Guardians Baseball Insider

There was quite an explosion of offense last week in Arizona as only the final game saw fewer than 15 runs scored. While both the offense was strong and pitching staff weak, only the first two games were blowouts with three straight close game to finish out the week. There also were fewer rehab performances as Julian Escobedo and Cody Morris have been returned to their clubs although Jhonkensy Noel has been added since.

Day by Day

7/9 – W 14-9 Indians at Angels: W Rodriguez, L Chaney
7/10 – L 9-21 Indians at Reds: W Moreno, L Richardson
7/12 – L 12-14 Indians at Rangers: W Brewer, L Villalobos, S Rodriguez
7/13 – W 7-8 Mariners at Indians: W Jimenez, L Baez, S Perez
7/15 – L 1-2 Indians at Athletics: W Vazquez, L Figueroa

Player of the Week

C Micael Ramirez: 7/10, 4 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, HBP, 5 R

Ramirez has been speaking with his actions lately that maybe he doesn’t want to play in Arizona anymore. In his three games last week he reached 11 times in 15 plate appearances and four of his seven hits went for extra bases. On the season, he’s hitting .480/.600/.760 with 7 doubles and 10 RBI. Possibly his most impressive stat is that he’s walked eight times without a strikeout. On the 12th alone, he walked three times, was hit by a pitch and hit a double in his only other plate appearance.

Who’s Hot

OF Jorge Burgos: 5/15, 4 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI

Burgos has been a reliable hitter throughout the young season. He hasn’t had one big game, but has reached base in every game except one where he only received one plate appearance. Last week, he managed a three game streak with a double in each game. He is now hitting .400/.516/.600 with five doubles in his first season in the US.

SP Elmson Candelario: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Candelario’s second start wasn’t as good as his first, but it stuck out with few other good Indians pitching performances. Against the Angels, he notched his first two career K’s, but was knocked around for three hits and two walks and stuck with two unearned runs.

Who’s Not

RHP Diarlin Jimenez: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Speaking of poor pitching performances, Jimenez has been moved out of the rotation into a long relief role in 2021 and really took a rough appearances in the blowout against the Reds. He made it through three innings, but allowed six runs (five earned), six hits and a walk. He earned the win against the Mariners, but still allowed an earned run over 2.1 innings.

IF Jose Devers: 1/9, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 RBI, 4 K

On a positive note in this negative section, Devers has now played 3B (all the first week), 2B and SS and has been very solid defensively. On the negative side, he’s had major issues making contact although his high walk rate has allowed him a decent OBP. On the other hand, he hasn’t done much when he has reached base despite the many runs scored this year by the ACL Indians.

Up next (all times local):

7/16 Cubs @ Indians (Goodyear, 6 PM)
7/17 Reds @ Indians (Goodyear, 1 PM)
7/18 Off
7/19 Brewers Blue @ Indians (Goodyear, 6 PM)
7/20 Indians @ Angels (Tempe, 6 PM)
7/21 Off
7/22 White Sox @ Indians (Goodyear, 6 PM)