The World Series is over. The Dodgers and Blue Jays played a close series eventually won by LA, but the important question is: what can the Guardians learn that might help them someday win the ultimate
prize?
The Guardians aren’t going to spend money to be the first payroll like the Dodgers were or the fifth payroll like the Blue Jays were. However, they can still learn from strategies and roster constructions observed by the AL and NL pennant winners in the series we just enjoyed. Here are some lessons that come to mind:
-Get a Lot of Viable Starting Pitchers and Be Aggressive with Them
Both teams had a lot of viable starting pitching and used them freely whenever they needed them throughout the series. The great equalizer for the Guardians is their starting pitching. They should be reluctant to trade any of it and aggressive in promoting any young starters who should show themselves capable of getting big league outs as needed. They are different pitchers in profile, but one would hope the Guardians remember Trey Yesavage’s playoff run if Khal Stephen shows himself to be ready to get big leaguers out in, say, late July. Get starters in the pen if the rotation is full. Let the best arms you have taken their shots at getting the best hitters out.
-Be Wise in Reliever Usage
The biggest mistake of the playoffs was when manager Dan Wilson of the Seattle Mariners pitched his third best reliever with the season on the line when his best reliever was rested and available. I hope manager Stephen Vogt can see that when it comes to elimination games, bullpen roles go out the windows. Pitch your best option when the season/a title is on the line.
Additionally, we saw more examples of teams being more effective against pitchers the more often they see them, especially when used in quick succession. Trying to mix up pitching roles in a 5-7 game series to ensure specific hitters get as few looks at your relievers as possible makes a lot of sense.
-Everyone is Going to Throw a Splitter
The Guardians should prepare to see a lot of splitters in the year ahead with how effective splitters were in the playoffs. Their hitters need to work on hitting them and the organization may want to consider acquiring players who hit splitters well. Small sample size alert, but here are some potentially available hitters who handled splitters well last year:
Michael Taylor .521 wOBA, Heriberto Hernandez .519, Jarren Duran .485 wOBA, Harrison Bader .467 wOBA, Ryan O’Hearn .429 wOBA, Yandy Diaz .376 wOBA, Trent Grisham .374 wOBA, Rhys Hoskins .332 wOBA.
-It’s not a Bad Idea to Prioritize Athletic Fielders who Make a lot of Contact.
Just make sure those guys can make QUALITY contact… or have the potential to do so. The Blue Jays seem to have actualized the Guardians’ vision of 2024 of having a lineup of young, athletic, contact-first profiles who play great defense. But, the Blue Jays also knew how to hit the long ball, which is the key to making that strategy work. The Guardians clearly see that the theory of getting good fielding players that don’t strikeout a ton has legs… it just needs some solid pop and folks who can take walks to accompany it.
-Don’t Lose Focus for an Instant
This is not an attack on Isiah Kiner-Falefa but the Blue Jays would be World Series champs had he just gotten the proper secondary lead on Daulton Varsho’s groundout in the 9th. IKF was closer to the bag than third baseman Max Muncy was and that small error cost the Blue Jays a World Series win.
Every detail must be covered and every potential must be maximized if a team like the Guardians is going to pull off the impossible and win a title. I hope Rouglas Odor and Stephen Vogt were watching that play.
-Spend Some Dang Money
The Blue Jays and Dodgers both had huge payrolls. The Guardians aren’t going to have huge payrolls. However, there are some obvious holes on Cleveland’s roster (two hitters and two relievers) that a little investment from Paul Dolan and David Blitzer can help address and give this team a real shot to win it all. If that Blue Jays team can make a run with five ex-Guardians, the Guardians can also make a run.
I feel somewhat hopeless of seeing the Guardians win a title without significant changes to the game’s revenue-sharing practices, but it won’t stop me dreaming and imagining ways Cleveland can bring an end to their now 77-year title drought.
