The sad case of an undetected hero
- col-dave-mast
- October 18, 2024
- 562
When the Cleveland Guardians opened the 2024 MLB season, the team boasted a seemingly strong core of starting pitchers that included the trio of ace Shane Bieber, blossoming star Triston McKenzie and solid rotational guy Logan Allen, along with rookie sensation Gavin Williams.
The Guards were not expected to win the division but many people thought their starting staff might help them at least have a chance to see postseason play.
Then came the staff catastrophe. Williams struggled with injuries right out of the gate and before Bieber reached his third start he was done for the season.
McKenzie looked completely lost, was sent down midseason and never returned, and Allen quickly followed suit, disappearing for the season in the minors.
No way could the Guards have entertained any thoughts of playing for the AL championship, yet months later, here they are, battling the mighty New York Yankees for that honor.
How, might you ask, did they do that?
For one, their bullpen has been incredible, but the unexpected arrival of a glue guy named Ben Lively saved their season.
Lively, who had bounced around from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Cincinnati in his lackluster career, stepped onto the mound for the Guardians out of nowhere to rescue a season on the brink of collapse.
He went 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts for Cleveland during the season. It seemed like every time Cleveland needed a big win, he was there.
It is hard to believe that this team would have been within earshot of a Central Division title without him.
His reward?
Being left off of the 2024 Guardians’ playoff roster.
“Thanks for saving our season, big guy. Have a nice winter. We’ll see you at spring training.”
It seems like the unkindest cut of all to see an unheralded guy like that come in and give his heart and soul into saving a season for the team to get pushed aside like last night’s TV dinner leftovers, but that’s exactly what it feels like.
I’m perhaps a tad sentimental and old-fashioned, but when someone does what this guy did, I’m a proponent of rewarding him.
I know he said everything right when he was informed of being left off the playoff roster, and I know manager Stephen Vogt had his reasons all lined up and in order, but it doesn’t sit well with me.
Outside of Shrek, when a white knight rides in and rescues the princess, he doesn’t usually pass the princess off to the next guy in line.
Lively deserves a chance to be a part of whatever it is the Guardians do the rest of this postseason, and whether it ends with the Yankees or a World Series ring, it ought to include the one person who dug the team out of a hole, put them on his back and carried them to a Central title.
Epilogue
Wouldn’t you know it, exactly four minutes after I submit my column lamenting the lack of justice for Lively, he gets added to the roster, replacing Alex Cobb who once again gets hurt.
Perhaps that is poetic justice, or the baseball gods finally listening to me for the first time ever.
No matter the reason, Lively is where he should be, and regardless of how or even if he pitches, he deserves to be a part of this celebration.
Guardians Part II
What does Jose Ramirez have in common with the likes of Hall-of-Famers like Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, Tony Gwynn, Al Kaline, Derek Jeter, Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott?
Well, other than them all being great baseball players, none of the aforementioned greats were ever named League MVP during their terrific tenures, much like Ramirez hasn’t.
Everyone in Cleveland recognizes just how good Jose Ramirez is.
I cringe to think about where this year’s team would be without their all-star third baseman. I can’t say for sure, but I’d be willing to bet the farm it wouldn’t be playing for the A.L. championship with the Yankees.
However, despite his insanely impressive credentials, Ramirez has yet to score a coveted American League MVP honor, not that he hasn’t been close the past seven seasons.
Ramirez could well end his career as one of the all-time greatest players to never win an MVP award.
But it’s not for the lack of trying. Ramirez has finished everywhere from runner-up to 10th in the American League MVP voting over the past seven seasons, and this one won’t be any different.
He manufactured another marvelous campaign, falling just one home run shy of the rare air of the 40-40 club, with 39 dingers and 41 stolen bases with 118 RBI and 114 runs. That illustrious club is all of six MLB players, including Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani.
Ramirez’s only shortcoming this season was he chose to produce those numbers during a year in which New York great Aaron Judge produced an epic, all-time season of 58 home runs, 144 RBI, 122 runs and a .322 batting average.
“Thanks, Jose, here’s your runner-up trophy… again.”
Ramirez may well go down as one of the all-time best players to never win the coveted MVP honor. Not only does he pack powerful numbers, but he’s also one of the more beloved players in recent MLB lore, especially by those in Cleveland who will never forget his willingness to forgo big bucks to remain a loyal Guardian for his career.
Maybe in the next couple of seasons, he will do what he’s always done, and someone else won’t crank out a once-in-a-decade career year. For the record books, thus, allowing Ramirez to receive the award he so richly deserves.