CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Stephen Vogt and the Guardians announced their on-field coaching stafff for 2025, and many of the names and faces are pretty familiar. Dan Fink, Cleveland's new hitting coach, will be unknown to most fans, but pretty recognizable to the players in the clubhouse. Fink served as the minor league hitting coordinator for the organization for the last two years.

Beyond that, most every coach is back in place to make another run at defending Cleveland's American League Central Division title. On Thursday's podcast, Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down what each coach brings back to the roster, including longtime fixtures Sandy Alomar Jr. and Carl Willis.

Listen and read along with an AI-generated transcript of the podcast below.

Read the automated transcript of today's podcast below. Because it's a computer-generated transcript, it may contain errors and misspellings.

Joe Noga 0:06 Welcome back to another edition of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. I'm Joe noga. Joined by Paul Hoynes. Lindsey the Guardians made some announcements about their coaching staff on Wednesday and. Confirmed the. Promotion or the appointment of Grant Fink as the new hitting coach to replace Chris Valeka. Don't know a whole lot about Grant, Fink other than he's been with been the minor league hitting coordinator for the last two seasons. So he's a guy who will be very familiar to a lot of faces in that clubhouse who have come up through the player development system over the last couple of years. Grant Fink. Now take me over for Chris Valaika. What do we expect out of him in his first season as the Major League hitting coach for the Guardians?

Paul Hoynes 0:56 I found it interesting, Joe, that they really didn't interview any external candidates. They, you know, it was all internal. It was fake. It was, you know, Dan Fuente, Jason Esposito, maybe. I think there was another guy in there. I think I'm not sure, but I think Steven, Vote said. There was a fourth guy there that they interviewed, so I would imagine to me, Joe, it doesn't look like there's gonna be any radical. Philosophy changes in in the way. They approach hitting the way they teach hitting. Think like you said, it's been their minor league hitting coordinator for the last three years. He was a former draft pick of Cleveland's in 2013. A first baseman, second baseman, played three years in the minors with Cleveland before turning to coaching. So, you know, I think it's going to be business as usual. As far as impact the ball, make contact, but don't forget to try to impact the ball.

Joe Noga 1:58 Yeah, and and put the ball in play. Contact at a premium and not striking out. Is one of the things that you know has has sort of been a philosophy over the last couple of seasons here. Josh Tubbs, the Major League hitting analyst, another part of that hitting group now to join Dan Pointe and Jason Esposito.

Paul Hoynes 2:15 Yes.

Joe Noga 2:20 Esposito was the the run production coordinator of the last couple of years, but he's promoted to assistant hitting coach in in this version of Steven vote. Staff. So, you know, Grant Fink not not a candidate from outside the the organization, not somebody that they went out and and and brought in. Like you said there there should be sort of a a continuity, a seamlessness in the transition I would think but this is a. Guy who? Who Steven vote told us he was able to take the the data and and sort of translate that into into. Into chunks. Into you know. Usable. You know, philosophies that these hitters can, you know, take up there to the plate, Internet, bat over a stretch. So. You know, I think as long as Grant Fink is able to to continue to do that. You know, there's as long as the hitting doesn't regress from where it was last year. I think the guardians will be in good shape.

Paul Hoynes 3:25 Yeah, Joe, it's it's really interesting. The last three years, you know what, how the how we saw the guardians, you know, kind of navigate through the last three seasons under valeka as a hitting coach. You know they only hit. You know they hit 25254, I believe the first two years their average dropped. Team batting average dropped to 238 this year, but they scored the most runs. They had the most home runs and their highest OPS in the in three years under the lake. So you know that that message of making contact, but being willing to take a chance on certain pitches to try to hit the ball in the gap to try and do damage, to try to hit the ball over the fence, I think that's taken hold and it's just. Going to be really interesting to see if think you know, push his head along.

Joe Noga 4:19 Yeah. And I've made this point in in in previous podcasts. But you know, if you just look at. Steven Kwan as sort of a an example of that and and the growth that Stephen Kwan has shown over the last three years, you know, coming in, being a high contact guy in the 1st place. But then just in the last year his his ability and willingness to. To take a a couple of chances and and drive a couple more balls out of the ballpark. And we saw a A a growth in his power numbers. And and his home runs and and. And that was probably one of his better years all around of hitting when he was was healthy and and and fully able to be out there on the field that that we've seen out of Stephen Kwan so. You know, hopefully some of those philosophies stick around and and Grant Fink can improve upon them, expand upon them and and keep the guardians in a position where they're able to score runs and and and support, you know, the offense. All the way around.

Paul Hoynes 5:23 I have no doubt about it. And, you know, Quan wasn't the only guy that kind of took to that philosophy. Fry went to, you know, had only hit four home runs in his first, you know, first big League season in 2023. He had 14 last year. You know. What? Manzardo comes up. On September 1st, after not hitting a home run in his first what 3040 games with Cleveland, he gets sent down. He comes back up. He gets five home runs from September 1st through the end of the season, so we've seen that creep up. I mean, Bo Naylor hit thirteen home runs despite, you know, really low batting average. So, you know, we've seen that philosophy kind of spread up and down the line up hopefully. You know it, it takes hold.

Joe Noga 6:16 Steven vote specifically about Kyle Manzardo and you know the the bouncing back and forth and and his you know arrival at the end of the year and through the playoffs and and just how he was dramatically different looking hitter after that and I said was was grant F. You know, part of that equation that that talked to manzardo about the adjustments that he had to make to to being ADH at the Major League level and and the the philosophies there that that work for him and he said. Yeah, that that's, you know, as long as that messaging is consistent when they're down at AAA, when they come up that. Yeah. Grant Fink was was a part of that. So yeah, it it'll be good for him to see or it'll be good for the the young players to to see a familiar face there in Stephenville's ear talking about the other strategies, the in game strategies and the you to just just what they take to the. Plate from at bat to at bat. Will it? Will it'll be interesting to see how that that works out. Are you surprised? I mean, I don't really know that there are too many like big name candidates out there. For you know, a hitting coach as as far as you know, if you wanted to make a splash with a move like that. But it seems you know pretty consistent with the organization's philosophy to promote from within with. With this kind of hire.

Paul Hoynes 7:39 Yeah. You know, I think the fact that you know well Valeka came from outside the organization. And I think the fact that they kind of, you know, he came in with the idea of them establishing a hitting group to rival the pitching group that Cleveland has established and.

Joe Noga 7:44 Right.

Paul Hoynes 7:56 I think the foundation was set with him and. They felt there was the guardians felt there was really wasn't a need to go out and bring somebody else in, you know, with with a bunch of new ideas. I think they they felt that they were on the right track here offensively and that they should just keep it going here and keep keep, you know, if if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Now, I'm not saying this is a perfect offense. We know this isn't a perfect offense Def. You know we we've, you know, we've seen them struggle this past season, but I think they're make they're moving in the right direction, Joe.

Joe Noga 8:31 Yeah, it's, you know, probably a a good assessment there as far as if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And as as far as guys coming back to the the staff and and Steven boat's you know continuity there it it's it's almost like a security blanket for. For voter to to see Craig Alvarnez come back after interviewing and and getting opportunities with. Other clubs to be to be a manager. He chose to come back to. Cleveland for another year. He's sort of elevated from bench coach to associate manager and that's maybe sort of a sort of a title thing and not necessarily a shift in a lot of responsibilities or duties or anything like that, but. It's a recognition that he's somebody who's being sought by other clubs and and has the, you know, managerial potential there, Craig Albernazz back as as now. Associate manager and Kai Correa. His sort of change of title is a Major League field coordinator and director of Defense and game strategy, so it'll be interesting to see, you know, Korea will, will run spring training and and he'll he'll do those kinds of things. But you know that that trio there will. Will remain intact throughout this this second season of of votes tenure in Cleveland.

Paul Hoynes 10:04 Joe, I'd like to be the guy that makes up the the new titles for here, for for the Guardians. I mean, they are really, really creative, but I think you know obviously with albernaz, you know, he gets promoted to the associate manager. I think he probably got a raise too, don't you think, Joe, for making a decision?

Joe Noga 10:23 All of these guys, all these guys are getting raises this year, that's for sure.

Paul Hoynes 10:26 Yeah, I I think. I think that's the biggest part to those guys. They can call them whatever they want, but albernaz is still going to be the bench coach, right? And Corey is still basically going to be doing what he did last year. It looks like he's got a little more, you know, control over what defense base running game strategy. But you know, I think those you know, just by by bumping guys up and changing their, their titles, give him a little more important sounding title. You know you. Keep other teams away from from your your talent and you know you're able to keep that coaching staff together.

Joe Noga 11:04 And you signal to other clubs. You know what kind of path and what kind of trajectory some of these guys are on. I mean, you know, eventually the kaakora wants to be a managerial candidate somewhere down the road, and he's building that resume here. Eventually, if Albernaz does move on in the next coaching cycle, I would imagine that you know, bench coach or associate manager would be something that Kai Correa would want to seek. With with the Guardians, or with some other club and and he's positioned himself to to do that. As well. So. So yeah, it's about raises and it's about, you know, status and and keeping guys moving throughout the system. I mean this is this is an organization that's done a a a really good job of cultivating and and promoting front office talent for years I mean. They they seem to be getting poached every other season in terms of. You know, vice presidents and you know general managers with with that go off to other clubs. So you know to to see the on field talent be consistent for for at least a two year stretch here. As far as the coaching staff goes, that's important and. And really this, this is a group these these three guys, Correa Albernaz and vote coming in here last year. You you want to give them another year together just to see how far they can get. I I think that's that's an important part of it too.

Paul Hoynes 12:35 A good point, Joe. I mean, you get to within three wins of the World Series, you want to bring, you know, you look to maybe tweak your, your personnel, your player personnel, but I think you want to bring that same coaching staff back to. So you know, you know, I think the the, the core of this club isn't going to change and it's I think it's important that the coaching staff stays the same as well.

Joe Noga 12:59 It's like the Cavaliers. They want to run it back. That's that's what they've said. And look at them. They're they're 13 and O already. It's a lot of fun to sort of see what's going on with a consistent staff there. Speaking of consistency, Mr. Consistency 2 Mr. Consistencies. No surprise. Sandy Alomar, junior back for what? His 16th season on the with the with the Major League staff as the first base coach and. Catching a coordinator there and and Carl Willis. Back for 15th, his 15th season with Cleveland. As the pitching coach, I think as much as anything that's a huge sigh of relief for the guys on the pitching side is that Carl Willis will be there and and he's a guy that in Stephen Vogt's words yesterday, he said, you know, I leaned on car. Willis a lot last year and I think that that will be the case again in 2025.

Paul Hoynes 13:55 It's just a, you know, the ultimate professional, Joe. I mean, he he knows how to relate to pitchers. He's done it forever. He's. I mean, he's coached. So young winners. He knows how to get the best out of pitchers. He knows how to talk to him, how to work with them. He's he's fluent in in analytics. So I mean, I think this is this is a key guy to the coaching staff. You know, just like a gold, Brad Goldberg did such a good job. In the bullpen, Sandy Alomar at first base and and with the catchers, you know that, you know that's a solid solid. Coaching staff and The thing is, Joe, you know, vote inherited Sandy and and you know basically Carl Joe Torres and and they've they've all meshed together you know and JT McGuire as well. I believe the outfield coach so you know they they they meshed together and you know. The results? It's hard to argue with the results they had in 2000. 24.

Joe Noga 15:02 Yeah, no, you can't argue with the results. You can't argue with the track record of of Carl Willis Sandy Alomar. Again, a guy that the the players on the roster will tell you he is a cheat code at first base in terms of the running game and and the way to read pitchers. As far as stealing bases. And you know to to have that that that puts you ahead of you know, 29 other teams when you when you have the the best first base coach in baseball in baseball right now. Returning to you and and a guy who's got what, five say young winning pitchers under his belt as a pitching coach. You mentioned Brad Goldberg. He's back for his second year as the bullpen coach, and this is a guy to keep an eye on in terms of, you know, what other teams will will be looking at him as a, as a pitching coach and when he progresses in his career as well. It not just based on what he did last year, but he's very, highly thought of in the organization. And we've heard that from a lot of different people.

Paul Hoynes 16:07 Yeah. And just look at the job that Cleveland and Goldberg did with that bullpen this year. You know, low CRA in the big leagues and really that that was a bullpen that they really didn't know what they had, you know, on opening day, they didn't know. You know who was who was going to take what spots other than Emmanuel Clase A at the end of the ball game and lo and behold, it turns out to be a powerhouse.

Joe Noga 16:34 Yeah, it's a remarkable job that Brad Oberg did preparing those guys on a daily basis. And also you can't. Can't overlook Joe Torres. And and what he's done with the club as well and his few years on staff. I believe what he's he's in his fourth year on the Major League staff as an assistant pitching coach as well. We mentioned JT McGuire is back as the outfield coach. And. You know the solid job he's he's been given sort of a a a revolving door, a rotating cast of characters out there with the exception of Stephen Kwan and left field and and the outfield defense at the least is is something that. You can't argue with over the last few seasons.

Paul Hoynes 17:21 Play good defense in the outfield, Joe. You know, you really can't remember too many mistakes out there. And like you said, you know that with the cast of thousands, you know, platooning in center field, platooning in right field just, you know, running guys in and out of there trying to find the right mix trying. To you know, get the matchups you want, and that's that makes it tough for the off field coach. Who's got a? You know, really keep every every outfielder up to par. You know with with the, with the, his defensive assignments and all these guys. Joe, I think another thing. All these guys play all three different positions in the outfield, so you know, JT Mcguire's got a, you know, he's got a big move.

Joe Noga 18:08 Yeah, the only thing JT Maguire's responsible for is, is making sure that everybody knows when the ball gets hit over your head, get the ball to Andres Jimenez as fast as you possibly can and it'll keep any runs from scoring at at the plate because. That's a guy who's been just absolutely golden there. I don't want to forget Rugalos o'dor. He's the infield coach and third base coach coming back for his second season. After you know, being promoted for manager. In Akron for for a long time, just a solid job done by rubles. Odor sort of in connection with Kai Correa, the way that he, the way that the two of those guys worked, the infielders on a daily basis, you know, every series you come out for the. First game of that series and they'd be out there, you know, with their little red machine on the, you know, in foul territory, taking taking ground balls and. You know, doing their infield daily work and it really paid off. Development of Brian Rocchio from the beginning of the season to the end of the year was tremendous and you know it's it's one of the reasons why the Guardians were one of the better teams in the American League from start to finish was because of the consistency of. Their infield.

Paul Hoynes 19:24 Yeah, Joe, you know Rubio'dor and Kai Correa, they, they they both came up through the minor league system. I mean, odor was there for 30 years before he got promoted to the big league staff. Korea was there for about a few years before he went. He left and joined the Giants coaching staff, but they they know these guys. You know, they know all those infielders. They know how to, you know, work with them and their skill set and their skill level and what they have to know, what they have to do to get better so. That's really, really important. I think they've got a relationship with them. They know what buttons to push with them, so it it's it's a good thing and I think maybe perhaps they, the guardians are hoping for the same thing by, you know, naming Fink as a, as a new hitting coach just because he has that relationship with a lot. Of these players.

Joe Noga 20:20 Yeah, I think the one big take away from this, this on field coaching staff announcement and is the consistency aspect of it and the the idea that you know, they just want to sort of you know press play again on the on the season and and have it. Have it play out the same way as it did in in 2024, because if if that's the case, then you're talking about. Competing for another division title. All right. Wanted to mention to our listeners. Guardian subtext is the best way to get updates throughout awards season and the offseason with free agency. It's sent directly to your phone. Text messages from HOYNSEY and from me. It's 399 a month to subscribe, but you can go to cleveland.com/subtext or send a text message to 216-208-4346 to get the updates sent to your phone directly. Hoynsie, the Guardians number one overall draft pick Travis Bazana. Playing in the Premier 12 tournament, the top 12 international. Teams representing their countries. He's representing Team Australia, which he said was a dream come true for him after competing on the under the 18 U International circuit for Team Australia a few years ago. He's now on the senior team batting lead off and playing left field. Had two hits in his first game with Team Australia, scored a run. But the Aussies fall to host. Japan in the opener of that Premier 12 tournament 9:00 to 3:00. Kind of surprised to hear that Bizana was playing left field in with with the Australian team.

Paul Hoynes 22:07 Yeah, really interesting. I wonder. I'm sure the Guardians had something to say with that, right? You know that that I know they, you know, scouts before the Guardian signed a banana is the number one overall pick in in this year's draft, said he. There's a chance he could be moved to the outfield, but. Basically, they were saying he's a second baseman. So interesting move and we'll have to see if this progresses one way or the other.

Joe Noga 22:38 Yes, the the opposite of adjacent Kipnis. You take an infielder and put him in the outfield, as opposed to Kipnis, you you had drafted him as an outfielder and he moved to second base. But you've got a pretty good second baseman there. If you want to keep him there. In Andres Jimenez, you don't. What the timetable is on on Jimenez in terms of a a potential move to shortstop. But if if Roquio keeps developing it at short and and gives you something at the plate. And Jimenez. Why? If it ain't broke, don't fix it at at at second, you know, maybe there's an opportunity to to move Quan to center field and and bazana and put him in left.

Paul Hoynes 23:20 Oh yeah, Joe, I think. I don't think they've they have shown no hesitation in changing guys positions here. I mean, we've seen it. You know, for the last three 4-5 years, I mean they, they they don't have a problem pounding a square, a square peg into a round hole. So you know, they'll if they can, if they think Bazana can play in the left field or they can play, he can play center field or right field. And that's the best lineup that that gives them the best chance to score runs. I think they'll do it.

Joe Noga 23:51 All right. Looking ahead to tonight. In in Las Vegas and in, you know, a fabulous Las Vegas tonight, a lot of awards being handed out, including the All MLB first team and second team honors. There are five Guardians players who are candidates for those awards. I would think that Emmanuel Clase and Jose Ram. Who were both second team honorees last year? Have a really good chance of being first team honorees this year. I think Cade Smith might have a shot at a relief pitcher. You know role either on the first team or second team, they take two relievers on on each. The first and second team, so. Potential guys there as well as Andres Jimenez and Josh Naylor up for those awards. Class A at some point tonight, we'll hear his name announced as the Mariano Rivera American League reliever of the Year award. You can. We could write that story right now if we wanted to. Without hesitation, comeback player of the Year and Hank Aaron Awards announced at some point today as well. So we'll be keeping an eye out for all of those ones. It could be. There could be some guardians clearing space on their mantle by the end of the night for for some of these trophies.

Paul Hoynes 25:16 Yeah, definitely. Joe, you know, really, you know, Class A obviously, you know he would. I think he's he's got to be the favorite to win, the Mariano Rivera reliever of the Year award. It would be a second. It would be the second time he's won it and well deserved. I mean, he was a dominant closer reliever in the big leagues, you know, through the regular season. 47 saves and fifty chances. I mean, just you couldn't have asked for anything more. And I think so. I think, yeah, I think yeah, you're right, Joe. You could write that story right now.

Joe Noga 25:54 Do you think Jose Ramirez does with all of his silver slug? You know what the Silver Slugger award looks like? It's it's actually kind of big and it's a. It's a big silver bat. What do you think he does when he gets those awards back to his house in the Dominican? Do you think he just like arranges them in the room and then just like sits there and stares at him or anything?

Paul Hoynes 26:05 Ha ha ha.

Joe Noga 26:13 Like, what do you think he does with the you think he he gives one to his his grandmother or something to put on her mantle? I gotta wonder what these guys do with some of these awards.

Paul Hoynes 26:22 Well, a lot of these guys have dig me rooms. You know, Joe, they they put all their stuff in in the in the, in the one room and they go in there and kinda look at it for awhile and then leave. So I think I don't know if Jose has a dig me room or not, but I'm sure you know what's he got five now. So he's gonna have to clear some wall space somewhere in his in his house in the Dominican.

Joe Noga 26:45 Yeah. It would be really neat to just take a tour of the house and see Park next to his Maserati and his Aston Martin if if he's got his silver sluggers arranged that way. But yeah, all of that well deserved. And that's not showboating in any way. Don't, don't. Don't misconstrue what I'm saying. Jose Ramirez does not come off as that kind of guy, but you know, he he absolutely deserves. All of those accolades. Hoynsie that's going to wrap up today's edition of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. We'll check back in with you again tomorrow.

Paul Hoynes 27:21 All right, Joe.

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