Not many people thought the Cleveland Guardians were going to be as good as they were last season.
They lost some of their key offensive contributors, and while their bullpen still looked stellar, there were major doubts about their offense.
Fast-forward to today, and the same issues analysts predicted they would struggle with have held the team back more often than not.
That’s why, as disappointed as some fans might be, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report believes this is exactly what they signed up for.
In his latest column, he argued that the Guardians were just the team they were supposed to be:
“Meeting expectations,” Miller wrote. “José Ramírez is well on his way to what ought to be his eighth top-10 finish for AL MVP in the past nine seasons. But now that Steven Kwan has cooled off from his torrid start, batting .182 in Cleveland’s first 15 games played in June, would Ramírez’s supporting cast please stand up? Aside from the star at third base, they’ve been pretty mediocre across the board, particularly in the pitching department. Tanner Bibee and Emmanuel Clase have both bounced back from brutal starts to the season, but every Guardian who has made multiple starts this season has a FIP north of 4.20.”
As harsh as that might sound, it might be true.
Other than Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan – who hasn’t been his usual self this month – this team has no reliable and consistent source of offense.
They’ve gotten something from Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Schneemann, and Carlos Santana every now and then, but that’s just not enough to get the job done night in and night out.
All in all, and despite their shortcomings, this team is still in a position to compete for a Wild Card berth.
Unfortunately, this front office has never been known for its willingness to take risks, so expecting them to swing for the fences and try to make a big splash at the trade deadline might be nothing but wishful thinking.
Unless the bats get hot and the Guardians start winning some games, chances are they will be sellers at the deadline.
NEXT: 3 Guardians Players Could Be Traded At Deadline
