The Athletic. 2021 & 2024 Ohio Sportswriter of the Year. Latest book: Cleveland Rocked, on the '95 Tribe. @SelbyIsGodcast. zmeisel@theathletic.com
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Some news of the personal variety...
A short tale from me about life, sports and family memories (and everyone please welcome Charlie Meisel to the active roster): theathletic.com/3319624/2022…
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José Ramírez said he was unaware the Guardians had completed a trade.
"Tell me."
"Lane Thomas."
"From the..."
"Nationals."
"Oh, OK, OK. Good player."
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"Did you lose weight this winter?"
José Ramírez: "I lost fat and increased muscle, so I have the same weight I finished at least season, but a different body."
"Is that so you can go 50/50?"
Ramírez: "I would love to do 100/100, but the game isn't easy. I'll do my best."
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Jose Ramirez, while walking by: “Too many questions!”
Reporter: “Do you have any answers?”
Ramirez: “No hablo Inglés.”
Reporter: “Hablamos español.”
Ramirez: “I speak Chinese.”
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Sure wonder what Carlos Carrasco — a high-risk individual who was diagnosed with leukemia last year and one part of a rotation recording historically great numbers so far this season — thinks about two fellow starting pitchers jeopardizing everything like this.
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I understand the national appeal of NYY-BOS, but for MLB not to grant HOU-CLE even one primetime game is a massive misstep. Grow the game by sharing its widespread talent, w/ two rosters loaded w/ stars like Lindor, Ramirez, Correa, Bregman, Altuve, Kluber, Bauer, Verlander, Cole
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The way things currently line up...
Mike Clevinger vs. Trevor Bauer
Wednesday in Cleveland.
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The Cleveland Guardians have played five postseason games.
They have won four of them.
Oscar Gonzalez, who wasn't even on the team's 40-man roster six months ago, has delivered the winning hit in three of them.
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Josh Naylor actually appreciated the Yankees' fans chanting "Who's your daddy" at him.
"That was awesome. That was so sick. That was honestly like a dream come true as a kid. ... The fact that I got that going throughout the whole stadium, I think that was sick."
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Terry Francona gave his annual team speech. He was so nervous he was drenched in sweat. He declined dinner w/ coaches last night so he could make edits. He made pasta, but it didn't fully cook and broke his tooth. He arrived at camp at 3:30am & spilled coffee all over the speech.
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Five years ago, Shane Bieber was a college walk-on, and only because another player went pro and opened up a spot for him. And now, he's striking out the side in the All-Star Game as a capacity crowd chants, "Let's go, Bieber!" An incredible story.
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Tarik Skubal visited David Fry in the hospital last night. So did Stephen Vogt and a group of Guardians. By all accounts, Fry was in good spirits. Fry is back home and his family is headed to Cleveland to be with him.
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The day Carlos Carrasco was diagnosed with leukemia, Jason Kipnis did some research and tried to help walk him through the prognosis over the phone. Carrasco has been in good spirits, has spent time around the team the last few weeks. He has been playing catch regularly, too.
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The AL Central standings on the morning of Sept. 9
1. CLE (70-65)
2. MIN (69-67) 1.5 GB
CWS (70-68) 1.5 GB
The AL Central standings now
1. CLE (86-67)
2. CWS (76-77), 10 GB
3. MIN (74-79), 12 GB
The Guardians absolutely sucked the soul out of the White Sox and Twins.
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Shane Bieber said Trevor Bauer texted him before the season to show him that the two of them had the same odds to win the Cy Young Award. Bieber: "I said, 'Why don't we go 2-for-2?'"
Mission accomplished.
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Francisco Lindor/Jose Ramirez this season:
.294/.381/.589 slash line, 52 HR, 127 RBI, 54 2B, 95 BB, 117 K, 31 SB
Aaron Judge/Giancarlo Stanton this season:
.278/.373/.538 slash line, 47 HR, 114 RBI, 36 2B, 101 BB, 250 K, 8 SB
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As a new father, I must say it's very dangerous to rock a baby as rapidly and vigorously as Josh Naylor just did.
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I know the Indians didn’t finish the job, but this moment, two years ago tonight, is still one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. What a year that was for the city Cleveland.
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In extra innings, Trevor Bauer had put cleats on just in case the Indians needed a pinch-runner, a pitcher, anything.
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ALDS pitching matchups
Game 1: Cal Quantrill vs. Gerrit Cole
Game 2: Shane Bieber vs. Nestor Cortes
Game 3: Triston McKenzie vs. Luis Severino
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The moment of the night: Carlos Carrasco joins his Indians teammates on the field during the Stand Up To Cancer ceremony. They all held up signs saying "Cookie," which the crowd chanted. A beautiful tribute.
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Jose Ramirez is the best Mario Kart player I’ve ever seen. He finished 1st (as Toad) on Moo Moo Farm, then used the secret shortcut to finish 1st on Koopa Troopa Beach. Then he looks at his competitor and slyly says, “Second place? That’s good.”
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Indians sporting "Defend Together" shirts that depict Cleveland skyline, with Cavs logo on one sleeve and Indians logo on the other.
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Terry Francona, on the Indians’ all-black uniforms: “What’s the slogan, ‘Let the kids play?’ Let the grown-ups look like morons.”
Francona joked that he isn’t going to make any pitching changes because he doesn’t want to be seen in public.
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It took 297 minutes.
It took 432 pitches.
It took six renditions of the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song.
But the Guardians' magical ride continues on to the ALDS. They're 26-6 in their last 32 games.
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The lockers for Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been cleared out in the Guardians’ clubhouse.
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The Cleveland Guardians have won the MLB Draft Lottery. They'll have the No. 1 pick for the first time next summer.
They had a 2.0% chance of landing the No. 1 pick.
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Most home runs by any MLB duo this season:
Jose Ramirez & Francisco Lindor: 58
J.D. Martinez & Mookie Betts: 57
Jose Ramirez & Edwin Encarnacion: 55
Francisco Lindor & Edwin Encarnacion: 51
Aaron Judge & Giancarlo Stanton: 50
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Best records in MLB since June 1:
Indians: 32-13
Nationals: 30-15
Braves: 30-16
Athletics: 29-17
Giants: 29-17
Red Sox: 29-18
Yankees: 28-18
Dodgers: 28-18
Astros: 27-19
Cardinals: 27-19
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The Cleveland Guardians finished the 2022 season with a 92-70 record, just as everyone expected.
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The Guardians are 36-17, which ties the best start through 53 games in the 124-season history of their franchise.
The other times they've started 36-17...
1995: reached the World Series
1954: reached the World Series
1920: won the World Series
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No one in Cleveland baseball history has more multi-homer games than José Ramírez. Not Albert Belle, not Jim Thome, not Manny Ramirez, not Rocky Colavito, not Jack Hannahan. Wild stuff.
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The Cleveland Guardians are AL Central champions.
Their comeback from 15 1/2 games out in the division is the largest by any team in major-league history.
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On Aug. 25, FanGraphs assigned the Guardians a 0.0% chance to win the AL Central.
On Sept. 10, FanGraphs assigned the Guardians a 0.1% chance to win the AL Central.
The Guardians now sit alone atop the AL Central and own the tiebreaker over Detroit with four games remaining.
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Adam Plutko with some strong words on how Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac can earn back their teammates' trust:
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Terry Francona’s reaction to being named the most handsome manager in the American League: “I figured the voters were probably Helen Keller and Ray Charles.”
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So the Cleveland Indians have climbed to within one game of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. Buckle up.
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Terry Francona: "This needs to be a starting place for us. This can't just be a good story this year. We need to take this and go, because I think we have a chance to have something really special."
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Well, this is a first. Trevor Bauer chucked the baseball from the mound over the CF wall before Terry Francona arrived at the mound to make the pitching change.
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First Cleveland home run of the season: Kyle Manzardo
First Cleveland triple of the season: Kyle Manzardo
First Cleveland mustache of the season: Kyle Manzardo
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Cleveland Guardians attendance through 38 home dates:
2022: 555,056
2023: 769,263
That's an increase of 38.6 percent year over year.
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The 2022 Guardians documentary will just be one hour of players dashing from first to third on a single. All this team does is create havoc on the bases. It's mesmerizing to watch... unless you're on defense.
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Kyle Manzardo is the first Cleveland hitter to slug a home run into the Allegheny River since PNC Park opened in 2001. He's the 51st player overall to do so.
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Best records in MLB:
1. Philadelphia Phillies: 51-26 (.662 win %)
2. Cleveland Guardians: 49-26 (.653)
3. New York Yankees: 52-28 (.650)
4. Baltimore Orioles: 49-28 (.636)
5. Los Angeles Dodgers: 48-31 (.608)
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Guardians have had 14 sellout crowds this season, their most since 2001 (the year their then-record 455-game sellout streak ended). They've surpassed 2 million in attendance for the first time since 2017. Good stuff, Cleveland.
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MLB players to hit 30+ HR in each of the last seven seasons:
Edwin Encarnacion
That's it.
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Emmanuel Clase over the last two months:
29 innings, 12 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 31 strikeouts
That's a 0.31 ERA. He's converted all 16 of his save chances, too.
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Cleveland's starting pitchers, through three games:
19 innings, 13 H allowed, 2 BB, 30 K, 1.89 ERA
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Would Yasiel Puig like to remain with the Indians beyond this season?
“I’d love to.”
Said he leaves all of that to his agent, but noted he’s loved playing with Lindor, Reyes, Ramirez, and that Santana has helped him become a better player and person.
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Shane Bieber's 2020 regular season is complete:
77.1 innings, 21 walks, 122 strikeouts, 1.63 ERA
Opposing hitters batted .167 against him.
That'll earn him the AL Cy Young Award, without question.
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Browns beat Panthers.
Guardians sweep Twins.
Cavs are still fun.
Crunch are back.
Cleveland is thriving.
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Sorry about this timing, Cleveland, but:
Francisco Lindor and Roberto Perez have won Gold Glove Awards. They're the first Indians teammates to do so in the same year since Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar in 2001
On Perez's long journey to a Gold Glove
theathletic.com/1346556/2019…
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Shane Bieber, so far, in 2020:
10 scoreless innings, 5 hits allowed, 1 walk, 21 strikeouts
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Sources: Carlos Carrasco is coming back to Cleveland on a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training. The 36-year-old pitched for the organization from 2009-2020.
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Austin Hedges this, Juan Soto that, but my attention is on this roster addition.
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Stephen Vogt teared up talking about the Guardians’ win tonight.
“I love these guys. They’re so much fun to watch. They love each other.”
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The Guardians have five All-Stars:
Steven Kwan (1st)
José Ramírez (6th)
Emmanuel Clase (3rd)
Josh Naylor (1st)
David Fry (1st)
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A Cliff Lee jersey? Not random.
A Cliff Lee No. 65 jersey? Well, he wore that number for his first 11 outings in Cleveland in 2002-03, but not his last 171 outings from 2004-09. Random. #RandomJerseySightings
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Here’s Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti sliding down the hill behind the Little League complex
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His organs were failing. Doctors feared the worst. Visitors left his hospital room with tears in their eyes.
Six months later, Leonys Martin can't stop smiling and can't wait for Opening Day.
“It teaches you to enjoy every single moment of your life.”
theathletic.com/830957/2019/…
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Cleveland play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton is one of 10 finalists for the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award, the Baseball Hall of Fame's honor for excellence in broadcasting.
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No. 1 pick Travis Bazzana will join the High-A Lake County Captains late next week.
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Cleveland has a franchise-record (and MLB-high) four Gold Glove winners: Steven Kwan, Myles Straw, Andrés Giménez, Shane Bieber.
They're the first American League team w/ 4 Gold Glove winners since 2003.
theathletic.com/3752691/2022…
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Indians players w/ multiple HR in a playoff game:
Manny Ramirez
Jim Thome
Roberto Perez
Perez is the only one to do it in the World Series
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When someone says the game situation doesn’t call for a Bryan Shaw appearance
Ryan Cortes
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David Fry once got bitten by a venomous snake. After five days of excruciating pain, the snake died.
David Fry can win Connect Four in three moves.
David Fry can kill two stones with one bird.
David Fry can slam a revolving door.
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Patrick Carney, Akron native and drummer for the Black Keys, will assume John Adams’ bleacher seat and drumming duties for the home opener on Monday. Adams, recovering from health issues, will miss the home opener for the first time in nearly a half-century.
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Tom Hamilton, voice of the Guardians, is one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Ford C. Frick Award, the HOF honor for broadcasting excellence. It's his fourth appearance on the final ballot.
Hamilton has been Cleveland's radio voice for 35 years. The winner will be revealed Dec. 11.
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Cade Smith's 12 strikeouts are the most by a reliever in MLB Division Series history.
He's the first Cleveland pitcher to appear in all five games of a Division Series.
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Three weeks ago, the Guardians and Royals were tied atop the AL Central.
Now, Cleveland's lead is 7.5 games. (There was a loud cheer in Cleveland's clubhouse when KC lost tonight.)
With one more CLE win or one more KC loss, the Guardians will clinch the division.
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Terry Francona: "What we’re really proud of is the first name of our team, which is Cleveland."
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when bobby bradley unbuttons his shirt, he hits opposite-field home runs
when i unbutton my shirt, i get asked to leave tgi friday's
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Will Benson learned he was being called up to the majors while he was in the place where many dreams are made: Taco Bell.
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🚨Francisco Lindor roster news:
Terry Francona: "We almost released him."
The story: Lindor told Francona to sanitize his hands, but gave him firm grip instead of sanitizer. Francona has spent all morning using rubbing alcohol/other methods to get it off his hands, to no avail
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