What is Guards Ball? How do these guys keep winning? – Terry’s Talkin’ Guardians

This is not a fluke. This is the middle of September. In a few weeks, the green leaves will turn colors, the temperatures will drop and the pressure will rise with the coming of October baseball.

The Guardians will be in the playoffs. They likely will win the Central Division.

Please, no more comments about the “lousy” Central Division. It’s the only division in MLB with four teams having winning records.

The baseball season is 162 games over six months. It’s harder to make the playoffs here than in most other sports.

The Guardians have proven to be one of baseball’s best teams, something no one expected heading into the season. I was especially pessimistic, predicting them to finish with a 72-90 record. Most “experts” had them in the .500 range.

The Guardians were 76-86 a year ago as Terry Francona retired as manager. They made no major offseason roster moves. They didn’t dramatically increase the payroll.

Yet, here we are … watching one of baseball’s most surprising and likeable teams.

Don’t take this for granted.

They play what kind of ball?

Yes, they play “Guards Ball.”

They’re gritty, pesky, plucky and all the other labels slapped on a team with few stars and lots of hustle.

“We run the bases hard,” said manager Stephen Vogt earlier in the season. “We run hard 90s (feet) down the line. We run out ground balls. We run out popups. We run out fly balls. That’s who we are.”

Guards Ball?

How about finding a way to drive in four runs with a pair of infield singles – in the same game?

Lane Thomas did it in Wednesday’s victory over the White Sox.

Thomas hit a high chopper to third base. He roared down the line, beating the throw. Meanwhile, Steven Kwan scored from third and Jose Ramirez rushed home from second base to score.

Two RBI on a ground ball that rolled about 88 feet.

Later in the same game, Thomas hustled to first on a grounder to second. He was safe. Sprinting home from third was Kwan (again) and Andres Gimenez bolted home from second base.

Four runs. Two ground balls.

Guards Ball.

Along with running the bases well, Cleveland is second in the American League in stolen bases. Ramirez leads the way with 39. He also leads in the unofficial category of taking extra bases and head-first, helmet flying slides as he eats dust while grabbing onto the base.

Cleveland’s Secret Superstar is the epitome of Guards Ball.

Sort of like 2022, but not quite

This isn’t new.

The Guardians have played this way recently, especially in 2022 when they were one of baseball’s biggest surprises with a 92-70 record and won the Central Division. Lots of hustle.

But that team was helped by three pitchers making at least 30 starts: Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill.

Having a reliable, healthy rotation can make managers look smart.

This Cleveland team watched Bieber’s season end after two starts due to elbow surgery. Projected starters McKenzie and Logan Allen ended up in the minors. Only Tanner Bibee is likely to make 30 starts this season.

At some point, the lack of big-time talent and an expensive payroll has to catch up with them, right? The losing would come, as the starters went down.

Only it didn’t.

Cleveland has cycled through 13 different starting pitchers. The rotation has a 4.55 ERA, 12th in the 15-team American League.

How they are winning, part one

It’s the bullpen.

It’s big guys bringing instant relief with fastballs that look like a white dot to opposing hitters. Often, the batter hears a “Whoosh” as the ball zips past his bat and slaps into the catcher’s mitt.

Cleveland’s relievers have a 2.74 ERA. Next best in the American League is Houston at 3.46.

Give pitching coach Carl Willis and his staff credit for building the bullpen with All-Star Emmanuel Clase closing and lots of young arms such as Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, Cade Smith, Nick Sandlin and Pedro Avila.

Clase is having a season for the ages. Now Cleveland’s all-time save leader, Clase has a 4-2 record with 44 saves and a 0.67 ERA. In 67 ⅓ innings, he’s allowed only two homers. He’s walked only eight.

What does this bullpen mean to these Guardians?

If they have the lead after six innings, the game is over … really. They are 66-2 when in front with three innings left.

If they have a lead after eight innings, it’s really over … as in a 76-0 record.

How they are winning, part two

The Guardians are an elite defensive team. According to the Fielding Bible, the Guardians rank No. 2 in “runs saved” in all the majors. Only Toronto is better. FanGraphs has Cleveland ranked in the top four in the American League in various defensive categories.

Gimenez could be the best defensive second baseman ever to play in Cleveland. And yes, I saw Roberto Alomar play the position here.

Kwan is one of the top defensive left fielders. Overall, Cleveland plays smart defense and their fundamentals are sound. It’s a testimony to the players and the coaches who push them hard in that area.

Besides the bullpen, the biggest game changer for the Guardians has been the rise of Josh Naylor and Jose Ramirez. They are power bats in the middle of the lineup having career years.

With 106 RBI, Ramirez ranks second in the American League. Naylor (101 RBI) is fourth. Guards Ball is fun, but hitting the ball over the wall and trotting around the bases often delivers a knockout punch to a baseball opponent.

Guards Ball. And a little Wall Ball.

Toss in the bullpen, the defense, a tremendous coaching staff and a savvy front office. It all has added up to Winning Baseball in Cleveland.