Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Guardians

Similar to the 2023 Giants, the 2023 Guardians wanted to capitalize on a previous competitive season only for things to end up a lot less successful this time around. The Guardians were coming off an excellent 2022, where their lineup got ahead by contact work, and their youth movement did the work without being A.) big stars or B.) the biggest power guys. So, like the Giants, the Guardians made some offseason moves that went against the previous regime, including getting Josh Bell, who was in full one-dimensional power mode this year [til the trade to Miami]. And subsequently, nobody hit for average, the rotation was overtaxed and halfway through the year they had a whole nother rotation of rookies. It wasn't ideal. Terry Francona bowed out gracefully after the season, and this is yet another team going for a new approach next year with Mike Zunino, so hopefully they'll pick a tactic and stick with it.

One of the big stars of the 'contact era' of the Guardians who struggled this year during the new direction was Myles Straw. He was down several pegs defensively from his strong 2022, and only hit .238, which honestly just made him a wholly less interesting player. Hell, he didn't even get in any fights with Yankee fans this year. 

2024 Prediction: I honestly kinda think that Myles Straw is just as good as the team he's playing for. I think next year will be an improvement for the Guardians, so I think he'll be back to where he was defensively. Don't expect anything too interesting offensively though.

 

In the absence of many trusted rotation arms this year, usual relief piece Xzavion Curry was slotted into the mix, and at the very least he made his versatility well known. In 9 starts he had a 5.24 ERA, while in 32 relief appearances he had a 3.41 ERA. That may be his primary use going forward, but at the very least the Guardians figured out how many uses Curry has.

2024 Prediction: Honestly? What if he takes the ninth after all's said and done? You're hearing about how Cleveland wants to flip Clase, they're not confident in Karinchak anymore, it could happen..

Bo Naylor, brother of mainstay Josh, got another swing at finding his place in the Guards' lineup, and it does seem like going forward he will factor into the catching picture, considering that the nearest other options were Mike Zunino and Cam Gallagher. Naylor was a step up defensively, and also hit 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 67 games.

2024 Prediction: Gets the starting catching gig, keeps it, and becomes just as much of a mainstay as his older brother. Hell, maybe the Guardians find some way to trade for the third Naylor brother. You never know at this point..

And now, two flashes in the pan I wanted to talk about.

Noah Syndergaard was brought to Cleveland in a trade that gave Amed Rosario success in LA. The Dodgers were done with Syndergaard's injury tendencies as well as his cooked throwing arm. The Guardians did well in Thor's first few starts solely because Thor didn't let any runs go anywhere there wasn't a fielder. Then once teams figured him out the ERA ballooned, and Syndergaard left Cleveland after 6 games, with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.290 WHIP, and, pitifully, 18 Ks.

2024 Prediction: Calls it a career. I mean, I hate to say it cause I saw this guy in his rookie season just EIGHT YEARS AGO, but throwing smoke was not a sustainable model for him.

And then you have Lucas Giolito, who stunk it up in LA, then was waived almost immediately as a cost-cutting measure and wound up in Cleveland. Giolito, like Thor, had just 6 starts in Cleveland, and his went similarly badly, with a 7.04 ERA, a 1-4 record and a 1.5 WHIP, despite 39 Ks. Like, say what you will about Giolito, at least his arm still works.

2024 Prediction: Whoever signs him fixes his arm and gets a fantastic year out of him. Probably the Dodgers.

Coming Tomorrow- Before they started clearing their roster for an Ohtani signing that didn't happen, this team made a go at a playoff spot with some jarring mistakes.