Cleveland Sports Forum

Guardians shenanigans

Can Gallagher to 7-day concussion IL
Tim Herrin recalled
Daniel Norris DFA
Zack Collins promoted from AAA

Zack Meisel
@ZackMeisel
·
12m
Updates:
*Tonight's game postponed. Doubleheader tomorrow starting at 4:10.
*Guardians are expected to call up James Karinchak tomorrow and place Michael Kelly on the IL.
*His name is Cam, not Can.

rusty2 wrote: Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:59 pm Guardians shenanigans

Can Gallagher to 7-day concussion IL
Tim Herrin recalled
Daniel Norris DFA
Zack Collins promoted from AAA

Sso, who b the 2nd catcher? Is Fry back yet?

Zack Collins is a catcher.

GUARDIANS

‘He played the game because he loved it’ Manny Ramirez’s career made lasting impression on teammates, coaches

Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 5:30 a.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio —

If Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga and Kenny Lofton were the headliners from the great Cleveland Indians teams of the mid-1990s, then Manny Ramirez was the showstopper.

An insanely talented hitter who garnered a reputation as a wild card on the bases and in the outfield, Ramirez is remembered by his teammates, coaches and fans as one of the greatest players ever to wear a Cleveland uniform. For that he will be inducted into the Guardians Hall of Fame on Saturday during a pregame ceremony at Progressive Field.

Ramirez’s list of accomplishments during his eight seasons in Cleveland is impressive.

A member of two American League Champion and five Central Division Champion teams.

Runner-up for the 1994 AL Rookie of the Year.

Four All-Star game appearances.

Three Silver Slugger awards while in a Cleveland uniform.

All-time franchise leader in slugging percentage (.592) and OPS (.998)

Third all-time in franchise home runs (236).

Fourth all-time in franchise on-base percentage (.407)

Eighth all-time in franchise RBI (804)

Ninth all-time in franchise extra-base hits (484).

His 165 RBI during the 1999 season is a franchise record.

But for all of his achievements at the plate, the mercurial outfielder was not without his share of outlandish moments.

In 1995 he left a paycheck in his cowboy boots during a game at Texas.

During a traffic stop, Ramirez tried to talk his way out of a ticket by offering the officer tickets to an Indians game. After that did not work, he made an illegal U-turn and was issued a second ticket.

Unfamiliar with the salaries of working sports reporters, Ramirez and Julian Tavarez once asked Cleveland beat writers Paul Hoynes and Sheldon Ocker to loan them money to purchase motorcycles.

Ramirez once insisted on taking a bat that was obviously broken to the plate despite protests from his teammates. He used the bat to hit a home run.

Known for going through his teammates’ lockers and “borrowing” pants, cleats and other gear even if it did not fit, Ramirez often had clubhouse attendants scrambling to replace items for upset players. Longtime Cleveland clubhouse manager Tony Amato recalls that often, Ramirez found himself to be a scapegoat.

“Every time we lost something or a player couldn’t find what they were looking for, we’d tell them Manny took it,” Amato said.

But none of Ramirez’s eccentricities could overshadow the kind of teammate he was, or the type of talent that he put on display every day. Carlos Baerga, who played alongside Ramirez for parts of five seasons in Cleveland, described Ramirez as one of the best teammates he ever took the field with .

“He made us laugh with so many of the things he did, and he always came with the same attitude,” Baerga said. “I’ve never see anybody that worked harder.”

Baerga ranked Ramirez’s work ethic among some pretty legendary company.

“Manny, Albert Bell and Julio Franco,” Baerga said. “For them, it was about being prepared to hit every day. It was unbelievable.”

Baerga said Ramirez would arrive at the ballpark at 10 a.m. on game days, work out, watch video and then go home to sleep and get a bite to eat. Then he would come back to the park and do it all again before the game.

“Not too many players do that,” Baerga said. “It was amazing to watch.”

Baerga said Ramirez never cared about individual awards or accolades. When the two were teammates in Boston in 2002 Ramirez sent clubhouse attendants to pick up his Player of the Week and Player of the Month Awards.

“Manny was a guy that never played the game for trophies or to win awards,” Baerga said. “He played the game because he loved it.”

Guardians assistant hitting coach Victor Rodrίguez worked with Ramirez and David Ortiz in Boston. He said Ortiz talked about Ramirez every day, giving him credit for a lot of the success he achieved in his Hall of Fame career.

“Manny did things the right way and David learned to do things the right way by looking at Manny,” Rodrίguez said.

Ramirez’s work between games is what stands out to Rodrίguez. He said working with Ramirez made him a better coach.

“Looking at him and the way he went about his business taught me a lot about teaching hitting and the importance of having a routine and staying consistent with it,” Rodrίguez said. “I saw Ramirez do it and I saw Ortiz do it. I see José Ramírez do it now, and that’s the reason they are so good.”

Guardians manager Terry Francona ranks Ramirez among the best right-handed hitters he has ever seen along with Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols. When Francona arrived in Boston, Ramirez was already an established power threat with a wild streak.

“He was almost like a savant,” Francona said. “When he left the batters box, all bets were off. You were just hoping that when he got to first, he made a left. But in the batterers box, man, he was light years ahead of most of the other guys.”

Francona recalled watching Ramirez going through drills that tested his hand-eye coordination and pitch recognition ability in the clubhouse at Fenway Park.

“He would stand like he’s going to hit, and they had a hoop with colored and numbered balls that they would spin to him and he’d reach out,” Francona said. “When they threw it, they would say to him ‘yellow’ or ‘eight.’ There were days when he would just grab that certain number, and I’d be like, ‘He’s locked in.’ It was unbelievable. I don’t know how he could do it. It was incredible.”

Kenny Lofton patrolled center field next to Ramirez for seven seasons at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. He described Ramirez as “very raw” when he reached the big leagues. The Gold Glove Award-winner knew that catching the ball was not always on Ramirez’s mind.

“Like Albert (Belle), both of ‘em, they thought about hitting,” Lofton said. “Defense wasn’t the first thing they thought about. It wasn’t the first thing they tried to work on, but over time Manny tried to learn things about the outfield. It still wasn’t his strong suit, but as he got older, he tried to work on it more. I give him credit for that. He wanted to hit. That was the bottom line.”

Lofton recalled the time during spring training that Ramirez hit three home runs in a game while borrowing bats from three different teammates for each plate appearance.

“He picked up (Wayne) Kirby’s bat, I think he used an (Alvaro) Espinoza bat and somebody else’s,” Lofton recalled. “But he did not use his own bat. He was that type of player. It was just amazing how talented he was. A lot of guys needed certain bat weights. He just basically grabbed whatever out of the bat rack and hit a home run.”

Ramirez’s uncanny ability to come through time and time again in the clutch was something that stuck with Baerga, as well.

“He was one of those guys that stepped on the field and you wanted him to hit in the eighth and ninth inning of a tight game,” Baerga said. “That was the guy that we wanted.”

It was a presence that stayed with Ramirez throughout his career. Francona recalled a walk-off win against the Angels when the two were in Boston and Ramirez called his shot.

“We were at Fenway and the game must’ve been in extra innings,” Francona said. “He was in the hole and he was going up the steps and he just looked at me and said ‘It’s time to go home.’ When he said it to me, I looked at (bench coach Brad Mills), I said, goddamn. He hit the ball almost to the turnpike off of (Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez). And I remember thinking, ‘Goddamn man, he didn’t do that all the time.’”




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HIGH SCHOOL DAYS



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Noah Syndergaard Gets Candid On His Recent Struggles


August 17, 2023

By Andres Chavez

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Noah Syndergaard returned from Tommy John surgery in 2021.

Unfortunately, his high-end velocity never returned.

He went from a pitcher who sat in the 97-98 mph range to one who struggles to hit 94, and that evidently affects his performance.

After a decent 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 but was traded to the Guardians after posting a 7.16 ERA in LA.

His brief time with the Guardians hasn’t been much better, as he has a 5.06 ERA in four outings and 21.1 frames.

He has alternated good with bad starts with the Guards, with a bad one coming on Wednesday.

In that game, against the Cincinnati Reds, he allowed six runs (five earned) in 4.1 innings, with eight hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

After the game, via Bally Sports Cleveland, he explained that he had some issues gripping the ball, which led to his changeup and slider being affected.

However, he said words that carry some deep meaning and show how hard he is struggling from the mental side, too: he is not having fun out there right now.


After a shaky start in Cincinnati, Guardians right-hander Noah Syndergaard opened up on how much he loves baseball and how it's been difficult to not be his usual self on the mound.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1691995287349256357

He was visibly affected by his poor performance, and it’s hard not to feel bad about the guy.

After all, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball from 2015 to 2019, back when he was with the New York Mets.

He clearly wants to help his team and put up good numbers, but MLB is often unforgiving with pitchers who lose their stuff after surgery.

Hopefully, he can right the ship eventually, but it’s not looking good at the moment.

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A Young Guardians Rotation Is Dominating MLB

August 17, 2023

By Andres Chavez

The Cleveland Guardians have no rivals when it comes to drafting (or signing) and developing a young pitcher.

The organization has the skills and the resources to produce competent starters every year.

This is fantastic from several points of view: there is always a capable starter ready as a replacement, and it also maintains costs since rookies are under team control for six generally affordable seasons.

The numbers say that Cleveland’s rotation has been the best in MLB since the All-Star break, with a 2.63 ERA.




This is the complete ranking, per Codify Baseball:

Starter ERA since the All-Star Break:

2.63 CLE
3.18 TOR
3.49 TEX
3.56 PHI
3.61 SD
4.09 LAD
4.12 TB
4.20 MIL
4.29 HOU
4.31 SEA
4.36 KC
4.37 BAL
4.38 CIN
4.40 NYM
4.41 SF
4.43 MIN
4.52 DET
4.61 COL
4.62 STL
4.63 BOS
4.66 LAA
4.91 MIA
4.96 ARI
5.16 OAK
5.17 ATL
5.34 CWS
5.49 CHC
5.65 WSH
5.99 NYY
6.20 PIT

The next-best team, the Toronto Blue Jays, have a 3.18 ERA.

Perhaps the most impressive development about the Guardians is that they don’t even have their two best pitchers healthy.

Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie are both on the injured list, yet their replacements have proven to be just as good.

It’s also fair to remember that the team traded Aaron Civale.

At the moment, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, Xzavion Curry, and Noah Syndergaard comprise the rotation.

The first three have been among the best rookies this season: Williams boasts a 2.80 ERA; Allen is at 3.33, and Bibee has a healthy 2.90 mark.

Then we have Curry, who is not a brilliant prospect like the first three but has contributed a nice 3.39 ERA.

Syndergaard is clearly not a prospect and has lost a lot of his former luster, but for a backend starter, he is acceptable.

The Guardians might or might not make the postseason, but if they don’t, their offense is to blame, not their starting pitching.

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What Are We Learning About the Cleveland Guardians?

Wins are great, but, I thirst for knowledge

By Quincy Wheeler Aug 19, 2023, 1:00pm EDT

“All people, by nature, desire to know” - Aristotle

Cleveland Guardians fans narrowly avoided the lowest point in the 2023 season, and in recent memory, when the Guardians, led by their rookie hitters, came back to win a 4-1 game against the Detroit Tigers to split a double-header on August 18th. While I was, of course, thrilled to see the team win, I was reminded about how much of the rest of this season is simply about gaining knowledge about the players on this roster.

We are watching hitters like Tyler Freeman, Gabriel Arias, Brayan Rocchio, Bo Naylor, Will Brennan, Oscar Gonzalez and Andres Gimenez figure out how to be consistent big leaguers every day. We are watching rookie pitchers like Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen, Xzavion Curry, and Tim Herrin figure out how to get major league hitters out when they have their best stuff, their worst stuff, and everything in between. It’s a time where, given the strength of the rest of the Guardians’ schedule, we fans should be looking for answers on the team of the future rather than living and dying with the standings.

Is that ideal? No, it’s not. It’s bitterly disappointing to take a step back after last season. Is it also reality? Yes, I’m confident it is. While I’d never dismiss a miraculous run to end the season, I expect this team to struggle a bit in the next 7 weeks. But, I am focused on finding things out. Things like...

-The Guardians Need More Home Runs

Cleveland just doesn’t hit home runs. Especially since Josh Naylor was injured. Jose Ramirez and Andres Gimenez have taken steps back with their homers. Aside from an occasional Gabriel Arias moonshot, no one else really seems consistently capable of hitting them. May Jose and Gimi start smacking balls out again. May Kyle Manzardo get healthy and start mashing. May George Valera continue his recent hot stretch. May Brayan Rocchio rediscover his Akron stroke. May Bo start making more consistent contact. May Ramon Laureano of juiced ball and juiced muscles of 2019 miraculously re-emerge. And, may the Guardians front office aggressively go after a trade for a hitter like Taylor Ward, or perhaps Brent Rooker. Some right-handed pop still seems like a big need.

-The Battle to become Gimenez’s Double-Play Partner is Electric

Brayan Rocchio broke a six-strikeout streak with a great at-bat and a veteran swing to get the Guardians on the board Friday night.

Gabriel Arias followed in the same inning with an RBI single, and then an incredible throw showing off his cannon of an arm.

Tyler Freeman has had a rough couple past games, but after some time on the IL, we can’t read too much into those performances. He’s still got a ton of promise.

Then, we can follow Juan Brito, Angel Martinez and Jose Tena in Akron and Columbus and wonder what the future holds for them when they succeed.

Every night, no matter the final results, the saga of who will be starting opening day at shortstop (or second base if Gimenez is moved) takes another turn and I find it must-watch television.

-The Guardians Will Go as far as their Young Pitching Takes Them

It’s hard for me to imagine Guardians’ fans not looking forward to seeing what Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen and even Xzavion Curry are going to do each time they take the mound. These guys are all not only talented young arms, they are absolute BULLDOGS who are unphased by carrying a young team’s playoff chances on their shoulders. I think we all know that if there is a World Series run in this franchise’s near future, it will depend on this group of pitchers, as well as whatever Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Joey Cantillo, Cal Quantrill and Daniel Espino are able to offer.

-The Guardians Need More Strikeouts in the Bullpen

Cleveland has the 26th lowest strikeout rate in the majors as a pitching staff. Bibee, Williams and Allen are striking out their share, so it’s pretty evident the strikeout drought that’s been taking place in the bullpen, leading to some bad luck losses and some well-deserved losses from balls put in the seats instead of the catcher’s glove. Will Trevor Stephan and Emmanuel Clase find some K’s with a splitter and slider, respectively, thrown consistently in the zone? Can Karinchak get rejuvenated by a return to the majors? Can Herrin find consistent control? Is Franco Aleman in Akron REAL? A solution may need to be sought outside the organization for 2024, otherwise.

There are so many good questions about the Guardians right now, all of which we are beginning to acquire some useful knowledge leading toward answers. Aristotle would be proud, so don’t let the losses a young team stumbles into get you down, my young philosophers.

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CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Former Cleveland Indians stars Dale Mitchell, Manny Ramirez to be enshrined in Guardians Hall of Fame

Author: Tyler Carey

Mitchell helped the club to its most recent World Series title in 1948, while Ramirez was a key member of the Tribe's beloved 1990s teams.

Mitchell helped the club to its most recent World Series title in 1948, while Ramirez was a key member of the Tribe's beloved 1990s teams.

CLEVELAND — This past March, the Guardians announced they would be adding at least one new player to their Hall of Fame for the first time since 2016. We now know that this year's ceremony will include not just one, but two honorees, as the club gets set to induct a pair of the best outfielders in its history.

Former Indians stars Dale Mitchell and Manny Ramirez will both be enshrined in the Guardians Hall of Fame before the Aug. 19 home game against the Detroit Tigers. Mitchell helped the club to its most recent World Series title in 1948, while Ramirez was a key member of the Tribe's beloved 1990s teams.

A proud son of Oklahoma, Mitchell signed with Cleveland out of college in 1946 and made his debut with the Indians later that year, quickly becoming one of the best contact hitters in the American League. He enjoyed perhaps his best season in 1948 with a .336 average and 203 hits, helping the organization to what remains its most recent World Series championship.




Mitchell held down left field in Cleveland Municipal Stadium for the better part of the next decade, leading the league with 203 hits and 23 triples in 1949 while making a pair of AL All-Star teams both that season as well as in 1952. He hit over .300 six times and was also a reserve on the Tribe's 1954 pennant winner before eventually being sent to the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1956 campaign, playing 19 games there before retiring with a .312 lifetime batting average. Mitchell will be inducted into the Guardians Hall of Fame posthumously, having died in 1987 at the age of 65.

Besides playing in a much different era, Ramirez path to Cleveland was much different from Mitchell's, as the Dominican Republic native was a first-round draft pick out of high school in 1991. After hammering his way through the minor leagues, the kid with the sweet swing was called up for good in 1993, finally earning the starting right field spot a year later as the Indians moved into the glistening Jacobs Field.



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The new ballpark ushered in a new age for the Tribe, and "Man-Ram" was right in the middle of it, beginning with his first All-Star nod in 1995 as the club made it back to the World Series for the first time since the Mitchell era. Over the course of eight seasons, Ramirez would make a total of four All-Star teams while hitting at least 30 home runs and batting .300 five times each and leading the league in slugging twice. In addition, his 165 RBIs in 1999 remain the most by any player in baseball since 1938, and he finished a close third in that year's AL MVP voting.

Over the course of his Indians career, Ramirez helped lift the team to five division titles and a pair of pennants, and his 236 homers are behind only fellow Guardians Hall of Famers Albert Belle and Jim Thome on the franchise's all-time list. Sadly, nothing lasts forever, and the slugger chose to leave Cleveland after the 2000 season and take a lucrative contract offer from the Boston Red Sox. He would receive mixed to negative receptions from Northeast Ohio fans for the rest of his career every time he returned as an opposing player.

Ramirez's success would continue in Boston with eight more All-Star appearances and a pair of World Series rings, and he also spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays before leaving MLB in 2011 with a .312 lifetime average and 555 home runs. However, his accomplishments were later tainted by multiple positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs, which led to more than 100 games worth of suspensions from the league. His steroid use is seen as the sole reason why he hasn't come close to election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his seven turns on the ballot, although there has been no concrete evidence linking him to illegal substances during his time in Cleveland.

The Indians/Guardians have enshrined 43 players and managers into their Hall of Fame since its inception in 1951, including 23 since 2006 following a 34-year hiatus. The club has also inducted eight executives, broadcasters, and others to its Distinguished Hall of Fame as contributors, most recently superfan drummer John Adams last year just months before his death at age 71.

As part of the Hall of Fame celebration, the first 12,500 fans through the gates at Progressive Field on Aug. 19 will receive a special Manny Ramirez bobblehead doll. Several of the team's past Hall of Fame inductees are also expected to be in attendance for the pregame ceremony, where Mitchell and Ramirez will have their plaques for Heritage park unveiled.

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Xzavion Curry Sets New Career Highs As He Continues To Increase Pitch Count For Guardians

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Xzavion Curry set new career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers.

TOMMY WILD 1 HOUR AGO

There's been a lot of talk about the Cleveland Guardians' rookie starting rotation. Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, and Logan Allen have all been tremendous and historically good this season.

But there's another rookie pitcher in the rotation who's been just as important for the Guardians.

That's Xzavion Curry.

Curry began the season fighting for a spot on the roster during Spring Training. Injuries early on in the season paved the way for him to get on the roster. He found a niche as Cleveland's long reliever coming into the game to pitch two, three, and sometimes four innings at a time.

This may not seem like a big deal, but Xzavion's ability to go the distance saved the arms in the Guardians' bullpen on multiple occasions.

The team continued to rely on Curry as the injuries kept piling on with Shane Bieber and Cal Quantrill going down. Every fifth day was deemed a "bullpen game" with Curry as the opening pitcher. Now Curry is just a part of the rotation and he's been great in his role.

Curry has made six starts and has an ERA of 3.60 since Bieber went to the injured list on July 15. The team has continued to help him work his pitch count up and now Curry has gone five innings or more in his last three starts.

He pitched an absolute gem on Friday night when the Guardians took on the Tigers. Cleveland was already down a few pitchers with it being the second half of a doubleheader, but that wasn't an issue.

Curry pitched 6.0 innings, struck out six batters, and only allowed one run to score. The solo run should never have counted, but Oscar Gonzalez and Will Brennan lost the ball in the outfield.

This is now a new career high in IP and SO for Curry as he continues to shine in his role.

Terry Francona complimented Xzavion after the game saying "he pitched his heart out" and that "he was terrific." Those are both understatements.

Curry credited his success against the Tigers to staying ahead in counts, throwing first-pitch strikes, and getting quick outs. All things great starting pitchers do effectively.

It's hard to imagine where the rotation and pitching staff would be without Xavion Curry. He's stepped up in the big moments and deserves more credit than he's being given.

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Lol leave it to Manny to say his most memorable homer in Cleveland was when he homered in his last game here. Shit Manny people REALLY do not want to think about that one.

Manning quickly re-directed him to the Eckersley blow.

Former Cleveland baseball player Manny Ramirez waves to the crowd during induction ceremonies into the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Game before a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Guardians on Saturday in Cleveland.



Akron Beacon Journal

Manny being Manny: Ramirez returns to Cleveland to be inducted into team's Hall of Fame

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal

Sun, Aug 20, 2023, 4:30 AM CDT

CLEVELAND — If you were wondering, the answer is yes: Manny is (still) being Manny.

Manny Ramirez, one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball history and a key member to the dynamic Cleveland lineups that made two trips to the World Series in the mid-90s, returned this weekend to the area where he received his start in the major leagues and began his career.

"It's an honor to come back to the house that I built, the Jake," Ramirez said of Jacobs Field, now Progressive Field. "I know they changed the name, but I'm happy to be back. I'm happy to be back in the city and the place that I grew up."

Ramirez, now 51, was inducted into the Guardians Hall of Fame Saturday night and accepted his spot in club history alongside former teammates Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga and Charlie Nagy. Before addressing the fans with a speech and a ceremonial first pitch, Ramirez entertained reporters in a 16-minute press conference, the likes of which only Ramirez could offer.

Among the topics discussed was the notion of "Manny being Manny," a common reference to some of the peculiar, more colorful antics Ramirez displayed while he played — like high-fiving a fan in Baltimore in the middle of a play or cutting off a throw from an outfielder while he, too, was an outfielder.



Former Cleveland baseball player Manny Ramirez answers a question during a news conference Saturday in Cleveland.



While he was being asked a question about "Manny being Manny," Manny himself had some questions about it.

"I wanted to ask you something about that," Ramirez, smiling, said to a reporter. "What does that mean? Because I never paid any mind to that. What's that?"

In a strange way, perhaps it's fitting he hasn't even been sure about what it means after all these years.

After being given some examples, like how he high-fived a fan at the wall in Baltimore, which has become a legendary highlight in baseball history as one of the funnier plays, Ramirez waved it off as anything but some pre-planned fun.

"I planned that before it happened," Ramirez said. "No, why [is that Manny being Manny], because I'm thinking ahead of the game. I'm thinking like nobody else."



Manny Ramirez slugged 555 home runs and drove in 1,831 runs over 19 seasons.



Terry Francona calls Manny Ramirez one of the most 'gifted' hitters he's ever seen

Ramirez could also just about hit like nobody else. For more than a decade, he was one of the most feared hitters in the game while playing with Cleveland and then Boston, where he won two World Series rings. Over his 19-year career, he finished with 555 home runs, 12 All-Star selections and was in the top four in MVP voting four times. In 1999, he set the all-time Cleveland RBIs record with 165, a record that still stands today.

And he said he's ready to step into the middle of the lineup if needed — today.

"Whatever it is, I'm ready to play," Ramirez said. "Just put me in the lineup. … I should be hitting third."

In fact, technically, he isn't done playing. Ramirez said he'll be playing in Prague next year, even at 51 years old. When asked if Terry Francona, who managed Ramirez in Boston, would put him in the lineup, Francona joked, "Wherever he wants."

"He's one of the most gifted hitters I've ever seen," Francona said. "He was almost like a savant. As a hitter, when he left the batter's box, all bets were off. Just hoping when he got to first, he made a left. But in the batter's box, man, he was light-years ahead of most of the other guys."

Home run tracker: Projecting when Jose Ramirez will pass 9 hitters ahead of him on Guardians' home run list, including Manny

For years, Ramirez and former Red Sox teammate David Ortiz were probably the last two hitters any pitcher would want to face in a key situation.

"I forget what year it was, we beat the Angels a couple years in a row, and we were at Fenway and the game must have been in extra innings," Francona said, recalling a moment he knew when Ramirez could come through. "He was in the hole and he was going up the steps and he just looked [and said], 'It's time to go home.' And when he said it to me, I looked at [bench coach Brad Mills], I said, 'Damn.' And he hit the ball almost to the turnpike. ... I remember thinking, 'S***.'"



Cleveland's Manny Ramirez heads for home to be congratulated by Jim Thome after hitting a sixth-inning home run against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle on Aug. 22, 1999.



Francona also detailed how Ramirez had a hitting and timing aide that was effectively a spinning hoop with wiffle balls attached and different numbers and colors written on the balls. A coach would call out a number or color as it spun, almost like soft toss, and Ramirez would have to grab one. Francona would occasionally watch Ramirez doing this drill before games. And at times, it told him some good things were on the horizon.

"When he was grabbing it, it was like, 'Look out, he's locked in,'" Francona said. "They also brought in this computer one spring … It had a bunch of lights and it was checking your reflexes and stuff. I thought I was good at that stuff, and they said he was just [off the charts]."



Former Cleveland baseball player Manny Ramirez, right, is embraced by former teammate Carlos Baerga, left, during induction ceremonies into the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Game before a game Saturday between the Detroit Tigers and the Guardians in Cleveland.


Manny Ramirez discusses the dominant Cleveland lineups in the 1990s

In terms of Ramirez's time with Cleveland in the '90s, it's almost crazy to think about how he began his career hitting near the bottom of the lineup, along with Jim Thome and others. But he said that time might have helped mold him in a positive way while he found his footing in the majors. Especially in lineups that included Thome, Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle and others, Ramirez felt he had to prove he should be there.

"Hey, I have to earn that spot," Ramirez said, speaking of the No. 3 or No. 4 spot in a lineup. "I think it was good for me because I didn't put a lot of pressure on myself, so it worked for me. … It was awesome, and I learned so much from those guys, how they go through their business and stuff like that."

Ramirez discussed some of the hitters of today who he likes to watch. Among them: Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Corey Seager. But also included on that list: Jose Ramirez.

"'The Little Manny,' Ramirez said of Jose Ramirez. "I'm the 'Big Manny.'"

Fight fallout: Jose Ramirez has reached out to Tim Anderson; Arias, Sarbaugh detail their experiences

Manny Ramirez was a source of inspiration for many hitters who now play in the big leagues. One of them is Guardians right fielder Oscar Gonzalez. Upon hearing that, Ramirez took a moment to reflect.

"When you hear something like that, it makes you proud," Ramirez said. "You're just playing a game and people are looking up to you for something that — you're not even thinking you're going to make somebody idolize you for what you do. But, hey, that's a great comment. He used to watch me and now I watch him, you know, [that's] how everything works."

Of course, Ramirez's career was stained by two suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs. That has kept him out of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He insisted that his omission doesn't bother him.

“Life is not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Ramirez said. “I want to be there, but my priority is something else. But it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen with time. But I’m not in a rush.”It's just Manny being Manny.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

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Guardians at a crossroads after series loss vs. Tigers

5:16 PM CDT

CLEVELAND -- Entering play on July 28, the Guardians’ playoff hopes were much different than they are today.

Then, Cleveland sat just 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Twins. It had a winning record at 52-51. Even at that time, this roster didn’t seem like a squad that could go the distance. But the American League Central title was still well within reach.

Now, after a rocky weekend that resulted in three losses in four games against the Tigers, capped by a 4-1 loss on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field, the Guardians own a 59-66 record and sit six games behind the Twins (65-60). The third-place Tigers (57-67) are just 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland.

“There are days [where] it feels like [a heated race],” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said before Sunday's game. “[But] there are days where we recognize that we have a long way to continue to build to where we want to be as a championship team. Admittedly, we certainly haven’t done our part yet to put ourselves in a position to make it feel that way. But I’m not sure the Twins have either.”

So let’s go back 23 days to July 28. Cleveland had just traded shortstop Amed Rosario to free up roster space for Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman and eventually Brayan Rocchio to get more playing time. That made sense, considering the team knew Rosario wouldn’t be in its long-term picture after he hit free agency this offseason. The Guardians needed to learn about their other internal options, continuing their constant balance competing now while planning for the future.

But then the Guardians traded away their hottest starter, Aaron Civale. The next day, Josh Bell was sent to Miami. Neither move should’ve been enough to take this club from a potential playoff team to a non-contender. Civale had a great July and was a much-needed veteran presence for a young rotation, but the starting five went on to thrive even after his departure. Bell may be finding more success with the Marlins, but he struggled to do that with Cleveland. Both of these moves helped plan for 2024, but in doing so, it was clear the clubhouse was rattled.

We remember how Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff flew to Houston the day after the Deadline to allow players to have discussions with them regarding the moves. Veteran staples in that room were shipped away as the club was trying to muster the special energy it had in 2022 to come alive in August. Whether these decisions ruffled too many feathers to allow that same spark to ignite will never be known. But the play since this time has certainly dipped.

Entering Sunday, the Guardians had the fourth-worst record in the Majors since July 28 (7-14), ahead of only the Angels (7-15), A’s (6-13) and Yankees (6-15). It didn’t get better on Sunday, as Cleveland lost the season series against Detroit, despite still having three games left on the schedule against its division foe. It marks the first time the Guardians have lost a season series to the Tigers since 2015.

The rotation hasn’t been a problem for the Guardians. Entering Sunday, Cleveland had the best rotation ERA since the All-Star break (2.93), and even with the bullpen ERA added in, it was the fifth-best mark in the Majors since July 28 (3.42). But in that span, the club averaged just 3.1 runs per game, which is 30th in MLB. On Sunday, the Guardians pushed one run across on a Ramón Laureano single.

“I think we go through periods of -- every team does -- [when] you’re trying to hit everything,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “We got in that mode a little bit.”

The hurdles this roster had to overcome were established long before the Trade Deadline. When the Guardians still sat around .500 at the end of July, it was clear it would be difficult for them to compete. It was more clear when the team continued to struggle against AL Central opponents, considering it's been the least competitive division in the Majors. The Guardians are just 18-21 against the Central.

It was apparent that it would be difficult for the Guardians to duplicate 2022 after the first half of the season, but it was harder to accept on July 28, when Cleveland sat just 1 1/2 games out of first place. Now, as the Twins’ lead grows larger, the reality of the Guardians' situation may start setting in.

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Cleveland Guardians present Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera with a personalized Gibson guitar with Cleveland Guardians players (L-R) Gabriel Arias, Jose Ramirez, Andres Gimenez and Brayan Rocchio before Sunday's game at Progressive Field. It was Cabrera's last game in Cleveland before he retires at the end of the season.John Kuntz, cleveland.com



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Cleveland Guardians gift Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera custom guitar

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Guardians honored Detroit’s retiring Miguel Cabrera on Sunday before his final game at Progressive Field.

Guardians third baseman José Ramírez presented the future Hall of Famer with a customized Gibson electric guitar with Cabrera’s image and number on it. Before accepting the guitar, the ever-playful Cabrera squared off with Ramírez to simulate his one-punch knockdown of White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Aug. 5.

“Congrats on a great career, Miggy!” the Guardians said in a Twitter post. “So happy you’ll never have to play here again.”

Cleveland’s Gabriel Arias, Andrés Giménez and Brayan Rocchio, Venezuelans like Cabrera, joined the presentation at home plate.

Cabrera is retiring after 21 years in the big leagues with 509 homers and 3,148 hits. He has accumulated a lot of those statistics at the Guardians’ expense.

Going into Sunday’s game, Cabrera, 40, is a career .308 hitter against Cleveland. He has more hits (282), home runs (50) and RBI (176) against Cleveland than any other team in his career.

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GUARDIANS

Guardians medical updates: Josh Naylor swinging the bat, taking ground balls

Updated: Aug. 20, 2023, 8:08 p.m.|Published: Aug. 20, 2023, 5:51 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, gave this Sunday morning update on the Guardians’ players who are on the injured list.

Right-handers Shane Bieber (right elbow) and Triston McKenzie (right elbow): “Shane and Triston are both out to 120 feet in their long-toss programs. They’ll continue that this week. The next step will be to transition to bullpens.”

DH-1B Josh Naylor (right oblique): “Josh is taking swings in the cage and taking ground balls.”

UT-C David Fry (left hamstring): “He is progressing really well. He’s done a lot of high-speed running. He’ll progress to a base-running program and full-team workouts early this week.”

C Cam Gallagher (concussion): “He’s doing well coming back from the concussion. He’s ramping up his activities and making progress.”

RHP Cal Quantrill (right shoulder impingement): In his rehab start for Class AAA Columbus on Sunday, Quantrill allowed six runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Triple-A Mets. He struck out three, walked three and allowed three homers in 84 pitches.

Antonetti, speaking before Quantrill pitched, was asked if he would be activated after Sunday’s start.

“We’ll have to see how he gets through today and then reassess,” said Antonetti. “But hopefully, he’s getting closer to his major league return.”

McKenzie has made just two starts this year. He went on the IL on June 14 after opening the season on the IL with a strained teres major muscle in his right shoulder.

Bieber made 19 starts before going on the IL on July 12.

“We still have to make sure to check all the boxes at each phase,” said Antonetti, regarding Bieber and McKenzie. “They’re both progressing well. Based on the trajectory they’re on, they’ll return at some point in September. Exactly when that may be is difficult to forecast.”

Class AAA Columbus plays until Sept. 24 and Class AA Akron plays until Sept. 18. That offers Bieber and McKenzie chances for rehab games on their way back to the big leagues.

Just how much they’ll be able to pitch, if they have no setbacks, is unknown.

“Exactly how many innings and pitches is hard to forecast,” said Antonetti. “Presuming that they continue on the path they’re on, they’ll be able to build up a reasonable workload and return to major league games.”

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