5 Guardians related things we’re thankful for this Thanksgiving

Guardians’ fans have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

The Guardians fell a bit in 2021. They were battered, bruised, and fell short of the finish line this year. It marked the first time that Terry Francona posted a losing record as the manager of the Cleveland Guardians. We saw our best of our best injured for weeks if not months at a time. We finished 80-82.

Yet there was so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Players developed, Francona got much-needed surgery that seems to have relieved him of some if not all of his issues. The front office continues to make dazzling trades that keep this team going forward beyond just the next season.

Sure, the team didn’t win the World Series, the AL Pennant, the AL Central Division or even just make the playoffs but as we always say in Cleveland, “There’s always next year” and with these men guiding the ship, we shouldn’t doubt that they’ll find a way to get us into contention again sooner rather than later.

So let’s be thankful for what we have, as it could always be far worse.

5 Guardians related things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

Shane Bieber’s arm

To have arguably the best starting pitcher in all of baseball is a treat. To be able to say that for nearly the last decade is unheard of. Whether it was Corey Kluber or Shane Bieber, the Guardians have always had someone worth calling their ace. Bieber, the uncrowned Ace of the AL has a magic arm that will guide us to many more playoff wins.

The rise of Cal Quantrill

While some have tried, Cal Quantrill seems to be settling in as the second head of this multi-head dragon. One of the key pieces of the Matt Clevniger trade, Quantrill has proven to be a formidable Ace-in-waiting and should the day ever arise again, could probably return to the bullpen with ease and dominate like he did to start the year.

Jose Ramirez

He’s rising up the Guardians All-Time list for greatest hitters ever. Even if the Major League award committees treat him like a departing pro wrestler.

A front office that wins trades

Yes, you can in fact “win trades” and we know this because the Guardians have won just about all of them. Whether it was dumping Francisco Lindor off to the Mets for his replacement, who outperformed him for a fraction of the cost, Corey Kluber getting shipped for Emmanuel Clase, or if it was Clevinger getting moved for Quantrill, Josh Naylor, and others. The Guardians’ front office always knows just when is the right time to move on from guys before they become contractual albatrosses around our necks.

Not being locked into Francisco Lindor’s contract.

Have fun with that one, New York.