By Roger Metzger
•
05 Feb, 2024
Guarded optimism filled the air as WJER Radio hosted a Cleveland Guardians Sponsor Luncheon at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover on Friday. Leading the charge were Guardians Senior Vice President Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio and radio announcer Jim Rosenhaus, who addressed the audience. The Guardians are coming off a 78-84 season, missing the post season after making it there in 2022. Rosenhaus and DiBiasio extolled the virtues of new manager Stephen Vogt, third baseman Jose Ramirez and the Guardians youthful pitching staff among others. DiBiasio and Rosenhaus also previewed the renovation of Progressive Field which will include more social gathering spaces. The first stage is expected to be completed before the home opener on Monday, April 8 and the second stage before the start of the 2025 campaign. Here are some takeaways. On new manager Stephen Vogt “He just finished playing in 2022 and was a coach last year in Seattle,” said Rosenhaus of the 39-year-old Vogt. “He’s never managed. He’s smart enough to put it out there that he doesn’t know everything and needs to learn a lot but has a front office staff to help him do that.” On Jose Ramirez: “Jose has hit 300 doubles, 200 homers and recorded 200 stolen bases by the age of 30,” noted DiBiasio. “The only others to do it are Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds. He’s a big part of what we do.” On the Gold Glove winners: “Andres Gimenez was voted the best defensive player in the league as he won the Platinum Glove at second base and Stephen Kwan won his second straight Gold Glove in leftfield,” said DiBiasio. “They are stellar in the field.” On the battle for shortstop: “It’s going to be interesting,” said DiBiasio. “It’s going to be Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio and I don’t know if anything else is in the mix. It’s going to be a battle. Arias is the more powerful of the two and Rocchio is the more Omar Vizquelish, sleek and acrobatic.” On the Shane Bieber contract status: “If you look back at our Cy Young Award winners, none of them have made it to the end of their contract without being traded,” said Rosenhaus of Bieber who is the last year of his contract. “C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Corey Kluber twice and now Bieber’s up. I think if we’re struggling and not in the race, they’ll probably try to move him. If we’re in the race and have a chance to reach the postseason, I think they’ll hang on to him, ride it out and figure it out at the end of the season.” On the rise of Bo and Josh Naylor: “Like most kids, his first 100 at-bats he struggled like crazy,” said DiBiasio of Bo, the rookie backstop. “His second 100 at-bats he was a stud. We think we have a chance with a guy who hits 20 plus home runs and can be a terrific defensive catcher. His brother Josh had 97 RBIs at first base last season and he missed an entire month. He’s one of the premier run producers in our game.” On the search for offense from the outfield: “We have to find some offense from centerfield and rightfield,” stressed DiBiasio. “We have some internal candidates like Chase DeLauter, Georga Valera and Jhonkensy Noel. We’ll have to see what happens.” On the home opener coinciding with the solar eclipse: “We are still in talks with NASA and the City of Cleveland as to when to start the game,” said DiBiasio. “It’s going to be a crazy time downtown. Anywhere from 100 to 200,000 people are expected.” On the Progressive Field renovations: “We needed to create a whole new gathering area in the upper deck for groups,” said DiBiasio. “The new generation just doesn’t want to come to a ballgame and have someone sit to the left and right of them. The want to walk and mingle and hang out like they do at the Corner Bar in the lower deck.” Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz. on Monday, Feb. 12 with their first workout Feb. 14. Position players report Feb. 18 with the first full squad workout Feb. 20. The Guardians and Cincinnati Reds take the field for the first Spring Training game Feb. 24.