Cleveland Sports Forum

It certainly is! Lots of very good content.
Only name I didn't see much about was Ryan Webb who I'm afraid we're going to lose in Rule 5. I'm sure we wouldn't get quotes diminishing his ability but perhaps a subtle explanation of why he was left unprotecte.d
And perhaps the opposite question about Petey Halpin who was protected despite rather slow progress; but no question his defense is top notch and his power is coming along.

One question [and answer] that I found unsatisfactory was:

JL: What adjustments did Jhonkensy Noel have to make to get a better handle on Triple-A and then impact the big league club the way he did? And will he be getting a fourth option year?
JH: We're thinking this is going to be his last year of options and we'll get that information here shortly. But we're optimistic in that regard. He’s finding better pitches to hit. So he’s reduced his chase rate and identified pitches that he can drive extremely hard and he's been able to do that at the major league level along with the pressure.

That dialogue overlooked JKN's great regression the last month of the season.

BA'S annual Guardians top prospect list and subsequent chat coming on Friday. Some years the chats continue for hours with dozens of players covered. I'll be ready to ask as many questions as possible and will accept suggestions from the Forum.
Any lesser known guys you're interested in?

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Cleveland Guardians Winter Ball Report 11/25-12/1/24
Arthur Kinney
Dec 3






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Venezuelan League (Tue.) - Cardenales de Lara 11, Tiburones de La Guaira 4
Venezuelan League (Wed.) - Caribes de Anzoategui 6, Tiburones de La Guaira 3
Venezuelan League (Thu.) - Leones del Caracas 11, Tiburones de La Guaira 3
Venezuelan League (Fri.) - Tigres de Aragua 6, Tiburones de La Guaira 3
Venezuelan League (Sat.) - Tiburones de La Guaira 13, Aguilas del Zulia 7
Venezuelan League (Sun.) - Tiburones de La Guaira 9, Aguilas del Zulia 4
Puerto Rican League (Tue.) - Indios de Mayaguez 7, Gigantes de Carolina 5
Puerto Rican League (Wed.) - Gigantes de Carolina 1, Indios de Mayaguez 0
Puerto Rican League (Sat.) - Gigantes de Carolina 5, Leones de Ponce 3
Puerto Rican League (Sun.) - Gigantes de Carolina 11, Senadores de San Juan 5
Colombian League (Tue.) - Vaqueros de Monteria 3, Tigres de Cartagena 0
Colombian League (Wed.) - Tigres de Cartagena 4, Vaqueros de Monteria 3
Colombian League (Fri.) - Caimanes de Barranquilla 9, Vaqueros de Monteria 1
Colombian League (Sat.) - Vaqueros de Monteria 14, Caimanes de Barranquilla 4
GUARDIANS ORGANIZATIONAL PLAYERS

Gabriel Arias (SS/3B, La Guaira): combined 4-for-22, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K - Arias’ week got off to a rough start with a pair of 0-for-4 nights, albeit with a Tuesday RBI on an eighth-inning fielder’s choice. A home run on Friday, however, got him out of his mini-slump and led to a two-hit, three-RBI performance the next night. Gabriel was pulled from yesterday’s contest. in which he was DHing, after three plate appearances. There is a report that it was due to inflammation from a first-inning hit by pitch, but I was unable to confirm its veracity before filing this column.

Johnathan Rodriguez (RF/LF, Carolina): combined 7-for-15, 2 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 SF, 1 SB - J-Rod was consistent in his first full week playing in Puerto Rico this season, getting a hit in all four games of a week that he capped off with a two-homer, six-RBI Sunday. Like Arias, J-Rod is doing nothing to hurt his value to the Guardians or any other organization with his play in the Caribbean.

Dayan Frias (SS/3B, Monteria): combined 4-12, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 E - Unlike Arias, Frias’ best work came at the start of the week, with a double and an RBI (not in the same at-bat) highlighting a two-hit Tuesday. Dayan’s Colombian slash line now stands at .235/.391/.314 with the .156 isolated plate discipline being somewhat deceptive as it is the produce of eight walks and FIVE HBP!!! all of that in only 65 plate appearances. His pace of a HBP every 13 PAs is approaching Brandon Guyer’s pace of one every 11.13 PAs from his 31-plunling 2016.

Rodriguez was 3-3 with a walk and 4 more rbi's today. Looks like J-Rod is heating up. I think he had another homer today.

Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
·
1h
Cleveland #Guardians Gabriel Arias after committing 8 errors in just 12 games between shortstop and third base in the Venezuelan Winter League he is making his first start in right field tonight.

Gabe's 3-5, 1 run scored, and 2 rbis so far. He had another double. Make that 2 doubles. Just doubles in the 8th

any dropped fly balls, bad throws?

Only 3 chances. 2 for outs and 1 base fielded cleanly. No error on the throw.

Ryan Webb's Baseball Savant Scouting Report

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-p ... ching-milb

2024
Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Webb flashed second-round upside in his fourth college season at Georgia in 2021, highlighted by 13 strikeouts in a duel with Vanderbilt and No. 2 overall pick Jack Leiter in April, but he blew out his elbow a month later and required Tommy John surgery. The Guardians drafted him in the fourth round and handled him with care in his first full pro season before turning him loose in 2023. He led the Arizona Fall League with 36 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings last offseason and is challenging for the lead in whiffs in the Double-A Eastern League this summer.

Webb's best offering is a plus upper-70s curveball with depth, though he uses it mainly against right-handers and less often than the other three average pitches in his arsenal. His fastball usually ranges form 91-94 mph and tops out at 96, lacking notable action but showing some carry when he locates it up in the zone. His low-80s slider has good depth and his low-80s changeup tumbles when it's on.

When he was in college, Webb's upright delivery and lack of durability led many scouts to project him as a reliever. He's doing a better job of getting down the mound and piling up innings as a pro, and his control and command continue to improve. He has a ceiling of a No. 4 or 5 starter with a fallback as a multi-inning lefty reliever who can get righties out.

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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 12/4/24
Matthew Kennell
Dec 5






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Scoreboard:
Venezuelan League - Tiburones de La Guaira 4, Navegantes del Magallanes 3
Puerto Rican League - Gigantes de Carolina 6, Criollos de Caguas 4
Columbian League - Toros de Sincelejo 9, Vaqueros de Montería 7
Guardians Players:

Gabriel Arias (RF, Tiburones): 0-for-4 - The biggest development for Arias in a hitless game was the fact that he was in right field for the first time in the Venezuelan League.

Johnathan Rodriguez (LF, Carolina): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, BB - The first at-bat for Rodriguez was the highlight with a double to center field that plated the game’s first two runs in the top of the first. He would go hitless from there, but the team would not surrender the lead from there and he drew a walk in the fifth.

Dayan Frias (SS, Vaqueros): 1-for-3, R, BB, SB, CS - Frias tallied one hit and a walk and came around to score for the Vaqueros in Wednesday’s loss. He was caught stealing for the first time in the Columbian League.

Webb's fastball is a little slower in the BaseballAmerica writeup; but they still rate him as one of the most likely Rule 5 picks.
Which makes you wonder why a team that' very short on starting pitch depth is willing to expose him

Ryan Webb, LHP, Guardians
Webb was a surging fourth-year lefthander at Georgia in 2021 when he blew out his elbow and had Tommy John surgery. The Guardians selected him in the fourth round that summer, and he debuted a year later in the Arizona Complex League. After making 17 starts with High-A Lake County in 2023, Webb began his season at Double-A Akron. He pitched to a 2.87 ERA with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 8.8% walk rate and was promoted to Triple-A. He made seven starts with Columbus, pitching to a 2.60 ERA. Webb has below-average velocity on his fastball sitting 90-92 mph, but he mixes a trio of quality secondaries in his low-80s gyro slider, low-80s changeup and upper-70s two-plane curveball. Webb shows excellent command of his slider, changeup and curveball combination and generates whiffs against all three pitches. He has the ability to generate whiffs against his secondaries, attack the strike-zone and suppress hard contact. He could fit into a similar vein as successful 2023 Rule 5 pick Mitch Spence.

BA's updated Rule 5 preview; Ryan webb still near the top of the list. None of our other players are listed among 50 or so names.

BA Posts their 2025 Guardians top 10 today with much deeper chat this afternoon. I'll post what they've published; and the questions and answers later today or tomorrow.

our projected Guardians lineup for 2028, as well as a rundown of prospects with the best scouting tools in the system.

Projected 2028 Lineup
Catcher: Bo Naylor (28) [or Cozart or Ingle]
First Base: Ralphy Velazquez (23) [Naylor and Manzardo both traded for talent]
Second Base: Travis Bazzana (25) [Giminez could be traded for someone pretty decent]
Third Base: Angel Genao (24)
Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio (27)
Left Field: Steven Kwan (30)
Center Field: Jaison Chourio (23)
Right Field: Chase DeLauter (26)
Designated Hitter: Jose Ramirez (35)

No. 1 Starter: Tanner Bibee (29)
No. 2 Starter: Gavin Williams (28)
No. 3 Starter: Triston McKenzie (30)
No. 4 Starter: Joey Cantillo (28)
No. 5 Starter: Daniel Espino (28) [optimistic]
Closer: Emmanuel Clase (30)

Best Tools
Best Hitter for Average: Travis Bazzana
Best Power Hitter: Chase DeLauter
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jaison Chourio
Fastest Baserunner: Petey Halpin
Best Athlete: Chase DeLauter
Best Fastball: Daniel Espino [who's second best? of the healthy pitchers?]
Best Curveball: Braylon Doughty
Best Slider: Daniel Espino [ditto]
Best Changeup: Joey Cantillo
Best Control: Austin Peterson
Best Defensive Catcher: Jacob Cozart
Best Defensive Infielder: Yordys Valdes
Best Infield Arm: Ralphy Velazquez
Best Defensive Outfielder: Petey Halpin
Best Outfield Arm: Johnathan Rodriguez