Cleveland Guardians should reconsider not relying on trade analytics when it comes to Steven Kwan.

Is the Guardians Front Office blinded by Kwan Trade Analytics when the true value of a player like Steven Kwan is he would be in the starting line-up for any World Series Team in any year, aka, a cresting type of player a team builds around. 

If the Guardians Trade Kwan, rather than give Kwan an affordable but generous 4 year contract that covers the final 2 years of arbitration, plus a signing bonus, then the Guardians have lost their way and continue to always choose going with analytics, even when it appears keeping Kwan and José Ramirez together for the next few years would increase the Guardians chances of being in the World Series, and even winning a Title.

Analytics says trade Kwan to the Dodgers, who keep having an abundance of prospects in part because the Dodgers have several long term players who won't be replaced, plus several others who have consistently re-siged with the Dodgers, thus, Dodgers prospects spend more time in the minors for an occasional opportunity to make the Major league club.

The Dodgers can afford to trade the Guardians multiple high level prospects simply because those prospects are blocked at the higher level by Dodgers stars with long term contracts, and Kwan's elite defense will make any bullpen look better while reducing overall team pitch count.

It is discourage to read Cleveland Fans discuss who the Guardians can bring in, when the best move the Guardians can make is getting Kwan to sign a CC Sabathia type of contract that covered the final 2 years of CC's arbitration years, and 2 years of free agency. 

The Guardians need to stop the incremental contracts that start too low, and end up too high, and never include a signing bonus, and figure out how to keep Kwan in Cleveland for the next four years, or Guardians fans will be in a for a rude awakening when the pitch counts suddenly go up as Kwan's elite defense becomes unmatched by his replacement. 

 

 

 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

Shadeur Sanders has the same narcissism leadership trait that both benefited and plagued Baker Mayfield's time in Cleveland.

The little I've seen of Shadeur Sanders, both during a 2025 exhibition game when Sanders was not allowed to come back out for an additional series after his wide receiver ended the previous set of downs with a dropped pass on a catchable ball; and in his first game subbing for a concussed Dillon Gabriel when he apparently barely missed a touchdown pass play that would have energized the Browns fan base, Sanders does seem to exhibit an "I am going to prove myself" aura if just given the chance. 

Perhaps Sanders is on a record setting pace to set the NFL on fire because his Dad, may, or may not have medical issues that are not fully understood for the long haul, and son wants to make Dad proud sooner rather than later.

My primary concern about Sanders is he seems to be in a hurry to prove himself. Maybe he is wise for thinking this way since the Browns will probably select a QB in the first round in 2026, potentially relegating Sanders to perennial back up. 

Baker Mayfield's time in Cleveland exposed a super motivated individual who refused to back down during an injury plagued season when the Browns were good enough to win with their veteran back-up player, so Baker could take time off, and heal. Instead, Mayfield seemed to think his mounting injury list was a badge of honor even as Mayfield's final season in Cleveland feature a shockingly bad record against playoff contending teams in which Mayfield went something like 2-8. 

There is something to be said regarding how a new Quarterback takes the reigns of responsibility which influences their immediate and future successes. The Quarterbacks who genuinely have gratitude and humility during their opportunity to Quarterback an NFL team, are the types of football players an entire team will rally around. There is also the type of QB, like Baker Mayfield, that had a spotlight following him around, but, still needed a couple seasons, of seasoning, and maturing, before their career actually takes off.

If Sanders leads the Browns to a couple of 2025 victories, it may negatively alter the Browns 2026 draft position and pre-create the never ending merry go round of Cleveland Quarterback Controveries that has plagued the Browns since the early 90's. If Sanders shows glimpses of a QB who may have a special spark of evading the rush and completing pass plays for gains, but also helps cement the Browns 2025 poor won loss record for the 2026 draft, then the QB controversy for 2026 will also be fueled. Either way, it appears Hurricane Sanders will leave his mark on Cleveland Browns and their fan base regardless how he plays in his first start of the 2025 season against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Deep down, Browns fans probably really want a sturdy, tall QB like Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady who make quick, accurate decisions, and who will be around for a decade or longer, and that does not appear to fit the Sanders profile if Snders establishes himself as a roll out left or right type of QB, which ironically, is how Baker Mayfield earned early career success with the Browns; and yet, Browns Fans want to see Mr. Excitement create memorable Football for Browns fans.

I think Shadeur Sanders will ultimately be a success in the NFL, but it may come after a few years of hardening which is the career path Baker Mayfield traveled.

 

 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

A controversial, "how dare you suggest that" idea, how Vladimir Guerrero could step up after the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays World Series loss.

The Blue Jays line-up was not at full gallop during the 2025 World Series because of Bo Bichette's ongoing knee injury. Bichette hit well, but was a baserunning liability, and was removed from two extra inning game losses in which Bichette did what he was supposed to do, hit, but would twice be replaced for a pinch runner who would then not score, but the damage was done as the innings progressed and Bo's spot in the line-up would come around again, with Bo no longer in the game.

This is where Vladimir Guererro comes into play. Professional Sports are a business, but winning Championships does not always align with a ballplayers business. If Bo Bichette re-signs with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Blue Jays might just have have their own mini dynasty for the next few years. However, Vladimir's contract has probably made signing Bo Bichette to a long term deal mission impossible.

Would Vladimir Guerrero muster together a process in which George Springer extends his contract for an extra year or two, Bo Bichette signs a decent length contract, and in exchange Vladimir gives back some of his contract to make it happen? 

The question that an outsider such as myself can ask, that an insider would never dare ask, would Vladimir Guerrero be willing to lower his overall deal by 25 million up to 100 million dollars, if the money went towards re-signing Bo Bichette? 

When Vladimir Guerrero hit a momentum erupting double in the bottom of the 1lth inning with the Blue Jays down by one run in game 7 of the World Series, Bo Bichette was no longer in the game, and while a good bunt put Vladimir at third with one out, it created a game ending double play scenario after the next batter was walked. With Bo in the line-up, there is no bunt, and the outcome of the game might have been different.

Going forward, Does Vlad want to stoicly try and win World Series Rings, at his present salary,  but perhaps come up short year after year without his hitting mate, Bo Bichette, or, would Vlad be willing to parse out some of his contract to bring back a key player the Blue Jays most likely need for future World Series runs?

 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

Are the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers really planning on not trying to give themselves the best chance to win the final game of the 2025 Season because of 2D Analytics?

Why does everyone believe the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers will save their best starter for playoff game 1? 

Three PLAYOFF HOME GAMES will be at stake for the final Guardians home game of the regular season! 

Who cares about who starts game 1 of the playoffs if the alternative is to LOSE the HOSTING of 3 Home Playoff Games! 

Whomever has 3 Home Playoff games because they won the division will have a dramatic advantage over the visting wild card team who would then have ZERO Home Playoff games in the first round. Playoff Home field advantage is the greatest in the wild card round when compared to the next round of the playoff Series because of the disparity between a 3 Home Playoff Game versus 0 Home Playoff Games for the opposing team.

I would NEVER trade 3 PLAYOFF HOME GAMES so a team's best starter can start game 1 of 3 of an away 3 game playoff series. 

According to Google AI, The benefits to playing all 3 Playoff Home Games from the wildcard round are the following...

Host team's advantage: As the host of the first two games, a team guarantees its share of this revenue. If the series goes to a third and decisive game, the home team keeps the entire gate revenue (minus the Commissioner's 15% cut). 

Revenue stream: Local sales

The biggest financial advantage for the home team comes from retaining all revenue generated from in-stadium concessions, parking, and merchandise sales during all home playoff games. For a best-of-three series, this revenue comes from hosting at least two games and potentially a third. The visiting team receives none of this. 

 

Added long-term revenue

Hosting playoff games also provides less direct but still lucrative benefits:

• Merchandise sales: A successful playoff run with home games can boost merchandise sales, as fan excitement is at a high.
• Increased interest: The added exposure and excitement can lead to increased season ticket sales and corporate sponsorship renewals for the following season. 

What Google did not mention, the local economy receives a huge economic boost as 35,000 fans may make a day and night of attending and being near the ballpark, frequenting local landmarks and restaurants both before, and after the home playoff game. 

Also, the national exposure via beautifully photographed daytime and nightime vistas of the Cleveland City and local hot spots throughout the first round home playoff games cannot be overlooked. 

The home playoff games can even help the local business community by having their google rankings increase from the articles that are written about Cleveland during the first round of the playoffs, and the discussion of Cleveland during the Playoff games should not be overlooked.

The overall combined total financial impact for Cleveland the city, and The Cleveland Guardians is most likely in the 5 million to 10 million dollar range per wildcard playoff game. 

Not optimizing the starting pitching rotation to win the final game of the 2025 Season so the Guardians best starter can start game one in the playoffs in what could end up being an away game, could cost the Cleveland area and Cleveland Franchise, 15 million to 30 million dollars in local revenue over a 3 game series, and, could result in a higher chance of losing the 3 game playoff series by being the visiting team for all 3 games, thus missing out on the next round of the playoff series and the additional 2 or 3 Home games.

If the Guardians decide to prioritize the first game of the 3 game Wildcard Series over winning the final game of the Regular Season, and end up playing 3 away playoff games to win the Playoff Series against the Tigers; 2nd round analytics point to the Guardians playing the first two games of the next playoff round, on the road, for a total of Five Consecutive Away Playoff games, because 2d Analytics convinced the Guardians to chose to not use their best Starter for the final game of the Regular Season; this potential disaster awaits the Guardians if they choose to delay using their best Starter until the first game of the Wildcard Playoff Series. 

Sometimes 2d math analytics are a poor alternative when compared to a 3d Analytics perspective. 

However, it should be pointed out that if the Guardians gamble pays off, and the Guardians win the final game of the 2025 regular seaosn using a different starter, they would actually have the best of all worlds. However, if the Guardians do not see that not starting their best Starter for the final game of 2025 Regular Season is overall a risky strategy move, then 2d analytics have indeed blinded them to their best path forward when all scenarios are considered.

Sunday, September 28, 2025 Update. This is an added observation after one inning of the Sunday final game has been played with the Guardians leading 2-0. I neglected to mention that the Guardians just had an MLB near record tying run of 19 consecutive games in which the Guardians starters gave up 2 runs, or less, missing tying the all time mark by just one game while tying the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays for second longest 2 runs or less by the starting pitching streak. In the world of analytics, Such an extended streak of fine starting pitching may have played a role in the Guardians not using the team's number one starter to increase the likelihood The Guardians host the first round of the Playoff Series. Rangers just tied the score 2-2 in the second inning, Not sure why JR is in right field instead of at DH or first base. End of Sunday, September 28, 2025 Update.

ABS Automatic Balls Strikes system is coming to MLB in 2026 replete with unmentioned caveats.

The Major League Baseball announcement of the 2026 ABS system being implemented in Major League baseball, has a flaw that may require additional think tanking to resolve.

1. The ball is obviously much larger than the edges of the strike zone, and, the ball is portrayed as a 3D object. Is it wise to automatically call a ball that nicks the ABS 2D strike zone, a strike, if 90% of the ball is actually outside of the strike zone? 
2. When ABS displays a graphic of where the pitched ball is in relation to the strike zone, the ball has a 3D look to it, but the strike zone image is 2d, meaning it's not a 3D image that shows if the pitch is traveling inward towards the center of the plate, or if the pitch is heading away and outside from the plate, as it crosses home plate.  
3. What if the ABS strike zone was 3D, and the ball would have to travel within the 3D zone for a certain percentage of the 3D total strike zone distance to qualify as a strike, and if the pitch was leaking off of the plate, or traveling inward into the strike zone, then the total distance traveled within the 3d strike zone would create more accurate parameters regarding if the pitch was actually a strike, or not.
4. Is a perfectly rectangular strike zone the ideal shape for ABS? Perhaps the Strike zone should have a very gentle sideways egg or oval curve shape to it?
5. Conclusion, the ABS 2D strike zone graphic is insufficient as it is presently constructed. 

 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

MLB should add a Fielding Demonstration competition to their All Star Game Weekend in tribute to Steven Kwan.

After watching Steven Kwan's run saving catch against the Detroit Tigers during their September 17, 2025 game, and hearing the Cleveland Guardians announcers mention Steven Kwan reached 29 feet per second, why not have a speed test at the MLB All Star Break to see how fast an outfielder can run in pursuit of a flyball. And, what about a relay throw contest for speed and accuracy, outfielder retrieves ball, throws to infielder, infielder to catcher, fastest time wins, this contest would enable teammates to be part of the contest even if they themselves are not an All Star.

Kwan runs 29 feet per second to track down what would have been a run scoring double during September 17, 2025 Game Against the Detroit Tigers.

 

 

 Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

How the Cleveland Guardians might be able to convince Steven Kwan to sign a contract extension.

Steven Kwan is most likely going to sign with the San Francisco Giants when his six years are over in Cleveland. There is a way that might convince Steven Kwan to stay in Cleveland. The Guardians should spend a million or two dollars now, and invite Steven Kwan's extended family, to Cleveland, and purchase a few homes on behalf of Kwan's Relatives. It's truly a no brainer. If Kwan signs an extension, it will be anywhere from 50 million to 150 million depending on when the offer is made. If the Guardians offer Kwan a contract now, with Kwan still under control for 2 and 1/2 years, the offer can still be generous, and affordable.

However, if Kwan's relatives would ok with Moving to Cleveland, having the Kwan clan pick where they want to live in or around Cleveland, and the Guardians footing the bill now, could prove beneficial to both the Guardians, and Kwan, later. 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

The perfect MLB lead off hitter statistically revealed for the early part of 2025, Lars Nootbaar.

MLB highlights a record lead off hitter's first inning walks. A lead off hitter who can achieve a plus .100 OBP above their batting average is ideal for a lead off hitter. Lars Nootbaar has a .263 Batting Average, and a .402 OBP as of April 26, 2025. The differential between batting average and OBP is .139 points, .100 points higher, or higher, is ideal for a lead off hitter.

Los Angeles Emmy winning Showrunner Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

My Super Bowl 59 Prediction between Kansas City and Philadelphia.

I think Philadelphia is going to demolish Kansas City by a score of 41-29, the final score will not representative of how dominant Philly will be, because Pat Mahomes is such a great Quarterback.

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

Ichiro Suzuki elected to the MLB Hall of Fame, one vote short of a unanimous vote and why that is appropriate.

Ichiro Suzuki was truly one of a kind. Super fast, excellent defender, hit over .300, and never GIDP'd more than 11 times in a season, averaging 6 GIDP's, about half the league average, and 30 stolen bases per 162 games for his entire career.

If Ken Griffey Junior had stayed in Seattle with Ichiro, Griffey might have broken the home run record if he had followed's Ichiro's stretching regimen.

But, there is a but. Ichiro never truly fit in as either a lead off hitter, or hitting second. When a lead off hitter does not walk enough, but hits over .300, it is a waste to lead off that batter, because a walk is as good as a single when leading off a game.

But if Ichiro hit second, his running swing worked great for getting infield hits, but could result in forcing out the lead runner if there was a runner already on first base.

Hitting third hinders Ichiro's stolen base totals and his below average extra base hit totals would not work in the 3 spot. So there it is, why falling one vote short was the right thing to have happen.

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.