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Guarding The Corner Epsiode 15 – Grover Cleveland Season: Discussing the Cleveland Guardians series with the Twins, Red Sox, and Twins again.
Tag Archives: Josh Naylor
Bo Naylor promoted to Triple-A Columbus
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Highly regarded catching prospect Bo Naylor is making the move from Akron to Columbus as he continues to make his way through the Guardians system. Naylor has nothing left to prove at the Double-A level with 12 doubles and six home runs to go along with his .898 OPS in 52 games.
Bo Naylor is the younger brother of Guardians first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter Josh Naylor. Interestingly enough their production in terms of doubles and home runs are not all that different as Bo had 25 doubles and 16 home runs in Double-A (139 games) while Josh had 31 doubles and 19 home runs in 170 games. Bo’s promotion brings him one step closer to joining his brother in Cleveland where they desperately need help at catcher. The position has been a revolving door the past few seasons and in need of some stability. Before that can materialize Bo will have to prove himself in Columbus which it appears he is more than suited to do.
Guarding the Corner Ep. 14 – More Than Cromulent
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Guarding The Corner Episode 14 – More Than Cromulent: James and Bryan discuss the Cleveland Guardians winning ways, their series with the Twins, and trivia.
Guardians take down Dodgers in L.A.
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The Cleveland Guardians took two of three games from the Dodgers in Los Angeles as their hot streak continues. It was a narrow 2-1 victory Friday night which seemingly put Cleveland in a very comfortable spot to take the series. It was later learned that Jose Ramirez was dealing with a thumb injury and would miss the final two games of the series. Predictably it was a Dodger bounce back Saturday, handing Cleveland a 7-1 loss. This game always felt like an automatic loss considering the team was unveiling Sandy Koufax’ statue that day. Add in the surrender lineup that started that game and it was all just a formality. All of this set the scene for Sunday.
Even without Ramirez and losing the second game in unspectacular fashion, the Guardians still had a chance to take down the Dodgers. Both teams traded runs like heavyweight fighters in a prize fight. Just when it felt like one team was going to create separation the other answered when given the opportunity. As the game progressed one thing became abundantly clear, it is going to come down who blinks first.
Luckily for Cleveland, Los Angeles blinked.
Opting to go with Craig Kimbrel in a 3-3 game in the ninth, the Dodgers committed the cardinal sin of pitching a closer in a non-save situation. This decision would come back to bit them as predictably Kimbrel did not have his best outing. Josh Naylor would follow Oscar Gonzalez’ one out walk with a double. Steven Kwan was issued an intentional walk which set the stage for Andres Gimenez. Gimenez would line a bases loaded single to drive in Gonzalez and give the Guardians a one run lead. Ernie Clement would follow with a sacrifice fly that allowed Naylor to score making it 5-3. This series events set up Emmanuel Clase well in the bottom half of the inning. Clase would face just three batters as he shut the door to secure the win.
What’s next?
This was the sixth straight series win for Cleveland as the team continues to build confidence. Before this run the Guardians were yet to win consecutive series this season. Being able to stack series wins on top of each other in this manner builds confidence and shows that this team is no pushover. Cleveland has won eight of their last 10 games and is 16-5 over the previous 21 which predates their series winning streak.
The Guardians find themselves one game behind of the Minnesota Twins at 34-28. Worth mentioning is that Minnesota has played six more games than Cleveland with two more losses than the Guardians. After an off day Monday it will be a three-game series with the division leading Twins which could see the American League Central have a new leader when all is said and done.
Ramirez, Bieber lead Guardians past Tigers
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It was the combined efforts of Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber that propelled the Cleveland Guardians over the Detroit Tigers with an 8-1 win.
Ramirez went 2-4 with five RBI thanks to a bases clearing triple and a two-run homer. In addition to what he did at the plate, Ramirez scored three times, walked once, and stolen base. Josh Naylor also had a productive day at the plate going 2-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Bieber struck out five Tigers in 8 innings. The Guardians starter scattered eight hits while allowing just one run. This outing combined with Cleveland’s offense taking advantage of Detroit’s pitching led to a much needed win Saturday.
The early success of Oscar Gonzalez also continued. Gonzalez again went 2-4, one of those hits being a double. Another young outfielder, Richie Palacios, joined Gonzalez in the quest for playing time. Palacios got two hits in four at-bats with an RBI and a run scored. Both Gonzalez and Palacios have found playing time due to Franmil Reyes landing on the list. So far they have taken advantage as they may push another outfielder off the roster considering how the unit has performed so far.
The third and final game of the series (thanks to Friday’s’ postponement) will take place Sunday at 1:40 with Triston McKenzie starting for the Guardians while Elvin Rodriguez will be Detroit’s counterpart.
Guarding The Corner Ep.10 – Weathering The Storm
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Guarding The Corner Episode 10 – Weathering The Storm: James and Bryan discuss the Guardians slide, previewing the series in Houston, and of course more trivia.
Guardians lose to Tigers 4-2
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After a postponement the day before and a slight delay Sunday the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers played the final game of their series. With Cleveland winning the first game there was the opportunity to complete the now two-game sweep. Unfortunately the Tigers had other ideas as they used a Josh Naylor error in the fifth and some late game heroics from Javier Baez in the 8th to hand Cleveland the loss.
Speaking of Naylor, the Cleveland first baseman had some positive impacts on the game. Naylor did tie the game at 2 in the 4th with his sixth home run of the season. Naylor did give the Guardians did have a chance in the 9th after he was hit on the elbow with a pitch giving Franmil Reyes the prime chance to tie the game late. Reyes would hit a deep fly ball that died on the warning track and Andres Gimenez grounded into a double play in the next at-bat to end the game.
Pitching for Cleveland was Shane Bieber as he struck out 10 over 7 innings while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. Velocity continues to be an issue for Bieber as he continues to live in the lower 90’s. There is way to make this work, but it is incredibly difficult and requires pinpoint command. Bieber has incredible command and is very much impressive in this department. Although like everyone else in the world he is not perfect and it can escape him occasionally.
Due up
At 17-20 the Guardians are in third place in the American League Central behind first place Minnesota by 5.5 games. Cleveland will travel to Houston for a three game set with the Astros before heading to Detroit for a four game series with the Tigers to close out the week.
Josh Naylor could return this weekend
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Three of the Guardians coaches have returned from health and safety protocols the one player among the group remains, Josh Naylor. With that being said the team stated that the expectation is for Naylor to return Friday.
Josh Naylor has missed the last four games as the Guardians went 1-3 in that span. Prior to entering health and safety protocols it was the beginning of what could be a breakout season from the 24-year old. Slashing .347/.377/.611 with an OPS just a shade under 1.000 (.988) and a 190 WRC+, Naylor has been a force through his first 20 games. Naylor has five home runs, four doubles, and 22 runs driven so far this season and his presence upon his return to the lineup should be immediately felt as the Guardians have missed him dearly during his absence.
Josh Naylor placed on COVID IL
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The Cleveland Guardians have placed outfielder/first baseman Josh Naylor on the COVID IL. This follows seven members of the coaching staff entered health and safety protocols Thursday.
Josh Naylor was finding his stride prior to this development, making MLB late-game history not long ago. Richie Palacios has been recalled to fill an outfield spot (if needed) while the Guardians are without Naylor.
Yu Chang is also back with the club following his time on the COVID list. Kirk McCarty has also been optioned to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.
Josh Naylor makes late game MLB history
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Cleveland Guardians first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor made some baseball history in Monday’s 12-9 win over the Chicago White Sox. Naylor became the first player to hit two home runs that drove in three or more runs in the 9th inning or later.
It was a game-tying grand slam in the top of the ninth that provided the Guardians with the final runs needed to force extra-innings.
Then it was Josh Naylor coming up again with a chance to do damage in the 11th inning. Naylor his a three-run shot to give Cleveland a 12-9 lead which they would hold in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win.
It was a 3-5 night for Josh Naylor, doubling in the 8th for his first hit of the game after a walk and two strikeouts. This is just more of the same for Naylor since returning to the lineup. The month of May has been very kind to the 24-year old surging slugger, slashing .391/.444/.739 with two doubles, two home runs, and 14 RBI. This has been a very impressive run for Naylor as he is coming into his own as a major league player.