Guardians wobble but still hanging on
- col-aaron-dorksen
- August 21, 2024
- 636
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
I can’t remember a Cleveland sports team that looked so good in the league standings that had as many question marks this late in a season as the 2024 Guardians.
The Guards entered the week with a 72-52 record and a 2.5-game lead in the AL Central over the hard-charging Royals and Twins. Cleveland, which had the best record in MLB much of the season, was only two wins behind the Orioles and Dodgers for the most in baseball as of Aug. 18.
However, 124 games into the season, the streaking Guardians were still trying to figure out who they are while using a patchwork starting rotation and different lineups seemingly every game. Manager Stephen Vogt has constantly tinkered with the batting order and even the positions in the field.
Will Tyler Freeman or Daniel Schneeman be in center field, at shortstop, second base or somewhere else? If fans’ heads are spinning, imagine being these guys when they go to check the posted lineup card before each game. Heck, they may even be sent back to the minors the way things are going.
Outfielders Will Brennan and Angel Martinez have rode the Cleveland to Triple-A Columbus shuttle.
Brayan Rocchio has played the most games at shortstop but entered the week batting just .203. That’s dangerously close to the Mendoza line and makes it understandable why Vogt is still trying different combinations about three-fourths of the way through the season.
After the Guardians were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers over the past weekend by scores of 5-3, 2-1 and 2-0, I was the most worried I’ve been all season for this team. I’m sure many other die-hard Cleveland fans also were concerned.
The Guardians’ big trade deadline acquisition, outfielder Lane Thomas, who they acquired from the Nationals for prospects, Jose Tena, Rafael Ramirez and Alex Clemmey, was batting .102 (5-46) with 0 RBI entering the week.
All-Stars Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor were all slumping badly.
Was this overachieving group led by Ramirez and a great bullpen finally going to be exposed as a pretender, rather than a contender?
So what did the Guardians do?
Cleveland went into Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and outlasted the AL East-leading Yankees for a 9-5 win in 12 innings in what may have been the season’s biggest victory.
The aforementioned Thomas had the big hit — a go-ahead double in the 12th — to spark a six-run inning. David Fry added the dagger with a three-run triple. The light-hitting Rocchio went 3-for-5 with a home run.
I was able to watch the final few innings on TV and could only marvel at the grittiness of the Cleveland ballclub as it won the longest MLB game this season.
The Guardians have been streaky and will likely continue to be an up-and-down team until the final day of the regular season.
Case in point, starting July 10 Cleveland lost seven of nine games but rebounded to win eight of 10. The Guards then lost seven straight and rebounded to win five straight before being swept by the Brewers.
The incredible 12-inning win over the Yankees, whose $303 million payroll dwarfs the Guardians’ $93 million roster, reminded me once again that this Cleveland team will never quit.
It won’t be easy, but I expect Cleveland to fight for the AL Central title right down to the final day of the season on Sept. 29. I just have no idea who will be in center field.
Jumbo upgrade for Follis
Wooster High School has a new $225,000 scoreboard at Follis Field, which it was slated to unveil for the Orrville at Wooster football opener Friday.
Compared to most area high school scoreboards, the Generals’ scoreboard will seem like a Jumbotron.
The board dimensions are approximately 25 feet wide by 25 feet tall. The LED video portion of the board will draw the most attention.
“It will allow us to display many great graphics, sponsorships and commercials, replays, stats and more,” Wooster Athletic Director Alex Mallue said. “This project will have a tremendous impact on all of our student-athletes and spectators, both at athletic events and nonathletic events. Graduation, Reading Under the Lights and Boo at Woo will all utilize the scoreboard.”
Wooster Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram was extremely generous with a $100,000 donation to help make the new scoreboard possible, Mallue said.
Wooster diamond project a go
The Wooster baseball and softball turf project has hit its target goal to move forward with installation.
“As of now the turf will be installed in the fall, likely mid to late September, and will be ready to go for the spring,” Mallue said.
Congrats to the Wooster Baseball and Softball Field Improvement Committee for raising the required approximate $385,000, which will be added to an additional $150,000 from the district to install turf infields on the baseball and softball fields.
The addition of turf will allow for more games to be played in poor spring weather, as many high school games are canceled each spring due to rain. Wooster will now be able to host OHSAA district/regional baseball and softball games, as well as youth games and tournaments during many months throughout the year.
Parting shot
Congrats to Waynedale wrestling coach Louie Stanley for being named an inductee to the Ohio Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Stanley is third all-time dual meet wins in Ohio history with a 562-109-2 mark from 1993 to present.
Archbold’s Brian Becher is tops with a 693-190-1 record from 2002 to present, followed by Maple Heights’ Jamie Milkovich with a 594-140-1 record from 1982 to present, according to the recently updated OHSAA record book.
A 2019 Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Stanley led the Bears to the 2012 Division III state title, and they’ve won 13 straight WCAL titles.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.