Why being a Guardians fan is amazing
In this same space just a day ago, I told you all the grievances I had with the Cleveland Guardians. The lack of free agency movement, the trades that fell through or never materialized to begin with, the general vibe (General Vibe salute) of the organization and the lack of excitement coming off an offseason dominated by the major markets throwing their money around. To borrow a statement from the rightful King of Gondor:
Today is about hope and the future and why rooting for a team like the Guardians is amazing. And it is, truly, one of the most special things out there. Rooting for an upstart is like being in a movie every day. You wake up, look at the standings, and wonder, “how are we gonna do it today?”. There’s something almost spiritual about it, something moving about knowing the deck is stacked against you but you’re going headlong into it regardless. Being a fan of the Guardians fills you with hope that today will be fun and new and exciting. Or at least it is for me.
One of the biggest reasons to be hopeful for the Guardians is Jose Ramirez. The GOAT. One of the best to ever lace up spikes, JRam embodies the Cleveland mantra more than any player ever in the history of the city. The rolly polly king of swagger, Jose knows just what he’s doing at all times. One of if not THE smartest base runner in the game, there are few things better than watching the bowling-ball-turned-sentient wearing number 11 barrel through second and blast into third, chains and all, on a screamer into right field. Moonshot after moonshot, wall scrapers be damned, few are able to turn on an inside fastball like Ramirez and knock one to the seats. And he’s ours…all ours.
The guys around him can be exciting too, despite their occasional inability in 2025. Steven Kwan might not be the power hitter you want in left field, but he rarely misses making contact and frustrates starters with his ability to serve one into left or right or up the middle or down the line…he can make any pitch his…well…it rhymes. His string of Gold Gloves will likely continue as runners will keep testing his arm and they will keep on getting break checked with his outfield assists.
Kyle Manzardo is becoming a behemoth of a hitter, as dangerous as one in the lineup for the Guardos. 27 home runs a year ago belie his power; he could easily eclipse 30 in a season, or he could choose to combine the bat-to-ball skills he showed off in the majors and be a .275-25 guy without much change in his game. Whether or not he factors in the field as a first basemen or rides the pine in the defensive half as a designated hitter, Manzardo has a spot in the lineup secured.
Youth is never in short supply for Cleveland, who’s financial restraints always require more out of the farm system than other teams. Guys like CJ Kayfus, George Valera, Bo Naylor, Brayan Rocchio, and Daniel Schneemann aren’t superstars but are capable of being tough outs and can all blast a big bop when you least expect it. If the team is able to get Playoff Rocchio all season, the problems at shortstop are gone. Kayfus came up and produced immediately at first and right field, and could be coupled with Valera or Nolan Jones, a player who had everything go wrong for him in 2025 despite good batted ball numbers. Jones spent his offseason at the Driveline Academy as well, which should help some of those lasers find grass in 2026. David Fry will be back after Tommy John surgery and a broken bone in his face, but his ability to play all over the field (maybe even backup catcher?) will impact the lineup.
And of course, there are the unknowns, the “mystery box” guys in Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana. CDL is likely going to make the roster out of spring training and could see starts in center field for Opening Day. Getting him healthy and producing behind Ramirez and Manzardo is essential to having a good 2026, and all signs point to him being ready to blast off. Bazzana is more hindered in finding big league playing time; Cleveland usually likes to give their prospects a little more runway in the minors but he could force his way into the big leagues with a good spring. Don’t expect the No. 1 overall pick in 2024 to be with the major league team until midseason, but once comes up, the summer of Bazz starts.
Can we really be five paragraphs into a “the Guards are secretly awesome” article before we mention what they are arguably best in the league at? Yes. And what is it? Pitching development. The vaunted rotation got a spark when they went to a six-man rotation late last year, and even with Ortiz on the outside of the sport looking in, the staff looks like they will be nails again this year. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams will be “co aces” in 2026, both primed to blast off with guys like Slade Cecconi, Parker Messick, Joey Cantillo and more in the wings to round it out. The bullpen got the majority of the additions so far this offseason, with some arms that project to be middle of the pen studs and Shawn Armstrong, a former IndGuardian, to move into the 7th/8th inning mix with Hunter Gaddis. Closer Cade Smith is as good as any other closer in the league and projects to finish 30+ games in 2026.
The last piece is the one that can really glue it all together. Manager Stephen Vogt, along with Brewers’ skipper Pat Murphy, are among the only four managers to win Manager of the Year in back-to-back seasons and are the only two to win back-to-back in their first two years as managers. Vogt has been able to navigate sluggish offenses, homer-prone starters, suspensions of star players, and a meager payroll, making the playoffs twice in two years and helping erase the biggest deficit to ever win a division in 2025. Like his predecessor, Terry Francona, his ability to (ha) manage the intangibles is incalcuable on the ledger, but underrated. Also a plus for Clevelanders: Progressive Field is one of the prettiest stadiums in the league, with tons more family-friendly attractions on top of a team that continues to pump out division titles.
All of these things together make excitement an untapped resource in Cleveland. As soon as I can feel my fingers again from this cold snap, I’m gonna go check on ticket prices. Even though it would be nice to get a free agent or two added to the roster, maybe someone who bashes left-handed pitching?, there’s nothing wrong with being excited to be a Guardians fan.
