Hey, Hoynsie: Why wasn’t Andres Gimenez shifted to shortstop in spring training to allow Brayan Rocchio to learn second base? — Bud, Arizona

Hey, Bud: I think Gimenez has stayed at second for the same reason Steven Kwan has stayed in left field instead of moving to center field. They dominate their position defensively.

The Guardians felt Rocchio could handle shortstop coming out of spring training. I’m sure he could play second as well, but there would have to be a learning curve. So why weaken your defense in the middle of the diamond, when you’re getting above-average defense at short and Gold/Platinum Glove defense at second?

Hey, Hoynsie: What is the average number of years for a first round pick to get to the big leagues? Can Travis Bazzana beat that timetable? — Marv, Phoenix.

Hey, Marv: A story in FanGraphs, written in 2015, calculated that it takes the first overall pick in the draft an average of 3.6 years to reach the big leagues.

A story in Baseball America, following the 2023 draft, calculated that 81.3% of the pitchers taken in the first round will record at least one strikeout in the big leagues. But only 14.3% will strike out 1,000 batters in their careers.

Regarding hitters, 81% of the hitters taken in the first round will get at least one big league hit. But only 22.5% will reach 1,000 hits.

The Guardians are starting Bazzana at High A (Class A Lake County). We’ll have to see where this takes us. But this is not an organization that pushes its prospects.

Hey, Hoynsie: Those Walmart-style All-Star uniforms for the American and National League were an embarrassment. Can’t they just go back to players wearing their individual team uniforms? — Tom Koch.

Hey, Tom: I didn’t mind the NL uniforms, but the AL unis looked washed out and see through. I think they can do better.

Hey, Hoynsie: Every time I see Jose Ramirez being interviewed on TV or read about him, he uses an interpreter. Does Jose speak English? Is he just not comfortable being interviewed on camera or in English? — Ed Wittenberg, Cleveland Heights.

Hey, Ed: Ramirez speaks English. He uses an interpreter so nothing is lost in translation. But with his teammates in the clubhouse, his conversations flow between Spanish and English.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why do people say it would be hard for the Guardians to make a trade with the White Sox because they’re in the same division and it would cost more? I understand that if the White Sox traded a front-line player to Cleveland that they may have to face him for an extended period of time. But wouldn’t the Guardians run the same risk with the prospects they send the White Sox? — Matt Kasza.

Hey, Matt: I see your point, but prospects are prospects for a reason. Some make it, some of them don’t.

If the Guardians acquired Erick Fende or Luis Robert Jr. from Chicago, they are both signed through 2025. Robert has club options for 2026 and 2027. Let’s say Fende continues his career revival and signs an extension with Cleveland. Or Robert stays healthy, rediscovers his power stroke and the Guardians exercise his club options. Meanwhile, all the White Sox have to show for the deal is a handful of magic beans/prospects.

All executives make bad trades, but it’s worse when they’re reminded of them 13 times a year. That’s why it’s hard to make big trades within any division and that’s why the team selling assets always asks for more.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Guardians return from the MLB All-Star Break on Friday night as they open a three-game series at home vs. the San Diego Padres. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Eastern.

The game will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+, which offers a free trial. After the seven-day free trial, you can cancel or stay subscribed to Apple TV+ for $9.99 per month.

The Guardians-Padres matchup is one of two games airing on Apple TV+’s “Friday Night Baseball.” Fans can also watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Toronto Blue Jays, with first pitch just before 7:10 p.m.

The Guardians struggled heading into the All-Star Break, losing five of their last seven games. However, they still have the best record in the American League at 58-37.

Like the Guardians, the Padres were slumping into the break, having dropped six of their last seven. They are 50-49, putting them one game out of a National League wild card spot.

Here’s more details on how you can watch tonight’s game:

What: San Diego Padres (50-49) at Cleveland Guardians (58-37)

When: Friday, July 19, 2024

Time: 7:10 p.m. Eastern.

Where: Progressive Field | Cleveland, OH

Streaming Option: Apple TV+ (free trial)

Pitching matchup: RHP Matt Waldron (5-8, 3.71 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (7-4, 3.77 ERA)

Here is a further series preview, courtesy of cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes:

Where: Progressive Field, Friday through Sunday.

TV/radio: Apple TV+ will televise Friday’s game. Bally Sports Great Lakes will televise Saturday and Sunday’s games. WTAM, WMMS, WARF and the Guardians radio network will carry the series.

Pitching matchups, starting times: RHP Tanner Bibee (7-4, 3.77) vs. RHP Matt Waldron (5-8, 3.71) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Gavin Williams (0-1, 3.77) vs. RHP Dylan Cease (8-8, 3.99) Saturday at 7:10 p.m. and RHP Ben Lively (8-4, 3.50) vs. RHP Michael King (7-6, 3.41) Sunday at 1:40 p.m.

Series: The Padres won last year’s series, 2-1. Cleveland leads, 13-9, overall.

Padres (50-49): They come out of the break in second place in the NL West, but have lost six of their last seven games. All-Star Jurickson Profar, who made his big-league debut against Cleveland on Sept. 2, 2012, leads the Padres in batting average, home runs, RBI and hits. Manny Machado at .385 (5 for 13) with two homers, four RBI hit the Guards well last year.

Guardians (58-37): They come out of the break in first place in the AL Central, but have lost five of their last seven games. In those seven games, they were shut out three times and outscored, 30-18. David Fry at .600 (3 for 5) with one homer, three RBI and former Padre Josh Naylor at .385 (5 for 13) with two RBI hit San Diego well last year.

BEREA, Ohio (WOIO) – The 39th Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival returns to Berea, Ohio this weekend.

The festival will take place Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

The festival started in 1982 to celebrate Irish music, dancing, sports, and theater among Clevelanders. Currently, an estimated population of 1.6 million Irish people live in Ohio.

“We didn’t know it would become an annual thing, ” said organizer John O’Brien Sr. “We had nearly 4,000 people at the first one and they kept asking about the next one so we kept it going.”

The event is known for its musical entertainment and draws national and international Irish bands.

The festival welcomes internationally renowned artists Gaelic Storm, Eileen Ivers, and Rory Makem to this year’s lineup, as well as several other regional and national acts.

There are a variety of activities for the whole family including a children’s area with activities and crafts, camogie games, and lots of Irish history and culture to round out the whole weekend.

The festival is cashless for admission, food, beverages, and festival merchandise. Parente said the progressive move is to help improve the guest experience and offer

secure transactions. Other vendors may choose to accept cash payments for their merchandise.

The three-day event takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E Bagley Rd, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130.

Festival hours:

Friday, July 19th from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m.,

Saturday, July 20th from 1:00 – 11:00 p.m., and

Sunday, July 21st from 1:00 – 10:00 p.m.

A mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on the 21st. Parking is free and children under 10 get free admission.

Advanced tickets will be available for purchase online. General admission is $20.00 per day, weekend passes are $50.00. Wristbands are $10 for the Children’s Area or $35 for a family-pack. For more information, visit www.clevelandirish.org

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