This Cleveland team is guarding 1st place in the A.L. Central by 7.5 games with aid from everywhere, even the Big Aristotle recently plugged the hole behind 2nd base after a 6-3 win over the Jays to light up the Jake. Tristen McKenzie, (cool name) a Cleveland starter who has been struggling to find location lately was coaxed by Shaq to sing. Only his song didn’t play but Kelly Clarkson; he didn’t shy away, how could he, Shaq said jump! Six or so of his teammates joined him on stage for a moment that’ll will be chiseled and carved in with so much emotion they’ll never forget. “If you go to the World Series I’ll come back, free of charge” the 4-time NBA Champ stated, challenge accepted!
The next day, Sunday, Tristen took the mound after 2 and 2/3’s before getting yanked on his last outing and still has not found his groove. Leading the league in walks (46) he struck out 6, walked 4, and allowed 3 earned runs in 3 innings of work before the rain delayed a bases loaded no outs Guards rally that led to both teams removing their starters. The kid is a beanpole (who’s your representative, beanpole Burton) but the God’s have blessed him with a thunderbolt out of his right arm, that curves. One pitch hit the grass out of many that bounced in the dirt to back, back-up catcher David Fry. Work on that follow through McKenzie; read it, roll it, hole it.
Watching this ball club in 2024 has been astonishing! Terry Francona was the bedrock of a small market team’s tenacity that finally had to retire, his health was an issue. And all the fanbase pulls for Tito’s well-being, he was/is definitely one of us. Replaced by 1st yr. manager and former player (2022) Steven Vogt has some kind of Phil Jackson Zen Master meets Kurt Russel’s Captain Ron Voo doo hoo doo going in the club house which has translated to the diamond and beyond. Really, how has this happened without a Shane Bieber in the rotation?
The last shall be first and first shall be the last because Bullpen Mafia is back Mr. Vaughn! Emmanuel Clase anchors the 9th with 100 plus mph of nastiness towering on the mound with a Moxy that says, ‘Let’s Go’; enter Sandman. The Guards are something ridiculous if leading in the 6th, 30 plus wins and 1 loss. I guess it isn’t crazy when Clase sits at 20 saves before July but I really like Hentges and Barlow, solid, trustworthy. It’s clear all these players are fellas and a unit; this is what a former catcher in Vogt brings and maybe overlooked with old man Willis.
But the caboose only looks good when the front of the house produces customer service in the form of runs, something Cleveland baseball hasn’t had since the 90’s. Today as I wait for 6:35 start time at Camden Yards (I believe to be the best MLB site, Cle’s was modeled on) I trip out seeing Jose and Josh hitting back-to-back crushing the stat sheet. RBI’s, Jose #2 (67) and Josh #5 (58). Homeruns, Naylor #4 (20) and Rameriez #5 (19); for the American League. And then there’s this left fielder lead-off guy.
Steven Kwan was gone for a spell on injured reserve but has come back with a thunder! The stat I keep hearing during the telecast is he has more 3 hit games than no hit games, like that! Watching him yesterday battling inside heater or slider high and tight, he dropped his hands (quick, quick bat) and a laser shot high into left behind in the count. Passing 2nd and halfway to 3rd he and others have been raising their arms with a one, two but it’s his presence in the batter’s box. He almost has this Ichiro approach and you can see the confidence daring the pitcher to keep throwing what the scouting report says. Steven is flirting with .400 only .010 points back! I’ll take that lead.
Sure, we have stars, we do, yes! But it’s this kind of play from your top guys that aid the other’s opening up. It seems like a shocker comes out of nowhere, like a Bo Naylor 2 run homer that looked as pretty as a baseball off the bat can be witnessed over the left center wall on the cheese that stunk in the middle of the plate. Josh’s brother can call a game and that shouldn’t be overlooked when you talk about the greatness that is Cleveland starting pitching, a staple, a how to on a budget.
I could go on, but I’ll save that for the next article because someone like David Fry, Will Brennan, or Angel Martinez (1st MLB hit last game) could shock the O’s in Baltimore. The Orioles are a legitimate pennant contender, and the Guards will be tested on the inner harbor sight of where Francis Scott Key penned the Anthem imprisoned by the British. The Guardians need to let the lead out after being fully loaded on that Shaq-Diesel with some rockets’ red glare. Because Cleveland is always at home when being brave.
(side note, there’s more verses to the National Anthem, didn’t know!)
