News and Notes: Athletics Attempt a Comeback, Josh Naylor says “No”

News and Notes for Sunday, April 21st, 2024

The Guardians hammered the A’s 6-3 on Saturday night and Josh Naylor hammered his own head as he hit a go-ahead two-run home run.

Logan Allen had some command issues but mostly kept hitters off-balance until giving up two solo-homers in the fifth inning and then a triple in the sixth after getting a quick out. Allen can’t afford to walk three batters most nights because of the susceptibility to those home runs, but he got away with it against the A’s. The bullpen was sensational again with 3 and 2/3rds scoreless innings with seven strikeouts (three from Scott Barlow, and two each from Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase). Here’s Allen after the game

And here’s Stephen Vogt on the hero of the game, Naylor, and Allen:

Speaking of Naylor, don’t miss his monstrous home run after the Athletics had tied the game:

And his reaction:

Steven Kwan was 4 for 5 and has a .374 batting average, David Fry was 2 for 4 with a walk, and Gabriel Arias was 2 for 4. Arias has pretty much cemented himself a starting role, perhaps at multiple positions, with how he has hit of late. I’ve been a doubter that he would be able to be an above-average hitter after last season but it seems recent adjustments he has made at the plate may have helped him. A good reminder never to assume you know what a 24 year-old hitter is going to be.

In other news, Tyler Freeman seems to actually be a darn good centerfielder:

Kyle Manzardo is heating up in Columbus with two-home runs. The Guardians for sure would have to move an outfielder to get him on the roster soon (not saying they WILL, just if they want to do so), which leaves them with demoting Ramon Laureano (extremely unlikely) or Will Brennan or DFA’ing Estevan Florial, because Kwan and Freeman aren’t going anywhere of course. I suspect the team will give Brennan and Florial another few weeks to demonstrate their value to the roster before making this move. I think Laureano as a veteran and a guy who was hit lefties well his whole career will stay.

In MLB draft prospect updates, Charlie Condon hit another home run:

But so did Travis Bazzana, in his second game after returning from being hit on the hand:

Around MLB:

The Twins finally won and the Royals finally lost.