Archive for Teams

Here Comes Your Manager: Three Teams Pick New Skippers

Craig Counsell
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

An entire offseason’s worth of managerial reshuffling took place early Monday afternoon, as the most coveted managerial role was filled and the most coveted managerial candidate found a home — just not how you’d think.

The Guardians first announced the hiring of Mariners bullpen coach and golden-voiced baritone Stephen Vogt. Shortly thereafter, news broke that the Cubs were hiring outgoing Brewers manager Craig Counsell, despite already having David Ross under contract for that position. Counsell had been expected to follow former Brewers baseball ops boss David Stearns to the Mets, but when he landed in Chicago, the Mets unveiled Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their new manager.

Counsell, regarded as one of the top skippers in the sport, has reset the market for manager salaries with a five-year, $40 million contract. A free agent after his Brewers contract expired, he interviewed with both New York and Cleveland and was regarded as both teams’ top choice. When he made his unexpected switch to Chicago, that made the other teams’ decisions easier, and thus followed the busy afternoon on the coaching carousel. Read the rest of this entry »


With Kershaw’s Surgery and Lynn’s Declined Option, the Dodgers Rotation Becomes Even Thinner

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers provided some clarity with regards to their decimated rotation on Friday, though perhaps not in the most reassuring manner. First, the team reportedly declined Lance Lynn’s $18 million option, and then Clayton Kershaw announced via Instagram that he had undergone shoulder surgery that morning, with hopes of a return to play “at some point next summer.” As if that didn’t raise enough questions, the three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer did nothing to tip his hand regarding whether he’d seek a return to the Dodgers.

When we last saw the 35-year-old Kershaw in action, he was leaving the mound after retiring just one of the eight Diamondbacks he faced in the Division Series opener. Because the Dodgers were swept in the best-of-five series, he didn’t get a chance to take another turn, though manager Dave Roberts had planned to send him out for Game 4 had the team extended the series. Asked in the immediate aftermath of the team’s elimination what would come next for him, Kershaw responded cryptically, saying, “I don’t know how to answer that right now.”

Kershaw’s inability to articulate his plans at the time was understandable, in part because for the third year in a row he was headed towards free agency, with a chance to leave the only organization he’s known since being drafted out of Highland Park High School in Dallas in 2006. In the past two winters, he had given some consideration to pitching closer to home with the Rangers, but chose to return to the Dodgers after the 2021 season, signing a one-year, $17 million contract after the lockout ended in March ’22, and then re-upping for one year and $20 million last December. Though he missed the 2021 postseason due to forearm discomfort, Kershaw didn’t have any health-related question marks hanging over his head by the time he re-signed either of those deals. This time, he’s in uncharted territory. Read the rest of this entry »


The Anti-Hero of the Aging Curve Calls It a Career

Nelson Cruz
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

As the professional baseball career of Nelson Cruz flashes before my eyes, no single image emerges to define his legacy. He served as a leader in the clubhouse, was devoted to off-the-field humanitarian efforts, proudly represented his Dominican homeland, consistently hit the baseball so hard that he earned the nickname Boomstick, and did all of it at a high level for more years than any aging curve would have dared to predict.

Last week, after 19 seasons in majors, Cruz announced his retirement on The Adam Jones Podcast. He also addressed the second-most important topic pertaining to his career: the origin of his nickname. Back in 2009, while playing as himself in a video game for some sort of promo event, Cruz hit a home run and referred to his bat as the Boomstick. The name circulated amongst fans and stuck. Read the rest of this entry »


Mark Canha: Free (More or Less) To a Good Home

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

In the five days between the World Series and the start of free agency, there’s plenty of paperwork to do — exercising or declining options, sorting out 40-man roster spots, that sort of thing — before a team starts the offseason in earnest. Sometimes, that shuffling reveals a landing spot for a player who was going to be turned loose anyway, and we get a trade.

Mark Canha, your friendly neighborhood on-base machine, is headed from Milwaukee to Detroit, with 25-year-old Double-A reliever Blake Holub headed in the opposite direction. Read the rest of this entry »


Sunday Notes: Under-The-Radar Yankees Prospect Ben Rice Raked This Year

Ben Rice led all New York Yankees minor leaguers with a 183 wRC+ this past season. Given the degree to which he’s flown under most prospect radar, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to read those words and ask, “Who the heck is Ben Rice?“

Here is a snapshot answer to that question:

A 24-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher, Rice grew up in Massachusetts and went on to attend Dartmouth College, from where the Yankees selected him in the 12th round of the 2021 draft. His first full professional season was solid but not especially notable; in 68 games with Low-A Tampa, he logged an .810 OPS and went deep nine times. This year was particularly notable. Playing at three levels — the majority of his games were at Double-A Somerset — he slashed .324/.434/.615 with 20 home runs in 332 plate appearances.

My own knowledge of Rice was admittedly next to nil prior to talking him in Portland, Maine in early September. Somerset broadcaster Steven Cusumano suggested Rice as a deserving interview subject, and as circumstances would have it, that conversation came moments later. Outside of having been told that the backstop had been tearing up the Eastern League — I later saw that his OPS was north of 1.000 — I basically went in blind.

I asked the erstwhile psychology major about his breakout. More specifically, why was he was enjoying such a boffo season with the bat? Read the rest of this entry »


Who Will Be Next To Win Their First?

Corey Seager Texas Rangers
Arizona Republic

On Wednesday night, the Rangers scratched their names off of one of baseball’s most undesirable lists: the franchises that had never in their history won a World Series. Major League Baseball is known for its historical championship parity; the sport’s 23 seasons without a repeat champion is the longest streak in the four major American sports leagues, and the Rangers became the ninth unique World Series champion in the last 10 years. But heading into Wednesday’s Game 5, six of the 30 MLB clubs — a full 20% — had never reached the promised land. On Thursday morning, it was down to five: the Brewers, Padres, Mariners, Rockies, and Rays. With the Rangers happy to leave that club, who should we expect to be the next to follow?

The No World Series Club
Team Founded Last WS Appearance
Milwaukee Brewers 1969 1982
San Diego Padres 1969 1998
Seattle Mariners 1977
Colorado Rockies 1993 2007
Tampa Bay Rays 1998 2020

Read the rest of this entry »


Max Muncy and the Dodgers Renew Their Vows

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers and Max Muncy clearly believe they have a pretty good thing going. Since retooling his swing after being cast off by the A’s, the late-blooming slugger has been a key middle-of-the-lineup component on six straight playoff teams, and part of three pennant winners including their 2020 championship squad. Within the past four years, the Dodgers have inked Muncy to three contract extensions, the latest of which — announced on Thursday — is a two-year, $24 million deal with a club option for a third season, potentially keeping Muncy in the fold through 2026.

Muncy, who turned 33 on August 25, is coming off a season in which he hit .212/.333/.475 and matched his career high with 36 homers, three of them grand slams. The batting average wasn’t pretty (though it was at least above the Mendoza Line) and his 26.4% strikeout rate was his highest since 2018, but his 14.7% walk rate and considerable power helped to make up for it. Amid some ups and downs, his 118 wRC+ was 18 points short of his career mark but still ranked eighth among regular third basemen.

Read the rest of this entry »


Alek Thomas Has Made Tremendous Strides Backwards (and That’s a Good Thing)

Alek Thomas
Arizona Republic

When I began writing this piece about Alek Thomas‘ defense, it was in response to the excellence he had shown in the postseason as Arizona’s everyday centerfielder. Since then, an elephant walked into the room in the form of his ninth-inning error in Game 5 of the World Series, and while it didn’t cost the Diamondbacks the title or even the game, it undoubtedly left a bitter taste in his mouth that he’ll likely spend much of the offseason trying to rinse out. But his late-game error was a tragically timed blip on an otherwise excellent performance this October — one that speaks to the specific improvements he’s made to his outfield defense, and how those adjustments have altered his forecast as a big leaguer. So let’s take a look at how Thomas’ defense has evolved since his days as a bat-first prospect, rewinding to this catch in Monday night’s Game 3.

That catch was one of several he made throughout the postseason, which provided Thomas with a national audience to wow with his range in the outfield. The way he covered ground out there played well on TV, too, particularly how he went back on deep balls to center field, sprinting with his head down toward the wall and making mid-route adjustments as needed. But while his wall-banging robbery of what would otherwise have been an RBI double for Mitch Garver was an obvious defensive highlight in its own right, it was also a clear indication of the improvements Thomas has made to his center field defense over the past couple seasons. Read the rest of this entry »


Every Bunt of the 2023 Postseason, Ranked

Joe Rondone/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

You might have noticed a surfeit of bunting in this postseason, or at least it seemed that way because Geraldo Perdomo was in the World Series. I, the man who launched an impromptu Bunt Week two months ago, could not let the opportunity pass to sit in judgment of these bunts.

We often decry the sacrifice bunt as a needless waste of outs, but a bunt for a hit can be one of the most audacious, skilled plays in the sport, as beautiful in its own way as a light-tower home run. In fact, every bunt is distinctive and wonderful, and so each must be examined — all 26 of them — for procedural and results-based value, tactical and strategic context, as well as aesthetic value. These are just the 26 bunts that resulted in action, according to Baseball Savant, so be warned: failed bunt attempts are not featured. If you’re looking for that failed Trea Turner push bunt in Game 7 of the NLCS, you will not find it here. (Though for the record, I didn’t hate it.)

Let us judge the bunts. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Cleveland Guardians – Area Scout, Amateur Scouting Fellow

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Area Scout, Amateur Scouting
Amateur Scouting Fellow


Area Scout, Amateur Scouting

Primary Purpose:
The Cleveland Guardians are seeking an Area Scout to join their Amateur Scouting department. At a high level, Area Scouts execute the organization’s scouting process by knowing players and their areas well to prepare the organization for acquisition opportunities. Area Scouts will be expected to gather quality intel while building networks that extend through their region and into professional baseball.

The ideal candidate will be curious, creative, open-minded, and excited to work in a collaborative and rapidly changing environment. The candidate will be able to clearly communicate with others, build trusting relationships, and execute the organization’s vision through passion, resourcefulness, and strategic thinking. They will take the initiative to advance the Guardians’ procedures and philosophies, especially related to our scouting process and the Major League Baseball draft.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Lead and execute the scouting process by applying organizational philosophies to know players and the assigned area well.
  • Build and maintain professional relationships with players, families, and stakeholders across the amateur baseball landscape.
  • Gather and document information to provide holistic assessments and further the organization’s understanding of players. This includes but is not limited to biographical, background, and scheduling information; video capture; unique data collection; and otherwise.
  • Communicate and collaborate with internal stakeholders daily.

Requirements:

The Cleveland Guardians are committed to developing and maintaining an environment that embraces all forms of diversity to enrich our core values, enhance our competitive position, strengthen our impact within our community, and foster a greater sense of belonging for our employees. In this spirit, we know studies have shown that people from historically underserved groups – including women, people of color, people from working-class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and understand that candidates may bring certain skills and experiences to the role that are not listed within this job description, but that would add tremendous value to our organization. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.

  • Bachelor’s degree or prior professional experience
  • Demonstrated passion for scouting, baseball analytics, sports science, hitting or pitching analysis and/or biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor learning, or other baseball or softball-related fields.

Preferred Experience:
While we are looking for candidates who bring a variety of skill sets, successful Area Scouts have possessed some of the following skills:

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research.
  • The ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus but not necessary.
  • Demonstrated experience with a database language such as SQL.

Standard Requirements:

  • Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive manner to the scouting community, players, coaches, and the general public.
  • Reads, speaks, comprehends, and communicates English effectively across all mediums.
  • This position will require travel to games, workouts, and events across the country.
  • Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with members in all departments of the organization.
  • Ability to act according to organizational values in pursuit of excellence at all times.
  • Ability to work with diverse populations and have a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
  • Ability to walk, sit, or stand for an entire shift.
  • Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
  • Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of a ballpark.
  • Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
  • Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.


Amateur Scouting Fellow

Primary Purpose:
The Guardians Fellowship program is designed to accelerate the pace of development and impact for people interested in working for our organization. Fellowship roles are focused on solving complex challenges and developing new approaches, tools, and techniques to meaningfully drive the organization forward.

The Guardians are seeking Fellows to join their Amateur Scouting department. Each Fellow will collaborate with and be a resource for the Amateur Scouting staff. Fellows will be expected to manage the collection of multiple data streams on amateur players to prepare the organization for acquisition opportunities.

The ideal candidate will be curious, creative, open-minded, and excited to work in a collaborative and rapidly changing environment. The candidate will be able to clearly communicate with others, build trusting relationships, and execute the organization’s vision through passion, resourcefulness, and strategic thinking. They will take the initiative to advance the Guardians’ procedures and philosophies, especially related to the Major League Baseball draft.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Understand and apply organizational philosophies to all phases of the scouting and information-gathering processes.
  • Assist with the organization and execution of the scouting process through robust data/information collection to support and contribute to holistic player assessments.
  • Assist scouting staff with various administrative tasks, such as database management and scheduling.
  • Manage data collection and submission processes from all player assessment opportunities, including but not limited to games, workouts, and events.

Requirements:
The Cleveland Guardians are committed to developing and maintaining an environment that embraces all forms of diversity to enrich our core values, enhance our competitive position, strengthen our impact within our community, and foster a greater sense of belonging for our employees. In this spirit, we know studies have shown that people from historically underserved groups – including women, people of color, people from working-class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and understand that candidates may bring certain skills and experiences to the role that are not listed within this job description, but that would add tremendous value to our organization. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.

  • Bachelor’s degree or
  • Demonstrated passion for scouting, baseball analytics, sports science, hitting or pitching analysis and/or biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor learning, or other baseball or softball-related fields.

Preferred Experience:
While we are looking for candidates who bring a variety of skill sets, successful fellows have possessed some of the following skills:

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research.
  • The ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus but not necessary.

Standard Requirements:

  • Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive manner to the scouting community, players, coaches, and the general public.
  • Reads, speaks, comprehends, and communicates English effectively across all mediums.
  • This position will require travel to games, workouts, and events across the country.
  • Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with members in all departments of the organization.
  • Ability to act according to organizational values in pursuit of excellence at all times.
  • Ability to work with diverse populations and have a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
  • Ability to walk, sit, or stand for an entire shift.
  • Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
  • Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of a ballpark.
  • Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
  • Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying equipment up to 25 lbs.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cleveland Guardians.