Gavin Williams In, Triston McKenzie Out; Guardians Finish Tough Stretch With Important Month Ahead

Gavin Williams is finally back in the rotation for the Guardians, but it had to come at the expense of Triston McKenzie due to his most recent bout of struggles with command. What can be expected of Gavin Williams and what is next for McKenzie and the Guardians? We get into that on today's show.
We do cover the Royals series, but also the month of June in general, as well as this recent stretch of 13 games in 13 days and how that stretch went, including this weekend series.
July brings the trade deadline and the MLB draft. We discuss how important this month is for the Guardians and why this month is important so important for this season for Cleveland and beyond, and what they must do.
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#guardians #ClevelandGuardians #MLB

[@scotthauser5341]

You are right, Justin, we are still six games up. We are twenty plus games over 500. No complaints here.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Yup

[@michaelcurtis106]

Regarding McKenzie, it needed to be done. They did the same thing with Cliff Lee back in the day and it worked.

[@LockedonGuardians]

he has been bad all year

[@alabasterjack8895]

I like Triston a lot too but this was the right call. I think Carrasco and Allen are what they are but maybe Triston can really figure some things out in the AAA lab. At least I hope so.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Only call that made sense

[@brainspin7518]

Your comments on Triston were spot on! Good podcast.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Much appreciated!

[@scotthauser5341]

Absolutely, make the necessary trade to get a starter.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Just not sure how many will be out there

[@RobertGrose-jn3nw]

How long can they keep watching Tyler Freeman hit into double plays and batting around .200

[@LockedonGuardians]

It's been rough 2nd worst hitter on the team in june

[@TheKLeifheit13]

You're not the only one that refuses to panic about the KC series - CBS has us #2 in the power rankings. We were gassed and looked lifeless all weekend, Bibee dragged the team kicking and screaming to a win on sheer grit. A day of rest and some bad teams will make a big difference. Interesting to me that they haven't even given Brito a look, wondering if they're protecting him until he has a permanent spot in Cleveland. No such fear in sending others up/down so it just feels like they're wearing kid gloves with Brito

[@LockedonGuardians]

Its the smart approach to not freak out every team has those moments

[@zivohel]

Justin Good show and comments on everything and this stretch of games they came through.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Thank you

[@thomaswilley380]

Improving the rotation will be a help. But, the team’s success will be determined mostly by the performance of the people already on the roster. Kwan, Ramirez, Naylor, Bibee, Clase… will be the deciding factor.

[@LockedonGuardians]

agreed

[@stevenhill7614]

They do need a off day. . To bad with didn't sign the pitcher we got off waivers from the Angels. Atlanta signed him and made him a starter. We just need the new owner that will spend a few bucks.

[@Nick-jd5ge]

David Blitzer owns 25 percent of the guardians. He bought out John Sherman share. Sherman shelled out 60 million for 3 years of double e. It didn't come out of paul dolan pocket.

[@LockedonGuardians]

He got a pretty big contract for a risky move. He had been terrible as a starter in his career which is why he moved to the pen

[@jffagan]

Nice show Justin! Great therapy session!

[@LockedonGuardians]

Thank you kind sir

[@M0ving7arg37]

Justin's Internet couldn't handle his trade for a WS rant.

[@LockedonGuardians]

It could not

[@shamanpj]

Guards doing what they have to do. Nuff said. Really hope Triston can find his control again. Maybe he is just re-learning to pitch? History however seems filled with pitchers who had it yet lose it. Wishing the best for Sticks. We are a better team with him on it. Tough series in KC. Rather do it now then later.

[@LockedonGuardians]

They are much better with him if he can get back to the 22 version

[@davidvankirk7721]

What about relief arms that can come up from the minors? FA RP's? Like you said, if you could have more lights out relievers you don't have to worry about SP face the batting order a third time.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Right now Walters is getting shelled, Enright is hurt, and Hopefully Andrew M is back in AAA soon

[@George50809]

The key to the weekend was not winning the first game. That game was very winnable, but they did not get the big hit.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Have been missing out on the Big hit of late

[@libertyoutdooradventures6595]

7 straight road games against good teams. The Baltimore series took alot out of them

[@LockedonGuardians]

Yeah it has been a rough run in terms of schedule

[@gonolz]

I'm still not ruling out something still being wrong with Triston's elbow. Its possible it didn't heal properly, or the mechanics are being affected in some unknown way and surgery ends up being recommended. Although I concede the velocity argues against this. Also would point out that Law did say way back when that he was concerned with Triston's slight frame and inability to put on mass and would push him through the organization quickly, because the clock is probably ticking on his arm.

[@LockedonGuardians]

He wasn't pushed quickly though, and if he was injured velocity wouldn't be up

[@gonolz]

@@LockedonGuardians true, but maybe he should have been pushed through quicker?

[@mutantmangoman]

I don’t think you should be so certain that the guardians won’t trade for a better pitcher than Williams. Not necessarily because of the trade market but because of Gavin Williams. It feels like the fanbase might have too high of expectations for him. He certainly has a ton of potential, but he had a FIP over 4 because of walking 11% of batters he faced last year. If the guardians acquired someone like Jack Flaherty I would definitely have higher expectations for Flaherty than Williams.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Markets pretty bad overall it's going to be hard and Detroit would likely ask for more to trade in division just the way of such things and why they are so rare

[@mutantmangoman]

@@LockedonGuardiansmy point though is that you shouldn’t say so definitively that Williams will be better than anyone we acquire. Williams is still more potential than he is proven. It’s highly possible that Williams doesn’t even out perform kikuchi. And I agree Flaherty being in division hurts, but that doesn’t make it a 0% chance we acquire him. Same goes for Crochet and Fedde but I think those are even less likely. I largely agree with how you see the trade market, but I think most fans are over confident in what we’ll get from Williams, even if he does have very high potential.

[@M0ving7arg37]

Awkward with July 6th being McKenzie's bobblehead day.

[@LockedonGuardians]

This is very truw

[@MarkBernard-th6ps]

Where is Jeff?

[@LockedonGuardians]

vacation

[@michaelthayer1746]

Depends what streak you are looking at...they are 8-4 in last 12 games...Yankees are 3-7 in last 10...relax

[@LockedonGuardians]

every team has rough runs

[@user-wi9kw9xp9l]

The Guardians should have won the 1st KC game decided only by a CF non-catch.... that's just the nature of baseball... ⚾

[@LockedonGuardians]

well said

[@scotthauser5341]

You are right, Justin, we are still six games up. We are twenty plus games over 500. No complaints here.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Yup

[@scotthauser5341]

You are right, Justin, we are still six games up. We are twenty plus games over 500. No complaints here.

[@LockedonGuardians]

Every team has a rough stretch or 2