News and Notes: Guardians Leave Detroit with Tails Tucked Between Their Legs

News and Notes for Friday, July 11th, 2024

Welp... the Tigers scored 10 runs and the Guardians had three hits and three walks, while putting Austin Hedges in to pitch two innings. That tells you all you need to know about yesterday’s game.

I think all of us Guardians fans know that the team has been running on fumes since taking the first two games in Baltimore. Thankfully, they still managed to win a couple series at home and to avoid getting swept in both Kansas City and Detroit. But, obviously, there’s no guarantee a few days off will solve anything. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vogt gives guys like Jose Ramirez and David Fry the day off Sunday IF Cleveland can find a way to win the first game or two in Tampa Bay. He seems very mindful of the stress of everyday play.

Every team is dealing with it, though, so there are no excuses. Cleveland needs to bear down and find a way to get a series in Tampa and then come off the break strong and ready to resume their winning ways.

Matt wrote a great piece on Spencer Howard for us yesterday, and friend of the site Mike Mahoney had something ready for me if needed. Mike noted:

Because Howard is throwing an above average slider and changeup while throwing his well below average fastball over half the time, Cleveland may be able to maximize Howard by altering his pitch mix. I don’t believe any one of his four pitches is so bad they are not usable, but he should perhaps lean away from the heater if it continues to model as an unimpressive pitch. He is successfully locating an above average slider, so maybe asking him to spin it more often can get them somewhere.

Howard actually threw his curveball more than his slider yesterday. His changeup appeared to be his best pitch, but he had a lot of difficulty locating his breaking stuff. So, he didn’t last long and gave up four runs. Not sure I need to see him as a starter again but there was enogh there that I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him as a long relief guy for a bit.

Howard was immediately followed by Pedro Avila and Nick Sandlin getting ROCKED. And, so, that’s how we ended up with two innings of Austin Hedges pitching... who, of course, didn’t give up a run. Seems to me like Sandlin maybe needs a reset trip to Columbus.

Hey, one piece of good news, Bo Naylor hit a home run and now has a 125 wRC+ since June 1st.

In BIG NEWS, the Guardians finally demoted Gabriel Arias in order to get Will Brennan back from Columbus. I’m kinda surprised Brennan didn’t get more tune-ups, but Columbus got rained out so it may have been forecast related. Personally, I am happy to no longer be running the part-time Arias experiment, but he may very well return after the break. Time will tell.

The Vegas oddsmakers seem to think Travis Bazzana ends up in Cleveland.

For what it’s worth, Keith Law of the Athletic (who did nail the DeLauter pick in his mock) and Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs lean toward Bazzana going 1.1 in their latest mock drafts. Kiley McDaniel predicts Wetherholt at an underslot deal. Everyone I’ve read and listened to seem to believe that Charlie Condon, Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt are all justifiable picks at the first slot.

Antonio Urquidez provided JJ Wetherholt’s metrics from 2023. IF somehow one could guarantee his hamstring health, these metrics look like a justifiable 1.1 pick (especially considering he fixed his walk rate and chase issues in 2024).