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Hey, Hoynsie: Is Joey Cantillo pitching himself into a postseason start? Right now it’s Tanner Bibee and a smorgasbord of Matthew Boyd, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively and Alex Cobb. – Terry Richards, Peoria, Arizona.
Hey, Terry: Cantillo certainly hasn’t hurt himself, especially with his last three starts against the White Sox, Tampa Bay and Minnesota. A lot will depend on who the Guardians face in the postseason. That doesn’t mean Cantillo couldn’t help out of the pen.
The Guardians tend to pull a rabbit out of the hat when it comes to postseason rotations. I put nothing past them. From the outside looking in, I think the top three starters will be Bibee, Boyd and Williams. But that’s a guess.
Hey, Hoynsie: Several rookies have been critical to the success of the Guardians this year. Is some of that early success because of lack of scouting reports? If so will that change in the postseason? – Brent, Hunting Valley.
Hey, Brent: Let’s concentrate on two rookies – right-hander Cade Smith and shortstop Brayan Rocchio. The opposition has seen both players since the season opener. If they don’t have a scouting report on them by now, shame on them.
If Smith or Rocchio are affected by anything in the postseason, I would think it would be from the postseason itself. I don’t think there’s going to be a drastic change in the way other teams approach them.
As for rookies such as Kyle Manzardo, Angel Martinez, Andrew Walters, Joey Cantillo and Erik Sabrowski, they have to make the postseason roster first.
The Guardians promoted Myles Straw from Class AAA Columbus when Steven Kwan was placed on the injured list on Sept. 17, 2024.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: What do you think of the Guardians recalling Myles Straw so late in the season? – Roger Amoroso, Macedonia.
Hey, Roger: I’m glad Straw is getting a chance to perhaps make the postseason roster as a defensive replacement/pinch runner. I know things didn’t start well Tuesday night with him getting picked off first base against the Twins in his return to Cleveland. Still it’s good to see him back.
Hey, Hoynsie: When the Guardians clinched a playoff spot on Thursday against the Twins, Tim Herrin struck out four straight batters, but manager Stephen Vogt replaced him with rookie Andrew Walters with one out in the seventh inning to face switch-hitter Willi Castro. Was it the right move? – Colleen, Cleveland.
Hey, Colleen: It was the right move because it worked. Walters retired Castro on a fly ball to center.
I think Vogt has been trying to be careful with his relievers going into the postseason because they’ve been used so much. Perhaps he felt Herrin had done his job and it was time to let Walters, a rookie, close out seventh, which is what he did.
Hey, Hoynsie: How do you rate Kyle Manzardo’s baserunning? Is he likely to be pinch run for in the playoffs, or was the fact that Straw ran for him twice more about getting Straw into the game? – C. Leach, Strongsville.
Hey, C: I think it’s more about the latter. Manzardo’s job is to hit. He’s adequate on the bases, but no burner. I think the Guardians want to see if Straw can change the game with his speed when given a chance.
Hey, Hoynsie: What is the likelihood that the Guardians will play another AL Central team in the first round of the postseason? – Bud, Arizona.
Hey, Bud: Things can change, but it doesn’t look that way. The Guards, after beating St. Louis on Friday, have the second best record in the AL at 90-65. It puts them in line to have a first-round bye along with the Yankees, who have the best record in the AL at 90-64.
If the playoffs started Saturday (based on Friday night’s results), the Guardians could face the Twins in the best-of-five ALDS if they beat Houston in their best-of-three wild card series.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: The Guardians have the top bullpen in baseball. There are more days off in playoff schedules. Could they lean on the pen and go with a three-man rotation? – Mark Scott, Malvern.
Hey, Mark: They’ve been doing it all year, leaning on the bullpen that is. Why change now?
If they earn the bye and go straight to the ALDS, it’s set-up for a three-man rotation. If they advance to the best-of-seven ALCS, they’ll need a fourth starter.
Hey, Hoynsie: I am as joyous as any G’s fan about this season. However, am I the only one who thinks Stephen Vogt’s lovefest talk is a bit over the top? That hugs, high fives, and dugout joy have more to do with a team exceeding expectations than with team “chemistry”? – David England, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Hey, David: Whatever works, right? I will say this about Vogt. Players will turn off a manager they don’t think is real. I’ve seen it happen.
Where Vogt is concerned, I think he’s a true believer in how he feels about his players and this organization. The feeling is mutual in the clubhouse.
