• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cleveland Daily

Cleveland Sports News, Rumors & Highlights

  • Home
  • Guardians News
  • Cavs News
  • Browns News
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • About

3 Surprising Guardians Stats With 50 Games Left

By Spencer Richardson August 13, 2022

Austin Hedges #17 celebrates with teammate Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians after beating the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

 

Pick just about any stat from this Guardians‘ season and you’re bound to find something exciting.

The team is batting .252, fourth in the American League.

The hit-for-contact team has managed 203 doubles, also seventh in the MLB.

A 3.81 ERA?

Fifth in the American League.

No one expected the Guardians to put up numbers like that this season.

Even the lowly Detroit Tigers carried higher expectations coming into 2022 than the Cleveland Guardians.

So what happened?

How did this supposedly rebuilding Guardians team rise to, not just the top of the AL Central, but in the mix among the American League’s best?

Here are three stats that help explain this season so far:

 

1. 26.2 – Average Age of the Guardians This Season

The Guardians have a young team.

A historically young team.

Only three teams (since 1947) have won more games while rolling out a team with an average pitcher age under 26.4 and an average batter age younger than 26: the 1988 Pirates, the 1968 Mets, and the 1970 Reds.

The Reds finished runners-up in the 1970 World Series.

Here’s a little more context.

This Guardians team is even younger than the average Triple-A minor league team: 26.5.

File these incredible stats under the subheading of “Youth Movement.”

It’s been why veteran players like Franmil Reyes were DFA’d in favor of giving younger players time in the majors.

The Cleveland Guardians are one of the best teams in modern MLB history while being at this young of an age. The only teams higher than them are the NL Champ Reds, WS-winning Mets, and a Bonds/Bonilla/Slyke-led ballclub.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/BMDmYBHpUC

— David Hrusovsky Sports (@davehrus) August 10, 2022

It’s also likely why the Guardians were largely quiet at the trade deadline, declining to bring in a veteran rental that might take away reps from young players.

The Guardians have deployed a steady strategy this season: feed the youngsters and let the internal cream rise to the top.

 

2. 89 – Home Runs This Season

It’s impossible to talk about the Guardians season so far without mentioning one glaring hole: power.

As mentioned above, the Guardians are a bat-for-contact team, not a contact-hitting team.

It’s why they have so many doubles and so few homers.

It also hurts that the club’s only real power bat Franmil Reyes slumped for most of the entire season.

But what’s impressive is that the Guardians are excelling despite the 89 homers.

Unsure of how that figure compares across the majors?

Only one team is batting fewer homers than the Guardians: the Detroit Tigers with 66.

The top-mashing New York Yankees have clubbed an eye-popping 191 home runs.

Even more apparent: the AL and NL home run leaders (Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, respectively), have a combined 80 long balls, hot on the Guardians’ tails.

Time will tell if this is a sustainable recipe for success.

 

3. 47 – Defensive Runs Saved

If the Guardians’ power is a problem, their defense is the polar opposite.

The Guardians’ 47 defensive runs saved is third in the majors, behind just the Yankees and Astros, per Fangraphs.

There was a lot happening last night, but we need to talk about this a little more.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/vGIdiFP2Se

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 13, 2022

That stat is a big reason why the Guardians have professional baseball’s second-best overall defense, also per Fangraphs.

President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti explained it the best:

“Our defense is the most underrated part of our team. Andres Gimenez is one of the best middle infielders in baseball. Amed (Rosario) has really improved at short. Jose (Ramirez) is good at third. In the outfield (Steven) Kwan and (Myles) Straw are elite. The same is true of our catchers.”

The Guardians have squeezed defensive production out of just about every single player this season.

And like their strategy of prioritizing young players, the Guardians and manager Terry Francona will always prioritize strong defense and poor offense over the reverse.

If the bats can get going, the Guardians are a sneaky dangerous team to get hot and make a run.

    Get ALL the latest Cleveland sports news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Cleveland daily newsletter here!    

Filed Under: Cleveland Guardians Rumors And News (Updated Daily) Tagged With: cleveland guardians

Reader Interactions

Follow Cleveland Daily!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Cleveland Guardians News

Military aircraft fly over Progressive Field during the national anthem prior to the home opener of the Cleveland Guardians against the San Francisco Giants on April 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The Giants defeated the Guardians 4-1.

Top Guardians Prospect Falls In Latest Rankings

6 months ago

Andres Gimenez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians (center) is congratulated by teammates after he hit a grand slam home run against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum on April 29, 2022 in Oakland, California

What To Watch For As The Guardians Face Tough Schedule Stretch

6 months ago

baseball on field

Does The MLB Owe The Guardians An Apology?

6 months ago

Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Guardians watches from the dugout during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field on May 19, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Guardians Rated Highly In Latest Power Rankings By MLB Insiders

6 months ago

Emmanuel Clase #48 and Josh Naylor #22 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate after the final out of their MLB game victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 14, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.

What’s Behind The Guardians’ Recent Winning Streak?

6 months ago

Andres Gimenez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians (center) is congratulated by teammates after he hit a grand slam home run against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum on April 29, 2022 in Oakland, California

Report: Guardians Unlikely To Be Big Spenders This Winter

6 months ago

Luke Maile #12 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly to defeat the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field on June 10, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Athletics 3-2.

MLB Insider "Sells" Deep Guardians Playoff Run

6 months ago

Military aircraft fly over Progressive Field during the national anthem prior to the home opener of the Cleveland Guardians against the San Francisco Giants on April 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The Giants defeated the Guardians 4-1.

Fans React To Guardians Moving To First In The Division

6 months ago

Franmil Reyes #32 of the Cleveland Guardians singles off Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on July 13, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The White Sox defeated the Guardians 2-1.

What's Next After Franmil Reyes DFA?

6 months ago

Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Progressive Field on August 03, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Could Shane Bieber Be On The Move This Winter?

6 months ago

Outfielders Alex Call #65 Myles Straw #7 and Nolan Jones #33 of the Cleveland Guardians run in after the Guardians defeated the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on July 16, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 10-0.

Solving The Guardians' Logjam At Right Field

6 months ago

baseball on field

Report: Guardians Pursuit Of Deadline Target Fell Apart Over Prospects

6 months ago

Military aircraft fly over Progressive Field during the national anthem prior to the home opener of the Cleveland Guardians against the San Francisco Giants on April 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The Giants defeated the Guardians 4-1.

What Is The Guardians Outlook After A Quiet Trade Deadline?

6 months ago

Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals looks on during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 06, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Is Daniel Espino Too High A Price For Juan Soto?

6 months ago

Alex Call #65 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after scoring in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 31, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Fans React To Guardians Win Versus Rays

6 months ago

Josh Naylor #22 of the Cleveland Guardians flips his bat after hitting a RBI single in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox during game one of a doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

How Josh Naylor’s Injury Affects Guardians’ Trade Deadline Plans

6 months ago

Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum on July 10, 2022 in Oakland, California.

Report: Oakland's Sean Murphy A Guardians "Top Target"

6 months ago

Austin Hedges #17 celebrates with teammate Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians after beating the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

What To Watch For In Guardians Series Versus Rays

6 months ago

Starting pitcher Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Guardians throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on June 14, 2022 in Denver, Colorado.

What Is Shane Bieber's Value?

6 months ago

Pitcher Logan Allen #54 of the Cleveland Indians throws in the bullpen during summer workouts at Progressive Field on July 06, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio.

2 Bullpen Targets For Guardians At Trade Deadline

6 months ago

Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs smiles during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Guardians Among "Most Likely" Trade Destinations For Cubs' Contreras

6 months ago

Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

What Is Shane Bieber's Future In Cleveland?

7 months ago

Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox slides home to score in the fifth inning against Luke Maile #12 of the Cleveland Guardians during game two of a double header at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

Fans React To Guardians Doubleheader Versus White Sox

7 months ago

Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals looks on during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 06, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Should the Guardians Have Interest In Juan Soto?

7 months ago

Primary Sidebar

Search Cleveland Daily

Follow Cleveland Daily!

Footer

Privacy Policy

Terms And Conditions

Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - ClevelandDaily.com is not affiliated with the Cleveland Indians or Major League Baseball.