News and Notes: Wake up, Babe - It’s Draft Day and Big Christmas Came Early!

News and Notes for Sunday, July 14th, 2024

The Guardians will make the first pick in the MLB draft for the first time in franchise history at 7PM EST tonight!

Oh, and Jhonkensy Noel blasted a lefty reliever’s slider 110 mph, 429 feet in yesterday’s game:

This gave the Guardians a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish due to Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase’s fine work in the bottom of the 8th and 9th innings.

Gavin Williams was solid, going five innings, giving up one earned run and striking out two. Three walks was a little more than what you want. But, then Cade Smith struck out three and Nick Sandlin had a welcome return to throwing scoreless baseball, giving Big Christmas a chance to deliver a win.

Angel Martinez continued to show his worth with a home run. It was only 100.7 mph, tho. Sorry, neurf.

And Will Brennan and Andres Gimenez made a nifty teamwork play:

What’s left to do but wonder whom the Guardians will take in just a few hours?? Stay tuned to Covering the Corner throughout the day for our draft day thread, and for Brian Hemminger posting analysis pieces for each player taken. Also, relax and enjoy it, folks. Even if your guy doesn’t get picked, just assume Charlie Condon is Aaron Judge, Travis Bazzana is Chase Utley, JJ Wetherholt is Jose Ramirez, Konnor Griffin is Mike Trout, and Chase Burns is Bob Gibson and you’ll be happy.

Make sure you reread Brian’s past draft reviews:

https://coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/8/24187774/cleveland-guardians-2020-draft-review…

https://coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/12/24188682/cleveland-guardians-2021-draft-review…

https://coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/12/24189749/cleveland-guardians-2022-draft-review…

https://coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/13/24197100/cleveland-guardians-2023-draft-review…

Zack’s mock for CLE’s 1, 36, 48 & 84: https://coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/12/24196956/guardians-mock-draft-first-three-rounds

Quincy’s pros and cons of the top three most likely options: https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/9/24194425/pros-and-cons-for-the-top-three-most-likely-options-for-the-guardians-at-1-1

And our writer’s roundtable: https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2024/7/5/24192516/guardians-1-pick-roundtable-covering-the-corner-writers-talk-draft

Plus, finally, the Disgusting Baseball pod in which Brent (mostly) and Quincy scouted the top three picks: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-draft-coverage-condon-bazzana-and/id686650921?i=1000661543964