Despite loss, the Cleveland Guardians are still in good shape

Despite loss, the Cleveland Guardians are still in good shape

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of the ultimate Cleveland Guardian show. Along with Zach Meisel, I’m Adam the Bull. And yes, it’s a bummer that yesterday was the first bad day of the last three weeks for the Guardians where nothing went their way. But still, they remain firmly in control. Zach, are you in control of yourself this morning? That’s the big question. No, the coffee has been in control of me all week. That’s it. That’s all coming up on the Ultimate Cleveland Guardian Show. [Music] All right. You know, uh people were already panicking yesterday. They won a million in a row and there was already panic. Uh disappointing that they lose the final game, but still 17 and three. It’s hard to complain at the moment. Uh they still very much control their own destiny to get into the playoffs. The magic number is two to clinch a playoff spot. The magic number is three to win the American League Central. Uh, where do you want to start here, Zach? What’s what’s your thoughts right now heading into the final? It’s funny. In the clubhouse after the game, Paul Hines, long time Yep. long time long time. Um, he came up to me and he’s like, “Zack, you you got to explain all the scenarios to me because like can they the how they’d be the wild card, how they’d win the division, how And I’m like, hoesy, if if if I try to explain it like it’s it’s there’s a lot to cover here, right? We can’t do this right now. So, we get back upstairs and at that point, Hoy’s like, “No, I got it figured out. We’re good.” Then a minute later, he looks over and we look at each other and I’m like, “Okay, let’s go over them.” Everybody in the press box spends like 15 minutes going over all these scenarios and what might happen, what needs to happen. Yeah. And you think you have it all figured out and then I’m driving home and I had a thought of like, wait, there’s one that I hadn’t thought about. And so I called Ryan Lewis because I knew he was driving home too. Ryan Lewis of the Acron Beacon Journal. And we go over everything again. I feel like like I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and I’m I’m thinking about the scenarios. Yeah. the ways they could be. They win the division, they’re the three seed, they host the wild card, right? That’s the easiest path. Yes. To do that, all you have to do is match or exceed what the Tigers do this weekend, right? That’s simple, right? Preferred. That is simple. They could clinch a playoff spot tonight if they win and Houston loses, right? So, you they wouldn’t celebrate because Houston plays late, so you wouldn’t know till 12:30 in the morning. But, Right. But and here’s an interesting story. Now, let me let me give the folks the tiebreers who for those who don’t know, the Guardians have the tiebreaker over the Tigers. They have the tiebreaker over the Astros. If we’re talking about maybe the fifth seed versus the six seed, if it comes down to something like that, the Red Sox have the tiebreaker against the Guardians in that scenario. As for the other teams, if you’re interested, the Red Sox, in addition to having the tiebreaker with the Guardians, have also have the tiebreaker with the Astros. Uh the Tigers at if they win one game this weekend would have the tiebreaker over the Red Sox. I don’t know what happens. I guess it doesn’t matter because if the Red Sox sweep the Tigers are going to be out of it anyway. A tiebreaker with the Red Sox wouldn’t matter at least. I guess it would still matter with the Astros and the Tigers do have the tiebreaker over the Astros. The Astros do not have a tiebreaker over any of these three teams. So, which is why their playoff odds this morning are 29%. Yeah, right. The Guardians are 89%. Right. Guardians obviously hosting the Rangers this weekend. The Tigers are at Boston and the Astros are at the Angels. So the in terms of the schedule, uh I mean I’d say the Guardians are in the best shape because they’re at home. The Angels are worse than the Rangers, but the Astros are on the road. They’re playing worse and they’re in a worse spot. Obviously the Tigers have, you know, a tough spot playing in Boston. Uh Boston has to play Detroit. So there you go with some of the tiebreers. The Here’s one scenario I was thinking of. What would the Guardians do in this situation? Because ideally you want Gavin Williams to pitch game one of the wildard series. Let’s say that the going into Sunday, all right, the Guardians have clinched a playoff spot but not the division. Do they start Gavin Williams Sunday? These are questions that we can’t ask the the the manager because they will not think that far like behind closed doors. Yeah. Actually I honestly I don’t even know if he’d be part of these conversations. That stuff the front office and like the analysts are thinking through. But I don’t even know if you want to bother the manager because he’s going to say I got to win today. I can’t. So it’s that’s there’s a lot at stake here. or the T. You think the Guardians are trying to think that through? How about the Tigers with Scooble? He would go Sunday if they need him to, but they’re going to do everything they can to not need him. So, right, but that’s going to cause them to clinch before then. Uh, but they start and it it’s it’s the same thing. You know, there’s there are a lot of scenarios where it’s just Tigers Guardians again in a best of three next week, right? And how much do those teams care about home field for that? Yeah, I don’t know if the Guardians and Tigers both win the next two days, they’re both in the playoffs, but the division would still be up for grabs going into that final day. And that that’s the like if I I think if you’re the Tigers in that scenario, you can’t pitch flubals Sunday. But here’s here’s the thing. If you’re the Tigers, yeah, if you sweep the Red Sox, you pass them. So there there are scenarios here where Yeah, that’s true. where like the the Guardians or the Tigers could even end up as the five and go to Toronto or New York. That’s right. For the Guardians are less likely to be the five because they don’t have the tiebreaker with Boston. They don’t have the tiebreaker with Boston and they do have the tiebreaker with the Tigers. So again, if they just match the Tigers, but there are scenarios where the Tigers could be the five and go to one of those play that sounds a lot tougher than coming back to Cleveland, right? Like I almost if I were them, I would maybe not pitch Scooble Sunday and say, you know, if we lose, we’re the six seed, right? But we’d have Scubble lined up for game one in Cleveland versus not having Scooble and having to go play the Yankees. Yeah, that sounds like the worst. Yeah. I I mean, but if if I’m the Guardians and if the Guardians win their next two and the Tigers win their next two, now they play at the same time on Sunday. So, I I would not pitch Gavin Williams Sunday in that scenario. You’d be bless you. You’d be okay. Bless you. You’d be okay being the six. I I I just think I just think I having especially if they’re going to have Scooble because I don’t think they’re I agree. I I I don’t see them pitching Scooble in that game if they win the next two. Now, I don’t think they’re going to win the next two and I don’t think the Guard Well, I do think the Guardians win, you know, I mean, they should win the series with the Rangers, but I mean, you never know. Obviously, the Rangers are really I mean, well, that’s the thing like you could throw So, the Guardians haven’t announced a starting pitcher past tonight, which it’s Slade Sakone tonight, right? And then TBD. And so Joey Canillo, they they’ve got they’ve got a few options. So that Joey Cantillo could pitch this weekend. Logan Allen could pitch this weekend. Yeah. And then Gavin Williams could pitch Sunday, right? If if you need him to. So I mean, if you if you r like I I would assume you trust you do you trust Cantillo more than Allen? I do at the moment. I don’t know huge difference, but So you’d probably go Canillo Saturday no matter. I mean, you’re not going to have clinch the division. You You could clinch it Saturday. Yes. the Tigers lose one of their next two and you win the next two. Y yeah, it’s it’s really tricky that you you have to you have to take it one day at a time and just re-evaluate. This is also why we all of us media members spent hours last night going through all this because it’s Yeah, it’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s fun. We didn’t think we were going to have this. Nothing has settled in the American League except basically that the Mariners have a buy and the AL East winner has a buy, but we don’t even know who the AL East winner is. That’s true. that they’re tied. The the Blue Jays have the tiebreaker. Obviously, the Yankees are playing better and the Yankees have uh who they’re playing somebody terrible, aren’t they? They get the Orioles and the Blue Jays get Tampa. Oh, yeah. So, that’s you know, um yeah. I mean, there’s it’s funny. Uh the only thing settled, like you said, is the Mariners. Even in the National League, you got uh the Cubs and Padres’s are going to play each other in the first round, but it’s still undetermined where that series is going to be. Yeah. Um, obviously the Phillies and Brewers are locked into their spots. Uh, are the Padres’s still mathematically alive for the division against the Dodgers? I don’t know. It’s a three-game lead. I don’t think I’m looking at this. This says Dodgers 100%. They have a three-game lead. And then obviously the final wild card spot in the National League is still up for grabs. The Mets lead the Reds by a game, but the Reds have the tiebreaker. So the Reds outdo the Mets this weekend. Uh, they’ll they’ll punch their ticket as well. So there’s I a month ago I didn’t think there were was going to be much of anything in terms of races and there’s a lot. Yeah. It’s that that and I’ve I’ve had that Tigers Red Sox series circled for weeks because it just felt like that was going to dictate so many different things that other teams have to think about and I don’t know it’s 8:10 in the morning and my head’s already sp spinning with scenarios. Yeah. I mean if the if the the Tiger I will say the Tigers winning yesterday for their sake was huge. was enormous. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No doubt about it. They were done if they lost that. I think they were done. They still might have got, you know, you could I guess they could have gotten in over the Astros, but they would have been tied with the Astros. And even though they still had the tiebreaker, they’re playing Boston, you know, you would have fig you figure the Astros had a much better chance of, you know, doing better this weekend. And now they Astros got to outdo them by two. So there’s a they play the Angels. So, you know, the Astros could sweep the Angels and make things interesting. That’s the other thing. Like if you’re the Guardians, you’re probably h fine with like you want the Astros to win maybe just to apply more pressure on the Tigers. Another reason for the Tigers to have to throw Scubble, right? But ultimately, you’d rather play the Tigers than the Astros, especially if Scoo happen. In my mind, you’d rather play whichever team has burned its ace. Right. Right. Right. But I Yes. you there’s a little part of me that’s like enough with the Tigers. Like you face a team too much and you beat up on them so much that it’s I hear you. But if Scooble has to pitch Sunday, I mean the Astros are going to have See, the thing with the Astros is they’re going to have for Amber Valdez and Hunter Brown ready to go games one and two of the division of the wild card because they just pitched like the last two days. I don’t think either is going to either one of the Hunter Brown would have to pitch I think on short days short rest on Sunday which I don’t know maybe they would do that I I don’t know but they those guys just pitched right Valdez pitched yesterday Valdez pitched yesterday pitched okay Framber pitched the day before he only went he only went 86 pitches which was interesting who Brown or Framber Framber or or Brown sorry Brown yeah Brown pitched on Wednesday so he would be lined up to pitch game and is planning to pitch game two of the of the wild card series. So, as opposed to the Tigers who I I think are likely to have to pitch Scoo on Sunday. Uh I get what you’re saying. I know this this I I I heard I think Ken Carman said the same thing yesterday like we’ve beating up the Tigers too much. They’ve been you know they’re do but you know I just wondered I just wonder if the Astros would go Hunter Brown on short rest Sunday. They could win. They have they have nothing after those two guys. I mean, that’s the thing. They are so beat up. So that that’s you know, I just want the team that’s in worse shape, right? I think neither of those teams are in great shape right now. Um yeah, it’s going to be and and it’s good that uh uh Boston lost yesterday because that kept them needing to win because Boston hasn’t clinched. Obviously, they’re in good shape, but that’s another team where I think Crochet pitched Wednesday, right? So, he’d be lined up for game one of the wild card series. Yeah. I don’t want to I don’t want to face Boston. I’d rather not face. That’s the last team I want. And if but if the Guardians play well and the Tigers play well this weekend, Tigers leapfrog. Yeah. Boston. Then Boston drops to the six and they’re coming here. You know, it’s it’s like Boston. There is a scenario where Boston could not make the playoffs. If the Guardians sweep, the Tigers sweep, and the Astros sweep, the Red Sox are out. Yeah. I mean, that would be ideal, you know? I mean it like I don’t know it would be ideal because then the Guardians would potentially have to pitch Gavin Williams on Sunday. It’s just interesting to me like if you’re you can’t pick and choose like you can’t throw a game to try to because it’s there’s just too many things connected here. Right. Right. Right. There’s no but if you’re another team and I I know the Guardians are just on fire right now and and the way their pitching is. I’m not saying it’d be a cakewalk, but like the Blue Jays have been a juggernaut this second half. The Yankees have been they’ve been playing really well. You you don’t want to go to Yankee Stadium for a best of three if your options are that or to go to Cleveland to place the guard to play the Guardians who were 11 games out three weeks ago. Like that’s feels like such a huge difference and it’s insane that these are the options at this point. Especially for Houston and Boston. Detroit may feel a little differently. you know, but Houston and Boston like it’s even the same thing though if you if like if if you had the choice between going to New York and playing the Yankees in a best of three or going to Detroit with no school for a best of three if they win the division. I mean it’s it’s pretty obvious uh what you would choose. So uh yeah, I mean it’s listen it’s going to be an exciting weekend. The good news like the Rangers are really short-handed offensively. Marcus Simeon and Corey Seager were both expected to maybe come back this final week. I think if they were in it, those guys would both be back. So, they’re not obviously they shut them down. Wyatt Langford went on. I think Josh Smith, I don’t know if he played yesterday. I know he was banged up. I want to I got to double check that, but he’s a guy kind of a little off the radar for the casual fan, but he’s been pretty good for them the last couple years. And I know he’s banged up as well. and they, you know, they have no reason to play anybody that’s that’s banged up because, you know, they’re done. So, I mean, they just got shut up by the by the Twins yesterday. Uh, yeah. Oh, no. Josh Smith did play for them, but he left for a pinch pinch hitter. I don’t know. They, you know, most of their top hitters, you look at their their lineup. I mean, their their four through nine in their lineup yesterday was Rowdy Telz, Alejandro Asuna, uh Kyle Hagashi, uh how did I screw up his name? Agashioa, Billy McKinley, Ezekiel Durant, and Michael Helman. I mean, that’s, you know, it’s pretty bad. That that’s a good match for Cleveland’s pitching. I will say Jack Lighter pitches tonight and he’s he’s been good. He’s been good. I think he he pitched really well against the Guardians in Texas. Texas swept him a month ago. So yeah, you know, you can’t there’s no pencil in a uh a sweep or anything, but like the Guardians got to stay they got to keep the foot on the guys. Yeah, Lighter Lighter went seven shut out, two hits, no walks, 10 strikeouts against Cleveland. Yeah. Glad they don’t I mean he’s a good pitcher. Um he’s he’s looked good in his rookie season. He’s gotten better as the season’s gone along. and they need some offense. Like it’s time for a they need a seven run performance or something. It’s I I understand like the pitching’s been incredible, but you can’t just, you know, having a starter give up like having a pitching staff give up four runs for the first time in seems like years. Shouldn’t be a death sentence. No. Did you um I mean I I maybe I was just on the Kool-Aid yesterday, but I thought Manardo was gonna come through in the eighth. I was convinced of it. I uh I think I called the shot. Shot that didn’t happen. Oh yeah, I thought so too. Um I was feeling it, but unfortunately that would have just and that just would have completely broken the Tigers, I think. Oh my god. Can you imagine? Do you know um it didn’t matter because ultimately uh you know they they didn’t score enough, but uh I I thought he stuck with Parker Messi a little too long. He he did not look good at all last night. No, I didn’t think so either. And I he he got to that bases loaded situation. He got out of it, but yeah, there was nobody nobody warming. Yeah, it was strange. And usually he’s quick to get somebody warming. So I I thought that was was odd, but in the end it didn’t m I was Now I can’t really you say anything because he got a hit, but I was also surprised he let Hedges hit in the eighth inning. Yeah. Part of me wondered if they didn’t feel like chasing a win yesterday just in terms of like if you empty the pen if you used right Gatis and Smith for a third straight day and then you might not you know if you don’t win then you don’t have those guys today and then it’s it’s a little dicey. So you know the guys he turned to I mean Ky Allard like that guy’s been an unsung hero. I don’t know how he does it but he relief like Yeah. So, so they’ve, you know, I was like, Zack Kent got into the game. I was like, they’re only down two. Are we we sure about this? But, but I think they just wanted to avoid those guys. Yeah. If they weren’t winning or tied because now it’s full go this weekend. Yeah, no doubt. Uh, and those guys pitched well, all those backend bull, you know, the the lower Junior has been incredible. It’s been been a shocker. They, you know, they just they just find a way with a lot of these bullpeners. It’s It’s really uh impressive how they do it. By the way, are on an unrelated Well, semi-related note, are you uh voting for the MVP this year? I forgot. I am. Can I just have one like stress at a time? I can’t. Yeah, that is stressful, man. It’s funny. So, our Tigers writer Yeah. is he’s he’s a good writer. His name is Cody Stanhagen or something. Cody Stavinghagen. Stenhagen. Yeah. at the start of the month, he suggested to our staff in a meeting one day, he’s like, “You know, I feel like we need more Cal Raleigh coverage. Like, we need more content.” And um he came to Cleveland when the Mariners were here to try to get Cal Raleigh. Cal Raleigh was too busy. Yeah. Missed him. And I said, “Well, you know, I’m I’m around Sandy Almar. I know Austin Hedges has worked Yeah. with Cal Raleigh on his defense and helped turn him into the platinum glove winner. Um, the Royals were here and I was I I talked to Salvador Perez for a while. Yeah. Salvador Perez just started telling me how like why Raleigh should be the MVP. And so Cody and I end up like we’re like, “All right, let’s write this story.” Like we’ve we ended up getting Cal Raleigh and we we’re like, “Let’s we’ll write about Cal Raleigh’s amazing season.” And and like at the time there was no AL Central race. We’re like, we got plenty of time to write this. We just we wanted it for the end of the season in case he hit 60 or they they clinched the division or or like the perfect time to run a story like that. Well, he hit 60 on the night they clinched the division as the Tigers lost the division lead to the Guardians. And we’ve got a million other things going on to write. So that’s of course it played out like that. Yeah. Um, so it’s interesting just, you know, you’re asking me about my vote and like I feel like I’ve done all the recon I can where I’ve talked to players who can shed some light on like why it’s so much more impressive for a catcher to do what he’s done than any other player. Yeah. Man, every time I look at Aaron Judge’s stats, I’m like, how do you not vote for that guy? I mean, he’s got 150 more points of ops. That’s that’s it’s hard. I mean, you can make a great case for both of them. It It’s a really tough call. It’s a really tough call. But all right, uh, Zach, why don’t we get you to talk about FanDuel here and then we’ll take some fan comments and have some more thoughts. But first, what’s going on with FanDuel? Yeah, Bull, we’ve got baseball playoffs around the corner. The NFL season is here, and FanDuel is making sure you are ready for all of it with a can’tmiss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. So, player props, same game parlays. How about jumping in live as the action unfolds? This is the best sports time of year that I will die on that hill. Yep. And you’ve got ways to make every game more exciting. Whether you’re watching your team, keeping an eye on your fantasy lineup, watching baseball’s playoffs, it’s quick, it’s easy, it’s the best way to add a little more energy to your Sundays or any day, especially in the baseball playoffs. We got action every single day, multiple games, wildcard series coming up. So, if you’re ready to play, download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanduel.comucuss to get started. That’s fanduel.comuss to place your first $5 bet. Good job out of you. Let’s get some fan comments in here. Uh let’s see. Uh too much torque. Okay, bull. We need to talk about your boy Manzardo. Love him, but he’s three for 31. Missed two big opportunities to help us last night. Thinking he might not be best behind Ramirez. I I don’t mess with it now. Listen, I know he’s in a little bit of a slump. I get it. Um, it’s not like that you got nine guys tearing the cover off the ball right now. I mean, Zardo has consistently the second half especially been your second best player, your second or offensive player. He’s so bad in the field. Well, they made a nice catch on the line drive two nights ago, but he did his teammates in the dugout were all making fun of his vertical leap. Oh my god. And how about that play where he couldn’t catch the the one in the dirt from Jose last night. I know it’s Jose error, you know, but the most first baseman can make that scoop and he was so awkward on that. But all right, he hasn’t had much of an opportunity, but um I’m not messing with him in the lineup. I I you know, I’m going to live and die with him in the middle of the lineup because he’s been the the best producer besides Jose. Gabriel Aras batted fifth last night. Yeah. I mean, so do you want him hitting fourth? I mean, it’s beggars can’t be choosers at this point. You’re right. And it’s it’s helped that Bo Naylor has caught fire behind him. Yes. Um, but there’s this this lineup is what it is. You can’t really mess with it at this point. That’s right. Um, Ahmed says, “Assuming things hold, who is the Guardians worst matchup in the American League beyond the opening round against the Tigers?” Uh, I mean, I I would say, Go ahead. Who do you think is the worst matchup? Is it the Yankees? is the, you know, Mariners are probably the best team. I don’t, you know, I was thinking about the Yankees because just because I thought of Freed and Rodon. Yeah. And you don’t have David Fry, right? And they’ve never found that right-handed hitter to hit lefties. Well, you know, Noel just hasn’t hit this year. Jonathan Rodriguez is not hasn’t been an answer, right? So maybe the Yankees just because of the two lefties at the top of their rotation. Um but like I don’t know. I think the Mariners have become the most complete team in my mind. I think they’re the best team, but like I like Toronto’s lineup has been really good for the last week. They haven’t played well the last week until yesterday. They got it going. But yeah. So then I’m thinking like, okay, but could Cleveland’s pitching staff neutralize that? And then like I I don’t know. I just I think I think the American League is full of teams that are pretty balanced, but like no one is no one’s like terrifying. So yes, I agree with you. Nobody’s unbeatable. I’m going to say the Yankees. And here’s why. Because I agree with you. The Mariners are the most balanced team. I think they’re the best team. Um, they definitely have the best bullpen of those three teams, but the Mariners have no playoff track record of success, right? The Blue Jays have no playoff track record of success. Like the Yankees have some guys that have been there, done that. You know, they’ve had success. They’ve won, they’ve gone deep into the playoffs. And the second reason is, does that matter? Like the Guardians, you could say they they have a track record of They’ve also had a track record of losing to the Yankees. Yeah, that’s right. They did last year. I know the Yankees are a different team. They don’t have Swan Sodto, but um and and like on paper, I don’t love like I I think the Yankees are the third of those three teams. Although the Blue Jays bullpen is a disaster right now. It is. Yeah. Yankees bullpen’s not great either, but at least Bedar has kind of settled in and been pretty good. Um, but the Blue Jays, like I don’t trust Jeff Hoffman at all if I’m the Blue Jays. Uh, and the rest of their pen that they were doing pretty well early in the season. Even their rotation like Briios hasn’t pitched well, now he’s hurt. Uh, Sherzer, how do you trust Sherzer? I want to face Bieber. Well, that’s I mean, that would be fascinating, right? Fun. I mean, he’s pitched well outside of one start for them. Uh, obviously Gossman’s really good. Listen, any of those three teams, the Mariners, the Yankees, and the Blue Jays, are going to be a significant favorite over the Guardians, and it’s going to take an upset to beat them. Uh, but that’s where you’re at right now. I mean, it is what it is. Uh, one step at a time. Uh, first you got to make it, then you got to beat whoever you play in the first round before we start worrying about who you’re playing in the uh, division series. Yeah. I mean, odds are they’ll be in that 36 bracket, right? So they would if they win the wild card, they go to Seattle. Yes. To start the ALDS. Mhm. And if you win that, then you’re winning whoever survives out of the the three AL East teams most likely. Yeah, probably. Yeah. Yeah. Um let’s see. Uh Oliver says, “Best case scenario, school has to pitch Sunday.” We’ve talked about that. Um too much torque. watched the Twins Rangers game yesterday. Rangers did not look good. Got shut out by the Twins. And they’ve lost what, eight of nine, I think. The Rangers. Yeah. If if you’re a team that’s out of it, I it’d be hard for me to to focus this weekend, right? I am thinking about that Sunday night flight out out of Cleveland. Unfortunately, you can’t fly direct anywhere, so you’re probably stopping in Miami on your way to Aruba. I guess um I’m Yeah, it’d be hard. I’m just I’m just trying to get these games done and that’s right move on to my you just you know you just got eliminated somewhat recently like some of these bad teams that have been bad for a while maybe they got a little juice to try to be a spoiler or something. Yeah, the Rangers they don’t care about being a spoiler, right? Like what’s the difference between they’re 80 and 79? Like I guess if you’re Bruce Bochi, you’re probably saying like guys we can have a winning season. Let’s go. Yeah. Does it make a difference if you win 82 or 80? No. Jason says, “Tonight feels like a must-win given all the scenarios you both laid out. Lighter threw seven innings, two hits, 10ks versus last time, as you mentioned, Zach, as well. Makes me nervous.” Yeah, I mean, listen, Lighters got the good uh pedigree and he’s kind of put it together, especially the second half of the year. He’s pitched well. Uh it’s not far from a gimme here. Slate Sakone has been awesome. His last three starts, last three starts of the year is 087. Yeah. Six hits allowed in 20 and two/3. That’s amazing. Wouldn’t he I mean, he’d be your number three starter in the playoffs right now, right? Wouldn’t he? I think so. I Cantillo is like tempting to me. I I’d go Sakone only because Canillo has bullpen experience and there’s a little part of me that would worry that he just wouldn’t have command in a start and you’d be trying to pull him in the second inning. Uh but I would I’d like piggyback those two, I think. But in the first round, you mean? Yeah. Yeah. Because in the in the in if they get to the ALDS, I’m not I’m not a fan of of guys on three days rest. I think generally it’s a bad idea if you have options. And I in the ALDS, let’s say you’re able to set up your rotation again. Uh I would go I would use Cantillo as my fourth starter. I would too, right? And Logan Allen, you have an off day after game four, so you can have a quick hook and empty your bullpen if you need to, right? Uh Logan Allen, I mean, if Logan Allen’s not starting, is he even on the playoff roster? Probably. Like the way I mean, Josh Tomlin, right, was on those those really good teams playoff rosters. Remember the the game where Lindor hit the grand slam? Yep. And they beat the Yankees in extra innings. Josh Tomlin got the win last night or that night. He went two scoreless. So, right. Uh, yeah, you’d throw Logan Allen on there, you know, if probably long relief is what you’re looking for. Yeah. Uh, Parker Messi will not be in the rotation obviously in the playoffs. Uh, let’s see. Mark said, “Last year it seemed like Vote was aggressive in going to the pen. Will he revert to that approach this weekend to get a win if necessary, or will he continue to ride with the starters?” He’s been aggressive this year overall. It’s It’s different. He actually talked about this yesterday. He was he was aggressive with the pen because you had a deeper, more reliable pen, right? Like you could get five outs out of Cade Smith in the fifth inning if you had to and turn it over to, you know, Haron Smith, Gatis, and Class A last year could cover six innings if you needed it to. This year, if you look at the key to this stretch, the starters are going deep. So, it’s saving the bullpen, right? So, you’re not burning out Cade Smith and all those guys. Um, they’ve averaged, I know, going into last night’s game when they’ve been on this crazy streak of two runs or fewer by the starters for 19 straight games, they were averaging six and a third innings per start. Nobody else in the league is doing that, especially this time of year. Starters are going five, right? So, that’s helped immensely. So, it’s been, you know, the question. Last year, it was like, okay, Ben Lively’s on the mound and Cade Smith’s ready in the pen. Who do I trust more for a big spot? You trust Kate Smith more, right? This year it’s like, all right, Cantillo or Sakone is cruising and I could warm up Fesa for this spot, right? Like, who do you trust more? So, yeah, the the equation has changed here. Yeah. And you you’re obviously right about that, but also the starting pitching has been a lot better, especially down the stretch. Yeah, last year it was their Achilles heel. I think people forget that they were leaning on Carlos Carrasco and you know and Lively and guys like that. Uh James says, “Do you guys think we can maintain being hot going into the postseason or yesterday’s game was a snap back to reality?” Guess we’ll find out this weekend. Yeah, I mean it was one loss and it’s they lost four to two, right? Like it’s Yeah, that happens. So, but you can’t they have a good mindset about it. I’ll tell you what, they they had music playing in the clubhouse last night. You don’t see that after losses. They did it Sunday after they lost the finale in Minnesota, too. But if you would have gone into the series and said the Guardians are going to win two or three, everybody listening to this show right now would have signed up for that, right? So, yeah. I mean, they just have to take care of business. You can’t We talk about scenarios. So we talk about what they need to do the next few days. They can’t and don’t think like that. Yeah. They are looking at Jack Lighter and saying, “How do we beat this guy?” Right. Right. Right. Because if you allow yourself to think about, you know, uh oh, what if one loss turns into three and then we’re panicking going into Sunday? Like that’s Yeah. You can’t be a professional athlete if you’re if you’re going to think that way. Final comment from Celich. Whatever happens, this Guardians team has filled our hearts with happiness and bliss this past month. Go Guards. This show is super cool. Thank you, Cele. There you go. A nice nice pallet cleanser. It has been. It’d be a bummer. Even I I you know, like I’m not expecting them to win the World Series, but at this point, it would be a major bummer if they don’t don’t make the playoffs. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but it would be a super bummer. I kind of think it’d be a bummer if they don’t win a wild card series, too. That’s true. At least get to the division series. Get to the division series. Yeah. We’ve talked, you know, amongst ourselves as media of just like, well, what if it’s Tigers Guardians again next week and the Tigers just win the series? Yeah. Then we’re like, well, what was the point of all this over the last month? I’m with you. Like, if they lose to, you know, Seattle in the DS, I mean, I can’t kill the team for that in this scenario. But yeah, I feel like this team has shown the fight to that they’re going to push whoever they play. You would hope, right? Like that’s why I think like if you just win the wild card series and like the Mariners are really good. If you if you give them a really good series and you fall short like there’s nothing people are going to be disappointed, but it’s crazy like the expectations have changed. we’ll come on here and we’ll talk about hey you know great effort and like what a what a job over the last six weeks to to change the the tone of this season and we’ll give it a a week and then we’ll talk about how well if you would have done more made more moves or done this or that maybe would have beaten the Mariners that’s coming but we can table that and as the commenters said like we can we can enjoy and appreciate what they’ve accomplished here uh because it’s it has it’s been fun it’s been fun to follow and you know it’s It’s fun to have the dream. You’re having the dream right now. Yeah. You You want to see how far they can take it and it’s You can tell how much they’re enjoying it, too. So, it was it was a miserable few months there. It’s like we can all pause the misery and the frustration. Let this play out and then re-evaluate. Yeah. Uh somebody asked me yesterday like if the Guardians won the World Series, what would like where would this rank? And I said this to me and obviously that’s a big long shot. To me this would be the most and again I could be prisoner of the moment and maybe I’m not thinking of something. I I said it would be the most like unlikely championship ever in sports that I could think of. I I mean that I still can’t think of anything. I mean you want to say well the Cavs were down 3-1 but that’s that’s just a couple of games. Yeah. Also, they had LeBron James and Kyrie because that’s that’s the thing to me is I got to a point this season, you know, they had made the ALCS last year, so we’re all thinking you have to do that again to prove you’re a good like you have to take a step forward, right? And it got to a point this season where I think I just resigned myself to the fact that this team just doesn’t have the talent, right? And I still believe that in many ways because look at the lineup. Yes. So to me, it’s not a team that was, oh, they’re underperforming and they just turned it on. No, this is a team that is short-handed and is even more short-handed because of what’s happened off the field, right? Um, and therefore, yeah, it would be an incredible I mean, it’s a movie script, right? Like it’s Yes. Yeah. It’s even just this run in itself. We I think we talked about this, but Bull like when they won 22 in a row in 2017. Yeah. That team was loaded. Yeah. Like you never expect a team to win that many games in a row. But right if you knew a team was going to win that many games in a row, not that shocking that it was that team, right? a team making history like this team has, never would have guessed that it’s the 2025 Guardians who we watched for five months. Yeah. Wouldn’t have thought it’s this team that’s doing this. Yeah. Three weeks ago, if you said the Guardians going to win 17 out of 20, I would have said, “We got to get you drug tested, Zach. What What the hell are you talking about?” And that’s exactly what happened. So now they got to finish the deal. They probably have to win two. I say they have to win two. Uh well, if they win two, they clinch a playoff spot, right? But I mean I Tigers and then Tigers would have to Tigers would have to sweep. Tigers are not sweeping Boston. There’s no way that’s happening. Famous last word. Sure. But uh you know I’d like to see in a perfect world they they win the next two, Tigers lose the next two and and you’re locked in before Sunday and any thought of using Gavin Williams on Sunday because he’s clearly their ace right now. I mean there’s no doubt about it. Uh, you know, Bibbey’s pitching better. Obviously, he’s been really good in September, but Gavin Williams is their is their ace, and you want him going no matter who you’re playing uh Tuesday in that first playoff game. Yeah, I agree. And he’d have a week of rest. Yeah, be great. All right, folks. Thanks everybody for joining us again. We will uh we’ll let you know about the next Ultimate Cleveland Guardian show because we got to see what happens. You never know. Maybe uh maybe we’ll end up doing one this weekend. Crazier things have happened. I don’t know what Zach’s schedule looks like Sunday morning, but I’m just having thoughts pass through my head. We shall see. So, think about that. Uh but we’ll keep you up to date on social media about what we’re going to do. And obviously, if the Guardians make the playoffs, we will have an Ultimate Cleveland Guardian show at some point after every playoff game. Which Cleveland Detroit Yeah. matchup are you most most looking forward which you know you’ve got Tigers and Guardians trying to sort out the AL Central and then you got I’m way more I’m way more than than I am for the barge game. Uh I I don’t think the Browns can beat Detroit. I know they they stunningly beat Green Bay uh but everything had to go right for them defensively for that to happen. I just think the offense is too inep to beat Detroit on the road. So, and I’m I’m full baseball. Say that about baseball, too. What’s that? You could say that about the baseball side of things, too. Well, the offense is too inept to beat the Tigers on the road. Yeah. Well, uh it’s not Well, they did it last week. I don’t know. They did. They swept them last week. But at least Yeah. Right. The the Guardians and Browns I mean the Guardians and Browns are similar, right? Great defense, great on one side, been terrible on the other. But, uh, as terrible as the Guardians are offensively, I have more faith in their offense right now than I do in the Browns offense. And you can’t me you can’t mention Detroit, Cleveland, and football without mentioning that Terk Scubble is the worst long snapper I’ve ever seen. That was unbelievable. Supposedly, he’s done that before. He did it in Miami and he said it went the same way. I What was he think I mean, what are you thinking in that situation? That’s just crazy. Eat the ball. Eat it. By the way, class move by him going with Vote to the the hospital. That’s a that’s a big time class move by him. I really respect that. Yeah. Yeah. Both guys. I mean, Vote Vote was like, hop in my truck. Let’s go. Yeah. I mean, you know, you could tell he was just shattered by that. That’s awful. Any update? I know Fry has a broken nose and some, you know, he doesn’t need surgery. Have anything new in the last like 12, 14 hours? No. So he’s he’s he’s home here and he paid a visit to the clubhouse pregame yesterday. Good. Um so his family’s here that his wife is is due I think in in like a month. So they they’ve got a lot going on but yeah. Well, best of luck to them because that was horrible. I mean that’s you know you rarely see that because he was you know you bunt things so you squared up. Mhm. You know, a lot of times guys don’t get hit in the face very often at the plate. When you do, it’s usually kind of from the side. It might be more of a glancing blow. This was I mean, straight on in the middle of the face. I mean, horrible. But all right. Anyway, thanks everybody for joining us. Stay stay tuned for what we’re going to do next. I’ll be on the Ultimate Cleveland Guardian show today. Zack, you got anything coming out today at the Athletic? We’ve got a ton of stuff up there. Uh Steven Quan penned a first person piece on the athletic if you want to go check that out. We’ve got I don’t know there’s just a lot of go there’s a there was Jose Ramirez feature recently just who the heck are these guys all sorts of stuff. I’ve lost count of how many stories we it’s it’s too much. I’m tired but it’s fine. All right enjoy uh a couple hours of rest before you go I guess before we go to the ballpark. We’ll talk to you next time on the Ultimate Cleveland Guardian Show.

The Cleveland Guardians dropped their final regular season match up with the Tigers but remain in control of their own destiny to win the AL Central with 3 games to go with the Rangers in Cleveland this weekend.

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