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Rosenhaus talks Guardians’ season and Hall of Famers

BEAVER TOWNSHIP — The Cleveland Guardians will soon head to spring training with radio broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus’ voice already poised to call his 19th season from the catbird seat.

While making his annual foray to Youngstown to visit the Curbstone Coaches, Rosenhaus told the group Monday’s that the 2025 season should be just as exciting as last year’s with reining American League Manager of the Year, Stephen Vogt, ready to build off of last year’s success.

“It really was fun. The last two times the Guardians made the postseason — last year and in 2022 — heading into both seasons and deservedly so, most people would have picked other teams to win the division,” Rosenhaus told the group assembled at Avion Banquet Center. “Cleveland came out of nowhere, exceeded expectations though not in their own clubhouse with the one takeaway that the team was prepared to play every night, especially defensively and it showed. That made a difference in winning games and why it was so much fun.

“You didn’t know what to expect with Stephen [Vogt] because he was taking over for a future Hall of Famer in Tito Francona. He just went out and did his own thing, kept some of the good things that Tito had done, built off of that then put in his own wrinkles on some stuff and it all worked out. He did a great job, and the reason it was fun was because it kind of came out of nowhere, if you weren’t thinking of that as the end result.”

If the Guardians repeat as Central Division champions, they will do so without popular infielders Andres Gimenez and Josh Naylor, the former a three-time Gold Glove recipient and ’23 Platinum Glove second sacker, and the latter a power hitting first baseman.

“It’s hard because Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez were key parts to this team the past several seasons.” Rosenhaus said. “What we have seen from this team since 2013 is that they have won the third most games in all of baseball, next to the Yankees and Dodgers. It just seems like when they do have to move somebody, whether it is because of finances or in this year’s case to get pitching, someone else is going to step forward.

“Does this become more of a leadership role for Steven Kwan or does Bo Naylor become more of a leader as the catcher on this team? There are others out there that can do it, some highly likely candidates, and we will see because someone will need to. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds.”

While many are surprised that Francona is back in baseball, Rosenhaus isn’t one of them.

“I think it is awesome because the game is better with Tito in it,” he said. “A lot of people might have said, well, wait, I thought he was retiring? During his time in Cleveland, he had put so much into it, but the last couple of years were a challenge health-wise. He had said toward the end of his last season with Cleveland that he didn’t feel like he was able to do the job the way he wanted to do it.

“It takes a lot because managers wear it all, even after the game is completed. They think about it, stay up late at night thinking about what went right and what went wrong, so he needed to step away. It is great to see him back. I saw him last summer at our golf outing and he looked tremendous. That was encouraging because he did look like he was struggling with some things, health-wise, that last season. To see him healthy and being that funny guy with a great sense of humor, he is back and the Reds will have a blast. I would be shocked if they didn’t have a great season.”

As Rosenhaus prepares for the season, his pairing with Tom Hamilton, the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Ford Frick honoree, remains one of the most solid broadcasting duos in Major League baseball.

“I am so happy for Tom,” he said. “It’s funny, I texted him the morning of the announcement and his reply was ‘no way was I going to win that thing.’ He thought there were so many good candidates, and that is true. Tom is one of the best and his voice has been synonymous with the Guardians the past five decades.

“There haven’t been very many bad years since he has been here. There have been more good ones than bad ones on the field, and it wasn’t always that way for a long time. Tom has been here at a time when there have been great games to call, playoff games to broadcast, tremendous comeback wins and he is that one constant over the past 36 seasons so to be recognized for that truly is awesome.

“I saw him that day, and later in the day he was just so thankful and appreciative, so it is going to be a fun season. That’s the beauty of being in this position, you don’t have to wait five years until after you retire to get elected. You can still be working and Tom is still working.”

On Monday, Brian Campbell, Youngstown State head softball coach, will serve as guest speaker.

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