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Hey, Hoynsie: If Emmanuel Clase, according to an indictment by federal prosecutors, is found guilty of throwing rigged pitches during games, how will his place as the Guardians’ all-time saves leader be handled? Does he get an asterisk? — CDL, Strongsville.
Hey, CDL: I think Clase’s franchise record of 181 saves will stand regardless of his fate. The stats of the 1919 White Sox, who had eight players banned for life for throwing the World Series, are still in the record books without an asterisk.
Pete Rose, banned for life for gambling, is still recognized as MLB’s all-time hit king with 4,256.
Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz are scheduled to go to court on May 4. Besides criminal charges, they each face a possible lifetime ban from baseball for gambling on games.
Last year Commissioner Rob Manfred ruled that any deceased player who was on the permanently ineligible list was removed from that list. In doing so, he opened the door to Rose and others to gain election to the Hall of Fame.
Hey, Hoynsie: Now that the Tigers have two of the best left handers in the big leagues in Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, will the Guardians add a right-handed bat? — Baseball Fan, Bronx, N. Y.
Hey, Base: I do not see that happening between now and the start of the regular season. If the need becomes apparent, and the Guardians are contending at the trade deadline, perhaps they’d make such a move.
Progressive Field.
Hey, Hoynsie: Is there any rhyme or reason that the Guardians recently have opened their season with a long West Coast trip? — Andy Mees, Sandusky.
Hey, Andy: For the last few years, including the upcoming 2026 season, construction crews have been working on improvements at Progressive Field. The West Coast trips allow them more time to get the ballpark ready.
Besides that, it saves the Guardians and their fans from frostbite.
Hey, Hoynsie: I just read an article saying the Guardians were ready to trade Jose Ramirez if the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract extension in 2022. Can I assume the same is true of Steven Kwan? — John Reyes.
Hey, John: I don’t sense the urgency with Kwan that I did with Ramirez and the organization in 2022. Ramirez, however, was two years away from free agency, just like Kwan, when he signed that seven-year, $141 million extension in 2022.
Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, said the organization still has time to talk to Kwan about an extension.
Guardians’ left-hander Logan Allen will pitch for Panama in the World Baseball Classic in March.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: The World Baseball Classic should be played after the season not before. The players are not in shape and prone to injury. If I owned an MLB team with millions invested in players, how stupid would I be to let my best players play in hard-fought games before spring training? — Virgil Houser, Gustavus, Ohio.
Hey, Virgil: I think every manager and general manager, off the record, of course, would agree with you.
Hey, Hoynsie: Will you ever write a book about the Guardians and Indians? You have so many great stories and experiences. It would be a best seller. — Skip, Broadview Heights.
Hey, Skip: During a baseball season you write so much that when the offseason arrives, the thought of sitting down and writing a book is terrifying and exhausting.
So, the answer is no. Plus, I have a hard time remembering what I did yesterday.
Hey, Hoynsie: I hope David Fry is fully recovered from last season. Is he in the mix to compete for an outfield spot, at least part time? — Steve Buzon, Alexandria, Va.
Hey, Steve: Manager Stephen Vogt said recently that Fry, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, will spend most of spring training at catcher. Toward the end of spring, he could start playing other positions.
Hey, Hoynsie: Who do you think will end up with more home runs this season, Cal Raleigh or the entirety of the Guardians’ outfield? —Mark Desimone, Bakersfield, Calif.
Hey, Mark: You know the drill by now. There is room for only one wise guy around here, and that’s me.
For the curious, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh hit 60 homers last season. Cleveland’s outfielders, according to mlb.com, combined to hit 38.
Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think that the Guards are embarrassed by their lack of effort to improve the offense in the offseason as well as their pathetic payroll? — Doc, Hickory, N.C
Hey, Doc: I do not think they’re embarrassed. They made the decision to stick with the position players they’ve developed. If it doesn’t work, it’s on the front office.
Chris Antonetti said it was not a matter of money. He said they will have the resources to improve the team during the season if the offense continues to struggle as it did last year.
The Tigers have signed Framber Valdez to a three-year $115 million deal. He’s 5-0 lifetime against Cleveland.AP
Hey, Hoynsie: I know on paper the Tigers look like the team to beat in the AL Central with Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez in the rotation. I honestly think if the Guardians’ young guys can hit, and they get good years of out Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, they’ll be right there at the end of the season. — Jim Harris, Newark.
Hey, Jim: As I look out my window, it’s 11 degrees, the wind is howling and there are two feet of snow on the ground. But you prove that hope springs eternal, especially at this time of the year.
One more thing, the Guardians have proven more than once that they know how to win in the AL Central.