Hoping stars align for deserving Guardians
- col-aaron-dorksen
- June 13, 2024
- 944
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
If you’re a Cleveland baseball fan, you have to be loving this Guardians’ season so far.
Cleveland continued to exceed everyone’s expectations with a 43-22 record after a 5-3 win over the Reds on June 11. Cleveland held a 5.5-game lead over the Royals in the AL Central and had the third-best winning percentage in the AL behind the Yankees and Orioles.
We’re closing in on the MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on July 16, and fan voting is underway.
Cleveland’s fantastic start has been helped by numerous players who are making strong bids to be picked for the mid-summer classic. The most Indians ever picked for an All-Star Game was seven in 1952. The franchise has had six All-Stars numerous times, most recently in 2018, 1999, 1998 and 1995.
Here are my most deserving 2024 Guardians in order:
—Jose Ramirez (3B): Cleveland’s most popular current pro athlete is tied with the Yankees’ Aaron Judge for AL lead with 62 RBI while blasting 18 HRs (fourth in AL), 14 doubles, stealing 11 bases and batting .271.
—Emmanuel Clase (closer): Has AL-best 19 saves and 3-1 record with 0.57 ERA.
—Steven Kwan (OF): Despite missing four weeks with a left hamstring injury, batting .370 with four homers, 37 runs, 14 RBI and two Gold Gloves to his credit. He truly deserves his first All-Star selection.
—David Fry (DH-utility): Breakout star of 2024, batting .333 with eight homers and 29 RBI, with .459 on-base percentage.
—Josh Naylor (1B): Ranks fourth in AL with 50 RBI and fifth with 17 homers. Batting average has slipped to .224, which will hurt his case.
—Setup men: Take your pick. Hunter Gaddis (1.72 ERA), Nick Sandlin (2.63 ERA) and Cade Smith (1.82 ERA) have 32, 31 and 28 appearances, respectively, and have been among the AL’s best setup men.
—Andres Gimenez (2B): Batting .263 with 33 RBI and was 2023 Platinum Glove Award winner.
Schag commits to Walsh
Rising Triway senior baseball player Grant Schag recently committed to accept a scholarship to Division II Walsh University in North Canton.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound shortstop was a Div. II first-team All-Ohioan as a sophomore in 2023 when he batted .479 and didn’t commit a single error in the field. Schag was slowed this past spring after being hit by a baseball in the face while attempting to bunt this season and “had really bad luck” hitting line drives right at the defense as a junior, coach Justin McDowell said. Schag still wound up earning second-team All-PAC honors and helped lead the Titans to a 14-11 record.
“I’m unbelievably happy for Grant,” McDowell said. “He is the epitome of a hardworking kid, from the work he does in the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. He is a great example for other kids.”
The son of Jason and Mandi Schag, Grant is tied for first in his class at Triway with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He’s planning to be a sports management major at Walsh.
After just a few minutes talking with Grant, one can tell he is a first-class person and an outstanding baseball player. Grant thanked God, his family, coaches and teammates for the parts they’ve all played in helping him earn a scholarship to Walsh.
“(Walsh) was a good choice for me and my family,” said Grant, who also had Div. I college interest. “I love the coaches there, the program and the campus. The field is absolutely beautiful. And the cafeteria also gets a highlight. I like to eat, and that will be awesome. A lot of hard work and dedication went into this, and I really thank God and everyone who helped me.”
Parting shots
I purchased a pretty cool sheet of stamps at the post office that honor the late coach John Wooden, who coached UCLA from 1948-75. “The Wizard of Westwood” compiled a record of 316-68 and won 10 national titles leading the Bruins.
The stamps reminded me of former Triway basketball coach Randy Montgomery’s oft-told story involving himself, area legend Dean Chance and Wooden.
The late Chance, a 1959 Northwestern H.S. graduate and the 1964 AL Cy Young winner, became friends with Wooden while he pitched for the Los Angeles Angels. Chance promised Montgomery and his wife Becky he would arrange a trip to Wooden's house to meet. The Montgomerys flew from Ohio to LA for the much-anticipated visit.
Montgomery’s story of the drive to Wooden’s house goes like this:
Randy to Dean: “So Dean, what time did you tell coach Wooden will be at his house?”
Dean: “What? He doesn't know we’re coming.”
Randy: “What?” (thinks to himself … My wife and I just flew across the country, and Wooden doesn’t know we’re coming? He might not even be home?)
They rang the doorbell. Fortunately, coach Wooden answered, and they had a great visit. That was Dean Chance — always helping his friends, a little unorthodox, but things always seemed to work out.
When I reminded Montgomery of the Wooden story this week, he replied: “So many memories of coach Wooden and especially our dear friend Dean. I miss Dean so much. That first visit to Encino was an adventure for sure, but coach Wooden was thrilled when we rang the intercom. He hadn't seen Dean in years but loved him, and we talked for hours.”
—Justin McDowell and Pat Honza split athletic director duties at Triway for the past several years, but McDowell will handle the role himself when the 2024-25 school year begins.
Honza will return to teaching at the middle school and help with athletics there.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.