Reacting to Terry Francona’s stunning return and predicting the Guardians’ ALDS roster (Podcast)

Read the automated transcript of today’s podcast below. Because it’s a computer-generated transcript, it may contain errors and misspellings.

Joe Noga 0:05 Welcome back to the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast. I’m Joe noga. Joined by Paul Hoynes Hoinze late last night. We got word that Tito’s back. The the Reds story broke that the Reds intend to hire Terry Francona and just a short while ago the team made it official a three-year deal with a fourth year team option for Terry Francona. He spends just about a full calendar year away from a baseball getting healthy. Getting back to to where he needed to be. And now he’s going to be not too far away from the guardians right down the road in Cincinnati. What do you think of the movie? Surprised. I mean the timing of it seems kind of strange and unusual, but really no surprise that Terry Francona’s back as a manager in Major League Baseball.

Paul Hoynes 0:58 Yeah, I didn’t. I’m not surprised that he’s back, Joe. I am surprised that he’s managing the Reds because I I had. You know, when I thought about Tito coming back and managing I I thought he’d come back to a big market club that was ready to win, like Bruce Bocci did with Texas and could win a world. Series in two or three years and then kind of right off into the sunset. But you know. The Reds, you know? Obviously they have some talent. You know, no doubt about that. They had some injuries this year. They were a playoff team. What, a couple years ago. But they have some building to do here and it’s not like they have the payroll of the Dodgers or the OR the Rangers or or, you know, any other big market club. So this is a real interesting move and I would think to get Tito to put his name on the dotted line. The Reds had to promise that they’re going to really expand that payroll. And just as Cleveland did when they hired Tito in 2013.

Joe Noga 2:07 Yeah. So you would expect maybe the Reds to be a really active player in free agency in the offseason here coming up and you know, to to sort of start making moves and trades to to sort of line up with you know getting you know the the C. Level manager there that that they’re getting that we all know that that Tito can be. What does this mean for the Guardians franchise in terms of, you know? Do you think Tito might wanna entice some friends or? Former coworkers to come over and now remember the Reds, you know training facility is right up the road in in Goodyear. They share the same facility, the same ballpark at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. So there’s a good there’s a lot of crossover there. Should the Guardians be worried of of Tito poaching some some of their talent?

Paul Hoynes 3:00 Well, you know, I would think Carl Willis, the pitching coach would be a target #1. I mean, Tito and Carl had a great relationship, but in talking to Carl, after the Guardians clinched in Saint. Louis, you know he has such a deep affection for Cleveland, the organization, you know, he’s gotten a number vote and really likes vote. I I think that would be a tough, tough. Move for a Willis. I really do. I think he’s he thinks he’s found a home in Cleveland. He’s what? He’s been here 1415 years. He’s done a great job, you know, he knows this. This franchise produces pitching. So he’s in a pretty good spot. So we’ll have to see how that works out, but I’m not sure I would think other members of the coaching staff, you know, might fall under Tito’s charm. I mean, would would he bring back Brad Mills? Would Brad Mills come out of retirement as his longtime buddy and bench coach? Who? You know who retired. With the guardians.

Joe Noga 4:04 Yeah. The one that I thought, you know, Mike Sarbaz is coaching with the Mets right now. Maybe Mike Sarba has an opportunity with with Tito and the Reds to to sort of advance their if there’s any sort of anything there, maybe. I know. Like, just like Carl Willis, Sandy Alomar is here. I don’t know. You know what opportunities could could be presented there? But yeah, a bunch of different names just sort of rolled through my head in terms of who who might be joining Tito there or maybe, you know, Tito. Goes in a completely different direction and you know, starts to give opportunities to other guys who have have, you know, come through under his guidance over the last 1213 years and in in Cleveland and give them new opportunities there in Cincinnati, you never know, but just the. The the closeness and the familiarity between the two clubs and and this this sort of adds another layer to maybe that little rivalry. As you know, we. We saw at the end of that two game series here the end of the regular season. There it it it could it. There’s there’s a lot more to play for now when they open spring training in late February, with Tito sitting across the diamond. It’s it’s going to be very interesting. What do you think? You know from from Chris Antonetti’s perspective? You know, Tito was stepped away almost exactly a year ago. They they formally announced his retirement. Antonetti said at the time that that Tito was going to have some sort of role with this franchise moving forward. He’s listed as a a special advisor in the Media Guide right now, but. Just from the executives perspective in Cleveland, how do you think this, this move sort of plays out?

Paul Hoynes 5:53 Just, you know, based on a relationship that Tito had with Antonetti and Mike Chernoff, I’m sure he ran this by him by those guys. You know when the negotiation started. And you know, I I would think, you know, they gave his their their seal of approval. I mean, you know what I think Tito’s meant to manage. I don’t think he was ever meant to be in the front office or, you know, be a special advisor. I think if he if he’s going to go into a into a job, he wants to go into it, you know. You know full, full bore and what better job I mean, he knows managing inside and out. So I think that that but I think he definitely would have would have checked with Cleveland and and Antoinette in all the front office guys just to because he you know what. He worked here 11 years. It wasn’t like he got fired. He left on good terms from everything I could tell. And you know the winningest manager in franchise history, I mean. You know, I. So I think, you know, I think it’s it will have to check it out and talk to some people. But I think it it things went well that that way. And the thing that surprised me Joe is that he he you know he took the. Job in Cincinnati won and that, you know Buddy Bell and and David Bell, you know, they’re like royalty in Cincinnati, man. So and you know, and he’s really tied with Buddy Bell. And I’m sure he had to check. He checked in with with the Bell family to see what, how the how the feeling was with him, you know, replacing Buddy’s buddy’s kid and. In David, so you know what you know. You know Tito’s like that. You know, you’ve been around him a lot. He I don’t think he ever, you know, wants to step on anybody’s toes or, you know, kind of big time anybody. I’m sure he he checked with people and and made sure, you know this this was OK with them.

Joe Noga 7:35 Mm hmm. Yeah. And. And I’ve seen in the, you know, the immediate aftermath there on social media and, you know, on Facebook, on Twitter, I’ve seen people reacting. Guardians fans in Northeast Ohio reacting almost with disappointment. This is not a time to be disappointed. You should be happy for Tito, you know, this means that he’s feeling good enough physically, and that was the whole reason he stepped away was to get himself right physically. To to deal with all the health issues that have been plaguing him for so many years. At at sort of the the end of his tenure in Cleveland. This means this is a signal to to at least to me, that Tito’s feeling really good about his health, about his ability to to do the job the right way. And then he wants to be back in the game and and managing baseball is better off base. The the game is better with Tito in it. With whether that’s as the manager of the Guardians or you know the Guardians closest rival geographically, I I think. It it it means a lot to have him around and you shouldn’t be upset or disappointed. He didn’t spurn the guardians. He didn’t, you know, leave on bad terms with the fans. There’s still that good. You know that emotional moment when they they won his last home game four to three, ironically enough, against the Reds at Progressive Field. And everybody was wearing. Thank you, Tito T-shirts. And. And they passed out. You know, print photos of him, you know, waving to the crowd. I I mean. Those moments are still genuine and good, and you know, and positive don’t, don’t really be out here shedding tears because Tito’s going to be somewhere else. You should be happy because he’s back in the game.

Paul Hoynes 9:32 Yeah, yeah, that’s a great point. And you’re you’re right. Baseball’s better with one of the best managers in baseball. Back in the game. I mean doing what he does best and no slight on vote vote has done a great job here. I think he’d be the 1st to tell you that he inherited a good situation. That, you know, could that was, you know, largely due to how Tito handled the Big league club. But you know, I think also, Joe, I mean, he was here 11 years and I think, you know sometimes. Sometimes you’re in one place so long that you you you may need a change or or your your message to the in the locker room, you know, starts to fall on, not deaf ears, but you know doesn’t have the impact it once did. So I think maybe that. Played into this as well, don’t you? I mean they they didn’t have a great season last year. What they lost 86 games. And I think, Tito, you know, maybe maybe the time was right for him to step, step away and do it in good terms under good terms.

Joe Noga 10:33 Yeah, yeah, I think it all worked out the way that it it did, you know, should have and and and went best. And and I think if it if it ends up being a positive for both franchises instead of you know, the opportunity you don’t want to see. Him get fired. You don’t want to have that be the lasting image in the lasting memory here in Cleveland.

Paul Hoynes 10:52 Yeah.

Joe Noga 10:54 So I think it’s it’s worked out as it should and and it’ll be interesting to see you know we can speculate and get down down in the weeds. About you know what he’s got there in Cincinnati and what he’s going to have to do to build and and what the expectations should be. That’s for another podcast. But right now I just think, yeah, the the news was shocking when it came across last night, but. You know, after having a few hours to chew on it and and think about it, I’m all in favor of this. I think it’s great and I just. I just wish it hadn’t happened at, you know, 10:45 last night. And as as I’m sitting here trying to to go over things, getting ready for the guardians and the tigers in the American League Division series.

Paul Hoynes 11:27 Yeah.

Joe Noga 11:37 Trying to get all my ducks in a row for that and and all of a sudden people are talking about Tito and it’s like, let’s go back and dig up some some old stories about his retirement before we go forward so.

Paul Hoynes 11:48 Yeah, I know. You called me Joe and told me what you’d seen, and I said he’s gonna the the Reds hired him and I and I told you I asked you to manage. I was, I thought. Maybe he’s going to go to the front office or something, but that was that was a surprise. I’m not like we said, it’s not a surprise he’s back managing. Definitely a surprise. He’s managing the Reds.

Joe Noga 12:09 All right. So we will, we will definitely have a lot more to say about Tito Francona being back as the manager of the Reds. And as we get closer to the season and and during this offseason. Boy, it’s going to be a lot of fun with Tito back in the game. We want to shift our focus now and and talk about this American League Division series opener. The rosters are due tomorrow morning before game one of the LDS and the Guardians and Tigers. Match up pretty pretty close. This is going to be a tight one. Don’t don’t think that this is going to be an easy series for the Guardians to advance. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made in terms of what guys to keep on the active roster. 26 Man roster, 13 pitcher maximum. Where are the the spots right now that you can identify where guys are on the bubble the most in terms of, you know, who’s going to make the roster and who’s not.

Paul Hoynes 13:14 Oh boy, you know, I think, you know, probably the extra outfielder, Joe. Extra outfielder is kind of the swing man. Outfielder, infielder, guys like, you know, Daniel Schneemann and and does Tyler Freeman work his way back into the picture? I think those those are two question marks that I have.

Joe Noga 13:35 On Hill Martinez, another guy who, you know, switch hitter, but still, you know, that’s a a spot where there’s a question there.

Paul Hoynes 13:37 Yeah.

Joe Noga 13:43 I’m I’m looking at starting pitching and you know, the bullpen has been so good for so long, all season long. Do you maybe keep an extra reliever on there and sacrifice one of the guys who’s been? A. A starter for you throughout the season. I’m looking specifically at Ben Lively. And the way that he sort of tapered off towards the the end of the season, his last few starts, just it being a struggle for him to go deeper into games thinking that there might be something there. As far as being being able to keep an Eric Sobrowski or an Andrew Walters on the roster to to give you one solid inning of relief as opposed to Ben Lively, where you going to put him? You you’ve got to, you know, maybe. Think about how games are gonna go in terms of if you you start Tanner Bibee, you start Matt Boyd, you start maybe an Alex Cobb and and then is there an opportunity for a bullpen game in there for a game? Four maybe, if you if you wanna have. Something like that. And does Gavin Williams give you bulk relief innings there? So yeah, we can, you know, go down the list of. Of guys, I’m looking at the active roster right now as it stands. And you’ve got Tanner Bibey, Matt Boyd. And you’re gonna have to make room for Alex Cobb if you’re going to keep him on there, you’re going to have to activate him from the injured list. So that’ll be 3 starters and then you’ve got Pedro Avila. Joey cantillo. You know, actually, let’s go with who. Who in the bullpen? Let’s go from the back of the bullpen, guys who are definitely there. Obviously, Emmanuel Clase, 100 Gaddis, Tim Heron and Kade Smith. So.

Paul Hoynes 15:41 OK, that’s that’s four guys. That’s four guys.

Joe Noga 15:44 That’s four guys there. I gotta believe Nick Sandlin is going to make it just because of his versatility and his ability to open games as well. What do you think there?

Paul Hoynes 15:52 Yeah, yeah, definitely. I think Sandlin. I think Eli Morgan. And I think like you and then that’s five, seven. I think the two rookies sub rowski and and Walters make it. Because they need a lefty, don’t they, Joe? I mean they, they and with the henchise Hentges Sam Hentges out for the season.

Joe Noga 16:10 Mm hmm. So you’ve got Tim Heron but but obviously you know two lefties helps.

Paul Hoynes 16:16 Yeah. Yeah, I yeah. And I think Pedro Avila is is really a valuable guy. I. I don’t.

Joe Noga 16:24 Mm hmm.

Paul Hoynes 16:24 You know, I think he. He’s really earned a spot in this in the pen.

Joe Noga 16:29 So that gives you 10 with. You know, so you’re not counting, are you counting Cantillo there? What were? What were your thoughts so?

Paul Hoynes 16:38 I’m not. I’m not. I haven’t. I haven’t counted Cantillo.

Joe Noga 16:42 So Cantillo, Gavin Williams and Ben Lively are all guys. Who who’s, you know, maybe positions on the the playoff roster are are in jeopardy now. Things, things change if you get into A7 game series in the ALCS. You’re gonna need another starter there. Maybe a Williams or a Cantillo earns a spot. But I think you’ve you’ve got to maximize your bullpen at this point and and just understand that even if a starter doesn’t go deep, you want to have as many arms in in reserve as possible.

Paul Hoynes 17:17 Yeah, I think Williams makes it. Joe, I mean, they were going to pitch him in, in, in relief on Sunday. The game that got rained out. I think he pitched kind of. You know, he’s pitched in a simulated games. I think he’s he’s ready. I think that they, I think he he’ll make the club. He’ll make the roster one way or the other. I mean, you know, I I guess you know, you’ve got to activate Cobb. And how long is Cobb going to go? So maybe you. Have another starter backing him up.

Joe Noga 17:46 Yeah, it’s a a possibility as well. So looking at position players, Austin Hedges, Bo Naylor are both in for sure. Infielders Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, Andres Jimenez. So that’s five. You’ve got Brian rocchio. Rocchio is 6.

Paul Hoynes 18:04 That Roku? Yeah, Roku.

Joe Noga 18:08 So you’ve got Kyle Manzardo, David Frye and Daniel Schneeman there. Schneeman’s position maybe in in jeopardy if you want to keep an extra outfielder. If you want to keep an. And on hill, Martinez. Because you’ve got Lane Thomas, Steven Kwan and John Kenzie, Noel and Will Brennan the the platoon in the outfield. So. You know Martinez Schneemann and you know manzardo fry. What? What do you think there?

Paul Hoynes 18:39 Yeah, I think the DHS are gonna platoon ADH with Fry and Manzo. You know, I think that they’ll stick there and. Then what you’ve got you’ve got the platoon in right field. And John, Kenzie, Noel and and Will Brennan. Thomas and Center Quan and left. And it comes down to who? Who do you want as your extra guy, Freeman? Schneemann or Angel Martinez? Yeah, Angel.

Joe Noga 19:12 Yeah, yeah. So yeah, one spot for the the the three of those guys, schneeman, Anjal Martinez who are on the roster right now or Tyler Freeman who you’d have to make a move to get him on the roster at at this point. So yeah, that’s, you know, a a a a pretty good look at who we think so.

Paul Hoynes 19:26 Yeah.

Joe Noga 19:32 So at this point you’re you’re picking, you know, Martinez out of that group or you picking Schneemann. Or or what do you?

Paul Hoynes 19:39 I’m you know what? There’s a reason, you know. Deep down, I’d like to see Freeman make it ‘cause. I thought. I think he got hosed. You know this guy made like 86 starts whatever in center fielder is your opening day, center fielder and all of a sudden he gets pushed to the side. But you’re right, they have. They’d have to make a move to put him on the roster, but. You know, there’s a reason they there’s a reason to me. To me, they kept schneemin over Freeman, you know, to to there had to be, so you know, but you know, so I guess I think, I think I’ll go with Martinez. Angel Martinez. Because of his versatility. Can play all over, you know, just like all three of those.

Joe Noga 20:08 Mm hmm mm hmm.

Paul Hoynes 20:21 Guys are gonna do everything so, but I I like them because he’s switch hitter.

Joe Noga 20:23 Mm hmm. Yeah, so not a wouldn’t be a big surprise if if they they leave Schneeman and Freeman both off the initial playoff roster and and there’s an there, obviously there’s opportunities that for those guys to be added back on. You know, if they advance to the the ALCS. So we’ll see how that goes, but that’s a look at the our our predictions in terms of the. Playoff roster makes a lot of sense in in some of those hoynse we’re getting ready to get to the ballpark today. For the big workout with Detroit in town, we’ll hear from the managers will hear from the starting pitchers tomorrow, or actually the the Tigers are sending up a reliever as a representative of someone who’s going to go for, I think, will vest is going to be the guy.

Paul Hoynes 21:13 Yeah. Right.

Joe Noga 21:17 That that they’re normally you would hear from the next day’s starting pitcher. But instead, they’re they’re going to say, hey, if we go with a bullpen game. Here’s one of our relievers. So that’s who we’ll be talking to today and we’ll look forward to hearing from all of them and reporting back. Ahead of tomorrow’s a LCS ALDS opener here on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, we’ll see you later.

Paul Hoynes 21:42 OK, Joe.

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