Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Josh Bell Signs with the Cleveland Guardians! | 581

Episode Date: December 6, 2022

Save 20% off + free shipping by going to https://manscaped.com/talkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, emergency episode, where Chris Rose's Guardians have a first baseman. We're going to talk all about it. Let's do it. Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, brought to you by Seat Geek. My name's Jimmy, his name is Jake and not Trevor Ploof, Chris Rose. That's right. Chris Rose, Guardians, number one fan. Are you the number one, like, celebrity Guardians fans?

So it was funny. Last night we were out to dinner. Yes. You were sleeping. Yes. Who did we see at dinner? We saw Mike Antonati. Chris Antonetti.

Close enough. And Mike Chernoff, so you combine the two and butchered the last name anyway. They are the hierarchy of the Cleveland Guardians. And it was funny. I ran over their table, said hi. I said I'll come back with six or seven trade slash signing suggestions. I don't remember if I put Josh Bell in there or not. But here we are.

Here we are. Reportedly a two-year $33 million deal with an opt-outed. We're still getting the news as it happens. We knew that they had made a three-year proposal for Jose O'Brien. He obviously picked Houston, went down to the defending champs. First base has been a bit of a problem there in Cleveland. Did you... How do I phrase this question?

You're not going to hurt my feelings. No, no, no, no. No, it's exciting that they're spending money and going on and getting people, but why? What do you mean? Is this something the Guardians do? Like, do they'll go get one guy and then now they're done? Well, I think that they'll be trading for a catcher, right? They're not in on the contrary situation.

I don't think they love them defensively, and they know they won't be able to pay the $75 or $80 million, or whatever it's going to cost to get him. So they did have a first base problem. Now, Josh Bell, for those of you that followed him, really good in Pittsburgh for a while, fell off, got good, traded to Washington, did well. got traded to San Diego as part of the Soto deal.

Yeah. And was terrible. Hit under 200. I think he hit three homers. So is Soto. Yes. So maybe on the plane right over, they were like, there's a problem.

Let's not. Let's not try. Right. So is he great? No. Is he better than what they had? Absolutely. And he fits kind of there. You hear a lot about the Guardian's culture.

Yeah. Like, we're going to be talking to Terry Francona later today, and I'm sure that's a big part. Is it a relaxed culture? I think it's a, we really are a team culture. Like, you've got to buy into what we're doing here. Yeah, well, Guardians Ball, yeah. You know? Like, they did do that last year really well.

Totally. That's the only reason they ended up winning the division and taking you guys to five games. Now, Jake, you said you hated this signing? I've got a fun fact for you. Yeah. Josh Bell won the Silver Slugger last year. Did he really? Yeah.

So that's one of those funny things. His stats on the year, you mentioned in Washington, 301, 384, 877. That's great. It kind of reeks of Silver Slugger. He went to San Diego, 192, 316, 587. He has an opt-out after the first year. Okay. Okay.

So it could be, it's Rizzo, kind of. Like Rizzo had a deal like that. That as long as I, if I play to as good as I want, I might hit the waters again and test it out, which, hey. I think they're okay with that, too. You know, they had a huge hole at first base, in my opinion. Josh Naler, great against righties, not good against lefties. and also just because of that gruesome leg injury, he suffered in 2021.

He doesn't move around great, right? Owen Miller was not good over there in terms of he just didn't hit after the first month. So what does this mean for Nailer? I think they see him as a D.H. Okay. Can he get fiery enough as a D.H? You know, he makes those stretch plays at first, and that's a lot of momentum going into the dugout.

Then he's high-fiving people after innings. You might be losing a lot of. Josh Bell's kind of chill, you know? I mean, is it options? Because, so update, he won the Silver Slugger at D-H, because Paul Goldschmidt exists. Oh, my God. So he was the NL-D-H-D-H Silver Slugger. That's weird.

He played 120 games. He started 120 games at first base. So, I mean, that's everyday first base, and then Nailer or whoever can fill in the holes. Okay. Because I, again, first-based, defensive analytics are jacked up. But from what I... He's also a switch hitter. He's not going to platoon, really.

Switch hitter, but I mean defensively. I feel like I haven't heard rave reviews about Josh Bell, but I don't know. You're not searching those out. It's true. Yeah, he's not Goldschmidt over there, is correct. Right. Yeah, but I think it's a good move for a team that needed to upgrade there and needs to upgrade at catcher.

Certainly if they're going to continue to have Miles Straw out there as an everyday center fielder, right? Because last year you got to the bottom of the lineup, and with all due respect to the guys that played behind the plate, one of whom we're very close with here at John Boy Media. Yes. The eighth and ninth place hitters in the Cleveland lineup, it's tough. It's like you're fighting nine against seven a little bit at times. They weren't good in that Yankee series, though.

Just to give him credit. Hedges. Oh, yeah. It's like the toughest at bat. I know. Yeah, he did great. Good for him. I hope he comes back.

I hope they sign him to a deal. We know he's a great dude. And by the way, Josh Bell, you mentioned he had that, He had what looked like a down 2018 season when Josh Bell in 2017, he has his first full run. He's a guy you heard of 26 homers, 90 RBI, a nice season for a 24-year-old ball player. Comes back to next year, the power's down, but other stuff is there. 12 homers, 261, 357. He had a bad 2020 season, which you kind of have to throw out.

57 games. At least put it in a larger sample size of 2019. until now, which is 500 games. 828 OPS. Like switch hitting first baseman to get him for what one or two years at that price when all of the other numbers we're throwing around for these guys at winter meeting so far have been, you know, we're talking about $300 million range. This is some good Guardians baseball, Rosie.

It's kind of where we fit in the pecking order, guys. I mean, there are years where we don't sign anybody. Does this make you happy? Look at all these doubles. An outs that he hit last two years that are going to be home runs in Cleveland. I love that. Wow. It's actually a lot.

I didn't think it was going to be that minute. It is a decent number. I'm looking at it. In 2019, by the way, how did he not get one MVP vote? He had 37 homers, 116 ribs. He went 277, 367, 569 for a 9366 OPS and a 142 OPS plus. How did he not get one top? He didn't get any?

That's 25 would be homers. Seriously? Yeah. Over two seasons. He might push Judge for the American League record next year. Look at this spot right here. Look at this spot, Jake. Look at this spot, Jake.

The shallow or the right center in Cleveland? Yeah. It looks like he peppers that spot. That's the hot zone. Yeah, it's the D-D versus Kluber spot. That's his Matt Olson. Don't do that. That's just how I know that spot.

That's how he knows that shit. Don't do that. Do you think Josh Bell manscapes? I think he does, yeah. Oh, God. I think he's careful. And if he doesn't? Yeah.

I know a great way to get him one. Oh. Yeah. I think he's because he's a switch hitter. I think he's got two. Nice. Shortens the time. It's efficient.

Just one sweep. Both hands. Yeah, and if you want to do that, you can buy yourself two. How about it? Go to bandscape.com slash talking. You get 20% off plus free shipping by going to manscape. com slash talking. You can also get the shampoos, the body washes, the boxers, which I like.

Actually, I've been using their lip balm. I have two of the boxers. Yeah. And Jake uses the where you put your shit. The bag. The bag. Oh, yeah. I have it with me.

What's it called? The travel bag. The lip bomb is really effective. Yeah, no. Does Austin trim his hedges? No. I can text them and find out. We're on that.

Manscape.com slash talking. I should send all the guys that did the rose rotation this year, Manscape for. Yeah. There's Foolish Bailey. What do you think? Can I tell you what? Huh. Josh Bell should have received a MVP vote that year.

Right? That was the year Kevin Pilar got a random vote. out of nowhere. Well, that guy missed his name, remember? Goldsch. Wasn't that a real story? Did he think it was Malar? Goldschmidt?

That was Tepara. I forget. I think Trey Turner was supposed to get the guy's vote, and Ryan Tepara caught the story. Goldschmidt and Colton Wong got votes. So yeah, Josh Bell deserved at least a vote. Thank you. I'm going to scream it downstairs.

Please do. Yeah. Ooh, a little buzz campaign. Yeah. You think they're buzzing down there from this? Oh, that's really good winter meeting stuff, just to, like, elbow someone to be like, Josh Bell could have got MVP votes in 19.

And Tito's coming on. on Rose rotation later today. So this will be a fun, fun chat with him, too. Yeah, they gave you some fodder. You think you'll have a good joke about it? Oh, hey. You know, Chris, I'll tell you. Josh Bill, I mean, he's a good, good player, good player, good guy. Good, good player, better guy. Better guy. Yeah, Drew Carey. He's a really fan. He might be more famous than you. Oh, yeah. Dude, it's Drew Carey, Hallie Barry. Hallie Barry, Hallie Barry, guys. Okay. What about Tom Hanks. He doesn't support the team.

He did the Guardian's voiceover. He couldn't ask me to do it? He doesn't support. He just supports the arts. LeBron James, that picture, that's bullshit. What about Kid Cuddy? Did not know that Kid Cuddy is a Guardians fan. Okay.

This says Drake. No. He's just a fan of that. Why aren't you on any of these lists? What's going on over there? Is that me? Yeah, I think that's... I don't know.

I think that's leaking through something. I don't know. I don't know. idea what that is. All right, I'll shut that off. Good for Josh Bell. All right. Well, good for us, too.

Okay. All right. Well, though, the first base market, I mean, Belt is the only one really left. Is there any other team searching for a first baseman? Hmm. Do the Red Sox not have a first baseman? Do the Marlins have one?

Hasmer's there. Is Garrett Kupilupes still around? I don't know. I mean, they got rid of Jesus Aguilar last year. I don't know where they're all going to go. I don't know. Brandon Bell, that's going to be a fun one. Interesting.

Does Brandon Bell get... Mancini's still around? He's out there. Mancini's out there. Brandon Drury, I think, is an option to play for a space. Could be. Boy, most of those guys that came over in trades to San Diego, it's just fizzled except for a hater.

Yeah. Right? Right? And he was supposedly done. And then he figured it out pretty quickly. I'm not going to say that Juan Soto fizzled. He'll be all right. He fizzled.

Fizzled. Fizzled's fine. I think he'd admit he fizzled. Okay. Okay, but hold on. What other team needs the first basement? Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman, Hoskins, Low in Texas, Christian Walker in Arizona.

Yeah. Houston's got them. Matt's got them. The White Sox? They're going to move on. Is that Nelson Cruz? Yeah, Nelson Cruz has been hanging around. That's pretty funny.

It's on briefly, but he walked by earlier. Most home runs of the 2010s? Oh, well, we should ask him what he thought about Josh Bell. He played with him. Yeah. I think he's GM of the team DR for a little baseball class. Maybe something with that's happening. That's nice.

Okay. That's a good one. Should you stop staring at him? Do white socks? Do they need a first basement? Andrew Vaughn. Oh, okay. Putting him at his natural spot.

Yeah, Andrew Vaughn is one five days. Rowdy's going to be the starter from Milwaukee? Any guy? He played rakes. Okay. I'm just reading the team. He's trying to figure out. Walsh and L.A.?

Go there. Uh, ooh. Okay. Okay. Yeah, they need a left-handed hitter. They're pretty right-handed. Brandon Belt to the Angels. Outside of Showhay, they're pretty right-handed dominant.

They won't be announced. There's potential. That'll be like, he's here at spring training. Ha. I'm not saying this because we don't want to get our angel fans rowdy. But Brandon Belt signing with the Angels would be like a cut in May, and then he signed somewhere else and goes nuts. He goes back to San Francisco.

It's like 20 homers, yeah. That's funny. I'm glad you didn't say that. I didn't say that, though. All right. Not at all. There you go. Go guards.

Go guards. Go guards. Go guards. Go guards. Look at how happy the non-spender is. It's great. We're just happy to get something. You guys are like, yeah, let's give out of the 320 millionaire judge.

Another bazillion to that guy. Three-60s for the Giants. Okay. Thanks for letting me join you guys. This is what's fun for me. The Trev, Texas. thoughts. He stinks.

What did you say? He said he's happy for C. Rose. Happy for C. Rose. Smart hitter for the Guardians. Few clicks away from being a real menace. 8.10 rating from Trev. 8 out of 10. I got Tref's thoughts in.