May 24, 2025 • 39 mins
A look back at a rainy series in Minnesota, and two wins to start the series in Detroit. Plus, conversations with the newest addition to the Guardians rotation Slade Cecconi and bullpen stallworth Hunter Gaddis. Also, it's the weekly Farm Report with V.P. of Player Development Stephen Osterer talking single A Lake County. That's all on this edition of Guardians Weekly with Jim Rosenhaus on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
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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 Say hundreds on Car Insurance.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hi everyone, this is Jim Rosenhouse and you are listening
to Guardians Weekly. This week, we join you from Camerica
Park in Detroit, where the Guardians are taking on the
Tigers in a huge series against the first place team
and the team of the best record in all of
baseball heading into the series the Tigers. But the Guardians
have played well the first two nights. More on that
(01:11):
in just a little bit, but coming up a little
bit later on in our show, we will hear from
pitching coach Carl Willis, starting pitcher Slade Seconi, as well
as reliever Hunter Gaddis. But first I look back at
the week in review, and it begins on Monday with
three innings only in Minnesota. What a rainy week it
was in Minneapolis, as the Guardians were there for three
(01:34):
days and they may never have seen the sun and
a lot of rain too. The game in Minneapolis on Monday,
after three innings was suspended due to heavy rains and
wet grounds, with the Twins leading by a score of
two to one. All the action on Tuesday, which was
supposed to be the completion of the suspended game, and
then the regularly scheduled game wiped out all day rain,
(01:58):
heavy cold temperature win the whole bit, so they couldn't
play until Wednesday, and they finally did get going, completing
the suspended game with rain still falling. They were able
to play through it and Minnesota was able to win
that first game, completing the suspended game as they wanted
in walk off fashion after the Guardians had scored three
(02:19):
times in the ninth to tie it. Minnesota was a
six to five winner, so the Guardians were desperate to
snap a five game losing skid in the regularly scheduled
game in Minnesota on Wednesday, rain still falling, they kept
playing and the Twins jumped in front with a run
in the third, but otherwise Gavin Williams on the mound
was terrific. The two to two called strike three on
(02:42):
the outside corner. Perfect pitch by Williams catches cursey looking
fifth strikeout for Gavin Williams and it looks like Williams
is settling back in. In the sixth inning, the Guardians
offense got it going with Jose Ramirez leading things off
with a single, then two walks to the bases for Gabrielarius.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Bases loaded, one down, one nothing, Minnesota sixth inning, payoff
pitch and it's outside ball four. We are tied at one.
A nine pitch at bantt and Arius with the bases loaded,
walk the four sin ramires and tie this game at one.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
And then Nolan Jones put the Guardians in front.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
The two zero pitch swings and sends one in the
air medium deep left center. This will get a run
home Cursey, the center fielder, with a catch, He'll throw
the third, tagging and scoring Santana and Nolan Jones sack
fly to medium deep left center as given Cleveland a
two to one lead.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Then Gavin Williams was back out there for the bottom
of the sixth. Now the kick and the one two
pitch swinging ms what away for Gavin Williams to finish,
still throwing ninety five miles an hour here in the
sixth inning, gets his sixth strikeout. He is sent down
seven in a row, still a two to one game.
(04:08):
In the eighth inning, that's when Carlos Santana's big month
of May continued.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
The pitch swung on, hammeredon, did heap brite? This ball
is gone? And it's three to one Cleveland. A line
drive home run to right by Carlos Santana. Man does
he love hitting in this ballpark? He has hit six
home runs now, all left handed, and that's a big one,
(04:34):
three to one Cleveland here in ending number eight.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And Cleveland added a little insurance in the top half
of the ninth inning on a sack fly from an
Hell Martinez to make it four to one. And then
Ramirez brought home one more those.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Ramirez two for four fourteen game hitting streak, and he
swings and drills a basin in the left center that'll
score Kwan and Cleveland getting rid of some frust ration
here in the late innings, now leading at five to one,
and Emmanuel Class was on in the ninth to help
nail down the win.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Now the two to one pitch swung on skid in
the air to left, Kwan is under it, and by golly,
it's ball game and the Guardians get a split. And
there were two games played today despite the elements, and
again just a great job by the Twins ground crew.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
To make that.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Happen the final here Cleveland five and Minnesota one. So
a huge win for the Guardians in that great outing
from Gavin Williams and plenty of offense to snap the
losing skid heading in to the big series in Detroit
that started on Thursday night, a four game series against
the first place Tigers. Guardians heading into play for the
(05:49):
series were six games back of the front running Tigers,
but with rain following the team to Detroit, they'd had
to play through it again and it would be the
Guardians getting on the board first. In the fourth inning,
with two men on and Carlos Santana at the plate,
there's a swing of a line drive right center field.
It's headed to the gap and he gets down for
a gapper all the way to the wall. Ramirez will score.
(06:13):
Right behind him is man Zarto trying to keep his feet.
He does and he scores as well into second with
a two run double. It's red hot Carlos Santana and
the Guardians grabbed the lead to nothing. Then on hell,
Martinez got into one leading off the fifth, swung on
and that's launched high in the air to right deep
(06:36):
way back gone home run. Martinez. Oh, he leaned into
one from Flarty and drove it into the lower stands
in right and the Guardians now lead it by a
score of three nothing. Number two for on Hell Martinez
as he continues to provide a spark wherever they play him,
(06:59):
whether it's the outfield or second base, and that's where
he is tonight and comes through with a solo blast
here in the fifth inning. Meanwhile, on the mound, Tanner
Biby was dominant against one of baseball's best offenses so
far this season.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Byby's ready, here it comes. Breaking ball got him swinging.
What a curveball Dingler his eighth strike on Victim and
Tanner Biby dominating the Tigers in seven superb innings and
in the eighth, the Tigers, trying to mount a comeback,
loaded the bases with nobody out, and on the pitch
(07:36):
came Kate Smith to save the day. The set of
the one too swiming a mess, he went back to
the heat ninety eight miles an hour. What a job
by Kate Smith, paces loaded nobody out, Tigers failed to score.
Smith strikes out three in a row, three nothing Cleveland
(08:00):
after eight.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
What a performance by Smith. Then in the ninth inning,
the Guardians pulled away with a run, scoring on a
Tiger's error that made it for nothing, and then on
Hell Martinez delivered again in field in the O one
swung on line drive toward the line and left diving
is but do he can't catch it? Ball gets by him.
That'll score two. Schneemin and Nailer score in with a
(08:24):
two run double. The left is on hell Martinez, he
is knocked in three, he's blown and wide open six
nothing Cleveland here in the ninth lane, Thomas, returning from
the injured list, added a sackfly that made it seven
to nothing, and that would be more than enough as
Matt Festa was on in the ninth to preserve the shutout.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Now the O two checked on a pitch high did
he go yes on the appeal at first ball game?
And the Guardians get the shutout and they get Game one,
beating the Detroit Tigers seven to nothing. So a nice
win for the Guardians and the series opener in Detroit
on Thursday night. On Friday night, more good pitching, a
(09:08):
dry playing field too, and the Guardians didn't waste any
time getting started, as in the first inning Stephen Kuan
let things off with a double, and then Jose Ramirez
put the Guardians in front, and Ramirez swings and drives
went in the air deep right center, long run for bias,
still going back on the track, this ball hips off
the base of the wall, cams back to the right
(09:31):
fielder Carpenter around third, coming home to scores. Kwan in
with a head first slide and a triple is Jose
Ramirez a booming triple off the base of the wall
in deep right center. Two batters later, Carlos Santana made
it a crooked number in the first. The pitch swung
(09:51):
on broken back ground ball in the hole back ended
by Sweeney jump throw. The first doesn't have much on it,
no chance to get Santana. He's go an infield hit.
Ramirez will score and the Guardians get a clutch two
out broken bat infield single by Carlos Santana, who now
has twenty rbies in the month of May, and the
(10:12):
Guardians have a two to nothing lead here in the first.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And on the mound slade. Seconi was impressive in this one,
as he was in his debut in Cincinnati last weekend.
The one two to Keith breaking bald. Did he check
it out? He went too far? They made the appeal.
It's a little at third, that strike three and the
side is retired. We're headed to the sixth Cleveland two
Detroit nothing. Seconi gave up a solo home run to
(10:38):
Spencer Torkelsen in the sixth inning that made it a
two to one Guardian's lead, and then the bullpen took over,
starting with Hunter Gaddis, who shut down the Tigers in
the seventh and was back out there for another inning
of work in the eighth.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Now the pitch swag in a mess. He went back
to the slider, strikes out Torkolsen. The ninth is next
two to one Cleveland on the Cleveland Clinic Radio network.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
In the top half of the night, the Guardians again
padded their lead, this time with a leadoff triple from
bow Naylor, and then Stephen Quan delivered.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
The pitch Kwan Bangs a base hit in the left
Guardians take a three to one lead. Quan with a
three hit night RBI number eighteen and Cleveland, like last night,
getting a big run and maybe more in the ninth inning,
now leading this game three to.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
One, and in the bottom of the ninth a manual
Classe was looking to collect another save.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Clause is ready. Here's the one two pitch to Irlin
a swing in a little bloop job shallow right near
the line, long run. Nolan Jones makes the catching foul
ground ball game and the Guardians have held the Tigers
to one run in the first two ballgames and win
again three to one.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
So a great start to the series in Detroit. Heading
into Saturday night and Game three of the series, which
will conclude on Sunday morning in eleven thirty five start
time in Detroit to close out the series, and this
long three city road trip stay. Whether it's woman came back,
we'll hear from pitching coach Carl Willis that's next. As
Guardians Weekly continues on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
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Speaker 5 (12:36):
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Speaker 6 (12:40):
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Speaker 7 (12:46):
It's a wear ahead band.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Okay, not really a game winning call, but it was
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Speaker 2 (13:06):
Jim Rosenow's back with you. It's Guardians Weekly from Detroit
this week, and it has been some kind of week
weatherwise for the Guardians to try not only to win games,
but just get games in. And it started in Minneapolis,
where three straight days of rain caused one rain out
and some moving around of the schedule. Somehow they got
(13:26):
games in and during that time we caught up with
Carl Willis, the Guardian's pitching coach, who spent a big
portion of his playing career with the Twins, and we'll
talk to him about that in a little bit. But first,
with all that rain leading to the suspended game on
Monday and then a cancelation on Tuesday and nearly two
full games on Wednesday as they had to finish a
(13:48):
suspended game before playing the regularly scheduled game, we talked
to Carl about how the team planned to manage the
pitching staff through all that uncertainty.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You know, because we started the game on my night.
You know, we can't have a twenty seventh man for
game one. You can't juggle that roster or that lineup,
so to speak. So because we don't have an off
day within the next five six days, you know, we
(14:18):
have to pick up the suspended game with a reliever.
If we were to use a starter in that position
and then a starter for game two, we wouldn't have
a starter for Monday, So that makes it a little different,
a little more challenging. You know, the Twins, on the
other hand, are off tomorrow. They can utilize two starters today.
(14:38):
So you know, we obviously trust the heck out of
our bullpen. It's been a strength of our team now
for over a year, and you know we'll go get
after it.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Carl, I know you always enjoy coming here, some great
memories as a player. Even now, you still come back
here and enjoy the city, even though it's a different ballpark,
but seeing some old friends, no.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Doubt about it. I have a handful of former teammates
that made their home here in Minneapolis in the Twin
Cities area, and always get to catch up with those guys,
the clubhouse guys, you know, the visiting CLUBB. He here
in Minnesota. Now, his father was one of my closest friends.
He was a really close friend with our manager, Tom Kelly,
(15:19):
and he ran the clubhouse for the Minnesota Vikings. And
so just a lot of people here that continue to
work for and support the Twins that I really enjoy seeing.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And you were part of one of the great Twins
teams ever. The nineteen ninety one World Series team still
does have the longest win streak and Twins history of
fifteen games. They gave it a run here this club
one thirteen just completed, but you were a part of
that fifteen game win streak. I looked it up, win
number four. The winning pitcher in an extra inning game
was Carl Willis. What do you remember about the tenth
(15:50):
inning of that game when you came on to pitch first.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I'm surprised I do remember, but I remember that streak.
I know we went to Cleveland during that streak. As
a matter of fact, I think prior to going to
Baltimore where the streak ended, we were in Cleveland. But
I think I remember that game, Rosie, because it was
my first win in the Major League since probably nineteen Gosh,
(16:15):
eighty six. I'd spent a little bit of time with
the White Sox in eighty eight, but I recall coming
in the game. I don't remember the exact situation. I
know they were met on bas I know there were
no outs. What I do recall is Sam Horn grounding
into a double play to end that inning, and I
remember in the bottom of the tenth, I believe Randy Bush,
(16:40):
I think it was a swinging bunt, and you know,
we had the old turf in the Metrodome at the time,
and it just kind of trickled through the infield and
someone scored from second base and we won the game.
And you know, when you brought it up, I was
surprised that I do remember it, But I think I
remember it because again it was my first win in
(17:02):
quite some time.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
And again I was win number four out of fifteen.
Was that the stretch that really cemented this team, the
ninety one Twins, thinking that they could have a special season. Yeah,
as I recall it was. You know, we started out
the season, we were two and nine. Things were not
going well, and we started to play better when that
streak happened. As you said, we won fifteen games in
(17:25):
a row, and I think after the streak we then
came back in one another six or seven in a row.
But during that period, during that stretch Oakland.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It was back at the time when there was an
ale east and an ale west, and we were in
the west, and we caught Oakland and passed Oakland, and
actually we were in a dogfight with Oakland for the
remainder of the season until you know, we got into
September and we're able to clinch the division.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Carl, great stuff, Thank you for remembering. That's pretty good.
It's a long time ago down but enjoy the day
to day.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Thanks all right. Thanks.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Always fun to catch up with. Carl Willis, the Guardian's
pitching coach, who has some great memories of his playing career,
with the highlight being that nineteen ninety one season with
the Minnesota Twins. Well, we're gonna stay on the pitching front.
When we come back after the break, we'll talk with
starting pitcher Slade Secone and reliever Hunter Gaddis and comes
your way next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
(18:39):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhause along with you
from Camerica Park in Detroit. Where the Guardians are taking
on the Tigers this weekend. Slade Secone picked up his
first win as a Cleveland Guardian on Friday night, as
he was strong through six innings for the Guardians, allowing
just one run on five hits. He made his debut
(18:59):
for Leveland after a stint on the injured list last
weekend in Cincinnati, and we caught up with him after
that start against the Reds. He took the loss that day,
but was solid through five and he says he was
very pleased with how things went in his first start
of this season.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
Yeah, I was happy with the process that we went
through to get to the end result. Obviously want to
go out there and get a win every time take
the hill, but that isn't always controlla So we try
to control the controllabulls and you know, just excute pitches
one of the time, and I felt like I did
a good job of that. There's some room for improvement,
(19:36):
but I was happy with yesterday.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
You're still very young in your major league career. What
is a trade leg that's done for you? Just having
a different perspective and having different people looking at what
you do and what can make you really good.
Speaker 8 (19:47):
Yeah, this organization is amazing. On the pitching side of things,
We've done a lot of very good work. We haven't
left many stones, many stones unturned in terms of of
looking at ways to get better and ways to develop.
And that gives me a lot of confidence every time
I take the ball that you know, myself and the
(20:09):
team around me has done all the work that it
can to put our best foot forward when I step
on that field.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And it seems like you have a wide pitch mix,
a lot of variety there. Has that always been the
case or is that something that you've developed in recent years?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
It's continued to develop. The changeup came on last years
as a big addition which I've been searching for for
a while, and then this year we've added in a
cutter and a sinker to take some of that super
high four seam fastball percentage down. We felt like that
was part of the reason why I would have those
(20:46):
some of those dips in villa later in the game
and some of those you know, really hard hit balls
off the four seam was just sheer number of throwing
it so much. When you throw it sixty percent of
the time, eventually you're gonna throw a couple little bit slow,
were in a couple a little more middle, and being
able to diversify the portfolio a little bit has has
(21:06):
definitely given me more confidence to really rip that four
seam and execute it when I do throw.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Slates to Tony joining us. You're from the UT the
University of Miami, and for a long time they've had
a good baseball program there during your time there, What
did that mean to you to be able to play
there as a Florida kid.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
Oh, I committed there super early. It was actually my
first and only offer. I was young when I committed,
Don't get me wrong, but I always knew that that
was my number one school, and I was so excited
to be a Cane in my unfortunately short but sweet
time that was there. You know, we got we got
(21:43):
canceled that COVID here and I went out as a sophomore.
But I love watching the way they've they've turned around
their season this year, and I'm really looking forward to
watching them continue to play good baseball.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And now being a part of this here at the
major league level with Cleveland obviously a team where the
rotation has been going. Well, are you do you feel
that even as you're rehaving and getting closer to being available,
that you could be a part of something that's really
good here.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Absolutely, I see. You know, guys day in and day
out go out there and take the ball and you know,
do their job XQ pitches get ahead of hitters, do
the little things the right way, and that gives me
a lot of confidence that, you know, the focus here
is on the right things.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Translate.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Thanks so much for coming back. Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Thank you boy.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
What a big boost late. So Coney could be if
he can maintain the consistency that he has shown so far.
His spot in the rotation vacated by Ben Lively, who
first went on the injured list, and just on Friday
was announced that Ben Lively will be undergoing Tommy John
surgery in the weeks ahead, and that means that twelve
(22:46):
to sixteen month rehab process. Tough break for one of
the good guys in the game. Ben Lively a thirteen
game winner a year ago and he was off to
a good start again this season, but he'll face that
long rehab. Pros says now to try and come back
from Tommy John surgery well in the bullpen the bullpen
has had some ups and downs, more so than a
(23:07):
year ago when they had a dream season. But one
pitcher who has been absolutely terrific and maybe better than
he was a year ago is Hunter Gaddis, who came
into play on Friday night with an earned run average
of zero point ninety five. He had allowed just two
runs in nineteen innings, and sure enough, on Friday Night
he put together two more scoreless innings. We caught up
(23:30):
with him as the series was beginning in Detroit on
Thursday and talked to him about that good start and
what's led to consistency for him over such a long
period of time.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I think it's just taking it out in biolting, not
really looking too much in the past of what has happened,
more of just trying to stay focused on the future
and outing bioling, you know, trying to get better and better.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Pitch quality wise, anything coming along maybe better than you
had anticipated, or a pitch that that was working as
good last year that's doing better.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
No, Actually it's kind of been the same. I guess
it's always. I feel like as a pitch you're always
striving to make each pitch better. So it's like I
don't know if you can ever be completely happy. Like
one game, I may throw my fast forward really well
and I'm happy, and then the next it may not
be exactly what I want. So I feel like it's
always trying to make them better.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
And I feel like we've seen maybe a few more
change ups this year, or maybe the ones you're throwing
are better. How's that pitch coming along for you? And
are you working it in a little bit more if
the situation calls for it.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I think so far it's been about the same usage.
I know, towards the end of us here I was
using a lot more. So maybe it bounced the number
up a little bit, but uh no, it's really you know,
one of my favorite pitches that throw. It's just different.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It's weird.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
I like being weird on the mound, so you know,
I always trying to work it in when it's a
good time to.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Why is it weird?
Speaker 6 (24:56):
It's just really slow, It's just really so. I mean,
it's like fifteen to twenty off my fastball. It's just
fun to me, you know, make it go that slow.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
And yesterday in Minnesota one of the worst weather days
of the year, and look, you have them, you got
to get through them. How bad was it and what
were the challenges for you?
Speaker 6 (25:15):
You know, it's just you know, you're kind of sitting
around all day. You know, we had the day before
or you know, the first game where two rangel As
were were kind of sitting around. Then it gets canceled,
and then you know, you have the whole off day
where they canceled both of those games. So then you're
sitting around again, and then you know, you have a
game and a half doubleheader and you're just sitting around
(25:35):
a lot and to what's you're time to throw? So
it's just a lot of sitting around, staying ready, and
you know, it's just a lot of time of preparing
and not you know, getting ready to go in. But
it was difficult, but it was you know, it is
what it is.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
And by the time you got out there that I mean,
it had rained a lot during the day. How was
the mound and the conditions that you were pitching at.
Speaker 6 (25:54):
You know, the mountain wasn't perfect by any means, but
I think they did a good job, you know, kind
of keeping on their and the best they could, and
you know, it worked out just fine.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Hunter Gatis joining US Guardian's Reliever series opens the night
here in Detroit. First time you're facing the Tigers since
the postseason a year ago. You, like everyone else, just
had a tremendous series against the Tigers. You got to
win in that exciting Game four right here. What are
some of the memories that stand out to you of
that series against Detroit that that maybe jump out right away?
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I mean, I don't think I really have anything exactly.
I just that was an unreal series. You know, they
were all close games, really good games. Everybody seemed like
they were performing pretty well on both sides, and it
felt really good to come out on the top on
that series. And you know, I'm expecting another good one
for these four games for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
And then the game four that you got the winning
was the David Frye home run game late, and you're
on the mound and getting key outs late. As good
an experience as you can have in the big leagues
when when you're in that type of situation.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I don't know, you know
what else. You know, playing in October is a big thing.
Last year was my first year and being able to
live it and do it, it was you know, I
see why it's such a big deal now. But yeah,
that Game four was a really big game. I believe
I came in any beefore, then David hits a homer,
and then I went back out. It was pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
You reference this series, and I know they're all supposed
to be the same, You're supposed to focus on each game,
but is there a little more sizzled to this one,
just based on how the past has gone and the
season that they're having so far.
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's an indivision Indivision game.
Both teams want to win for sure, and you've got
to prepare and go out there and do the best
you can and see who comes out on top.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
A Hunter, thanks for coming. I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (27:46):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
That's Hunter Gatis, Guardian's relief pitcher who has been just
terrific out of the pen, and especially so on Friday
night in Detroit with two scoreless innings to set up
a manual class A for another. Say, stay with us
when we come back. We'll hear about some of the
fine young talent in the minor league system at single
A Lake County. That's next on the Cleveland Clinic, Guardians Radio.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
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Speaker 5 (28:41):
Situations Jimmers announced back with you from Camerica Park in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
It's Guardians Weekly and it's great to have along with
us this weekend. Each week we try and check in
with Stephen Osterer, who is the vice president of player
development for the Guardians, for a minor league report and
this week's His travels took him to Lake County, not
too far outside the Cleveland city limits to see the
high A Lake County Captains. And we'll start on the
(29:43):
position player side of things with last year's second round
draft pick, catcher Jacob Cozart, a coach's son. His dad
used to be the head coach down at High Point University,
and Austin talked about how that has shown as we
get to know him better in his first professional season.
Speaker 10 (30:01):
He's a leader for us, you know, on the field
and and off the field as well. You know, he's
the kind of guy that everyone wants to throw to
and and you know, a big part of that is
obviously the skill set of being a catcher, and he's
a strong defender, he's got an Elaite glove, he's, you know,
a really good receiver.
Speaker 7 (30:20):
Yeah, he throws guys out.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
But I think the part that you know, the pitching
staff appreciate just as much on top of that is
how prepared he is and how confident he is and
how he can actually lead his staff. And you know
that comes out in the conversations that he has in
between innings and and before the game and reflecting post
game with our pitching staff and and our pitching coach
(30:43):
as well. So, yeah, a lot of those traits that
you would expect to come through from like a coaching
lens and understanding that he's he's showing that as a player,
and Jacobs had a you know, really good behind the
dish uh and and is picking up his bat a
little bit here too, which is great to see.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
And moving to the outfield, an intriguing name is Alfonso
Risorio and Rosario came from the Cubs and the Eli
Morgan trade over the wintertime, and it looks like he's
putting up some really solid numbers across the board offensively.
Speaker 10 (31:14):
Yes, he is, yeah, physical, physical outfielder. You know, he's
got the ability to express speed and power at the
plate in on the basis, the profile was was very
much lots of pop, lots.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Of whiff maybe when we got him, but he's done
a really.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Good job, you know, cutting that whiff down, made some
swing adjustments and transition into more walks, you know, higher ops,
more slug and he's played a really good outfield too,
so some defensive upside and we think he can develop
even a better neck to grab more bags on the basis,
you know than what he's shown in the past. He's
shown a really strong interest in doing that as well.
(31:52):
So pretty exciting player to watch and does a lot
of fun things you know, out in the field.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
When you do start to work with a player who
has acquired from another organization via a trade, I'm sure
that's a shock to them at a certain level. How
do you help them transition and get comfortable in Cleveland system.
Speaker 7 (32:09):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 10 (32:11):
You know, getting traded, I think is is a challenging
thing to go through for the first time, especially as
a minor leaguer.
Speaker 7 (32:17):
You know, it's a big.
Speaker 10 (32:18):
Part of our focus when when we get guys is
just to show that we're there to partner with them
and to.
Speaker 7 (32:24):
You know, be a support system for them. So it's
a lot of learning.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
About you know, things that they value, who they see
themselves as a player, things that they're working on, their
goals that you know, their vision for the long term,
and you know, really understanding what makes them tick and
you know, then coming to the table over time as
we build a relationship and put an emphasis on that
to you know, kind of partner with them along the way,
so you know, making them feel comfortable, making them feel heard,
(32:48):
really understanding them is a huge part. Uh and Rosario
was you know a really good really good player, But
getting him to feel comfortable and understand the things that
he's working on is a big part of this too.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
When you look at Ralphie Velasquez, he's someone we've talked
about a lot. We saw him in some major league
games in spring training. How is his season gone as
he deals with some of the ups and downs of
the minor leagues and trying to make some progress at
the high A level.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
Now, Yeah, good question.
Speaker 10 (33:16):
I mean, he has gone through a little bit of
the up and down that I think you'd.
Speaker 7 (33:21):
Expect for a teenager in hig A.
Speaker 10 (33:23):
He's still one of the youngest players at that level
in all of baseball, and making some of the off
field adjustments, the the you know, the on field adjustments,
and it takes a bit of time for those things
to work through. So you know, he's working through some
some swing changes, he's working, you know, to kind of
make adjustments to his approach, and he still shows some
(33:46):
really strong underlying traits.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
He's still putting up a lead.
Speaker 10 (33:49):
Exit velocities on average, just having maybe a little bit
lower you know, batting average and ball and player babbit,
which you know can sometimes lead to poor outcomes. But yeah,
the underlying things are there, and he's working hard at
you know, maybe showing some of the outcomes that we'd
want to see or he would want to see. But
for a young kid, we we don't put a ton
(34:10):
of stock or pressure into that.
Speaker 7 (34:11):
So Ralphie's a great kid.
Speaker 10 (34:13):
You know, he's working hard, he's a better hitter, and
he's going to be fun to continue to track the
progress on.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
It's our weekly minor league report with Vice president of
Player Development Stephen Ostro, and we're talking Lake County at
the Single A high Single A level and onto the
mound the top of the minor leagues for a little while.
Last year was the tug boat. Matt Wilkinson got off
to a great start on the mound at Lynchburg and
carried that through to Lake County. At least numbers wise,
(34:40):
a slower start this year, but what still has you
excited about the tug boat and and what he could
do this season.
Speaker 10 (34:47):
Yeah, tug boat phenomenal year last year, and he has
battled it a little bit at times to start this year.
As we talked about with Ralph and some of these
younger guys, the surface numbers aren't always.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
Telling the whole story.
Speaker 10 (35:00):
So you know, as an example here, he's faced the
same lineup four times already, you know, working on you know,
some delivery stuff to support more velo along the way,
which is going to pull back a little bit of
execution and guys are going to be more prepared for him.
So yeah, that that is going to result in in
maybe a bit of a pullback in numbers and performance outcomes,
(35:20):
but we're not concerned at all. You know, we've seen
some really nice change up development which was a huge
focus for him, and continuing to work on, you know,
moving that needle towards long term velocity gain. So he's
still really young to twenty two years old, despite being
a twenty three draft pick out a Juco, and there's
lots of low hanging fruit left and time to go
(35:41):
and get those things. So you know, despite a maybe
a bit of a slower start for Tug to start
the year, you know, doesn't change how we view him
or how we view the year on the whole.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Also on the mound at Lynchburg, the Guardians made a
nice trade with the kind of like three team deal
with the Toronto on the Pirates, but they got pitching
from the Pirates including Luis Ortiz, who's done some nice
work at the major league level, but on the minor
league side, they also got two good prospects, one of
whom Josh Hartle, is off to a nice start at
Lake County. And what can you tell us about his
(36:14):
progress so far?
Speaker 10 (36:16):
Yeah, So, the highly regarded left handed charter to college
at Wake and was known for his strikes and unique
angles from the left side, and we've seen both of
those things so far. He's pitched really well and two
keys for him this year have really been separating out
the movement of his pitches and continuing to add velocity
long term, and he started to move the needle on
(36:37):
those things on top of you knowing, throwing a ton
of strikes and executing his pitches to where he wants to.
So this is this is a big kid who's going
to continue to add fat free mass, muscle strength, power,
and we think he's just going to continue to get
better as the year goes along and we get to
know him a little bit better and he gets to
know us and our.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
Resources a little bit better too.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
So really excited for what Josh has shown thus far.
The strategy's made this far, and you know again, excited
for where.
Speaker 7 (37:05):
This is going to go.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Well, always fun stuff to hear about the young prospects
and what they're up to. In this case, this week
it was Lake County, Austy. Thanks so much for coming bye.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
Nanks Rosie appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
That is Stephen Ostro, the Guardian's vice president of Player Developments.
Some good stuff going on down at single A, Lake County,
and that's going to put a lid on this week's
edition of Guardians Weekly. Thanks so much to Brian Motse
as always for his help of putting together our show
each week. We will join you next week. Finally, from
(37:38):
back home. After this long ten game three city road
trip wraps up, Guardians will take on the Dodgers starting
Monday night at six' ten three against The, dodgers there
by yearly visit to a progressive field and last Year's
World series champions making their appearance In Cleveland monday And
tuesday nights at six, ten when day afternoon at one,
(38:01):
ten and we'll join you Next saturday during The angels
series next. Weekend so until, then this Is jim Rosen
house reminding you that you've been listening To Guardians weekly
on The Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio. Network Guardians weekly has
(38:22):
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 Say hundreds on Car Insurance.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hi everyone, this is Jim Rosenhouse and you are listening
to Guardians Weekly. This week, we join you from Camerica
Park in Detroit, where the Guardians are taking on the
Tigers in a huge series against the first place team
and the team of the best record in all of
baseball heading into the series the Tigers. But the Guardians
have played well the first two nights. More on that
(01:11):
in just a little bit, but coming up a little
bit later on in our show, we will hear from
pitching coach Carl Willis, starting pitcher Slade Seconi, as well
as reliever Hunter Gaddis. But first I look back at
the week in review, and it begins on Monday with
three innings only in Minnesota. What a rainy week it
was in Minneapolis, as the Guardians were there for three
(01:34):
days and they may never have seen the sun and
a lot of rain too. The game in Minneapolis on Monday,
after three innings was suspended due to heavy rains and
wet grounds, with the Twins leading by a score of
two to one. All the action on Tuesday, which was
supposed to be the completion of the suspended game, and
then the regularly scheduled game wiped out all day rain,
(01:58):
heavy cold temperature win the whole bit, so they couldn't
play until Wednesday, and they finally did get going, completing
the suspended game with rain still falling. They were able
to play through it and Minnesota was able to win
that first game, completing the suspended game as they wanted
in walk off fashion after the Guardians had scored three
(02:19):
times in the ninth to tie it. Minnesota was a
six to five winner, so the Guardians were desperate to
snap a five game losing skid in the regularly scheduled
game in Minnesota on Wednesday, rain still falling, they kept
playing and the Twins jumped in front with a run
in the third, but otherwise Gavin Williams on the mound
was terrific. The two to two called strike three on
(02:42):
the outside corner. Perfect pitch by Williams catches cursey looking
fifth strikeout for Gavin Williams and it looks like Williams
is settling back in. In the sixth inning, the Guardians
offense got it going with Jose Ramirez leading things off
with a single, then two walks to the bases for Gabrielarius.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Bases loaded, one down, one nothing, Minnesota sixth inning, payoff
pitch and it's outside ball four. We are tied at one.
A nine pitch at bantt and Arius with the bases loaded,
walk the four sin ramires and tie this game at one.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
And then Nolan Jones put the Guardians in front.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
The two zero pitch swings and sends one in the
air medium deep left center. This will get a run
home Cursey, the center fielder, with a catch, He'll throw
the third, tagging and scoring Santana and Nolan Jones sack
fly to medium deep left center as given Cleveland a
two to one lead.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Then Gavin Williams was back out there for the bottom
of the sixth. Now the kick and the one two
pitch swinging ms what away for Gavin Williams to finish,
still throwing ninety five miles an hour here in the
sixth inning, gets his sixth strikeout. He is sent down
seven in a row, still a two to one game.
(04:08):
In the eighth inning, that's when Carlos Santana's big month
of May continued.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
The pitch swung on, hammeredon, did heap brite? This ball
is gone? And it's three to one Cleveland. A line
drive home run to right by Carlos Santana. Man does
he love hitting in this ballpark? He has hit six
home runs now, all left handed, and that's a big one,
(04:34):
three to one Cleveland here in ending number eight.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And Cleveland added a little insurance in the top half
of the ninth inning on a sack fly from an
Hell Martinez to make it four to one. And then
Ramirez brought home one more those.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Ramirez two for four fourteen game hitting streak, and he
swings and drills a basin in the left center that'll
score Kwan and Cleveland getting rid of some frust ration
here in the late innings, now leading at five to one,
and Emmanuel Class was on in the ninth to help
nail down the win.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Now the two to one pitch swung on skid in
the air to left, Kwan is under it, and by golly,
it's ball game and the Guardians get a split. And
there were two games played today despite the elements, and
again just a great job by the Twins ground crew.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
To make that.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Happen the final here Cleveland five and Minnesota one. So
a huge win for the Guardians in that great outing
from Gavin Williams and plenty of offense to snap the
losing skid heading in to the big series in Detroit
that started on Thursday night, a four game series against
the first place Tigers. Guardians heading into play for the
(05:49):
series were six games back of the front running Tigers,
but with rain following the team to Detroit, they'd had
to play through it again and it would be the
Guardians getting on the board first. In the fourth inning,
with two men on and Carlos Santana at the plate,
there's a swing of a line drive right center field.
It's headed to the gap and he gets down for
a gapper all the way to the wall. Ramirez will score.
(06:13):
Right behind him is man Zarto trying to keep his feet.
He does and he scores as well into second with
a two run double. It's red hot Carlos Santana and
the Guardians grabbed the lead to nothing. Then on hell,
Martinez got into one leading off the fifth, swung on
and that's launched high in the air to right deep
(06:36):
way back gone home run. Martinez. Oh, he leaned into
one from Flarty and drove it into the lower stands
in right and the Guardians now lead it by a
score of three nothing. Number two for on Hell Martinez
as he continues to provide a spark wherever they play him,
(06:59):
whether it's the outfield or second base, and that's where
he is tonight and comes through with a solo blast
here in the fifth inning. Meanwhile, on the mound, Tanner
Biby was dominant against one of baseball's best offenses so
far this season.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Byby's ready, here it comes. Breaking ball got him swinging.
What a curveball Dingler his eighth strike on Victim and
Tanner Biby dominating the Tigers in seven superb innings and
in the eighth, the Tigers, trying to mount a comeback,
loaded the bases with nobody out, and on the pitch
(07:36):
came Kate Smith to save the day. The set of
the one too swiming a mess, he went back to
the heat ninety eight miles an hour. What a job
by Kate Smith, paces loaded nobody out, Tigers failed to score.
Smith strikes out three in a row, three nothing Cleveland
(08:00):
after eight.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
What a performance by Smith. Then in the ninth inning,
the Guardians pulled away with a run, scoring on a
Tiger's error that made it for nothing, and then on
Hell Martinez delivered again in field in the O one
swung on line drive toward the line and left diving
is but do he can't catch it? Ball gets by him.
That'll score two. Schneemin and Nailer score in with a
(08:24):
two run double. The left is on hell Martinez, he
is knocked in three, he's blown and wide open six
nothing Cleveland here in the ninth lane, Thomas, returning from
the injured list, added a sackfly that made it seven
to nothing, and that would be more than enough as
Matt Festa was on in the ninth to preserve the shutout.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Now the O two checked on a pitch high did
he go yes on the appeal at first ball game?
And the Guardians get the shutout and they get Game one,
beating the Detroit Tigers seven to nothing. So a nice
win for the Guardians and the series opener in Detroit
on Thursday night. On Friday night, more good pitching, a
(09:08):
dry playing field too, and the Guardians didn't waste any
time getting started, as in the first inning Stephen Kuan
let things off with a double, and then Jose Ramirez
put the Guardians in front, and Ramirez swings and drives
went in the air deep right center, long run for bias,
still going back on the track, this ball hips off
the base of the wall, cams back to the right
(09:31):
fielder Carpenter around third, coming home to scores. Kwan in
with a head first slide and a triple is Jose
Ramirez a booming triple off the base of the wall
in deep right center. Two batters later, Carlos Santana made
it a crooked number in the first. The pitch swung
(09:51):
on broken back ground ball in the hole back ended
by Sweeney jump throw. The first doesn't have much on it,
no chance to get Santana. He's go an infield hit.
Ramirez will score and the Guardians get a clutch two
out broken bat infield single by Carlos Santana, who now
has twenty rbies in the month of May, and the
(10:12):
Guardians have a two to nothing lead here in the first.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And on the mound slade. Seconi was impressive in this one,
as he was in his debut in Cincinnati last weekend.
The one two to Keith breaking bald. Did he check
it out? He went too far? They made the appeal.
It's a little at third, that strike three and the
side is retired. We're headed to the sixth Cleveland two
Detroit nothing. Seconi gave up a solo home run to
(10:38):
Spencer Torkelsen in the sixth inning that made it a
two to one Guardian's lead, and then the bullpen took over,
starting with Hunter Gaddis, who shut down the Tigers in
the seventh and was back out there for another inning
of work in the eighth.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Now the pitch swag in a mess. He went back
to the slider, strikes out Torkolsen. The ninth is next
two to one Cleveland on the Cleveland Clinic Radio network.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
In the top half of the night, the Guardians again
padded their lead, this time with a leadoff triple from
bow Naylor, and then Stephen Quan delivered.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
The pitch Kwan Bangs a base hit in the left
Guardians take a three to one lead. Quan with a
three hit night RBI number eighteen and Cleveland, like last night,
getting a big run and maybe more in the ninth inning,
now leading this game three to.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
One, and in the bottom of the ninth a manual
Classe was looking to collect another save.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Clause is ready. Here's the one two pitch to Irlin
a swing in a little bloop job shallow right near
the line, long run. Nolan Jones makes the catching foul
ground ball game and the Guardians have held the Tigers
to one run in the first two ballgames and win
again three to one.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
So a great start to the series in Detroit. Heading
into Saturday night and Game three of the series, which
will conclude on Sunday morning in eleven thirty five start
time in Detroit to close out the series, and this
long three city road trip stay. Whether it's woman came back,
we'll hear from pitching coach Carl Willis that's next. As
Guardians Weekly continues on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Switching to progressive is a game winning call, and that
reminds us of other game winning calls in the history
of sports.
Speaker 5 (12:36):
So it was the fourth quarter and went down by five,
sweat pouring down my face.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
Suddenly it hit me, if only I could rep part
of the towel around my forehead, and that's how I
became the first basketball player.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
It's a wear ahead band.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Okay, not really a game winning call, but it was
a good call. You can make one two switch to
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Speaker 2 (13:06):
Jim Rosenow's back with you. It's Guardians Weekly from Detroit
this week, and it has been some kind of week
weatherwise for the Guardians to try not only to win games,
but just get games in. And it started in Minneapolis,
where three straight days of rain caused one rain out
and some moving around of the schedule. Somehow they got
(13:26):
games in and during that time we caught up with
Carl Willis, the Guardian's pitching coach, who spent a big
portion of his playing career with the Twins, and we'll
talk to him about that in a little bit. But first,
with all that rain leading to the suspended game on
Monday and then a cancelation on Tuesday and nearly two
full games on Wednesday as they had to finish a
(13:48):
suspended game before playing the regularly scheduled game, we talked
to Carl about how the team planned to manage the
pitching staff through all that uncertainty.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You know, because we started the game on my night.
You know, we can't have a twenty seventh man for
game one. You can't juggle that roster or that lineup,
so to speak. So because we don't have an off
day within the next five six days, you know, we
(14:18):
have to pick up the suspended game with a reliever.
If we were to use a starter in that position
and then a starter for game two, we wouldn't have
a starter for Monday, So that makes it a little different,
a little more challenging. You know, the Twins, on the
other hand, are off tomorrow. They can utilize two starters today.
(14:38):
So you know, we obviously trust the heck out of
our bullpen. It's been a strength of our team now
for over a year, and you know we'll go get
after it.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Carl, I know you always enjoy coming here, some great
memories as a player. Even now, you still come back
here and enjoy the city, even though it's a different ballpark,
but seeing some old friends, no.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Doubt about it. I have a handful of former teammates
that made their home here in Minneapolis in the Twin
Cities area, and always get to catch up with those guys,
the clubhouse guys, you know, the visiting CLUBB. He here
in Minnesota. Now, his father was one of my closest friends.
He was a really close friend with our manager, Tom Kelly,
(15:19):
and he ran the clubhouse for the Minnesota Vikings. And
so just a lot of people here that continue to
work for and support the Twins that I really enjoy seeing.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And you were part of one of the great Twins
teams ever. The nineteen ninety one World Series team still
does have the longest win streak and Twins history of
fifteen games. They gave it a run here this club
one thirteen just completed, but you were a part of
that fifteen game win streak. I looked it up, win
number four. The winning pitcher in an extra inning game
was Carl Willis. What do you remember about the tenth
(15:50):
inning of that game when you came on to pitch first.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I'm surprised I do remember, but I remember that streak.
I know we went to Cleveland during that streak. As
a matter of fact, I think prior to going to
Baltimore where the streak ended, we were in Cleveland. But
I think I remember that game, Rosie, because it was
my first win in the Major League since probably nineteen Gosh,
(16:15):
eighty six. I'd spent a little bit of time with
the White Sox in eighty eight, but I recall coming
in the game. I don't remember the exact situation. I
know they were met on bas I know there were
no outs. What I do recall is Sam Horn grounding
into a double play to end that inning, and I
remember in the bottom of the tenth, I believe Randy Bush,
(16:40):
I think it was a swinging bunt, and you know,
we had the old turf in the Metrodome at the time,
and it just kind of trickled through the infield and
someone scored from second base and we won the game.
And you know, when you brought it up, I was
surprised that I do remember it, But I think I
remember it because again it was my first win in
(17:02):
quite some time.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
And again I was win number four out of fifteen.
Was that the stretch that really cemented this team, the
ninety one Twins, thinking that they could have a special season. Yeah,
as I recall it was. You know, we started out
the season, we were two and nine. Things were not
going well, and we started to play better when that
streak happened. As you said, we won fifteen games in
(17:25):
a row, and I think after the streak we then
came back in one another six or seven in a row.
But during that period, during that stretch Oakland.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It was back at the time when there was an
ale east and an ale west, and we were in
the west, and we caught Oakland and passed Oakland, and
actually we were in a dogfight with Oakland for the
remainder of the season until you know, we got into
September and we're able to clinch the division.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Carl, great stuff, Thank you for remembering. That's pretty good.
It's a long time ago down but enjoy the day
to day.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Thanks all right. Thanks.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Always fun to catch up with. Carl Willis, the Guardian's
pitching coach, who has some great memories of his playing career,
with the highlight being that nineteen ninety one season with
the Minnesota Twins. Well, we're gonna stay on the pitching front.
When we come back after the break, we'll talk with
starting pitcher Slade Secone and reliever Hunter Gaddis and comes
your way next on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
(18:39):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhause along with you
from Camerica Park in Detroit. Where the Guardians are taking
on the Tigers this weekend. Slade Secone picked up his
first win as a Cleveland Guardian on Friday night, as
he was strong through six innings for the Guardians, allowing
just one run on five hits. He made his debut
(18:59):
for Leveland after a stint on the injured list last
weekend in Cincinnati, and we caught up with him after
that start against the Reds. He took the loss that day,
but was solid through five and he says he was
very pleased with how things went in his first start
of this season.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
Yeah, I was happy with the process that we went
through to get to the end result. Obviously want to
go out there and get a win every time take
the hill, but that isn't always controlla So we try
to control the controllabulls and you know, just excute pitches
one of the time, and I felt like I did
a good job of that. There's some room for improvement,
(19:36):
but I was happy with yesterday.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
You're still very young in your major league career. What
is a trade leg that's done for you? Just having
a different perspective and having different people looking at what
you do and what can make you really good.
Speaker 8 (19:47):
Yeah, this organization is amazing. On the pitching side of things,
We've done a lot of very good work. We haven't
left many stones, many stones unturned in terms of of
looking at ways to get better and ways to develop.
And that gives me a lot of confidence every time
I take the ball that you know, myself and the
(20:09):
team around me has done all the work that it
can to put our best foot forward when I step
on that field.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And it seems like you have a wide pitch mix,
a lot of variety there. Has that always been the
case or is that something that you've developed in recent years?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
It's continued to develop. The changeup came on last years
as a big addition which I've been searching for for
a while, and then this year we've added in a
cutter and a sinker to take some of that super
high four seam fastball percentage down. We felt like that
was part of the reason why I would have those
(20:46):
some of those dips in villa later in the game
and some of those you know, really hard hit balls
off the four seam was just sheer number of throwing
it so much. When you throw it sixty percent of
the time, eventually you're gonna throw a couple little bit slow,
were in a couple a little more middle, and being
able to diversify the portfolio a little bit has has
(21:06):
definitely given me more confidence to really rip that four
seam and execute it when I do throw.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Slates to Tony joining us. You're from the UT the
University of Miami, and for a long time they've had
a good baseball program there during your time there, What
did that mean to you to be able to play
there as a Florida kid.
Speaker 8 (21:22):
Oh, I committed there super early. It was actually my
first and only offer. I was young when I committed,
Don't get me wrong, but I always knew that that
was my number one school, and I was so excited
to be a Cane in my unfortunately short but sweet
time that was there. You know, we got we got
(21:43):
canceled that COVID here and I went out as a sophomore.
But I love watching the way they've they've turned around
their season this year, and I'm really looking forward to
watching them continue to play good baseball.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And now being a part of this here at the
major league level with Cleveland obviously a team where the
rotation has been going. Well, are you do you feel
that even as you're rehaving and getting closer to being available,
that you could be a part of something that's really
good here.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Absolutely, I see. You know, guys day in and day
out go out there and take the ball and you know,
do their job XQ pitches get ahead of hitters, do
the little things the right way, and that gives me
a lot of confidence that, you know, the focus here
is on the right things.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Translate.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Thanks so much for coming back. Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Thank you boy.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
What a big boost late. So Coney could be if
he can maintain the consistency that he has shown so far.
His spot in the rotation vacated by Ben Lively, who
first went on the injured list, and just on Friday
was announced that Ben Lively will be undergoing Tommy John
surgery in the weeks ahead, and that means that twelve
(22:46):
to sixteen month rehab process. Tough break for one of
the good guys in the game. Ben Lively a thirteen
game winner a year ago and he was off to
a good start again this season, but he'll face that
long rehab. Pros says now to try and come back
from Tommy John surgery well in the bullpen the bullpen
has had some ups and downs, more so than a
(23:07):
year ago when they had a dream season. But one
pitcher who has been absolutely terrific and maybe better than
he was a year ago is Hunter Gaddis, who came
into play on Friday night with an earned run average
of zero point ninety five. He had allowed just two
runs in nineteen innings, and sure enough, on Friday Night
he put together two more scoreless innings. We caught up
(23:30):
with him as the series was beginning in Detroit on
Thursday and talked to him about that good start and
what's led to consistency for him over such a long
period of time.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I think it's just taking it out in biolting, not
really looking too much in the past of what has happened,
more of just trying to stay focused on the future
and outing bioling, you know, trying to get better and better.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Pitch quality wise, anything coming along maybe better than you
had anticipated, or a pitch that that was working as
good last year that's doing better.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
No, Actually it's kind of been the same. I guess
it's always. I feel like as a pitch you're always
striving to make each pitch better. So it's like I
don't know if you can ever be completely happy. Like
one game, I may throw my fast forward really well
and I'm happy, and then the next it may not
be exactly what I want. So I feel like it's
always trying to make them better.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
And I feel like we've seen maybe a few more
change ups this year, or maybe the ones you're throwing
are better. How's that pitch coming along for you? And
are you working it in a little bit more if
the situation calls for it.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I think so far it's been about the same usage.
I know, towards the end of us here I was
using a lot more. So maybe it bounced the number
up a little bit, but uh no, it's really you know,
one of my favorite pitches that throw. It's just different.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It's weird.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
I like being weird on the mound, so you know,
I always trying to work it in when it's a
good time to.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Why is it weird?
Speaker 6 (24:56):
It's just really slow, It's just really so. I mean,
it's like fifteen to twenty off my fastball. It's just
fun to me, you know, make it go that slow.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
And yesterday in Minnesota one of the worst weather days
of the year, and look, you have them, you got
to get through them. How bad was it and what
were the challenges for you?
Speaker 6 (25:15):
You know, it's just you know, you're kind of sitting
around all day. You know, we had the day before
or you know, the first game where two rangel As
were were kind of sitting around. Then it gets canceled,
and then you know, you have the whole off day
where they canceled both of those games. So then you're
sitting around again, and then you know, you have a
game and a half doubleheader and you're just sitting around
(25:35):
a lot and to what's you're time to throw? So
it's just a lot of sitting around, staying ready, and
you know, it's just a lot of time of preparing
and not you know, getting ready to go in. But
it was difficult, but it was you know, it is
what it is.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
And by the time you got out there that I mean,
it had rained a lot during the day. How was
the mound and the conditions that you were pitching at.
Speaker 6 (25:54):
You know, the mountain wasn't perfect by any means, but
I think they did a good job, you know, kind
of keeping on their and the best they could, and
you know, it worked out just fine.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Hunter Gatis joining US Guardian's Reliever series opens the night
here in Detroit. First time you're facing the Tigers since
the postseason a year ago. You, like everyone else, just
had a tremendous series against the Tigers. You got to
win in that exciting Game four right here. What are
some of the memories that stand out to you of
that series against Detroit that that maybe jump out right away?
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I mean, I don't think I really have anything exactly.
I just that was an unreal series. You know, they
were all close games, really good games. Everybody seemed like
they were performing pretty well on both sides, and it
felt really good to come out on the top on
that series. And you know, I'm expecting another good one
for these four games for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
And then the game four that you got the winning
was the David Frye home run game late, and you're
on the mound and getting key outs late. As good
an experience as you can have in the big leagues
when when you're in that type of situation.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I don't know, you know
what else. You know, playing in October is a big thing.
Last year was my first year and being able to
live it and do it, it was you know, I
see why it's such a big deal now. But yeah,
that Game four was a really big game. I believe
I came in any beefore, then David hits a homer,
and then I went back out. It was pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
You reference this series, and I know they're all supposed
to be the same, You're supposed to focus on each game,
but is there a little more sizzled to this one,
just based on how the past has gone and the
season that they're having so far.
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's an indivision Indivision game.
Both teams want to win for sure, and you've got
to prepare and go out there and do the best
you can and see who comes out on top.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
A Hunter, thanks for coming. I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (27:46):
Thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
That's Hunter Gatis, Guardian's relief pitcher who has been just
terrific out of the pen, and especially so on Friday
night in Detroit with two scoreless innings to set up
a manual class A for another. Say, stay with us
when we come back. We'll hear about some of the
fine young talent in the minor league system at single
A Lake County. That's next on the Cleveland Clinic, Guardians Radio.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
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Speaker 5 (28:41):
Situations Jimmers announced back with you from Camerica Park in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
It's Guardians Weekly and it's great to have along with
us this weekend. Each week we try and check in
with Stephen Osterer, who is the vice president of player
development for the Guardians, for a minor league report and
this week's His travels took him to Lake County, not
too far outside the Cleveland city limits to see the
high A Lake County Captains. And we'll start on the
(29:43):
position player side of things with last year's second round
draft pick, catcher Jacob Cozart, a coach's son. His dad
used to be the head coach down at High Point University,
and Austin talked about how that has shown as we
get to know him better in his first professional season.
Speaker 10 (30:01):
He's a leader for us, you know, on the field
and and off the field as well. You know, he's
the kind of guy that everyone wants to throw to
and and you know, a big part of that is
obviously the skill set of being a catcher, and he's
a strong defender, he's got an Elaite glove, he's, you know,
a really good receiver.
Speaker 7 (30:20):
Yeah, he throws guys out.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
But I think the part that you know, the pitching
staff appreciate just as much on top of that is
how prepared he is and how confident he is and
how he can actually lead his staff. And you know
that comes out in the conversations that he has in
between innings and and before the game and reflecting post
game with our pitching staff and and our pitching coach
(30:43):
as well. So, yeah, a lot of those traits that
you would expect to come through from like a coaching
lens and understanding that he's he's showing that as a player,
and Jacobs had a you know, really good behind the
dish uh and and is picking up his bat a
little bit here too, which is great to see.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
And moving to the outfield, an intriguing name is Alfonso
Risorio and Rosario came from the Cubs and the Eli
Morgan trade over the wintertime, and it looks like he's
putting up some really solid numbers across the board offensively.
Speaker 10 (31:14):
Yes, he is, yeah, physical, physical outfielder. You know, he's
got the ability to express speed and power at the
plate in on the basis, the profile was was very
much lots of pop, lots.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Of whiff maybe when we got him, but he's done
a really.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Good job, you know, cutting that whiff down, made some
swing adjustments and transition into more walks, you know, higher ops,
more slug and he's played a really good outfield too,
so some defensive upside and we think he can develop
even a better neck to grab more bags on the basis,
you know than what he's shown in the past. He's
shown a really strong interest in doing that as well.
(31:52):
So pretty exciting player to watch and does a lot
of fun things you know, out in the field.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
When you do start to work with a player who
has acquired from another organization via a trade, I'm sure
that's a shock to them at a certain level. How
do you help them transition and get comfortable in Cleveland system.
Speaker 7 (32:09):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 10 (32:11):
You know, getting traded, I think is is a challenging
thing to go through for the first time, especially as
a minor leaguer.
Speaker 7 (32:17):
You know, it's a big.
Speaker 10 (32:18):
Part of our focus when when we get guys is
just to show that we're there to partner with them
and to.
Speaker 7 (32:24):
You know, be a support system for them. So it's
a lot of learning.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
About you know, things that they value, who they see
themselves as a player, things that they're working on, their
goals that you know, their vision for the long term,
and you know, really understanding what makes them tick and
you know, then coming to the table over time as
we build a relationship and put an emphasis on that
to you know, kind of partner with them along the way,
so you know, making them feel comfortable, making them feel heard,
(32:48):
really understanding them is a huge part. Uh and Rosario
was you know a really good really good player, But
getting him to feel comfortable and understand the things that
he's working on is a big part of this too.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
When you look at Ralphie Velasquez, he's someone we've talked
about a lot. We saw him in some major league
games in spring training. How is his season gone as
he deals with some of the ups and downs of
the minor leagues and trying to make some progress at
the high A level.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
Now, Yeah, good question.
Speaker 10 (33:16):
I mean, he has gone through a little bit of
the up and down that I think you'd.
Speaker 7 (33:21):
Expect for a teenager in hig A.
Speaker 10 (33:23):
He's still one of the youngest players at that level
in all of baseball, and making some of the off
field adjustments, the the you know, the on field adjustments,
and it takes a bit of time for those things
to work through. So you know, he's working through some
some swing changes, he's working, you know, to kind of
make adjustments to his approach, and he still shows some
(33:46):
really strong underlying traits.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
He's still putting up a lead.
Speaker 10 (33:49):
Exit velocities on average, just having maybe a little bit
lower you know, batting average and ball and player babbit,
which you know can sometimes lead to poor outcomes. But yeah,
the underlying things are there, and he's working hard at
you know, maybe showing some of the outcomes that we'd
want to see or he would want to see. But
for a young kid, we we don't put a ton
(34:10):
of stock or pressure into that.
Speaker 7 (34:11):
So Ralphie's a great kid.
Speaker 10 (34:13):
You know, he's working hard, he's a better hitter, and
he's going to be fun to continue to track the
progress on.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
It's our weekly minor league report with Vice president of
Player Development Stephen Ostro, and we're talking Lake County at
the Single A high Single A level and onto the
mound the top of the minor leagues for a little while.
Last year was the tug boat. Matt Wilkinson got off
to a great start on the mound at Lynchburg and
carried that through to Lake County. At least numbers wise,
(34:40):
a slower start this year, but what still has you
excited about the tug boat and and what he could
do this season.
Speaker 10 (34:47):
Yeah, tug boat phenomenal year last year, and he has
battled it a little bit at times to start this year.
As we talked about with Ralph and some of these
younger guys, the surface numbers aren't always.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
Telling the whole story.
Speaker 10 (35:00):
So you know, as an example here, he's faced the
same lineup four times already, you know, working on you know,
some delivery stuff to support more velo along the way,
which is going to pull back a little bit of
execution and guys are going to be more prepared for him.
So yeah, that that is going to result in in
maybe a bit of a pullback in numbers and performance outcomes,
(35:20):
but we're not concerned at all. You know, we've seen
some really nice change up development which was a huge
focus for him, and continuing to work on, you know,
moving that needle towards long term velocity gain. So he's
still really young to twenty two years old, despite being
a twenty three draft pick out a Juco, and there's
lots of low hanging fruit left and time to go
(35:41):
and get those things. So you know, despite a maybe
a bit of a slower start for Tug to start
the year, you know, doesn't change how we view him
or how we view the year on the whole.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Also on the mound at Lynchburg, the Guardians made a
nice trade with the kind of like three team deal
with the Toronto on the Pirates, but they got pitching
from the Pirates including Luis Ortiz, who's done some nice
work at the major league level, but on the minor
league side, they also got two good prospects, one of
whom Josh Hartle, is off to a nice start at
Lake County. And what can you tell us about his
(36:14):
progress so far?
Speaker 10 (36:16):
Yeah, So, the highly regarded left handed charter to college
at Wake and was known for his strikes and unique
angles from the left side, and we've seen both of
those things so far. He's pitched really well and two
keys for him this year have really been separating out
the movement of his pitches and continuing to add velocity
long term, and he started to move the needle on
(36:37):
those things on top of you knowing, throwing a ton
of strikes and executing his pitches to where he wants to.
So this is this is a big kid who's going
to continue to add fat free mass, muscle strength, power,
and we think he's just going to continue to get
better as the year goes along and we get to
know him a little bit better and he gets to
know us and our.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
Resources a little bit better too.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
So really excited for what Josh has shown thus far.
The strategy's made this far, and you know again, excited
for where.
Speaker 7 (37:05):
This is going to go.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Well, always fun stuff to hear about the young prospects
and what they're up to. In this case, this week
it was Lake County, Austy. Thanks so much for coming bye.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
Nanks Rosie appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
That is Stephen Ostro, the Guardian's vice president of Player Developments.
Some good stuff going on down at single A, Lake County,
and that's going to put a lid on this week's
edition of Guardians Weekly. Thanks so much to Brian Motse
as always for his help of putting together our show
each week. We will join you next week. Finally, from
(37:38):
back home. After this long ten game three city road
trip wraps up, Guardians will take on the Dodgers starting
Monday night at six' ten three against The, dodgers there
by yearly visit to a progressive field and last Year's
World series champions making their appearance In Cleveland monday And
tuesday nights at six, ten when day afternoon at one,
(38:01):
ten and we'll join you Next saturday during The angels
series next. Weekend so until, then this Is jim Rosen
house reminding you that you've been listening To Guardians weekly
on The Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio. Network Guardians weekly has
(38:22):
been brought to you By Progressive Helping guardians fans save
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