So in light of that, who are some key guys in your mind in the Cleveland lineup as we come down the stretch?

Well, Stephen Kwan's had an incredible year.

I mean, Buster, on July 1st, he was hitting .212, and you kind of wondered, what happened to Stephen Kwan? For him to do what he's done since July 1st, a lot of guys batting .212 after half the year, their year's done.

They're shot.

He's hit over .350 since July 1st, and he's become Stephen Kwan again.

And that gives you the best leadoff hitter in the American League when he's doing what he's doing now.

So he has really helped carry this ball club.

And that just jumps out at me every time I see him.

will yeah giants are sure struggling right now one of the many things that's happened to the giants this year patrick bailey's gone and look the giants got a really great pitcher in the draft that they love and a kid who might make his debut here from from your club in exchange for patrick bailey they do miss the gold glover though how's patrick been for you guys

Well, he's been as advertised, and you folks know how good he is defensively.

He's a marvel back there.

We have two really good defensive catchers.

That's what this organization's all about.

Whatever you give them offensively as a catcher is a bonus.

It's all about that pitching staff.

And you look at the numbers, and I guess they're a little bit better, but following him throughout the year, it just doesn't seem like the normal Stephen Kwan.

How's Patrick been for you guys?

Well, he's been as advertised, and you folks know how good he is defensively.

He's, he's a marvel back there.

We have two really good defensive catchers.

That's what this organization's all about.

Whatever you give them offensively as a catcher is a bonus.

It's all about that pitching staff.

And y- you look at the numbers, I, and I guess they're a little bit better, but you, you following him throughout the year, it just doesn't seem like the normal Steven Kwan.

It's

big.

They cannot afford to fall any further behind the White Sox if they really have designs on winning the division.

I will remind people that a year ago they were 11 games out heading into September, so they got them right where they want them, right? But it is concerning in that they did not, you know, listen, there's a lot of new faces, new lineup, you know, had a rookie at third base during the series, right, who ended up having the greatest debut.

How much fun was that? God, when he connected on that ball in the ninth inning, I thought he had driven the center fielder's head, which would have been five for five and a game winner.

That would have been something else.

So what killed them that night was, as I mentioned before, the Kate Smith walk.

They

Is there one thing that they do... that keeps them in this? I just know people who never expected them to be where they are today.

I think the one thing is they draft, they develop, they sign players that are not just talented, but they are guys that are winners.

And in this day and age in sports, I don't think we've talked enough about intangibles and what makes a good ball club and what makes a winning player.

You can't go into that clubhouse and tell them that they aren't good enough to beat the Yankees or beat the Dodgers or go to the World Series.

They don't buy into it.

So they don't get caught up in any of the outside noise or any of the prognostications.

They just believe in themselves.

Right.

Is there one thing that they do well that keeps them in this? I just know people who never expected them to be where they are today.

I think the one thing is they...

They draft, they develop, they sign players that are not just talented, but they are guys that are winners.

And, you know, in this day and age in sports, I don't think we've talked enough about intangibles and what makes a good ball club and what makes a winning player.

You can't go into that clubhouse and tell them that they aren't good enough to beat the Yankees or beat the Dodgers or go to the World Series.

They don't buy into it.

So they don't get caught up in any of the outside noise or any of the prognostications.

Right.

I like that.

Thank you, Chris.

Um, Again, it's very humbling, you know, when people tell you that.

But I think what was important for us, Chris, I being from Wisconsin, my wife being from Pittsburgh, we were lucky that when the ball club was looking for someone to pair with Herb Score, who was such an iconic legend and figure in that city.

that they were tired of people using the job as a stepping stone.

And for us, it was like our Camelot.

It kept us between both families.

Talk about what we're going to see with the Guardians coming up here.

i like

that thank you chris um Again, it's very humbling, you know, when people tell you that.

But I think what was important for us, Chris, I being from Wisconsin, my wife being from Pittsburgh, we were lucky that when the ball club was looking for someone to pair with Herb Score, who was such an iconic legend and figure in that city.

that they were tired of people using the job as a stepping stone.

And for us, it was like our Camelot.

It kept us between both families.

We had four little ones, not at the time that I got the job, but we're in the process of starting our family.

Talk about what, what we're going to see with the guardians coming up here.

It's unbelievable.

... and they still don't score many runs.

I mean, these aren't the juggernaut teams of the '90s that Cleveland had, and, and even the ball club that went to the World Series.

Th- that was a really good offensive club in 2016 that played the Chicago Cubs.

This is a ball club that scratches and claws every night for three or four runs.

So a- again, it's, it's to me...

Again, maybe it's a lesson why you play 162 games, why it's never truly over until it's over.

Can you think back to your own reaction to the Clase news and then explain how your bullpen has somehow been so much better since losing that guy?