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Hey, Hoynsie: What’s more impressive, the Indians/Guardians’ 22-game winning streak in 2017 or the Cavs’ 14-game winning streak to open the current season? — Jim, Horvath, Dublin.
Hey, Jim: I loved watching the Tribe win 22 straight in 2017 and I’ve enjoyed the Cavs opening the season in such grand fashion.
From a big picture standpoint, the Tribe’s 22-game winning streak is the second longest since MLB’s modern era (1901) next to the Giants 26-game winning streak in 1916. The longest winning streak in NBA history is 33 games by the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers.
Hey, Hoynsie: Jose Ramirez continues to win awards and set team records. He’s a perennial All Star and Silver Slugger winner and is always in the MVP race. What more do you think he needs to do to be a shoo-in Hall of Famer? — Don Dohanyos, Escondido, California.
Hey, Don: Ramirez just completed one of his best overall seasons. He’ll play next year at 32. He just needs to keep doing what he’s been doing. The fact that he plays day in and day out is a big part of his success.
Hey, Hoynsie: How much do you think the Guardians’ payroll will be in 2025? — David McKean, Tempe, Arizona.
Hey, David: The 26-man payroll for opening day in 2024 was just over $98 million. The Guardians, as of Friday, have $40.8 million in contracts on the books for 2025. Depending on what additions they make to the roster, I would think the payroll would be between $100 million and $115 million for the coming season.
Hey, Hoynsie: I think MLB should increase the roster to 28 with a limit of 13 pitchers. With two more players on the bench, games would be more exciting with pinch runners and pinch hitters. The union would surely agree with this. —Roger Amoroso, Macedonia.
Hey, Roger: When I first started covering baseball in 1983, the rosters were at 25 players. I’m sure the Players Association would love to see the roster expanded to 28 players. The owners, not so much.
The Guardians have already turned a 26-man roster into an endless wave of utility players. It sometimes seems like they have a 30-man roster. Imagine what they could do with two more players.
Hey, Hoynsie: What is a run production coordinator? — Walt Bogdanich, New York City.
Hey, Walt: No team in the big leagues creates job titles like the Guardians. They have a director of sports science and a principal data scientist, baseball anayltics.
I am still not sure what a run production coordinator does. But I do know that Jason Esposito, who was the Guardians’ run production coordinator this year, was promoted to assitant hitting coach for the 2025 season. I think the two jobs have a lot in common.
Hey, Hoynsie: What is ahead for James Karinchak and the Guardians now that he’s a free agent? — Kurt, Worthington.
Hey, Kurt: Karinchak, as you said, is a free agent. He has to prove to teams that he’s healthy and can be the pitcher he was from 2021 through 2023 to sign a contract for 2025. The Guardians put together the best regular-season bullpen in the big leagues this year without Karinchak or Trevor Stephan pitching an inning because of injuries. Based on how the pen responds to this year’s workload, including a 10-game run in the postseason, they are positioned well for 2025.
Hey, Hoynsie: Which of the Guardians’ outfielders not named Steven Kwan do you see contributing the most next season? — Tony, Plains, Ohio.
Hey, Tony: The easy answer is Lane Thomas. In fact, the only answer is Lane Thomas now that David Fry can’t play the outfield because of surgery on his right elbow.
Hey, Hoynsie: Josh Naylor, entering his walk year, is a trade candidate. He’s coming off a productive season, but teams might consider him a physical risk because of his ankle injury from the 2021 season. What would be a reasonable trade return for the Guardians? — Doc, Hickory, North Carolina.
Hey, Doc: I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I don’t think the Guardians are going to trade Naylor.
Hey, Hoynsie: Did the Guards jump the gun by letting MLB take over their TV rights for 2025? Why didn’t they wait like other MLB teams did until Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports, to come out of bankruptcy and make a deal with them? — Marty Rogers, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Hey, Marty: The Guardians didn’t jump the gun. Diamond Sports Group severed its deal with them following the 2024 season because it felt its original contract, which ran through 2027, was too expensive. The Guardians received a reduced rate from DSG for the 2024 season and then signed with MLB.
Hey, Hoynsie: I have to disagree with you about Chase DeLauter not making the Guardians’ opening day roster in 2025. Barring injury, I believe he’ll be their starting right fielder. — Virgil, Gustavus, Ohio.
Hey, Virgil: I just think he needs more at-bats in the minors. He was Cleveland’s No. 1 pick in 2022, but injuries have limited him to just 378 at-bats in Cleveland’s minor league system. The good news is DeLauter is hitting .340 (16 for 47) with one homer and 11 RBI in 12 Arizona Fall League games.