The Cleveland Guardians are in the kind of stretch that forces everyone to speak plainly, and Chris Antonetti did exactly that.
With the club sitting in a crowded AL Central and trying to steady itself after the trade deadline, the president of baseball operations didn’t try to spin away the reality. Cleveland has lost eight of its last 11, and the offense has been the biggest source of frustration, especially when the game has tightened up and the timely hit hasn’t come.
“We still have an opportunity in front of us and we have to play better baseball,” Antonetti said.
He followed that up with a line that made the organization’s view on the slump pretty clear.
“We have not played well over the last few weeks and I think everybody believes we’re capable of more,” Antonetti said.
That backdrop was made a little more uncomfortable by another issue involving the bullpen, which has been one of Cleveland’s more dependable areas this season. Colin Holderman left Saturday’s win over the Padres with right wrist inflammation after manager Stephen Vogt pulled him with two outs in the seventh inning, saying he didn’t like what he saw on Holderman’s face during the at bat. Vogt described it as a possible day-to-day situation, but Holderman has dealt with a similar wrist injury before, and that cost him about six weeks last season.
If Holderman misses time, it would be a real hit to a relief group that has been leaned on hard. He came into Saturday with an ERA under two and was one of six relievers who had already topped 45 appearances, a sign of just how much Vogt has trusted that bullpen in high-leverage spots all year.
Antonetti’s comments were about accountability more than alarm, and that matters with about forty games left. The roster still has enough talent to make noise, and Saturday’s combined one-hitter behind Joey Cantillo was a reminder of what this team can look like when it’s locked in. Now the question is whether Cleveland can turn that into something more lasting while the wild card race remains tight enough for a strong response to matter.
In Other News...
Guardians Get A Huge Opening As Orioles Gamble Already Looks Shaky
The Orioles took a shot on Luis Robert Jr. when they claimed him off waivers from the Mets, hoping the talent would be worth the risk as they chased down teams in the Wild Card race. Instead, the move has already turned into a setback, with Robert now on the 15-day injured list because of left hamstring discomfort after appearing in just three games. For a Baltimore club trying to make up ground, it is a rough turn at exactly the wrong time.
Cleveland, meanwhile, gets a cleaner look at the standings picture with the Orioles still sitting behind the Guardians and coming up next for a three-game series. Robert will not be part of that matchup, which strips some of the urgency from Baltimores latest gamble and leaves its roster decision hanging into the offseason. The Orioles still have to sort out his contract beyond this year, and the early signs suggest they may be headed toward a buyout rather than bringing him back on the club option. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cleveland Infielder's Death Revives An Overlooked Piece Of Team History
Joe Morgans death at 95 brings back a name that sits a little deeper in Cleveland baseball memory, but still belongs in the clubs history. Morgan played parts of several major league seasons, including a stretch with Cleveland, before moving on to a long baseball life that eventually included a stint as manager of the Boston Red Sox.
His most visible work came later, when he led Boston to a playoff run in 1988 during a four-season managerial tenure. For Cleveland fans, his passing is a reminder of how many former players and baseball men passed through the organization before finding another chapter elsewhere, and how those connections can surface again only when a life in the game comes to an end. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Rotation Decision They Cant Get Wrong
Joey Cantillos recent starts have put Cleveland in a familiar late-season spot, weighing performance against patience at a time when every outing carries more weight. The left-hander has had trouble keeping runners off base, and the Guardians are now looking hard at whether he still fits best in the rotation as they try to stay in the Wild Card hunt.
Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Ben Lively and Austin Peterson are all in the mix if Cleveland decides a change is needed. The Guardians have options, but this is the kind of rotation call that can shape the stretch run, especially for a club trying to squeeze every last bit of value out of its pitching staff without giving away innings it may need later. [Read more 🡒]