When will Guardians’ Amed Rosario take a pitch? Hey, Hoynsie

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Hey, Hoynsie: Does Amed Rosario ever take a pitch? -- Baseball Fan, Bronx, New York.

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Hey, Base: Rosario has been in all-out swing mode of late. In his last seven games, including the trip through Boston and New York, he’s struck out 13 times in 30 at-bats (43% strikeout rate). For the season, 31% of his at-bats (35-for-114) have ended in strikeouts.

His chase percentile, whiff percentile and strikeout percentile are among the highest in the big leagues. He ranks first in strikeouts, third in at-bats and eighth in walks on the Guardians.

• Through 27 games this season, Rosario is hitting .219 (25 for 114) with eight RBI, 35 strikeouts, six walks and a .561 OPS.
• Through 27 games last year, he was hitting .248 (27 for 109) with eight RBI, 16 strikeouts, eight walks and a .602 OPS.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why are Guardians hitters so much more impatient than in the past? Amed Rosario never sees a first pitch he doesn’t like, and Josh Naylor isn’t much better. What happened to making the pitcher work harder and giving our running game a chance to create havoc? -- Don Dohanyos, Escondido, California.

Hey, Don: I could tell you that every player in Cleveland’s lineup at the moment is trying too hard. I could tell you that last year no one saw the Guardians coming. This year they’re a known quality and they have not responded well to expectations.

But their problem right now is an old one -- you can’t steal first base no matter how fast you are.

Hey Hoynsie: I am elated about the Guardians’ next wave of pitching (Daniel Espino aside) but what about some more offense? Any updates on George Valera? Maybe some of the pitching and a position prospect can be packaged to get a decent bat. -- Jim Z, Durham, New Hampshire.

Hey, Jim:Valera is still recovering from the hand injury he re-aggravated in spring training. It’s still early in the season, but if the Guardians don’t start playing better, they could be sellers at the trade deadline. I would think they’d be looking for offense at that point.

Hey, Hoynsie: Are there certain teams that have a policy of not playing afternoon getaway games? -- Shaun, Ashtabula.

Hey, Shaun: A check of the Guardians’ 2023 schedule shows there are only three getaway games at night. They played one against the Yankees on Wednesday followed by an off day on Thursday. They play the Mets at Citi Field on May 21 in a Sunday night ESPN game and a 6:40 p.m. game against the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 16.

Schedules are subject to change based on TV contracts.

Hey, Hoynsie:With the news of Daniel Espino’s surgery, was he on 40-man roster? If healthy, was he in line for Cleveland spot start this season? -- Patrick Grijak, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Patrick: Espino was not on the 40-man roster. Since he pitched only 18 1/3 innings in 2022 because of knee and shoulder problems, I don’t think he would have been a realistic candidate to join the big-league staff this year even if he was healthy.

Hey, Hoynsie: I was a minor league catcher in 1964 for the Indians. I would just like to know why I see so many catchers on one knee even with runners on base or in scoring position. To me it hampers their ability to block pitches and throw runners out. -- Chuck Lanning, Kent.

Hey, Chuck: Many organizations are encouraging their catchers to use the one knee stance because they feel it helps them frame strikes better. In other words, steal more strikes for their pitches.

They feel it gives the umpire a better view of the strike zone because the catcher is lower. Another reason is that it’s easier on the catcher’s body, but it can make things difficult when blocking balls and throwing runners out.

Hey, Hoynsie: Seeing how quickly the games are going this season, should the starting times for the Guardians’ fireworks games in July and August be moved back? -- Jim B., Independence.

Hey, Jim: How about some fireworks during the game? The Guardians’ offense could use them.

Hey, Hoynsie:Is it time to shake up the lineup?-- Bill, Franklin, Tennessee.

Hey Bill: I’m all for a lineup shakeup, but who do you have in mind? I don’t think the Angels are ready to trade Shohei Ohtani just yet.

Hey, Hoynsie: The Guardians have been so hard to watch lately that I don’t even know what to ask other than can we bring back Austin Hedges? -- Chuck, Youngstown.

Hey, Chuck: I don’t think Hedges is leaving the Steel City. He’s having a heckuva time with the rejuvenated Pirates. I don’t think Hedges’ arrival and the Pirates revival is an accident, do you?

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