I am a committed Guardians fan asking the Guardians to be better in 2026 – so how can I be better in the year ahead in my rooting for my favorite baseball team?
Here is a list of nine resolutions I have
as I enter into a new year of rooting for the Cleveland baseball team and blogging about them:
- I Will Not Complain About Payroll Constantly – It is very hard to stomach the idea that the Guardians currently seem set to trim about $30 million from their 2025 payroll. Perhaps they will address that discrepancy before the season begins, but, if they don’t, I am not going to complain about it constantly. First, because I have read the Atlanta Braves’ financial analysis as their books are public, and this piece looking at the Pirates’ financials. From this information, I find it unlikely that the Dolans are rolling in revenues from the Guardians. Now, should they spend from their own personal fortune (which is unclear, but MAYBE a billion dollars) and leverage the impending sale of the team to invest in a roster that could make a playoff run? I would say 100% yes. But, it’s not going to be fun for me to harp on this point in every article I write in 2026. So, I will be judicious and strategic about when I bring this issue up.
- I Will Not Make Premature Conclusions About the Team – My biggest learning point last season was that I have generally functioned on the idea that you can begin to draw conclusions about a team at Memorial Day. The 2025 Guardians showed me that I should move that time period to, oh, I don’t know… September 10th? In all seriousness, I learned to couch my conclusions more carefully. I have to analyze and offer assessments as part of my role here, but I’m going to remember that baseball seasons are incredibly long and Stephen Vogt teams “got that dawg in ‘em.”
- I Will Enjoy Every Second of Jose Ramirez Playing for My Favorite Team – One of the many things I appreciate about Tom Hamilton is that he is very clear how special Jose Ramirez is and how lucky we are to watch him as Guardians’ fans and media. I want to really enjoy every moment Jose is on the field and remember how amazing it is that we get to watch a future Hall of Famer (hopefully) set almost every franchise record here. Now, please, extend him for 2-3 more years, Mr.‘s Dolan and Antonetti.
- I Will Be Patient With Guardians Prospects – Currently, it looks like we will be seeing a lot of Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Travis Bazzana, and Juan Brito on the hitting side, and Parker Messick, Slade Cecconi and perhaps Khal Stephen on the pitching side. I promise to remember that development is not linear and there will be growing pains with these young players, but it’s all part of the journey.
- I Will Not Whine About Gabriel Arias And/Or Nolan Jones Constantly – I am not interested in seeing Gabriel Arias or Nolan Jones play anymore for the Guardians. I have seen enough. Sadly, the Guardians do not appear to feel the way. I promise not to complain every article I write about having to watch either or both of these two. I promise to see their tools and not just their flaws. But, to be clear, I am going to complain and whine sometimes.
- I Will Get My Kids to Sit For Four Innings Every Game – Except for one game a year where I take my wife on a date, I always use my season-ticket holder package to take one of my four kids. For my oldest two – six-year old and five-year old, turning seven and six this year – I have tried to make sure they sit and watch three innings. This year, I will try to push it to four innings (three to begin and the ninth inning)
- I Will Watch More Minor League Baseball – My time is so limited, I usually watch minor league action in highlights. I’d like to try to watch two minor league games per week so I can offer more detailed, personal observations of our prospects.
- I Will Vote for Guardians’ All-Star Candidates Everyday When Voting Opens – I always vote, but this year, when voting opens, I will vote every day (from multiple emails, but don’t tell MLB) for the players who are at least in the general vicinity of being All-Star worthy. Why? Because it means something significant to players to be named an All-Star.
- I Will Work on a Fan-run Guards Fest and a fictional work on Cleveland baseball – I am so upset that the Guardians seem set to eliminate Guards Fest, and upset that MLB seems set for a long lockout. So, I am going to try to see if I can organize a fan-led version of Guards Fest, and I am working on a fictional work for us to follow in the inevitable event that the lockout leaves us with months of no baseball content.
Now, how about you? What are your Guardians’ fan resolutions for 2026?
