Picture this: 10 years ago. 2016. The Cavs are Champs, you’re in the best shape of your life, going to concerts on the beach and sippin’ on Spring Lakers in God’s Basement listening to E Street covers all summer long…
No? Just me? Oh well how about something we can all relate to, like the then Cleveland Indians winning the AL Central and going on a magical run to Game 7 of the World Series?
Ahhh yes, there it is. And while that Playoff run didn’t end like we all wish it would have, it’s important to remember how we got there and how much we enjoyed that journey. That team was a complete bunch: an experienced Manager who has been there before, a lineup filled with few young Superstars mixed with some savvy clutch Veterans and a rotation that was one of the best in baseball. However, after a few late injuries to that rotation (both unfortunate and self inflected), the Tribe needed to lean heavily on a few reliable arms out of the bullpen. Then, we saw history.
While Cody Allen deserves his flowers in his part for getting us oh so close to our first World Series ring since 1948, it was newly acquired Andrew Miller who came up the biggest, earning ALCS MVP in the 4-1 series Win vs Toronto.
For those of you who don’t know (or just love to be reminded of it), Miller Time was the absolutely greatest tasting less filling arm you’ve ever seen in that series. In the 5 ALCS games, Miller pitched in 4 of them, for 7.2 IP, allowing 3 hits and striking out 14(!). And while those numbers would’ve been one incredible start for any SP, it’s especially important to remember that Andrew wasn’t pitching in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd innings and facing the bottom of the lineup. No. Tito had Miller pitching strictly in leverage innings, multiple in every appearance, and always facing Toronto’s best: Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and some sort of combination of Russell Martin and Troy Tulowitzski. He neutralized the biggest threat, at the biggest time, in 4 Wins on the biggest stage. That’s how you win ALCS MVP.
Now, to expect ANYONE to ever do that again is crazy talk. Trust me, I get that. But if this Cleveland Guardians team is to make the World Series again, someone (well, a bunch of someones) will have to step up and deliver big time for n the ALCS. Who might that be?
Here are my 5 candidates to be this year’s version of ALCS MVP Andrew Miller…
Missed the Cut: Tim Herrin
Look, I don’t wanna pick on the guy. He actually fits the bill: big, long, lefty out of the ‘pen, who *when he throws strikes* can be a shutdown to possibly untouchable arm out of the ‘pen. Throw a beard on the baby face and he’s a spitting image of Andrew! BUT it would be disingenuous of me to predict him, even if other writers here may believe in him. I just haven’t seen the consistency from Tim to become his alter ego Jim long enough to give us an MVP performance. I would LOVE to be proven wrong, and I know, he will have to pitch well at least once if we make a run, but I don’t see it being THAT impactful. At least as a positive. But again, prove me wrong!
HM: Justin Campbell
Who?!?! Nahhh I know my readers know who our boy JC is. But if you’re new here, Justin was a highly ranked arm in the 2022 draft that many in Cleveland had very high expectations for. But after a few injuries that sidelined him for years, he became an afterthought. That was until this year, when he broke out at High A Lake County, AA Akron and eventually made his way to AAA Columbus. Campbell was amongst the organizational leaders in just about every stat/metric, and with an impending 40 man roster spot coming his way, what better time to ride the hot hand?
We saw it with Chase DeLauter last year, debuting in the Wild Card Round vs Detroit. Cleveland has shown recently that they believe in being aggressive if it can provide an advantage. Well, why not a pitcher, stretched out to go multiple innings, this Fall? It’s not like our bullpen couldn’t use the fresh arm!
As fun as it is to imagine, it’s just an honorable mention, as this is for sure one of the tougher scenarios to see playing out. Still tho, rooting for the kid who will be with us next year and hopefully for a long time after.
#5: Daniel Espino/Joey Cantillo Combo
Well there’s an idea!
Piggybacking (see what I did there) off of the Campbell idea, both Espino and Cantillo have found themselves in new roles recently. And outside of one ugly inning for Daniel, it has been a revelation for them both. Cantillo, since moving to the Piggyback spot, has thrown 15 innings, allowing 4 hits, 0 runs scored while striking out 17. That my friends is a game changer. Add in Espino touching 102 and learning to throw more frequently than he ever has, and these two are primed for some big boy innings.
Will they use these guys as a pseudo 3rd SP? It’s very likely! Could they deploy them in a way where they are more effective on a nightly basis? Anything is possible!
#4: Jose Ramirez
Jose is the GOAT. But he’s had a rough year. He was off to a slow start that turned into a subpar first half. And while we all believed he would break out of it, he would brake his hamate bone and be sidelined for 6 weeks, only to be nursing it (understandably so) when he returned. Jose never really found his footing this year (except for one week in April) and this turned into an extremely forgettable season.
But what if it wasn’t? What if Jose could give us one stretch of Prime Jose? Wouldn’t a classic Lapara Hot streak in late October make everyone forget about the down season? I know what people remember most, and it’s the Legends of the Fall.
We know it’s in there, and man it would be something to have him erase the bad memories of subpar Octobers past with one big one this year. And until he gives me a reason not to, I’ll always believe in Jose.
#3: Erik Sabrowski
Ok now we’re talkin.
He’s been the #1 Lefty option for us all year, and outside of one bad dry spell (where he may have been pitching hurt?), he’s been absolutely LIGHTS OUT. It is so easy to see why Sabrowski could be THE GUY. He generates some of the most WHIFFS on the team, he’s thrown multiple innings a handful of times, he’s hit right now… and of course, he is a Lefty. If Vogt doesn’t want to mess with the 9th, moving Sabro around is likely his best bet at making life difficult for the other team
#2: Jo Adell
Part of the Miller Time Magic was that Andrew felt like the missing piece. That this team was already a contender, and then they added the perfect puzzle piece to help them get over the hump. And when utilized the right way, even just performing to his natural abilities, it was the greatest breath of fresh air that felt like it transformed the team.
Well, I get a lot of those feelings watching Jo Adell in the lineup. We had very little pop in the middle of the order and we couldn’t hit Lefties to save our life. Enter Adell and it felt like we just showed the bully at school we have a big brother that can whoop your butt.
Now, Jo has cooled off a bit this month, but anyone that has watched him before knows he has the ability to go scorched earth for a week or so. And if he can be that presence that he was when we brought him in and started this turn around, he can put on The Jo Show to the tune of an ALCS MVP Award.
Storybook ending for the guy who could never escape the gallows of Anaheim.
#1: Cade Smith
I mean, duh. Have you seen this guy?!
I don’t even know what to lead with. His 41 saves? His sub-1.99 ERA for the season (remember when people were saying he isn’t a Closer??), and 0.62 ERA since the All Star Break? Or the recent stretch he’s put together for Vogt as a multi inning ASSASSIN?
The answer is Cade Smith. Steven Vogt has shown that he believes the Cade Crusader can do anything, including pitch the 8th and 9th or 9th and 10th of a tie ball game while already having men on. He’s been as steady of a presence and you can ever imagine. The Vancouver Vanisher has given up just 3 hits and 3 walks in his last 12 games, which spanned 14.1 IP. No runs have scored, and he’s struck out 25(!).
In the Playoffs, when “a-SWIIIIIIIING-and-a-miss” is of the utmost importance, we have K’d Smith. And Steven Vogt knows that.
So there you have it, the next Andrew Miller is easily gonna be Cade Sm-BAH GAWD IS THAT ROCCHIO’S MUSIC?!?!
Oh who am I kidding, WELCOME TO ROCCHTOBER GUARDS FANS!! BRAYAN ROCCHIO, YOU are the next ALCS MVP!!!
Was there ever another option?
