CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Following another rough defensive night from catcher Mike Zunino, fans continue to wonder why Bo Naylor is still in Triple-A Columbus.
Guardians assistant general manager James Harris did his best to shine some light on the organization’s thinking Sunday morning as to why Naylor remains in Columbus while Zunino chucks baseballs into center field or struggles to block pitches while flailing away at the plate at air.
“The challenge is you can bring him up here, and is he good enough to play on this team? Yes,” Harris said. “But if he catches once or twice a week versus six times a week in Columbus, does he learn or get the opportunity to do what we want him to do? Because at some point you’re hoping that he’s your everyday C-1 here. How do you do that? You do the everyday C-1 in Columbus. So you can bring him up and be C2 or be even C3 because we're carrying three catchers, but is that the best way to prepare him?”
Harris referenced the hot start last year by Oscar Gonzalez, who had to be sent back to Columbus earlier this year as well as Richie Palacios, who was designated for assignment Sunday morning by the club.
That is a path the Guardians are trying to avoid with Naylor, who is hitting .257 with 12 home runs, 46 RBI and 44 runs scored in 206 at-bats this season for the Clippers.
“Coming up, having a short stint at the Major League level, even a short stint of success, it doesn’t mean that guys are figuring it out,” Harris said. “Sometimes they have to go back to Triple-A. We're hoping that that’s not the path for Bo. It likely will be, but we’re trying to prepare him as much as we can so we can make the right decision.”
The Guardians knew when they signed Zunino to a one-year, $6 million contract in December they’d sacrifice some defense to get more offense out of the position, but that hasn’t materialized.
Zunino is eight for his last 36 over the last 12 games to raise his average from .165 to .182, but Saturday night he allowed five stolen bases, two of his throws went into center field and he was charged with a passed ball.
While Naylor appears to be Major League ready and has improved defensively and offensively, the Guardians want to make sure his game is as complete as possible at the plate as well as behind it.
“The next step for him is being able to lead the clubhouse at a Major League level,” Harris said. “Lead the pitcher-catcher meetings. Like, being a C1 at the Major League level is not just catching the ball. It’s not just trying to throw guys out at second base. It’s all of that. It’s leading the pitching staff. It’s calling pitches. It’s leading advanced work with our analyst. It’s like a quarterback in football.
“And yes, he can probably come up here and be great right away. I hope that’s the answer, but if you could spend a little bit of time and be sure, we’re hoping that that's going to set us up for the future.”
Roster moves – In addition to designating Palacios for assignment, the Guardians sent right-handed reliever Tim Herrin back to Columbus and activated right-hander Cody Morris from the 60-day injured list.
Herrin, who was called up prior to Saturday night’s game, saved the bullpen by throwing three innings where he allowed a run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout while facing 14 hitters.
Welcome back – Morris landed on the injured list due to a right teres major muscle strain and he will work out of the bullpen for Cleveland.
“I've enjoyed my time in the pen,” Morris said Sunday morning. “I had a lot of fun last year at the end of the year out of the pen, and it’s a nice change of pace. Yeah, I don't know if I necessarily like it more than starting, maybe about the same, but it’s been fun for me.”
This is the second time Morris has had an injury slow him down.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” Morris said. “Last year I was frustrated. I was so excited after getting added to the 40-man [roster], like having a chance and then an injury. And then last year, obviously getting a taste kind of at the end of the year. I was so excited to be back and be here for a full year that, yeah, I mean I was pretty devastated when it happened, but it's great to be back.”
Double the fun – Cleveland collected 10 hits for the fifth consecutive game Saturday night marking the ninth time they’ve done that since May 28, which leads baseball.
Warming up? – The Guardians entered Sunday’s series finale with the Astros looking for their fourth series win in their last five. The team has won eight of their last 13 games.
