It's playoff time, and that means nervous time for Guardians boss Francona
Oct. 6—Terry Francona has managed 3,460 regular season games over 22 seasons, plus 71 more games in the postseason. Yet he says he will still feel butterflies on Oct. 7 when the Guardians face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the wild card series at Progressive Field.
So just imagine the pterodactyls bouncing around the stomachs of his young players who will be experiencing playoff baseball for the first time. The schedule set by MLB calls for Shane Bieber to throw the first pitch in Game 1 at 12:07 p.m.
"I'll be scared to death tomorrow," Francona said Oct. 6 during a news conference at Progressive Field prior to the Guardians taking batting practice. "I was nervous yesterday in the ninth inning. That will never change."
Steven Kwan is the personification of a team player. @CleGuardians meet Tampa Bay Rays in wildcard playoffs starting Friday at Progressive Field. pic.twitter.com/hdETjjcibi
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) October 6, 2022
The Guardians clinched the American League Central Division championship on Sept. 25, so Game 162 on Oct. 5 against the Royals was meaningless. Plus, the Guards led the Royals, 8-2, in the ninth inning, yet Francona still felt that unease, knowing something could go wrong.
"I remember back in '16 before the first game of the World Series," Francona continued. "I went out to the dugout like an hour early because I had anxiety. Nap (Indians first baseman Mike Napoli) was out there. I said, 'What are you doin' out here?' He said, 'I'm scared to death.' I said, 'Me, too.' "
Only a handful of players on the Guardians' roster have playoff experience: Bieber; third baseman Jose Ramirez; catcher Austin Hedges; center fielder Myles Straw, catcher Luke Maile, pitchers Cal Quantrill and James Karinchak plus first baseman Josh Naylor.
Terry Francona: "I'll be scared to death tomorrow." @CleGuardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays, first pitch 12:07 p.m. Friday Game 1 of wildcard playoffs. pic.twitter.com/sXkBUpxGwA
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) October 6, 2022
Of that group, Karinchak and Quandtrill threw a combined 24 pitches in 2020 and got one batter out. Straw, Maile and Hedges have a combined three at-bats and zero hits.
Naylor, whose enthusiasm ignites his teammates, was 5-for-7 with three doubles, a home run and three RBI in the 2020 wild card series. The Indians were sept by the Yankees, 13-2 and 10-9.
"The whole year has felt a little bit different because every time we go through something, it's kind of the first time," Francona said. "These guys have been doing it as they're learning. Now, they've done a pretty good job of it.
"We just told them, 'Just play the game the way you know how to play baseball.' This is why they work so hard, is to get to this, where they can enjoy and embrace the competition. I don't see them backing down."
The Guardians finished 92-70 with the youngest team in baseball. They are in the playoffs for the sixth time in 10 years with Francona as manager. But they haven't won a series since knocking off the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 ALCS. They lost the 2016 World Series to the Cubs in seven games and then lost to the Yankees in the 2017 ALDS, the Astros in the 2018 ALDS and the Yankees in the 2020 wild card playoffs. Bieber started Game 1 of the 2020 wild card series and was shelled for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. It was his only experience in the playoffs.
"I've got a little bit of experience, albeit not so much," Bieber said Oct. 6. "I'm excited to go out there. It's going to be an entirely different feel as opposed to 2020, just feed off the energy of the Cleveland crowd and my teammates most importantly.
"This is something I'm excited to share with them, not to lose sight of how special of an opportunity this is to just be out there representing the city and to take advantage of an opportunity that we've worked very hard for since dating all the way back to last year and last offseason."
The 2020 playoffs were played while the country was still trying to figure out COVID-19. No fans were allowed in the stands. Cardboard cutouts were placed in seats instead. Crowd noise was artificial. The chants of "Jose, Jose Jose Jose, Jose, Joseee," sounded ghostly.
Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, 12-8, 2.54 ERA) will oppose Bieber (13-8, 2.88) in Game 1. Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96) will face Tampa Bay's Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 1.35) in Game 2 at 12:07 p.m. Oct. 8.
Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38) will pitch for the Guardians on Oct. 9 if the Guardians ad Rays split the first two games. The Rays have yet to name a Game 3 starter. First pitch is set for 4:07 p.m. at Progressive Field.
PHOTOS: Guardians workout, Oct. 6, 2022
