The Cleveland Guardians offense is hard to describe.
The full-season numbers say they haven’t been particularly productive, but they are tied for second in grand slams with four.
Yet, the year hasn’t been so smooth if we look at certain metrics and numbers beyond home runs with bases loaded (a fairly unusual feat).
For example, they are 22nd out of 30 teams with 358 runs.
They are also 18th in OPS with .692: as you can see, they are a below-average unit.
However, they woke up over the weekend in big-time fashion.
“The @CleGuardians had 22 hits at KC on April 10. They had 23 hits at KC today. They’re the first MLB team to have 22+ hits on the road twice against the same opponent in the same season since the Yankees did it in 1939 against the Philadelphia A’s,” Stats by STATS tweeted.
The @CleGuardians had 22 hits at KC on April 10. They had 23 hits at KC today.
They're the first MLB team to have 22+ hits on the road twice against the same opponent in the same season since the Yankees did it in 1939 against the Philadelphia A's.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) July 9, 2022
Consistency Is Needed
It almost seems like Guardians’ hitters are a dormant giant: they wait patiently, and then they explode in a given game.
That day, on Saturday, they won 13-1 and four different players had three-hit nights.
It was an incredible performance.
Yet, the offense can also be maddeningly inconsistent.
The very next day, on Sunday, they lost to the Kansas City Royals and scored just one run, with five hits.
To have a chance at making the playoffs, the Guardians offense will need to show they can consistently produce against better pitching staffs.
They seem to have the pieces: Andres Gimenez and Josh Naylor appear to be having breakout seasons, Steven Kwan has settled in as a leadoff hitter-type, Franmil Reyes seems to be coming around, and of course, they have perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez, not to mention prospect Nolan Jones.
Finding consistency is needed.
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