Why it sucks being a Guardians fan
It’s the middle of second winter here in Northeast Ohio with degrees in the negatives. The Browns are in the midst of another head coaching carousel, the Cavs are dealing with injuries and somehow the lack of offensive and defensive production. And wouldn’t a free agency signing or big time trade make the winter air hit a little less harshly? Of course…but instead we get the Los Angeles Dodgers blasting out the bucks for Kyle Tucker and the New York Mets pricing 3 WAR players out of the meager price range Cleveland can handle, and making any ideations of a Steven Kwan extension poof away like a snowball’s chance in hell.
All of these are reasons why it sucks to be a fan of the Cleveland Guardians. Sure, we have the power of friendship on our side, along with the greatest hitter you’ve never heard of in Jose Ramirez, but all of that is clouded by the oncoming storm of “Dolanz Cheep” tweets and playoffs losses. Just as newcomers pop up and flourish (hello Chase DeLauter, possible Rookie of the Year candidate), the monkey paw grabbeth and wrench away any happiness you accrued from players of the past, as they get dealt away or maybe even bet on the wrong…chicken.
Yes, even when it’s not outwardly Cleveland’s fault, the pox that lay upon our house requires a sacrifice. When the getting gets good, the good gets suspended for gambling on the sport. Emmanuel Clase and Luis L Ortiz ruined good careers to make measily monies off micro bets that should be outlawed wherever gambling is legal. And the franchise is held hostage, their salaries embargoed, waiting for the axe to swipe down like a slider at the knees. Sure, they could cut them loose now and wash their hands of them, but on the very very very very very off chance they are found innocent, the team just lost out on two talented individuals. Rock, meet Hard Place. We will just stand in the middle.
Adding to the roster feels like as Sisyphean a task as trying to keep your driveway clear in January. When even the incremental barely-above-average-platoon bats like Austin Hays or Harrison Bader are financially out of range, you just wanna bury yourself in blankets and cry. Any trades that might materialize melt away in mere moments. Ketel Marte from Arizona would lift this roster to…the middle…but we won’t do it because it would block prospects. Brendan Donovan helps the middle infield and everywhere, but the mystery box that is youth can’t be impeded. Instead, all we get is a fleet of middle relievers because if we can’t score runs, our opponents must score negative ones.
And even the stuff we do good can’t get off the ground, or requires a sacrifice. The Cuyahoga Pitching Factory LLC continually pumps out new toys for fun and profit (Hello Parker Messick and late-season Joey Cantillo) but the well is starting to run dry, and the hopes rely on recently acquired Khal Stephen and gulp Daniel Espino? And as good as Cleveland has been at developing pitchers, they couldn’t hit on a power bat with the broad side of the barn. Name the last hitter the Guardians organization fully developed well enough to be an All-Star that isn’t Kwan or JRam? Francisco Lindor? Grady Sizemore? Manny Ramirez?!?!?! Jhonkensey Noel is on his way to Korea. Oscar Gonzalez is on his fourth team in 2 years. Nolan Jones was already dealt away and returned with limited results. Josh Naylor got a payday in Seattle after being dealt away. Toronto made it to within a shoelace of a World Series title with at least four different former Guardians on their roster. It all stinks.
There are reasons to be a Guardians fan, of course ((Maybe check back in this same space tomorrow)), but today is for grumbling. Will all of this moaning and groaning create a transaction on the ticker tomorrow? Unlikely. But it’s good to crow and complain, give voice to the various issues before violence takes place.
