Many baseball analysts view the New York Yankees as overwhelmingly favorite to beat the Cleveland Guardians on their path to a possible World Series showdown with either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. However, manager Aaron Boone refuses to buy that despite Cleveland’s lack of star power, especially after the departure of longtime manager Terry Francona and believes that the Guardians present significant challenges for the Yankees as the American League Championship Series kicks off Monday in New York.
One of Cleveland’s biggest threats is Jose Ramirez, a player who has historically excelled against the Yankees, although he struggled against them this season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Ramirez for his all-around game and potential Hall of Fame career, firmly rejecting the notion that the six-time All-Star is underrated. Boone stressed that the third baseman’s greatness is well-known across the league.
“He’s the complete package,” Boone said about the four-time silver slugger. “I get on people all the time. If I hear another, ‘How underappreciated, underrated’ he is from somebody on a network or something, I want to rip my arms off and throw it at the TV. He’s not underappreciated. He is not underrated. He’s a great on track Hall of Fame player, and everybody knows it, including everyone sitting out here.”
A crucial element for Cleveland is its bullpen, which endured extra strain during the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers due to short outings from their starting rotation. Boone recognized the challenge.
Closer Emmanuel Clase anchors a bullpen regarded as one of the best in baseball. Right-hander Cade Smith, who posted a 1.91 ERA across 74 games this season, expressed confidence in their ability to handle the workload. Smith noted the bullpen’s readiness to embrace any role necessary, viewing the high-pressure moments ahead as the opportunities they’ve been waiting for.
One of the most recognizable faces in Cleveland’s lineup is Josh Naylor, who drew the ire of Yankees fans in the 2022 ALDS with his “rock-the-baby” celebration after homering off Gerrit Cole in Game 4. When asked about the incident, Cole downplayed any lingering tension, noting that the two have faced each other since without issue. However, it’s widely expected that Yankees fans at Yankee Stadium may not have forgotten.
Guardians’ manager goes bold to counter Yankees
Contrary to a cautious approach by Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone, Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt became more assertive on Sunday. Despite the Yankees entering the series as favorites, Vogt brushed aside the underdog narrative. He emphasized that his team remains focused on their own game, as they have all season. While acknowledging New York’s talent, Vogt expressed confidence in Cleveland’s abilities, stressing that they can only control their own performance as they aim for an upset in the series.
“We worry about us,’’ Vogt said. “We’ve taken that with every series all year long. We can control what we can, and we know the Yankees are good. They played us tough. This is a really good team we’re about to go up against. But we’re confident in who we are, and that’s all we can control, is us.”
Vogt, reflecting on the Guardians’ reception during their August visit to the Bronx, humorously referenced the hostile atmosphere, hinting that they should be prepared for a similar response in the ALCS.
The Cleveland Guardians face a daunting task as they prepare for the American League Championship Series against the power-heavy New York Yankees. With sluggers Aaron Judge and Juan Soto leading the charge at the top of the order, the Yankees’ lineup also features dangerous home run threats like Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo, and Gleyber Torres.
New York’s dominance in the regular season reflects the challenge ahead for Cleveland. The Yankees led the majors in home runs with 133 and posted the highest OPS (.762) in the American League. For the Guardians to stay competitive, they’ll need to neutralize that power, which has been a consistent problem for opponents.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt outlined the importance of precision on the mound. He acknowledged the Yankees’ ability to capitalize on mistakes and emphasized the need for the Guardians’ pitchers to execute their game plan flawlessly to limit the damage from New York’s big bats.
“Just got to make pitches. This is a really good lineup, really good team. We know. We’ve seen them. They’ve done it to us,” he said. “They hit the ball to the yard against us. We just have to make pitches. Our game planning is always really good, and we just have to execute.”
Guardians designated hitter David Fry also weighed in on the challenge, noting the depth of the Yankees’ lineup and the strength of their starting rotation. He pointed out that containing Judge and Soto early will be key to setting the tone while expressing optimism about the Guardians’ chances in the series.
Statistically, New York has had success against Cleveland pitching this season, boasting a .257/.371/.481 slash line and an impressive .852 OPS. For the Guardians, limiting the Yankees’ power will be critical to keeping games within reach and preventing an early deficit in the series.
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