Spring training is in full swing.
The Cleveland Guardians have been training together for a few weeks now, in Arizona.
Now, the calendar finally progressed enough for us to watch live games between MLB teams.
Before the weekend, however, teams had been limited to live batting practice and perhaps an intra-squad game or two.
Pitchers faced their own teammates to get themselves acclimated for what is going to come.
Tanner Bibee, who finished second in last year’s AL Rookie of the Year race, talked about facing his own teammates in Guardians camp.
He had a hilarious opening line.
“‘We talk a lot of…trash.’ Tanner Bibee tells @DreKnott what it’s like to pitch to his own teammates and how it helps him improve his game,” Bally Sports Cleveland tweeted.
"We talk a lot of…trash."
Tanner Bibee tells @DreKnott what it's like to pitch to his own teammates and how it helps him improve his game.#ForTheLand | #GuardsSpring pic.twitter.com/tzMp7i0KCQ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) February 24, 2024
“It’s fun, it’s competitive,” Bibee said.
When you face your own teammates a lot, they adjust to your stuff so you need to execute your pitches better and find flawless command to succeed.
That’s why it helps, especially young pitchers like Bibee.
“You learn a lot. Those guys watch you every day. After you face them once or twice, if they pick up something, they will tell you,” he added, specifically mentioning Josh Naylor.
We don’t know if he referred to Naylor as someone he trash-talks with or someone who gives him pointers about his stuff if he picks up something, but he fits both descriptions anyway.
Bibee is one of the most promising pitchers in the American League.
He already posted a 2.98 ERA last year and has potential for even more.
If he keeps pitching like he did in 2023, the Guards’ rotation will be in good hands.
NEXT: Carlos Carrasco Got Honest After Guardians Return
