera. Arius talked about what he believes
has led to the strong start, and.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
The key has come down to matouk maturity and growing
up a little bit and understanding more of the game
and the preparation that I'm able to put before every
single game.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
You mentioned preparation, and I know for you the off
season is important. Explain what you did this offseason that
may have been helpful before if spring training even began,
and no.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
One of your Comnezuela Juano.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Was a combination of different factors. The fact that you
know what I was working in Triple A and then
being able to execure it in Venezuela and winter ball
because there's a really good lead to work on those stuffs.
You know, I work, particularly in my pitch selection and
having a good approach after every av So I feel
it was really important for me to combine those and
put it in practice, both in Venezuela and Triple A.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
And you mentioned Triple A. There's good hitting coaches here,
but at Triple A there's one that always gets a
lot of positive feedback and junior bit chances. What does
he mean to you and how did he help you
last summer when you needed it at.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
That level you comes in Miami.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
The key was for him how he was on top
of me in terms of the whole follow up of
every day. You know, there are a little moments where
I feel uncomfortable. I wasn't enjoying what I was doing
in terms of the adjustments and mechanical adjustments, and I
wasn't feeling myself on the plate. But he was consistent
enough to be staying with me to the whole process
and I allowed me to be where I am now.
So I feel the key how much involved he was
with us in the process and how much he helped
(13:57):
us to create the new version of a heater that
I am today.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All Right, not to bury the lead, but you're replacing
one of the best second basement in baseball defensively, and
on opening day here the home opener here, a couple
of great plays. He made some really good plays so far,
which we kind of knew that you were a good
defender at short What is has his mindset been trying
to take over that spot and maybe not be overwhelmed
(14:21):
by by some of the things that the Vandre Jimenez
had done over the years.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
But I'm your that's how you're not.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
It would be really hard to put the table estra
pressure on my mind in terms of trying to replace
with somebody. We knew that the quality of player that
he meant as was and you know Platini in golgolog
and all this accolades that he got. But for me
is important. It's just the emphasis that I put on
my preparation, how important it is to be focusing and
preparing and what I know I can do in the field.
And I think that's what I've been focusing on, basically
(14:55):
understanding that I can be a good defensive player, and
how can I prepare to be that player every day?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
And certainly a big plus. You one of the best
throwing arms in baseball, and how long have you been
able to just wing it with the best of them,
And any advice for kids who are trying to build
up their arm and be good infielders.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
So I feel as a kid, I used my arm
as a weapon and many other environments other than baseball.
You know, when I was playing as kids with my cousins,
if they did something to me, I wanted to retaliate.
Instead of trying trying to punch or something, I will
just throw stones at them. So that's funny. Allows me
to develop that strength in the early age. And and
(15:34):
I don't know, it's been always natural to me. It's
been always like that. But big part of what I've
been mentioning in terms of preparation this year, I included
some of that preparation to my arm, you know, doing
specific drills and arm care. So I felt like it's
even better now where what is to mean in the past,
But what I can tell to kids is just you know,
the importance of prepare prepared every aspart of your game.
In this case, the arm is very important to do
(15:54):
all the preparation and strengthening that you need, regardless of
the conditions of the arm that you have. Like like
I have.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Gabby, thank you for the time. Appreciate it. Ogi, thank you,
thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
That's Gabrielarius with translation help from Augi Rovero and at Hell.
Martinez also off to a great start since coming up
about a week ago from the minor leagues a couple
of weeks in Columbus to get his swing going, and
when we caught up with him earlier this week, he
talked about the keys to his quick start.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
Since I started the season in Columbus is like my
off season, it was really good. I put a lot
of work in the off season and just like take
over to the season.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
And when you look back at spring training, I know,
obviously you want to win a job and be on
the club at the beginning, but what are some of
the challenges that you had in the spring that caused
you to start the year at Columbus.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Yeah, I just like nobody want to have about a
string training, you know, But like he's so early in
the year. I know, like the last year, I have
like a great year in a great mountain of spring training,
like I was doing great, but like the spring training
don't usually goes well for me. So when they sent
it back to Colombus. All that I was to do
his say positive mentally, and I know at some point
(17:03):
I was going to be back.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
And I know you mentioned Junior Bretantas in the past.
What did he find that allowed you to turn things
around at the play?
Speaker 5 (17:10):
No, he just helped me out to find my rhythm back.
You know, like this is a really hardest wore, especially
like hitting, you gotta try to just say as most
consistems you can with your rhythm and screen trending. It
was like it was not there. So he just helped
me out to find my rhythm, my right approach and
like get back to the to the big league. I
(17:30):
really want to thank him because he's a guy.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Defensively, you're still very young as an outfielder, but center field,
you made some great plays over the weekend back home.
What's been the key out there that's allowed you to
have good success and seemingly be able to play the
position without missing a beat?
Speaker 5 (17:47):
How fun now? It is like a lot of a
lot of work in the off season. Two, Like I
got a great coaches in the off season that helped
me out, like prepared to play in the outfield and
back when I came to the spring training. It like
a lot of work here with a coach of at
that's the key.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Hell, thanks for coming, bye, appreciate it. Thank you. That's
on Hell Martinez, who really has swung the bat well
and played good defense too. For the Guardian, stay with
us when we come back. We'll visit with veteran reliever
Paul Seawald. That's next the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
(18:37):
Seawalt's ready. The bitch swang and a miss. He struck
him out with a ninety mile an hour fastball. And
when you ask Paul Seawald, why do you get more
than a strikeout an enemy throwing in the low nineties,
it's because of his arm angle. He's got kind of
that low three quarter slot. And he said, my fastball right,
(19:00):
and it's almost an optical allusion to the hitter. Here's
his pitch swaying and a miss. Strike three got him
with the high fastball and on three pitches, Seawald makes
quick work of Vargas. The one too swung on popped
him up. Third baseman Jose Ramirez right near the bag
(19:21):
makes the catch. Paul Seawald cruises through the seven. Welcome
back to p and C Park in Pittsburgh, where the
Guardians have taken the first game of this three game
weekend series against the Pirates. That was on Friday night,
and a big one today I'll face Paul Skeens, one
of the best pitchers in the game today and last
year's Rookie of the Year. He's going for Pittsburgh with
(19:43):
a four h five start on Saturday. Paul Seawald has
been a nice addition to the Guardian's bullpen as the
veteran who has closed games on a regular basis for
both Seattle and Arizona adds that experience, and when we
caught up with them earlier this week, he said, you
never really know what to expect when joining a new club,
but he couldn't imagine a better fit than what he's
(20:06):
had here in Cleveland so far.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
Yeah, I mean, it's hard not to fit in with
this group. They have a great bunch of guys, great
bunch of coaches. Front off, everyone in the staff has
been fantastic since I got here, so that made that
made that transition very easy. And you know, the best
bullpen in baseball. That's why I kind of wanted to
come here this offseason and and you know, I just
wanted to see if you know, they would rub off
on me.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
And it's it's been. It's been good so far in
the first three weeks. You mentioned that best bullpen in
baseball year ago. Bullpens can be volatile. It's hard to
back that up, but it almost seems like it's better
so far this year. And what are you seeing out
there that that maybe a thought it was and and
now that you're around.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
It, Yeah, inconsistent bullpens can be volatile. If you have
a chunk of your bullpen that just are really good pitchers,
they tend not to be quite as volatile. We're talking
about guys that really just could be just dominant relievers. Right,
Claus has done this for five years now. You know,
I've been in this league a long time. If you
get enough guys who've done it, then it's not necessarily
(21:01):
as volatile as people think it can be. So it
just really just you just want to go out there
and continue to do what they did really well last year,
which just throw really quality strikes with really quality stuff
and that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
That's not a volatile thing. And your quality stuff looks
a little bit different than than maybe some of the others.
And how important can that be for a bullpen to
have some different looks out there.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Yeah, I think it gives I think it just gives
voter a lot of options. You know, you can't pitch
the same three guys in every game. We would love
to Kate to have Kate Smith throw every inning of
every game, but it's not realistic. So you have to
figure out, well, where does Pulse will match up, where
does Tim Herron match up, and kind of you know,
maybe give Kate a knight off every once in a
while to make sure that you can get you can
still get outs based off of whatever you know angles
(21:44):
we have coming out of the bullpen.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Have you been in the league long enough and have
enough of a track record where if a pitcher's going
well or maybe not going well, that you feel it
that you can help someone along or be that sounding
board for them.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Yeah, I think that was part of part of what
they brought me in to do. We have a lot
of young guys that you know, are looking at their
first season after a long postseason. I think that's something
that everyone needs to learn and and you know, I
think I'm just they've been pitching so well, they haven't
really needed any you know, mental guidance. But I'm just
here to be, you know, a little bit of a
sounding board and kind of understand. You know, I've been
(22:18):
in every role in the bullpen. I've been, you know,
the guy who gets optioned twenty five times in a season.
I've been the guy who's a long reliever. I've been
the guy who sets up. I've been the closer. I
kind of know, you know, all the goods and all
the bads through through these nine seasons. So I just
want to help, you know, give some people some guidance
just on how to make sure that they're ready, how
to bounce back, that.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Sort of think policy. While joining US Guardians Reliever, you
mentioned health and how important that is, and you went
through it last year where you had some hiccups. What
did anything different this year that that you're trying to
focus on that can keep you good to go from
start to finish.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Yeah, I think the oblique and the neck were really
just it was just unfortunate luck more than anything. From
everything I've talked to doctors, I've talked to trainers, it
wasn't necessarily my routine, I you know, I'm as dedicated
as anybody to making sure that I'm here early and
doing a ton of body work to make sure that
I'm ready for the game. And you know, this game,
you just move your body as fast as you can
(23:12):
trying to swing a bat, throw a pitch. Sometimes you're
gonna hurt yourself. So that was the first time I've
ever been injured. It killed me to just not be
available that just it just didn't feel right. So just
doing everything I can, I think, maybe more body conscious,
just being aware of everything and kind of making sure
that I'm on top of everything. If I feel anything,
let's just you know, attack it for the next week
and make sure that we get rid of it. So
(23:33):
just I just want to go out there and pitch
as many games as I can and be as healthy
as I can for one to sixty two, and that's
my best way to help the team.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
You've been to Cleveland with the opposition. You just spent
a home stand there as a member of the Cleveland Guardians.
What do you learn about the city and maybe about
the fans through that first home stand, especially opening day
on the home opener.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
Now, the home opener is great, I've had nothing but
great interactions. When I come to Progressive Field, I've you know,
I've come early, I've come in the middle, I've come
in the late, and uh, you know, the fans seem
to seem to be very very into the team, very
you know, anti opponent, which I enjoy, and and just
trying to make sure that they are. They're cheering on
the Guardian. So I've had nothing but good experience as
a visitor as well, and and I appreciate not being
(24:13):
in the top open, just getting uh, just getting talked
through the whole game. I feel a lot better down
down there in the dungeon that we have, so can't
wait for it to warm up. That'll make Cleaveland a
lot better once it starts to warm up. But we're
good so far.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And let's talk about that. Some some cold days in Cleveland,
some cold days in Baltimore. How are the bullpens? And
what do you guys do to to make sure that
you can stay warm and still be able to perform
when you get that call?
Speaker 6 (24:37):
Well at home, you know they have a great room
for us. You know that we have a heater, and
we you know, you're kind of no one's more than
three feet away from the heater at home, So it
really helps in that in that that you know, staying warm,
you kind of do your exercise, you throw your weight
of balls, you kind of stay warm, you get your jackets.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
It's not a big deal.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I'll kind of you know, you go up there to
warm up and you don't. You're not necessarily feeling that cold.
So it was a pretty good situation at home, which
is nice. The road is not nearly as generous. So,
like I said, I'm not sure that heaters worked yesterday
in the bullpen and in Baltimore, so we'll we'll just
have to try and get a little warmer weather, especially
in Pittsburgh and the team starting to get a crank in.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
And it's so early yet, but what are you seeing
good signs outside of even the bullpen that has you
excited about what could be.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
Yeah, you don't want to put anything, put too much
emphasis on anything in a small sample size like a
nine game road trip or even a six game homestand
but you just want to see guys take you know,
quality of bats, try and walk, try and drive pitch
counts up, just trying to make sure that they get
their timing, like you know, Jose is one of the
best players in the world, and he hasn't even really
(25:38):
you know, done his thing other than that one special
game in Anaheim. And we have a pretty good record.
That's pretty good. You know, that's a pretty good thing
to hang our hat on that. You know, he's a
guy who can carry a team for a month, two months, like,
just by himself.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So that gives us a lot of confidence. Oh, it'll
happen at some point that he's done his draft record. Paul,
thanks a lot for coming. I appreciate it absolutely, thanks
for having me. Had to relief pitcher Paul Seewald, who's
done some nice work out of that Guardian's bullpen so
far this season. One of the pitching coaches that he
works with is assistant pitching coach Joe Torres. Joe has
been added for a couple of seasons now helping out
(26:13):
on the pitching front, and he explains what his role
looks like as part of Carl Willis's expanded staff this season.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Well, I mean a lot of it. I mean, like
you said, support the best way I can support all
of our coaches and our players. So whether that's you know,
a delivery, you know, aspect if that's a something in
the data, anything with their pitch profiles. I mean, it
could be really anything. It's vast and it's general and vague,
I guess. But I'm trying to support any way I
(26:43):
can to the players. And during the games it's just
a little checkpoints if we see something off right, and
you know, keeping them focused back to get back in
the zone.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Is more of your heavy lifting pre game and throughout
the course of the week, working with different pitchers and
the various scouting meetings thing like that.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Yeah, well, I mean it's important for me to know
our guys inside and out right and and and so
the work that we do between starts is huge, right,
and being able to identify what we need to do
for themselves to be at their strengths, but then also
for them to go and compete in their next start.
So yeah, there's a lot of heavy lifting in between
starts and the practice pregame, and then during game it's
(27:23):
just more little touch ups and then supporting Carl and
the staff with any bits of information that might be
you know, you know, falling through the cracks. I guess.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Joe Torres joining us, he's the Guardian's assistant pitching coach,
coaching and teaching. Uh, no matter whether you're a Hall
of Fame player or someone who maybe hasn't even played
pro ball, was at the college level something like that.
It seems like teaching and getting points across in a
in a great way as an art form almost And
(27:53):
how have you developed that during your time in this organization,
both in the minor leagues and now at the major
league level.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Yeah, you're right, man, I think they're one of the same,
coaching and teaching and now you see at the major
league level, and I think across the league that the
players are getting younger and younger, right, So there's still
a lot of development happening at that major league level.
And it's something that we kind of prode ourselves on
here and it's something that the organization provides us great
resources to us where it's not just we're looking at deliveries,
(28:20):
we're looking at bout mechanics. Where mean, we're working at
our craft as coaches, as teachers. So we have a
lot of great support systems within the organization and resources
that we use. But it's just a constant learning, right,
It's just constantly always asking questions and being open and
trying to find ways to get better, in ways to
connect with players, because that's really what it is, being
able to connect with them and listen to them first
(28:41):
and foremost.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
And for a perspective as a player, my goodness, you
went through it all as a professional player after being
drafted very high by the Angels. How has that come
into play for you in terms of knowing or at
least having an idea of what some of these guys
are going through just to get here.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Yeah, I'd like to think it helps. I mean I
think for me it was like the career didn't go
and the path that I would you know, would have
hoped for. But I think that career is what really
set me up to to help these players out now
and to be a coach. And again, like I said earlier,
is just is being there to listen because it's the
first thing that guys. Guys will tell you what's on
(29:22):
their mind. They'll tell you what direction we need to
take them and help them with if we just listen
to them. And you know, I feel like that's something
that you know, I kind of think back in my
career's like man, if maybe maybe if I spoke up
more maybe somebody heard me. It's a different way there,
would you know, be something I could do to have
helped me. But you know, that's why I'm just trying
to be here and be a sounding board and listen
(29:43):
to these guys and do whatever I can and kind
of help them out.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
And the group that you're in personality wise, it seems
like yourself, Carl Willis and Brad Goldberg couldn't be more
different from the outside. But but is that what makes
it work and and those different personalities coming together to
really help the staff as a whole.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I think so, right, we all need balance in our lives, right,
Like I mean, so, I think we work really well together.
I mean, obviously, Carl is the best of what he does,
and we are so grateful to have him around every
single day. His experience and just but it's the human
being that he is the first and foremost, so you know,
we're so grateful to have him. And you know, Beg
and I work really well together in tandem, have great conversations,
(30:23):
bouncing things off each other and trying to again how
can we impact players and you know, do the best
we can for this team and this organization.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
It's really rolling well on this home stand, that's for sure.
But for a long time it's been going well. Joe,
thanks after the time, appreciate.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
It all right, Thank you, Rosie.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
That's Joe Torres, a Guardian's assistant pitching coach, doing some
real nice work along with Brad Goldberg and pitching coach
Carl Willis as well. Stay with us when we come back.
It's a farm report with Steven Oster, the vice president
of player Development. We'll talk single a Lynchburg next.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
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regular you knows you don't want to be too far
out in the water after the sun goes down, because
vacation you doesn't know how to navigate in the dark.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Yet, vacation you.
Speaker 7 (31:14):
And regular you really need to get on the same page.
So bundle your boat with your Homer Auto policy and
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if we has another insurch not available in all states
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Speaker 1 (31:45):
He delivers pit swung un banged in the center, another
base hit Garcia, Big Tourney's hustling to third, Martinez throwing
the fly of the tank out at third. There's Garcia,
Oh what a throw. Bye on Hell Martinez, a perfect
strike on the fly and Mike cal Garcia, maybe trying
(32:08):
to get the Royals going, maybe being a little bit
too aggressive, but trying to make things happen, is gunned
down trying to go first to third on a single
to center by Bobby Witt Junior. And you can't make
a better throw than on Hell Martine's just made. Now
(32:30):
the one too, swung and banged in the whole right field.
A third hit for on Hell Martinez. He may tell
the folks in the apartment complex he was living in
in Columbus, you can rent that baby out somebody else.
No way, he's going back anytime soon. Welcome back to
(32:51):
Guardians Weekly. It's our final segment from Pittsburgh this week,
and we check in on single eight Lynchburg is part
of our Farm Report with Vice President Development Stephen Osterer,
and there's a couple of eighteen year olds in Lynchburg
this year and Luis morejo and well being Francisca and
Osty talks about some of the challenges facing players at
(33:13):
that young of an age in a full season league.
Speaker 8 (33:16):
I mean, they're tremendous players, first and foremost. They both
had a little bit of a taste of it last year,
and you know, we'd never want to send a guy
out where they're going to fail. We want them to
face adversity and be challenged. These guys will be challenged
a little bit that level over the course of the year,
but they're incredibly talented players. So you know, as any
(33:36):
young players they get exposure to a full season out
in affiliate, there's gonna be a lot of learning and
self awareness that you know, they'll try to understand a
little bit more about what it takes to be a professional.
But skill sets are off the charts pitching wise. Braylen
Dody intriguing sounds like another young guy, but maybe.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Advanced, very advanced.
Speaker 8 (33:56):
So he was a thirty sixth overall pick last year
for US high school kid wright who can sit comfortably
in the mid nineties. I think the thing that stick
out the most to us was his feel for his delivery,
feel for his body, feel for the pitches out of hand,
and his ability to create really big shapes. So he
came to us way advanced for a nineteen year old
(34:18):
relative to a lot of guys that we've had have
had a lot of success long term. Really excited to
continue to refine things and build out the routines and
continue to build out the vision of what he could become.
But he's starting from a really high level of control
and self awareness.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
When you look at Jacob Zibn, a twenty two drafted
sometimes it takes a little while for guys to get
going what have been some of his challenges, But why
is he ready now to tackle a full season club.
Speaker 8 (34:45):
Yeah, so twenty two pick who was really young when
we drafted him and unfortunately suffered some elp er injuries
over the last few years that limited him his ability
to get out and pitch. So he's come in in
a really good spot physically and from a health standpoint
and mentally, and getting him out to an affiliate will
be really exciting for us. Obviously, when you're a young
(35:07):
player and you haven't had the opportunity, that can be
really challenging to stay focused and motivated, and it's a
struggle when you're eighteen or nineteen years old. So getting
Jacob back out there and seeing him compete will be
a lot of fun for a lot of people in
this organization. But when he's healthy, he's a mid nineties
arm with you have some good execution and ability to
(35:30):
kind of move the ball around. So we're thrilled that
he can get back out there.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
And you have a couple of kids who are drafted
last year who may eventually get to Lynchburg maybe soon,
who knows, but they're going to start out in Arizona.
Chase Mopley and Joey Oki. How are you handling them
and why are you handling him in this way based
on their skill set?
Speaker 8 (35:52):
Yeah, I mean these two guys nineteen year olds, very
talented and throw exceptionally hard. When you have that combination,
and you're trying to just progress them at an appropriate
level for their own development of the things that they
need to do to stay healthy and consistent over time.
In both of these guys cases, I mean, they came
(36:13):
in ready to go, but we want to make sure
that we progress them slowly in an environment that we
can control. A little bit to ensure that not only
are they making progress, but they're healthy. So in both
of these guys's cases, starting in the ACL and continue
to build out some of the volume and the workloads
so that when they are capable and ready to go
out to an affiliate, they're able to thrive and not
(36:35):
just try to survive week to week. Incredibly excited both
those guys, the two draft picks from last year. You know,
on top of Doughty, they've got a really bright futures
and when you throw really hard. We're going to take
a little bit of a little bit of time with.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Them and when you look at if they do get
to Lynchburg and some of the other guys we talked
about there. Jordan Smith is the manager, and you alluded
to some of the challenges full season first time I'm
for a young player, why is he the ideal manager
to be there and lead them through that.
Speaker 8 (37:05):
He's been there and he's been around it. He understands
what that means to be that player. And Jordan's done
a really good job over the last few years managing
the relationships and gaining the trust and guiding those players
to the things that they need to do. To be successful,
not in the moment, but over the long term. So
(37:26):
Jordan again, similar to all of our managers, we're really
lucky that we have these guys, and we're really lucky
that they are able to share from and learn have
the players learn from their experiences.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
That is Stephen Osterer, the vice president of Player Development,
bringing us up to date on single A Lynchberg. And
as we move forward, now that takes care of our
season previews for all of the minor league clubs, will
start to get some updates on the seasons that are
happening as we speak, and there are some good ones
going at all levels of the Guardiance Minor League system.
(37:58):
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Thanks so much as always to Brian Motse for all
of his help. Until next week when we join you
from back home in downtown Cleveland. This is Jim rosen
House reminding you and you've been listening to Guardians Weekly
on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has
(38:23):
been brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save
hundreds on car insurance.
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