July 5, 2025 • 39 mins
Tough week in Chicago for the Guards, we'll talk about it with two of the vets in Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana. Plus, one of last season's playoff heroes Matthew Boyd reminisces about his time in Cleveland. Also, Jala Norman checks in with top pitching prospect Parker Messick. 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 save hundreds on car insurance.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with
you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland this weekend as
the Guardians on this holiday weekend are taking on the
Detroit Tigers. Another game coming up Saturday night at seven fifteen,
and then the series and short homestand finale is Sunday
at one forty. Good show lined up for you Today.
(01:25):
At the tail end, we'll have another edition of at
the Ballpark with Senior Vice President Bob d. Biascio. We'll
also have a look at one of the top pitchers
in the minor league system for the Guardians, Parker Messik.
He had a chance to visit with Jaylen Norman down
at Columbus. We'll hear from relief pitcher Eric Sabrowski, former
Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd now with the Cubs. And in
(01:48):
just a little bit we'll hear from two of the
best hitters for the Guardians this season, Jose Ramirez, an
All Star, and Carlos Santana, who continues to reach some milestones,
but looking back at the week gone by, the Guardians
will head into play on Saturday on an eight game
losing streak, some tough games at Wrigley Field in Chicago
against the Cubs, close ball games, a one run loss
(02:10):
on Wednesday night, and then Thursday night, a one nothing
defeat in ten innings. That is the way it's going
right now for the Guardians, as they just can't come
away with a win lately, and that continued on Friday
night when they returned home and dropped another one run game,
this time to the Tigers by a final score of
(02:31):
two to one. But not for a lack of trying
from Carlos Santana. Tuesday night in Chicago against the Cubs,
he hit his four hundredth career double, and he also
has more than three hundred career home runs thirteen hundred walks,
only the third switch hitter in Major League history to
compile those numbers, the other two couple of Hall of
(02:51):
famers in Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones. We had a
chance to visit with Carlos and talk about the accomplishments
that he continues to put up and he is certainly proud.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Of I think I got blessed. You know, has a
great career. So I say thank you guys for every day.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
For that talent.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
But you know, I'm a little bit surprised. And I
had the big two name like Moor right and cheaper Jong,
and I'm making that, So I think I'm happy for that. Honestly,
I don't know that. I don't okay, the four hundred
double he's coming, but I don't know that. And I
have behind too, you know, the two Hall of Fame player.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
And we were talking about switch hitting a little bit
earlier and your natural right handed hitter, sixteen years of
age you started hitting left handed. How difficult was that
transition to start doing that and become a good hitter
from that side of the plate too.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
He's hard, you know, he's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Especially yet he's hard because you know, you're never one
hundred percent to the ball. Said, sometimes you feel good writing,
sometimes you know, feel good lefty. Sometimes you go efty
and off.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
You go write it.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
So it's hard, you know, doing the swish it. He's
like one player for two different hitting so it's hard.
You know, it's hard. You have to working hard. A lot, So,
I mean it's hard.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
The fans may be able to hear it right outside
the indoor cage here, you're going back to working a
little bit here. And do you work on both every
day or do you kind of give one a break
depending on who the picture is.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No, I have to work every day, you know, especially
like lefty star but lay in the gang. I had
to writy, you know, so I had to soon righty,
especially like today, I prepare more right side, more to
the left side because the starting but I had to
work out both sides because something situation lay in the game.
(04:52):
I had to be ready for that.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
As a veteran player, the team's going through a top
stretcher offensively trying to score more. What can you do
as a veteran boys to try and help maybe some
of your teammates along as you try and take care
of your own game too.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, I mean, you know right now we have a
little bit difficulty fore hit.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But you know this is that happened.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
That happened.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
We had the great, great talent, great teammate, so you
know the mentally he's keeping focused and not big head down.
It's a long season, but I think you know, can
we fight him?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
We go.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I talked to with another player a couple of years ago,
and you know, and everything is good.
Speaker 7 (05:34):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I try to tell it like befocus positive energy. I mean,
keep it fighting, keep it fighting. I tell him, like,
look in Detroit last year, I mean in August, they lost,
They think about to the next year and they make
him playoffs. You know, he's is that happened to the
(05:54):
baseball you know what? I know one they think he's fluctuated.
Will little bit mean because we try and right now
every then negative. You know, we were coming. We have
Gray Gray, great teamming, great talent, and see what happened
and the second will happen.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Carlo is always great to have you on. Thank you,
You're welcome.
Speaker 8 (06:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That's Carlos Santana at the age of thirty nine, still
putting together quality at bats and producing. It's been a
good start to the month of July for Santana. Jose
Ramirez will be heading to the All Star Game this week,
not this week, but this month. Later on this month.
He found out this week that he would be the
American League's starting third baseman, the fourth time that he'll
(06:40):
be a starter at the All Star Game, the seventh
time that he is going to the All Star Game.
That puts him just one shy of Bob Feller's franchise record.
Along with translator Augi Riverojsey says, it's always special to
get the news that he's made the All Star team.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Hey, you one, your mom.
Speaker 9 (07:02):
Thankful to God for this opportunity and also for being
a healthy way and especially the fans because they voted
me into the game. So very special to be recognized
this year again.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I know you mentioned yesterday that you're not pleased with
it with how the season is going based on your standards,
And what do you mean by that? What areas are
you you're still trying to get to.
Speaker 9 (07:22):
I mean, it's just saying because I feel I need
to keep improving in all the areas of my game
because I feel that it needs me even more so
obviously they need to keep improving and keep improving every
facet of my game.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
The amount of times that you have gone. For some players,
it gets old and it's not as special, but it
seems like for you every year it is special.
Speaker 9 (07:39):
How comes always the goal every time you start the season.
You know, when you start this season, that's like the
physical that you can achieve and getting to selected to
lost our game because it's important day to celebrate and
share with your fans, with your family, especially with very
talented players as well.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And historical perspective. One shy about eight appearances. Sandy Alomar
and also Kenny Lofton started three times. Now you've started
the most. What does that mean to be mentioned in
the same breath as those guys who are such a
big part of this franchise.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Oh, I didn't know that fact.
Speaker 9 (08:16):
It's good to know about that I'm among those players,
but you know it's important. It's important for me every
time you have those goals to achieve and try to
make the All Star Game in particularly in my own
goal is to to go to ten All Star Games.
Let's see what the health allows and my performance, but
that's the goal that I have.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Posey, congratulations, thank you, thank you, Ogi, thanks thank you guys.
What a career for Jose Ramirez and he doesn't show
any signs of slowing down.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Stay with us.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We'll take a time out and when we come back,
we'll hear from relief pitcher Eric Sabowski. That's next the
Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
The pit swung out a slow chapter.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
The third charge by Ramire's clubs Scoops throws in the
dirt pick by Santana. Heck of a play on both ends.
Now it's runners on the corners. Is Kuan advanced to third?
Ramirez is on it first for Carlos Santana. He swings
loops one.
Speaker 10 (09:07):
To shallow left that gets down for a base head
Juan will score on his way to third is Ramirez.
He's in safely and Carlos Santana comes through.
Speaker 7 (09:18):
The kick and delivery and it's head high hit deep
to right. Heerez track wall leaves gone. That's how you
break it over for twenty one skin Jose Ramiro's a
towering home run to right is fourteenth, and he continues
(09:43):
to absolutely torture the Tigers year in, year out.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
A progressive home an ottowuandle can protect you around the clock,
but we can't protect you from those painful moments in sports.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
Why would we trade our best player?
Speaker 8 (10:03):
Well, at least you got to watch him in person
when he was here. I named my only son after him,
so you'll always remember his name.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Yeah, but what do I do with this Jersey.
Speaker 8 (10:13):
Luckily the company has a great return policy.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
I warrant for six seasons.
Speaker 8 (10:18):
At least your homenauda or protected with a bundle from
Progressive Progressive casualt Interns Company. Off you had another Interurvi's
not available in THO stags a situations.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim rosen House back with
you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Guardians and Tigers
meeting in this three game weekend series. Back with the
ball club after starting the season on the injured list
is left hander Eric Sabrowski, who was a key out
of the bullpen for the Guardians down the stretch a
year ago and then on into the postseason. And he's
(10:56):
looked really sharp in a couple of outings now since returning.
And he talked recently about dealing with the apprehension that
comes with returning from an arm injury, and he's had
a few in his career.
Speaker 11 (11:08):
There's always a little bit of apprehension every time you throw,
just the nature of being a reliever. But I think
you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you're thinking about that.
You know, on the mound warming up the day of
I think it's once you get to the ballpark, you
leave all those thoughts out of the lay and you
just know that you're there to do your job that
night and trying to do it to the best of
your abilities.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And you go from a rehab assignment where I'm sure
it's about building up and feeling good, but stuff, it
seemed like it was tremendous and a clean inning and
then a really good curveball. It was that surprising at
all to you that you had that kind of command
and feel.
Speaker 11 (11:42):
Probably the command, Yeah, it certainly wasn't there to that
extent during my rehab outings. I think my curveball has
always been a pretty good pitch just happened to be
my best pitch that night.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Eric Sabrowski's joining us back in that Guardian's bullpen, and
Eric had a really good stretch at the end of
alast year, your first time in the major leagues, And
what did you take away from that that that might
be helpful as you get deeper into it here this season, Just.
Speaker 11 (12:07):
That I have the stuff to belong in this league. Yeah,
it was a phenomenal stretch. It went better than I
could have ever imagined. But just building off of that
success and showing myself that, you know, I have what
it takes to pitch in the big leagues on a
consistent basis. So now I just need to, you know,
keep my body in shape, keep my mind right, and
(12:28):
go out there and perform.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
And you did have the health set back, and you've
had some injuries to work back. From your story, it
is certainly inspiring for I'm sure a lot of pictures
out there mentally, though, what was that like for you
this spring when when you had to just take some
time off to get healthy again.
Speaker 11 (12:45):
Well, it sucked, you know, especially coming off last year.
I thought I had a good shot to make this
fall club out of spring and that just didn't happen
to be in the cards for me. It's missing time
is never fun. But it gave me a chance to
work on other things that may may not have been lacking.
And I think I'm in a good spot to help
this ball club out for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And you rejoin a really good bullpen numbers. Why some
ups and downs this year, But what do you see
coming back to it based on what you knew from
a year ago.
Speaker 11 (13:15):
I think there's still consistently one of the best bullpens
in this league. Yeah, we probably no one's had the
stretch they wanted to have, but the talents there and
the personnel is there to get back to and if
not exceed what we had last year.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
First time pitching it Wrigley, hopefully in this series. What
do you think it'll be fun?
Speaker 11 (13:36):
I mean the history here, right, I think second oldest
Ballpark's gotten to experience it as a fan a few times,
but being on the other side is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Eric, great to see again, Thanks, Thank you, Hat's relief
pitcher Eric Sabrowski. Good to see him back healthy and
throwing the ball well. By another pitcher who's thrown it well,
left handed starter Matthew Boyd, who's now with the Chicago
Cubs after really filling a vital role for the Guardians
down the stretch a year ago. He was a key
member of the starting rotation and then pitched extremely well
(14:07):
in the postseason Tuesday Night against the Guardians. He went
seven innings and was solid in a five to two
win for the Cubs, And we caught up with him
the next day and he says, while it was a
short stint in Cleveland a year ago, he was only
with the franchise, well technically in including his rehab, about
a year's time, but on the field only about three months,
(14:28):
and he said at the time it was a perfect
fit for him.
Speaker 12 (14:32):
Man, I'm so so grateful.
Speaker 13 (14:34):
For my time in Cleveland.
Speaker 12 (14:36):
I mean it, you know, I think I got there
at the end of June, and you know, but that
it was that three plus, you know, four months felt
much longer.
Speaker 14 (14:47):
You know.
Speaker 12 (14:49):
I'm so grateful for the Guardians to give me that shot,
from Chris the voter to.
Speaker 13 (14:56):
You know, Carl, like I have so much gratitude to
everybody there.
Speaker 12 (15:04):
That was some of the most most fun I've ever
had playing baseball. And my only regrets that we you know,
we didn't win more, you know, so, uh it's a.
Speaker 13 (15:14):
I just thought that squad.
Speaker 12 (15:15):
Was amazing, and it's so fun to get to see
the guys in town.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Right now, I was gonna say, baseball being what it
is if you're with a new team now, but earlier
today you had a chance to visit with some old
friends and what was that like catching up with them?
Speaker 12 (15:28):
It was a lot of fun. It was a lot
of fun. I mean, we always we stay in contact
with the finally they'll you know, see guys, and uh,
it's awesome. It's like like you said, we we that
playoff stretch and then in the playoffs was such a
great time and so time that really brings you together
as a team.
Speaker 13 (15:45):
That it was just it was really special to.
Speaker 12 (15:48):
Actually, you know, to just to share that with them
and some of the most fun I've ever had on
a baseball field. So to get to to get to
see him today has been cool. And it's just like
I said, I'm always gonna have a special start in
a special place in my heart for Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You've had a long career, but that was really that
first extended playoff run where you've had several starts and
now what do you learn about yourself in postseason when
you had great success.
Speaker 12 (16:15):
It's one of those things you always learned about doing.
So I remember that first one against Detroit. It was
finally like I've been waiting for this and it's here,
and I got chills as I'm saying it. It's like, Okay,
come to do what I've always knew I could do,
and it's it was so much fun, you know, And
getting to do it again in Game five against de
Troy and then getting to do it in the LCS
(16:35):
against the Yankees. It was like, this is this is
special And again what made a special is the group
that you do it with. And it was, like I said,
amazing group and all around really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
And I feel like you're gonna fit in wherever you go.
And it seems like you've done that very well.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Here. This looks like a.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Good ball club that could get back, get you back
to postseason. What are you seeing here in Chicago that
looks really good?
Speaker 12 (17:00):
We got such a great group from you know, the
front office and and Craig and our pitching staff, you know,
and and Tommy leading our pitching staff, and then in
the position players. It's it's a it's a great group
of guys. And we got guys that just they show
up right to win. We love being around each other.
We have a lot of fun together, you know. We
got we got guys like Justin Turner who've won World
(17:24):
Series and dance by Swanson, you know, and uh, and
we've got guys like Matshaw and Pete Crow who are
still cutting their teeth in the big leagues.
Speaker 13 (17:31):
And and and uh.
Speaker 12 (17:32):
And it's just a great balance of guys, and we
just we have fun being together. We have fun winning
together and competing together, and uh, you know, it's it's
it's it's a it's a special group. And I'm grateful that,
you know, back to back years and I've been had
the opportunity to be parts of really special teams.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
It is great to see again. It looked like vintage
Matt Boyd last night, for sure. And thanks a lot
for coming by.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Appreciate it and thank you for having me on.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Brobye. One of the good guys in the game, Matthew Boyd,
and great to see him having some success with the
Chicago Cubs. There'll be a big key for a team
that has big time playoff aspirations. Stay with us when
we come back. We'll take it to the minor league side.
With our correspondent Jayalen Norman. That's next the Cleveland Clinic
Guardians Radio Network. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse
(18:42):
back with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Hope
you're having a great Fourth of July weekend as the
Guardians are taking on the Tigers here at Progressive Field
this weekend. Another game Saturday night at seven fifteen, and
then Sunday afternoon at one to close out the series.
While down at Columbus, Parker Messik has certainly put together
(19:04):
some solid numbers on the mound in that starting rotation.
He's one of the organization's top pitching prospects. Jayalen Norman
is our correspondent in the minor leagues and she was
in Columbus and she had a chance to sit down
with Parker Messick before a recent game.
Speaker 15 (19:21):
Parker, you've started the season off here in Columbus, So
first off, how do you just kind of describe what
it's like being here in Columbus, kicking off the season
here and being a part of this team.
Speaker 16 (19:30):
Yeah, it's been really cool. I didn't really know where
I was going to start leaving spring training. I was
a minor league camp and he didn't know if I
was going to be a double or triplay guy. That
was kind of out in the air based on how
I performed.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
So he got lucky enough.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
To start here in Columbus. And team's great, coaches.
Speaker 16 (19:46):
Great, all the guys are great. I mean, there's a
lot of fun and the city's really cool. So it's
just been just been a blasbeing here.
Speaker 15 (19:52):
What's your favorite Columbus thing so far? Because I've heard
the restaurants are good, they're good shops.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
What do you so far like the most.
Speaker 15 (19:59):
About won this?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Honestly the fans, like with every game that.
Speaker 16 (20:03):
We have, even like kind of rainy games like Tuesday
time and it'll be packed to night. So it's it's
cool that every time you come to a game there's
fans in the stand. It makes it worth it makes
it fun playing at home.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
I think.
Speaker 16 (20:15):
So for other than all the you know, cool restaurants,
school city, that's probably.
Speaker 15 (20:19):
My favorite part in each level, I know brings a
different set of challenges. Obviously there's something new that you're
learning about yourself, something new that.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
You're seeing at each level.
Speaker 15 (20:28):
How do you describe the way Triple A ball is
different from the.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Other levels you played. Yeah, a lot of the guys
in Triple A are are you know, one call away
from the big league.
Speaker 16 (20:37):
So these are the guys that have big league time
or a guy like you know, Vincer has spent a
lot of time in the big leagues.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Like they're they're just all different.
Speaker 16 (20:45):
Kinds of guys that are messed together and you know,
I'm twenty four playing with some of the older guys,
So it's just really cool to see like young guys
playing against older guys and the different experience levels, and
you know, I get to learn from a guy like
Vince and then there's still some things that I have
to challenge myself with with those kind of guys on the.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
Field, like those sort of veteran hitters. So it's cool
to see.
Speaker 16 (21:07):
Like how I match up versus order veteran hitters that
you know, I've had time in the Big League, so.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
It's it's been a challenge, but it's been a lot
of fun.
Speaker 15 (21:16):
Yeah, watching you play, I can see that you're a
very energetic player.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Yeah, where does that come from? I kind of always
pitch like that. I was like a multi sport.
Speaker 16 (21:25):
Athlete, you know, in high school growing up as a kid,
I never I wasn't one of those guys that played
baseball year round, every every season. With baseball, I played.
I played every sport. I played football, basketball, soccer. So
I just learned to compete at a young age.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Even with my.
Speaker 16 (21:39):
Dad fishing, we like keep score on how many fish
we catch, So I just always compete.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
So when I'm on the mound. It's just like another
thing that I'm competing against.
Speaker 16 (21:47):
I just want to I want to yell when I
start someone out, and you know, I'm a little mad
when I give up a run.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
But it's part of the game and it's what makes
it fun.
Speaker 15 (21:55):
How have you learned to kind of manage that so
that you're still being energetic, still showing that emotion, but
also staying focused and kind of keeping your pool while you're.
Speaker 14 (22:04):
On the mound.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah, it's definitely.
Speaker 16 (22:05):
I've always called it a controlled anger since college. I
think all the broadcasters found that funny when I phrase
it that way in some of the eight CC Network podcasts.
But it's just, you know, you can you can ever
be too happy or too mad. You can't ride the
lows or ride the highs. Like when I give up
a home run, you know I can't throw it. You
can't throw a temper tantrument on the mound. The same
way when you strike one guy out, you can't you know,
(22:27):
come in slam your glove all fired up.
Speaker 14 (22:29):
Like.
Speaker 16 (22:29):
You just have to control different levels of the game.
If you're in a big spot and you get yourself
out of a jam, that's when you can show a
little positive emotion, and you know, you try and really
keep the negative emotion off the field. And that comes
with just experience and trial and error, and you know
there's there's people here that you're trying to make an
impression on and you don't want that impression to be
(22:50):
negative at any point in time. So you really got
to control your your emotions, your anger, even when it's positive,
like you have to harness that so that way.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
You're still ready to go for the next sending, even
though you got yourself out of a big gym.
Speaker 16 (23:02):
So yeah, I want to pitch with emotion as much
as I can, but I wanted to be in the
right spots.
Speaker 15 (23:06):
Earlier, you mentioned fishing with your dad, and it's interesting
that you bring that up because I was actually an
accron last week and someone was talking about how they
met your dad and he was so excited to introduce
himself as Parker Messe's dad. So can you talk about
the support that you've gotten from your family, in particular
your dad and what that's meant to you.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Yeah, it beats the world theirs. They come quite often
to a.
Speaker 16 (23:26):
Lot of names, and you know, I have a support
system that goes from a small town. It goes all
the way into the route to that small town. Everyone
that I played little league baseball with so keeps up
with me. My dad enjoys it because, you know, he
gets to communicate, Like he'll have people semester him on
Facebook that we haven't talked to in twenty years that
they've been following me in my entire career, and it's like,
you just don't hear from those people. But it's cool
(23:48):
to see that just from all those connections and the
family connections, that it's created those avenues for people to
you know, watch the game, watch me, and it's just
really cool for.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Me that I have a whole town and a whole
family supporting me, and.
Speaker 16 (24:01):
It just gets bigger and bigger the more that I play.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That is Parker Messica certainly a name to keep an
eye on as we get closer to the tail end
of this season, it gets deeper into the second half,
and certainly we'll be on the radar next spring to
be sure, but still on the radar now and a
name that there's watching. We'll take another time out and
then come back with another edition of at the Ballpark
with Bobby d.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
That's next.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
A Progressive Home and Auto bundle can protect you around
the clock, but we can't protect you from those painful
moments in sports.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I can't believe they're moving the team to another city.
Speaker 8 (24:38):
True, but you'll never forget all the joy they brought
into your life. Joy.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
They made the playoffs twice in fifty years.
Speaker 8 (24:43):
Gosh, those two times were pretty great.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Weren't they.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
How would I know? I wasn't even born yet.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Just think of all the free time you'll have on
game days.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
Those games were the highlight of my week.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
At least your homanaud or protected with a bundle from
Progressive Progressive Casual Tea terms company up, Billy, have another
intur It's not available in those states? Are situations?
Speaker 14 (25:00):
H Are you ready enough?
Speaker 13 (25:40):
Getting up and counted down?
Speaker 14 (25:42):
And sometimes and sometime we should make it out whoa
whoa to? What's his family?
Speaker 15 (25:53):
So we're found to be from the East to the west,
sid si with me?
Speaker 13 (25:57):
Whoa who?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Welcome back, It's Guardian's Weekly Jim Rosenhouse back with you
from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, where the Guardians are
playing the Tigers this weekend. We always like to check
in with Bobby d from time to time, Guardians Senior
Vice President Bob D Biassio. And here's another edition of
At the Ballpark with Bobby D.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
The perfectly manicured fields, the unmistakable aroma of a ballpark
hot dog, and the electricity celebrating another victory. This is
at the Ballpark with Bobby D.
Speaker 13 (27:00):
Thank you, Hammy.
Speaker 17 (27:02):
Welcome to at the Ballpark, where we hope you enjoy
our conversations with those involved in the great game of baseball.
Speaker 13 (27:09):
Those who may be behind.
Speaker 17 (27:10):
The scenes are the colorful personalities who have provided so
many exciting moments and memories. Today we are joined by
one of the winningest pitchers in franchise history, a first
round draft pick, a member of Team USA, and the
Guardians Hall of Fame, mister Charlie Naggy. Thank you Chuck
(27:31):
for being with us. Catch us up on the family
these days.
Speaker 18 (27:35):
The family's good kids are out of the house. Oldest
twenty five living in San Francisco, and our youngest is
she's a junior at Baylor University.
Speaker 13 (27:43):
Empty nesters, unbelievable.
Speaker 17 (27:46):
Have to believe consistency is what you are most proud
of in your thirteen year career. Wearing that Cleveland uniform.
You make your major league debut in nineteen ninety, you
become a seventeen game winner in ninety two to an
all start, tossing two hundred and fifty innings.
Speaker 13 (28:02):
That's a pretty cool way to start your career.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
It was.
Speaker 18 (28:06):
It was a rapid minor league career. Got drafted boom
the Olympics Kinston, North Carolina, and then the following year
Campton and getting called up to the big leagues.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
And it was just a great moment.
Speaker 17 (28:18):
And it wasn't that easy starting your career in college,
right You went to Cornell, You went there to play
football and baseball, and then there was an issue.
Speaker 13 (28:28):
Then you move on to the University of Connecticut.
Speaker 17 (28:30):
Tell us a little bit about that, so kids out
there understand that everybody has obstacles as they're trying to
reach their dream.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 18 (28:38):
I mean I was enamored with Cornell. I went there
and it just didn't work out for me, whether I
just wasn't ready for it or what not. But still
went home and still kept in contact with coach Andy
Bailock at the University of Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
He was recruiting me also, and we made it work.
Speaker 18 (28:52):
I had to do some summer schools before I went there,
and things went well, and I had two great years
there at the University Connecticut. A lot of friends, played
with great players, had a really good time. And then
and everb we got drafted that year in nineteen eighty eight.
Speaker 17 (29:06):
Other than the nineteen ninety three season in which you
suffered an injury, you only had nine starts that year.
You rebound and enjoy a streak where you post double
digit wins in eight of the next nine street seasons,
again consistency. You start the last game at Cleveland Stadium. Ever,
(29:26):
I think Jason Burray became a friend, right, and that's who.
Speaker 13 (29:30):
Was pitching for the White Sox.
Speaker 17 (29:32):
You and Jason's were the starting two for the last
baseball game ever at Cleveland Stadium. So you pitch that
game coming off an injury. But then you don't miss
a start again until sometime after eleven starts in the
year two thousand.
Speaker 13 (29:52):
That's a remarkable streak.
Speaker 18 (29:54):
You know, I mean, that's what you strive for every year.
I remember Johnny Ferroll my first spring training sat down
next to me after a spring training game and we
were just talking.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
A little bit and he was just you know.
Speaker 18 (30:03):
Hey, this is these are goals you should shoot for,
you know, make all your starts throw over two hundred
innings a year, and I mean, those are the benchmarks
that every pitcher should look for. And you know that's
after hearing that from him. You know, that's what I
strive to do, year in year out. And you know
there were probably some times I probably shouldn't have taken
the ball, but you know, oh well, you know, but
(30:25):
I just you know, you work hard and you want
to get that ball every fifth day and give your
team a chance to win.
Speaker 17 (30:30):
You were a three time All Star, including nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 13 (30:35):
What was it like pitching on that team? That team
is the only team.
Speaker 17 (30:39):
In our franchise history to score more than a thousand runs.
I believe the ninety four team, if the season wasn't
averted and had stopped in August, that club probably was
on pace to score one thousand runs. But the ninety
nine club, where Manly had one hundred and six rebies,
(31:01):
Robbie was just going crazy doing his thing. And of
course Jimmy Toldy being Jimmy.
Speaker 13 (31:07):
Of course, what was it like pitching for that ball club?
Speaker 18 (31:11):
It was like every other ball club we had There
I mean, we were just known for our offense, you know,
scoring runs. If you go out and you know, you
give up a few runs in the first standing, as
long as you hang in the game long enough, you've
got a chance to win this game.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Still.
Speaker 18 (31:23):
And you know, you say the ninety four team, and
you know, you could actually argue the ninety five team too,
because it was one hundred and forty four games and
we still had a few obviously twenty some games that
we didn't play well.
Speaker 17 (31:35):
That team was remarkable to me. You guys clinched a
division on September eighth, you end up winning the division
by thirty games.
Speaker 13 (31:44):
I mean, just people don't.
Speaker 17 (31:46):
Understand one hundred and forty four game season. We're one
hundred and forty four, we win by thirty games, which
is ridiculous. You guys came to the park and the
attitude was once we clinched on September eight, was let's
get to one hundred.
Speaker 18 (32:06):
Yeah, we had to set a goal after that and
it was just to continue on winning and getting ready
for the postseason. And yeah, we came to win every game.
And I know everybody who who came to the other teams,
who came into Jacob's Field, and those years just didn't
want to be there. They didn't want to the pitchers
didn't want to face our lineup.
Speaker 17 (32:25):
Let's focus a little bit on one thing that I
think is remarkable in your career. There were two occasions
in our franchise history where we brought back thirty to
forty of our most illustrious alumni. One was the closing
of Cleveland Stadium October third of nineteen ninety three, and
(32:49):
then on July twenty first, two thousand and one, where
we celebrated our one hundredth anniversary. You were on the
mound for both of those games, so you had to
pitch in front of that crew. So let's talk about
the May third. You're coming off an injury. But for
people that may not remember, we closed Cleveland Stadium with
(33:14):
Bob Hope after the game doing a rendition of thanks
for the memories at Cleveland Stadium and dotted around the
field the greats at third base is like the Al
Rosens and out and right field Rocky Colavito, and you
got all the great pitchers circling pitchers mound, and there's
players dotted all around the field and they're in the
(33:37):
loses watching you perform. Did that sink in that all
those eyes were on you?
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Not so much at that time.
Speaker 18 (33:45):
Initially, I was just concentrating on the game because it
was my first start coming back, and you know, just
hoping everything would go well so I could, you know,
peace of mind for the offseason and going into the
next season. But then it started to hit me a
little bit when you know, you see all the great
players that are here and Bob Hope getting ready to
sing after the game. I really don't even remember the
(34:05):
outcome of the game.
Speaker 13 (34:07):
We lost, unfortunately.
Speaker 17 (34:09):
I think Mark Lewis struck out as the final out
in Cleveland Stadium baseball history for our franchise.
Speaker 13 (34:19):
I think that's stuck in my head.
Speaker 17 (34:21):
But again, you, j and Jason Barray were the two
starters to become friends, both in Cleveland uniforms. But you
were coming off an injury, so you but that started
your streak. As we talked in segment one about your
incredible consistency. But what do you think about that old
cavernous place on the lake.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I loved it.
Speaker 18 (34:43):
You know, it's my first place being called up to,
and I love that stadium. It was a great place
to pitch had a good backdrop. You know, it was
an older team when I got there, and then it
kind of changed as people saw trade a lot of
guys away and then we went young and just everybody
was gearing up for the next night, you know, for
the ninety four season and the new stadium that was
(35:04):
being built.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
But it was sold out that day.
Speaker 18 (35:07):
We had a few sellouts throughout the season. Was opening
day July fourth, and the final week, final week in
all three games. And just also you know, to be
pictured on the tickets with mel Harder, So I get
that a lot. I get them in the mail, I
get them when I go back to Cleveland or just
random people and just want them signed and talking about
(35:28):
that day when we broke round for Jacobs Field and
it was just a that was That's a memory in
my mind that I'll never forget.
Speaker 17 (35:36):
The other one is July twenty first, two thousand and one,
our one hundredth anniversary. There's forty plus members of the
top one hundred roster dotted by some of the greatest
pitchers in the history of our franchise, of course, and
you're starting that game as well.
Speaker 13 (35:54):
Tell me all about that day.
Speaker 18 (35:56):
It was a fun day. I mean, I've got to
know a lot of those guys that were there. I mean,
they've been around before, and I'd been around for a
while and it was great to see everybody that was there.
But and you know, I still had to remember that
I was pitching. And I remember we talked about taking
that photo when I was walking in after I warmed
up from the bullpen and getting in the photo. And
(36:16):
I didn't know how long it was going to take
or anything like that. I really didn't care at the time,
but you know, we did that. We took the photo,
and you know, everybody pat me on the back, you know, hey,
go get him, go get him, And I'm like, oh god,
I better pitch.
Speaker 17 (36:29):
Well today, that's not exactly the words you used to be,
but it was something like that.
Speaker 13 (36:35):
But yeah, I could not let you not be in
that photo.
Speaker 17 (36:37):
I didn't want it to be like a kindergarten homeroom
picture with a little thumbnail in the corner that Chuck
was there, but he was pitching that day. You had
to be in that photo. So when we took it,
but guys like Bob Feller and Louis Tiant and Lenny
Barker Sonny Sebert mel Haarder, and Mud, Gary Bell, Sam McDowell.
(36:58):
They all came up to Charlie, patted him on the back,
said hey, we're really looking forward to see in your
throw today.
Speaker 13 (37:05):
Go get them.
Speaker 17 (37:06):
And you and I just had a nice little conversation
as we walked to the dugout about that.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Yeah, about hey, don't screw this up.
Speaker 13 (37:16):
But you won that game.
Speaker 17 (37:17):
You pitched great, you got into I believe it was
through the seventh inning and we ended up winning that one.
So two of the most remarkable days in our history
as we celebrated our rich history, and you're on the
mound for both of them. I just think those are
the really cool things that fall in line in the
game of baseball. Chuck, it's been a blast catching up.
(37:40):
Many thanks, and we hope you enjoyed this trip down
memory lane. We look forward to another edition of at
the Ballpark on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
God it's going to do it for this week's edition
of Guardians Weekly. As always, thanks to Brian Botsey for
putting together our show each and ever. We will join
you next week back in Chicago. We were just there.
We're going back now to play the White Sox next
weekend and that's where our show will originate from next week.
Hope you can join us. Then, this is Jim Rosenhause
(38:12):
reminding you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly, the
Cleveland Clinic Guardians of Radio on that work.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping
Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance
Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians
fans save hundreds on car insurance.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Hi, everyone, welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with
you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland this weekend as
the Guardians on this holiday weekend are taking on the
Detroit Tigers. Another game coming up Saturday night at seven fifteen,
and then the series and short homestand finale is Sunday
at one forty. Good show lined up for you Today.
(01:25):
At the tail end, we'll have another edition of at
the Ballpark with Senior Vice President Bob d. Biascio. We'll
also have a look at one of the top pitchers
in the minor league system for the Guardians, Parker Messik.
He had a chance to visit with Jaylen Norman down
at Columbus. We'll hear from relief pitcher Eric Sabrowski, former
Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd now with the Cubs. And in
(01:48):
just a little bit we'll hear from two of the
best hitters for the Guardians this season, Jose Ramirez, an
All Star, and Carlos Santana, who continues to reach some milestones,
but looking back at the week gone by, the Guardians
will head into play on Saturday on an eight game
losing streak, some tough games at Wrigley Field in Chicago
against the Cubs, close ball games, a one run loss
(02:10):
on Wednesday night, and then Thursday night, a one nothing
defeat in ten innings. That is the way it's going
right now for the Guardians, as they just can't come
away with a win lately, and that continued on Friday
night when they returned home and dropped another one run game,
this time to the Tigers by a final score of
(02:31):
two to one. But not for a lack of trying
from Carlos Santana. Tuesday night in Chicago against the Cubs,
he hit his four hundredth career double, and he also
has more than three hundred career home runs thirteen hundred walks,
only the third switch hitter in Major League history to
compile those numbers, the other two couple of Hall of
(02:51):
famers in Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones. We had a
chance to visit with Carlos and talk about the accomplishments
that he continues to put up and he is certainly proud.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Of I think I got blessed. You know, has a
great career. So I say thank you guys for every day.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
For that talent.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
But you know, I'm a little bit surprised. And I
had the big two name like Moor right and cheaper Jong,
and I'm making that, So I think I'm happy for that. Honestly,
I don't know that. I don't okay, the four hundred
double he's coming, but I don't know that. And I
have behind too, you know, the two Hall of Fame player.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
And we were talking about switch hitting a little bit
earlier and your natural right handed hitter, sixteen years of
age you started hitting left handed. How difficult was that
transition to start doing that and become a good hitter
from that side of the plate too.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
He's hard, you know, he's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Especially yet he's hard because you know, you're never one
hundred percent to the ball. Said, sometimes you feel good writing,
sometimes you know, feel good lefty. Sometimes you go efty
and off.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
You go write it.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
So it's hard, you know, doing the swish it. He's
like one player for two different hitting so it's hard.
You know, it's hard. You have to working hard. A lot, So,
I mean it's hard.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
The fans may be able to hear it right outside
the indoor cage here, you're going back to working a
little bit here. And do you work on both every
day or do you kind of give one a break
depending on who the picture is.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
No, I have to work every day, you know, especially
like lefty star but lay in the gang. I had
to writy, you know, so I had to soon righty,
especially like today, I prepare more right side, more to
the left side because the starting but I had to
work out both sides because something situation lay in the game.
(04:52):
I had to be ready for that.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
As a veteran player, the team's going through a top
stretcher offensively trying to score more. What can you do
as a veteran boys to try and help maybe some
of your teammates along as you try and take care
of your own game too.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, I mean, you know right now we have a
little bit difficulty fore hit.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But you know this is that happened.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
That happened.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
We had the great, great talent, great teammate, so you
know the mentally he's keeping focused and not big head down.
It's a long season, but I think you know, can
we fight him?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
We go.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I talked to with another player a couple of years ago,
and you know, and everything is good.
Speaker 7 (05:34):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I try to tell it like befocus positive energy. I mean,
keep it fighting, keep it fighting. I tell him, like,
look in Detroit last year, I mean in August, they lost,
They think about to the next year and they make
him playoffs. You know, he's is that happened to the
(05:54):
baseball you know what? I know one they think he's fluctuated.
Will little bit mean because we try and right now
every then negative. You know, we were coming. We have
Gray Gray, great teamming, great talent, and see what happened
and the second will happen.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Carlo is always great to have you on. Thank you,
You're welcome.
Speaker 8 (06:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That's Carlos Santana at the age of thirty nine, still
putting together quality at bats and producing. It's been a
good start to the month of July for Santana. Jose
Ramirez will be heading to the All Star Game this week,
not this week, but this month. Later on this month.
He found out this week that he would be the
American League's starting third baseman, the fourth time that he'll
(06:40):
be a starter at the All Star Game, the seventh
time that he is going to the All Star Game.
That puts him just one shy of Bob Feller's franchise record.
Along with translator Augi Riverojsey says, it's always special to
get the news that he's made the All Star team.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Hey, you one, your mom.
Speaker 9 (07:02):
Thankful to God for this opportunity and also for being
a healthy way and especially the fans because they voted
me into the game. So very special to be recognized
this year again.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I know you mentioned yesterday that you're not pleased with
it with how the season is going based on your standards,
And what do you mean by that? What areas are
you you're still trying to get to.
Speaker 9 (07:22):
I mean, it's just saying because I feel I need
to keep improving in all the areas of my game
because I feel that it needs me even more so
obviously they need to keep improving and keep improving every
facet of my game.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
The amount of times that you have gone. For some players,
it gets old and it's not as special, but it
seems like for you every year it is special.
Speaker 9 (07:39):
How comes always the goal every time you start the season.
You know, when you start this season, that's like the
physical that you can achieve and getting to selected to
lost our game because it's important day to celebrate and
share with your fans, with your family, especially with very
talented players as well.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And historical perspective. One shy about eight appearances. Sandy Alomar
and also Kenny Lofton started three times. Now you've started
the most. What does that mean to be mentioned in
the same breath as those guys who are such a
big part of this franchise.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Oh, I didn't know that fact.
Speaker 9 (08:16):
It's good to know about that I'm among those players,
but you know it's important. It's important for me every
time you have those goals to achieve and try to
make the All Star Game in particularly in my own
goal is to to go to ten All Star Games.
Let's see what the health allows and my performance, but
that's the goal that I have.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Posey, congratulations, thank you, thank you, Ogi, thanks thank you guys.
What a career for Jose Ramirez and he doesn't show
any signs of slowing down.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Stay with us.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We'll take a time out and when we come back,
we'll hear from relief pitcher Eric Sabowski. That's next the
Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
The pit swung out a slow chapter.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
The third charge by Ramire's clubs Scoops throws in the
dirt pick by Santana. Heck of a play on both ends.
Now it's runners on the corners. Is Kuan advanced to third?
Ramirez is on it first for Carlos Santana. He swings
loops one.
Speaker 10 (09:07):
To shallow left that gets down for a base head
Juan will score on his way to third is Ramirez.
He's in safely and Carlos Santana comes through.
Speaker 7 (09:18):
The kick and delivery and it's head high hit deep
to right. Heerez track wall leaves gone. That's how you
break it over for twenty one skin Jose Ramiro's a
towering home run to right is fourteenth, and he continues
(09:43):
to absolutely torture the Tigers year in, year out.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
A progressive home an ottowuandle can protect you around the clock,
but we can't protect you from those painful moments in sports.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
Why would we trade our best player?
Speaker 8 (10:03):
Well, at least you got to watch him in person
when he was here. I named my only son after him,
so you'll always remember his name.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Yeah, but what do I do with this Jersey.
Speaker 8 (10:13):
Luckily the company has a great return policy.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
I warrant for six seasons.
Speaker 8 (10:18):
At least your homenauda or protected with a bundle from
Progressive Progressive casualt Interns Company. Off you had another Interurvi's
not available in THO stags a situations.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim rosen House back with
you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Guardians and Tigers
meeting in this three game weekend series. Back with the
ball club after starting the season on the injured list
is left hander Eric Sabrowski, who was a key out
of the bullpen for the Guardians down the stretch a
year ago and then on into the postseason. And he's
(10:56):
looked really sharp in a couple of outings now since returning.
And he talked recently about dealing with the apprehension that
comes with returning from an arm injury, and he's had
a few in his career.
Speaker 11 (11:08):
There's always a little bit of apprehension every time you throw,
just the nature of being a reliever. But I think
you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you're thinking about that.
You know, on the mound warming up the day of
I think it's once you get to the ballpark, you
leave all those thoughts out of the lay and you
just know that you're there to do your job that
night and trying to do it to the best of
your abilities.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And you go from a rehab assignment where I'm sure
it's about building up and feeling good, but stuff, it
seemed like it was tremendous and a clean inning and
then a really good curveball. It was that surprising at
all to you that you had that kind of command
and feel.
Speaker 11 (11:42):
Probably the command, Yeah, it certainly wasn't there to that
extent during my rehab outings. I think my curveball has
always been a pretty good pitch just happened to be
my best pitch that night.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Eric Sabrowski's joining us back in that Guardian's bullpen, and
Eric had a really good stretch at the end of
alast year, your first time in the major leagues, And
what did you take away from that that that might
be helpful as you get deeper into it here this season, Just.
Speaker 11 (12:07):
That I have the stuff to belong in this league. Yeah,
it was a phenomenal stretch. It went better than I
could have ever imagined. But just building off of that
success and showing myself that, you know, I have what
it takes to pitch in the big leagues on a
consistent basis. So now I just need to, you know,
keep my body in shape, keep my mind right, and
(12:28):
go out there and perform.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
And you did have the health set back, and you've
had some injuries to work back. From your story, it
is certainly inspiring for I'm sure a lot of pictures
out there mentally, though, what was that like for you
this spring when when you had to just take some
time off to get healthy again.
Speaker 11 (12:45):
Well, it sucked, you know, especially coming off last year.
I thought I had a good shot to make this
fall club out of spring and that just didn't happen
to be in the cards for me. It's missing time
is never fun. But it gave me a chance to
work on other things that may may not have been lacking.
And I think I'm in a good spot to help
this ball club out for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And you rejoin a really good bullpen numbers. Why some
ups and downs this year, But what do you see
coming back to it based on what you knew from
a year ago.
Speaker 11 (13:15):
I think there's still consistently one of the best bullpens
in this league. Yeah, we probably no one's had the
stretch they wanted to have, but the talents there and
the personnel is there to get back to and if
not exceed what we had last year.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
First time pitching it Wrigley, hopefully in this series. What
do you think it'll be fun?
Speaker 11 (13:36):
I mean the history here, right, I think second oldest
Ballpark's gotten to experience it as a fan a few times,
but being on the other side is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Eric, great to see again, Thanks, Thank you, Hat's relief
pitcher Eric Sabrowski. Good to see him back healthy and
throwing the ball well. By another pitcher who's thrown it well,
left handed starter Matthew Boyd, who's now with the Chicago
Cubs after really filling a vital role for the Guardians
down the stretch a year ago. He was a key
member of the starting rotation and then pitched extremely well
(14:07):
in the postseason Tuesday Night against the Guardians. He went
seven innings and was solid in a five to two
win for the Cubs, And we caught up with him
the next day and he says, while it was a
short stint in Cleveland a year ago, he was only
with the franchise, well technically in including his rehab, about
a year's time, but on the field only about three months,
(14:28):
and he said at the time it was a perfect
fit for him.
Speaker 12 (14:32):
Man, I'm so so grateful.
Speaker 13 (14:34):
For my time in Cleveland.
Speaker 12 (14:36):
I mean it, you know, I think I got there
at the end of June, and you know, but that
it was that three plus, you know, four months felt
much longer.
Speaker 14 (14:47):
You know.
Speaker 12 (14:49):
I'm so grateful for the Guardians to give me that shot,
from Chris the voter to.
Speaker 13 (14:56):
You know, Carl, like I have so much gratitude to
everybody there.
Speaker 12 (15:04):
That was some of the most most fun I've ever
had playing baseball. And my only regrets that we you know,
we didn't win more, you know, so, uh it's a.
Speaker 13 (15:14):
I just thought that squad.
Speaker 12 (15:15):
Was amazing, and it's so fun to get to see
the guys in town.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Right now, I was gonna say, baseball being what it
is if you're with a new team now, but earlier
today you had a chance to visit with some old
friends and what was that like catching up with them?
Speaker 12 (15:28):
It was a lot of fun. It was a lot
of fun. I mean, we always we stay in contact
with the finally they'll you know, see guys, and uh,
it's awesome. It's like like you said, we we that
playoff stretch and then in the playoffs was such a
great time and so time that really brings you together
as a team.
Speaker 13 (15:45):
That it was just it was really special to.
Speaker 12 (15:48):
Actually, you know, to just to share that with them
and some of the most fun I've ever had on
a baseball field. So to get to to get to
see him today has been cool. And it's just like
I said, I'm always gonna have a special start in
a special place in my heart for Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You've had a long career, but that was really that
first extended playoff run where you've had several starts and
now what do you learn about yourself in postseason when
you had great success.
Speaker 12 (16:15):
It's one of those things you always learned about doing.
So I remember that first one against Detroit. It was
finally like I've been waiting for this and it's here,
and I got chills as I'm saying it. It's like, Okay,
come to do what I've always knew I could do,
and it's it was so much fun, you know, And
getting to do it again in Game five against de
Troy and then getting to do it in the LCS
(16:35):
against the Yankees. It was like, this is this is
special And again what made a special is the group
that you do it with. And it was, like I said,
amazing group and all around really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
And I feel like you're gonna fit in wherever you go.
And it seems like you've done that very well.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Here. This looks like a.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Good ball club that could get back, get you back
to postseason. What are you seeing here in Chicago that
looks really good?
Speaker 12 (17:00):
We got such a great group from you know, the
front office and and Craig and our pitching staff, you know,
and and Tommy leading our pitching staff, and then in
the position players. It's it's a it's a great group
of guys. And we got guys that just they show
up right to win. We love being around each other.
We have a lot of fun together, you know. We
got we got guys like Justin Turner who've won World
(17:24):
Series and dance by Swanson, you know, and uh, and
we've got guys like Matshaw and Pete Crow who are
still cutting their teeth in the big leagues.
Speaker 13 (17:31):
And and and uh.
Speaker 12 (17:32):
And it's just a great balance of guys, and we
just we have fun being together. We have fun winning
together and competing together, and uh, you know, it's it's
it's it's a it's a special group. And I'm grateful that,
you know, back to back years and I've been had
the opportunity to be parts of really special teams.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
It is great to see again. It looked like vintage
Matt Boyd last night, for sure. And thanks a lot
for coming by.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Appreciate it and thank you for having me on.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Brobye. One of the good guys in the game, Matthew Boyd,
and great to see him having some success with the
Chicago Cubs. There'll be a big key for a team
that has big time playoff aspirations. Stay with us when
we come back. We'll take it to the minor league side.
With our correspondent Jayalen Norman. That's next the Cleveland Clinic
Guardians Radio Network. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse
(18:42):
back with you from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Hope
you're having a great Fourth of July weekend as the
Guardians are taking on the Tigers here at Progressive Field
this weekend. Another game Saturday night at seven fifteen, and
then Sunday afternoon at one to close out the series.
While down at Columbus, Parker Messik has certainly put together
(19:04):
some solid numbers on the mound in that starting rotation.
He's one of the organization's top pitching prospects. Jayalen Norman
is our correspondent in the minor leagues and she was
in Columbus and she had a chance to sit down
with Parker Messick before a recent game.
Speaker 15 (19:21):
Parker, you've started the season off here in Columbus, So
first off, how do you just kind of describe what
it's like being here in Columbus, kicking off the season
here and being a part of this team.
Speaker 16 (19:30):
Yeah, it's been really cool. I didn't really know where
I was going to start leaving spring training. I was
a minor league camp and he didn't know if I
was going to be a double or triplay guy. That
was kind of out in the air based on how
I performed.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
So he got lucky enough.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
To start here in Columbus. And team's great, coaches.
Speaker 16 (19:46):
Great, all the guys are great. I mean, there's a
lot of fun and the city's really cool. So it's
just been just been a blasbeing here.
Speaker 15 (19:52):
What's your favorite Columbus thing so far? Because I've heard
the restaurants are good, they're good shops.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
What do you so far like the most.
Speaker 15 (19:59):
About won this?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Honestly the fans, like with every game that.
Speaker 16 (20:03):
We have, even like kind of rainy games like Tuesday
time and it'll be packed to night. So it's it's
cool that every time you come to a game there's
fans in the stand. It makes it worth it makes
it fun playing at home.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
I think.
Speaker 16 (20:15):
So for other than all the you know, cool restaurants,
school city, that's probably.
Speaker 15 (20:19):
My favorite part in each level, I know brings a
different set of challenges. Obviously there's something new that you're
learning about yourself, something new that.
Speaker 5 (20:26):
You're seeing at each level.
Speaker 15 (20:28):
How do you describe the way Triple A ball is
different from the.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Other levels you played. Yeah, a lot of the guys
in Triple A are are you know, one call away
from the big league.
Speaker 16 (20:37):
So these are the guys that have big league time
or a guy like you know, Vincer has spent a
lot of time in the big leagues.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Like they're they're just all different.
Speaker 16 (20:45):
Kinds of guys that are messed together and you know,
I'm twenty four playing with some of the older guys,
So it's just really cool to see like young guys
playing against older guys and the different experience levels, and
you know, I get to learn from a guy like
Vince and then there's still some things that I have
to challenge myself with with those kind of guys on the.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
Field, like those sort of veteran hitters. So it's cool
to see.
Speaker 16 (21:07):
Like how I match up versus order veteran hitters that
you know, I've had time in the Big League, so.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
It's it's been a challenge, but it's been a lot
of fun.
Speaker 15 (21:16):
Yeah, watching you play, I can see that you're a
very energetic player.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Yeah, where does that come from? I kind of always
pitch like that. I was like a multi sport.
Speaker 16 (21:25):
Athlete, you know, in high school growing up as a kid,
I never I wasn't one of those guys that played
baseball year round, every every season. With baseball, I played.
I played every sport. I played football, basketball, soccer. So
I just learned to compete at a young age.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Even with my.
Speaker 16 (21:39):
Dad fishing, we like keep score on how many fish
we catch, So I just always compete.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
So when I'm on the mound. It's just like another
thing that I'm competing against.
Speaker 16 (21:47):
I just want to I want to yell when I
start someone out, and you know, I'm a little mad
when I give up a run.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
But it's part of the game and it's what makes
it fun.
Speaker 15 (21:55):
How have you learned to kind of manage that so
that you're still being energetic, still showing that emotion, but
also staying focused and kind of keeping your pool while you're.
Speaker 14 (22:04):
On the mound.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah, it's definitely.
Speaker 16 (22:05):
I've always called it a controlled anger since college. I
think all the broadcasters found that funny when I phrase
it that way in some of the eight CC Network podcasts.
But it's just, you know, you can you can ever
be too happy or too mad. You can't ride the
lows or ride the highs. Like when I give up
a home run, you know I can't throw it. You
can't throw a temper tantrument on the mound. The same
way when you strike one guy out, you can't you know,
(22:27):
come in slam your glove all fired up.
Speaker 14 (22:29):
Like.
Speaker 16 (22:29):
You just have to control different levels of the game.
If you're in a big spot and you get yourself
out of a jam, that's when you can show a
little positive emotion, and you know, you try and really
keep the negative emotion off the field. And that comes
with just experience and trial and error, and you know
there's there's people here that you're trying to make an
impression on and you don't want that impression to be
(22:50):
negative at any point in time. So you really got
to control your your emotions, your anger, even when it's positive,
like you have to harness that so that way.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
You're still ready to go for the next sending, even
though you got yourself out of a big gym.
Speaker 16 (23:02):
So yeah, I want to pitch with emotion as much
as I can, but I wanted to be in the
right spots.
Speaker 15 (23:06):
Earlier, you mentioned fishing with your dad, and it's interesting
that you bring that up because I was actually an
accron last week and someone was talking about how they
met your dad and he was so excited to introduce
himself as Parker Messe's dad. So can you talk about
the support that you've gotten from your family, in particular
your dad and what that's meant to you.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Yeah, it beats the world theirs. They come quite often
to a.
Speaker 16 (23:26):
Lot of names, and you know, I have a support
system that goes from a small town. It goes all
the way into the route to that small town. Everyone
that I played little league baseball with so keeps up
with me. My dad enjoys it because, you know, he
gets to communicate, Like he'll have people semester him on
Facebook that we haven't talked to in twenty years that
they've been following me in my entire career, and it's like,
you just don't hear from those people. But it's cool
(23:48):
to see that just from all those connections and the
family connections, that it's created those avenues for people to
you know, watch the game, watch me, and it's just
really cool for.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Me that I have a whole town and a whole
family supporting me, and.
Speaker 16 (24:01):
It just gets bigger and bigger the more that I play.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That is Parker Messica certainly a name to keep an
eye on as we get closer to the tail end
of this season, it gets deeper into the second half,
and certainly we'll be on the radar next spring to
be sure, but still on the radar now and a
name that there's watching. We'll take another time out and
then come back with another edition of at the Ballpark
with Bobby d.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
That's next.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
A Progressive Home and Auto bundle can protect you around
the clock, but we can't protect you from those painful
moments in sports.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I can't believe they're moving the team to another city.
Speaker 8 (24:38):
True, but you'll never forget all the joy they brought
into your life. Joy.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
They made the playoffs twice in fifty years.
Speaker 8 (24:43):
Gosh, those two times were pretty great.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Weren't they.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
How would I know? I wasn't even born yet.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Just think of all the free time you'll have on
game days.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
Those games were the highlight of my week.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
At least your homanaud or protected with a bundle from
Progressive Progressive Casual Tea terms company up, Billy, have another
intur It's not available in those states? Are situations?
Speaker 14 (25:00):
H Are you ready enough?
Speaker 13 (25:40):
Getting up and counted down?
Speaker 14 (25:42):
And sometimes and sometime we should make it out whoa
whoa to? What's his family?
Speaker 15 (25:53):
So we're found to be from the East to the west,
sid si with me?
Speaker 13 (25:57):
Whoa who?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Welcome back, It's Guardian's Weekly Jim Rosenhouse back with you
from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, where the Guardians are
playing the Tigers this weekend. We always like to check
in with Bobby d from time to time, Guardians Senior
Vice President Bob D Biassio. And here's another edition of
At the Ballpark with Bobby D.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
The perfectly manicured fields, the unmistakable aroma of a ballpark
hot dog, and the electricity celebrating another victory. This is
at the Ballpark with Bobby D.
Speaker 13 (27:00):
Thank you, Hammy.
Speaker 17 (27:02):
Welcome to at the Ballpark, where we hope you enjoy
our conversations with those involved in the great game of baseball.
Speaker 13 (27:09):
Those who may be behind.
Speaker 17 (27:10):
The scenes are the colorful personalities who have provided so
many exciting moments and memories. Today we are joined by
one of the winningest pitchers in franchise history, a first
round draft pick, a member of Team USA, and the
Guardians Hall of Fame, mister Charlie Naggy. Thank you Chuck
(27:31):
for being with us. Catch us up on the family
these days.
Speaker 18 (27:35):
The family's good kids are out of the house. Oldest
twenty five living in San Francisco, and our youngest is
she's a junior at Baylor University.
Speaker 13 (27:43):
Empty nesters, unbelievable.
Speaker 17 (27:46):
Have to believe consistency is what you are most proud
of in your thirteen year career. Wearing that Cleveland uniform.
You make your major league debut in nineteen ninety, you
become a seventeen game winner in ninety two to an
all start, tossing two hundred and fifty innings.
Speaker 13 (28:02):
That's a pretty cool way to start your career.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
It was.
Speaker 18 (28:06):
It was a rapid minor league career. Got drafted boom
the Olympics Kinston, North Carolina, and then the following year
Campton and getting called up to the big leagues.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
And it was just a great moment.
Speaker 17 (28:18):
And it wasn't that easy starting your career in college,
right You went to Cornell, You went there to play
football and baseball, and then there was an issue.
Speaker 13 (28:28):
Then you move on to the University of Connecticut.
Speaker 17 (28:30):
Tell us a little bit about that, so kids out
there understand that everybody has obstacles as they're trying to
reach their dream.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 18 (28:38):
I mean I was enamored with Cornell. I went there
and it just didn't work out for me, whether I
just wasn't ready for it or what not. But still
went home and still kept in contact with coach Andy
Bailock at the University of Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
He was recruiting me also, and we made it work.
Speaker 18 (28:52):
I had to do some summer schools before I went there,
and things went well, and I had two great years
there at the University Connecticut. A lot of friends, played
with great players, had a really good time. And then
and everb we got drafted that year in nineteen eighty eight.
Speaker 17 (29:06):
Other than the nineteen ninety three season in which you
suffered an injury, you only had nine starts that year.
You rebound and enjoy a streak where you post double
digit wins in eight of the next nine street seasons,
again consistency. You start the last game at Cleveland Stadium. Ever,
(29:26):
I think Jason Burray became a friend, right, and that's who.
Speaker 13 (29:30):
Was pitching for the White Sox.
Speaker 17 (29:32):
You and Jason's were the starting two for the last
baseball game ever at Cleveland Stadium. So you pitch that
game coming off an injury. But then you don't miss
a start again until sometime after eleven starts in the
year two thousand.
Speaker 13 (29:52):
That's a remarkable streak.
Speaker 18 (29:54):
You know, I mean, that's what you strive for every year.
I remember Johnny Ferroll my first spring training sat down
next to me after a spring training game and we
were just talking.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
A little bit and he was just you know.
Speaker 18 (30:03):
Hey, this is these are goals you should shoot for,
you know, make all your starts throw over two hundred
innings a year, and I mean, those are the benchmarks
that every pitcher should look for. And you know that's
after hearing that from him. You know, that's what I
strive to do, year in year out. And you know
there were probably some times I probably shouldn't have taken
the ball, but you know, oh well, you know, but
(30:25):
I just you know, you work hard and you want
to get that ball every fifth day and give your
team a chance to win.
Speaker 17 (30:30):
You were a three time All Star, including nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 13 (30:35):
What was it like pitching on that team? That team
is the only team.
Speaker 17 (30:39):
In our franchise history to score more than a thousand runs.
I believe the ninety four team, if the season wasn't
averted and had stopped in August, that club probably was
on pace to score one thousand runs. But the ninety
nine club, where Manly had one hundred and six rebies,
(31:01):
Robbie was just going crazy doing his thing. And of
course Jimmy Toldy being Jimmy.
Speaker 13 (31:07):
Of course, what was it like pitching for that ball club?
Speaker 18 (31:11):
It was like every other ball club we had There
I mean, we were just known for our offense, you know,
scoring runs. If you go out and you know, you
give up a few runs in the first standing, as
long as you hang in the game long enough, you've
got a chance to win this game.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Still.
Speaker 18 (31:23):
And you know, you say the ninety four team, and
you know, you could actually argue the ninety five team too,
because it was one hundred and forty four games and
we still had a few obviously twenty some games that
we didn't play well.
Speaker 17 (31:35):
That team was remarkable to me. You guys clinched a
division on September eighth, you end up winning the division
by thirty games.
Speaker 13 (31:44):
I mean, just people don't.
Speaker 17 (31:46):
Understand one hundred and forty four game season. We're one
hundred and forty four, we win by thirty games, which
is ridiculous. You guys came to the park and the
attitude was once we clinched on September eight, was let's
get to one hundred.
Speaker 18 (32:06):
Yeah, we had to set a goal after that and
it was just to continue on winning and getting ready
for the postseason. And yeah, we came to win every game.
And I know everybody who who came to the other teams,
who came into Jacob's Field, and those years just didn't
want to be there. They didn't want to the pitchers
didn't want to face our lineup.
Speaker 17 (32:25):
Let's focus a little bit on one thing that I
think is remarkable in your career. There were two occasions
in our franchise history where we brought back thirty to
forty of our most illustrious alumni. One was the closing
of Cleveland Stadium October third of nineteen ninety three, and
(32:49):
then on July twenty first, two thousand and one, where
we celebrated our one hundredth anniversary. You were on the
mound for both of those games, so you had to
pitch in front of that crew. So let's talk about
the May third. You're coming off an injury. But for
people that may not remember, we closed Cleveland Stadium with
(33:14):
Bob Hope after the game doing a rendition of thanks
for the memories at Cleveland Stadium and dotted around the
field the greats at third base is like the Al
Rosens and out and right field Rocky Colavito, and you
got all the great pitchers circling pitchers mound, and there's
players dotted all around the field and they're in the
(33:37):
loses watching you perform. Did that sink in that all
those eyes were on you?
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Not so much at that time.
Speaker 18 (33:45):
Initially, I was just concentrating on the game because it
was my first start coming back, and you know, just
hoping everything would go well so I could, you know,
peace of mind for the offseason and going into the
next season. But then it started to hit me a
little bit when you know, you see all the great
players that are here and Bob Hope getting ready to
sing after the game. I really don't even remember the
(34:05):
outcome of the game.
Speaker 13 (34:07):
We lost, unfortunately.
Speaker 17 (34:09):
I think Mark Lewis struck out as the final out
in Cleveland Stadium baseball history for our franchise.
Speaker 13 (34:19):
I think that's stuck in my head.
Speaker 17 (34:21):
But again, you, j and Jason Barray were the two
starters to become friends, both in Cleveland uniforms. But you
were coming off an injury, so you but that started
your streak. As we talked in segment one about your
incredible consistency. But what do you think about that old
cavernous place on the lake.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I loved it.
Speaker 18 (34:43):
You know, it's my first place being called up to,
and I love that stadium. It was a great place
to pitch had a good backdrop. You know, it was
an older team when I got there, and then it
kind of changed as people saw trade a lot of
guys away and then we went young and just everybody
was gearing up for the next night, you know, for
the ninety four season and the new stadium that was
(35:04):
being built.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
But it was sold out that day.
Speaker 18 (35:07):
We had a few sellouts throughout the season. Was opening
day July fourth, and the final week, final week in
all three games. And just also you know, to be
pictured on the tickets with mel Harder, So I get
that a lot. I get them in the mail, I
get them when I go back to Cleveland or just
random people and just want them signed and talking about
(35:28):
that day when we broke round for Jacobs Field and
it was just a that was That's a memory in
my mind that I'll never forget.
Speaker 17 (35:36):
The other one is July twenty first, two thousand and one,
our one hundredth anniversary. There's forty plus members of the
top one hundred roster dotted by some of the greatest
pitchers in the history of our franchise, of course, and
you're starting that game as well.
Speaker 13 (35:54):
Tell me all about that day.
Speaker 18 (35:56):
It was a fun day. I mean, I've got to
know a lot of those guys that were there. I mean,
they've been around before, and I'd been around for a
while and it was great to see everybody that was there.
But and you know, I still had to remember that
I was pitching. And I remember we talked about taking
that photo when I was walking in after I warmed
up from the bullpen and getting in the photo. And
(36:16):
I didn't know how long it was going to take
or anything like that. I really didn't care at the time,
but you know, we did that. We took the photo,
and you know, everybody pat me on the back, you know, hey,
go get him, go get him, And I'm like, oh god,
I better pitch.
Speaker 17 (36:29):
Well today, that's not exactly the words you used to be,
but it was something like that.
Speaker 13 (36:35):
But yeah, I could not let you not be in
that photo.
Speaker 17 (36:37):
I didn't want it to be like a kindergarten homeroom
picture with a little thumbnail in the corner that Chuck
was there, but he was pitching that day. You had
to be in that photo. So when we took it,
but guys like Bob Feller and Louis Tiant and Lenny
Barker Sonny Sebert mel Haarder, and Mud, Gary Bell, Sam McDowell.
(36:58):
They all came up to Charlie, patted him on the back,
said hey, we're really looking forward to see in your
throw today.
Speaker 13 (37:05):
Go get them.
Speaker 17 (37:06):
And you and I just had a nice little conversation
as we walked to the dugout about that.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Yeah, about hey, don't screw this up.
Speaker 13 (37:16):
But you won that game.
Speaker 17 (37:17):
You pitched great, you got into I believe it was
through the seventh inning and we ended up winning that one.
So two of the most remarkable days in our history
as we celebrated our rich history, and you're on the
mound for both of them. I just think those are
the really cool things that fall in line in the
game of baseball. Chuck, it's been a blast catching up.
(37:40):
Many thanks, and we hope you enjoyed this trip down
memory lane. We look forward to another edition of at
the Ballpark on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
God it's going to do it for this week's edition
of Guardians Weekly. As always, thanks to Brian Botsey for
putting together our show each and ever. We will join
you next week back in Chicago. We were just there.
We're going back now to play the White Sox next
weekend and that's where our show will originate from next week.
Hope you can join us. Then, this is Jim Rosenhause
(38:12):
reminding you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly, the
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