In the somber quiet of the Cleveland Guardians’ clubhouse, the sound of backslaps and season-ending hugs echoed off the walls. Teammates silently embraced, expressing gratitude for a year of shared accomplishment, even as the sting of their American League Championship Series loss to the New York Yankees lingered.
A Season of Growth The Guardians played well beyond expectations throughout the 2024 season, seizing first place early and holding it throughout the summer en route to a 92-69 record. They clinched a first-round playoff bye and beat the Detroit Tigers in the Division Series, thanks in part to a dramatic grand slam by Lane Thomas off presumptive Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Intense ALCS Battles
The series with the Yankees was far more intense than the 4-1 result suggests. The Guardians staged late-inning comebacks in Games 3 and 4, only to ultimately fall short. In Game 5, they pushed the Yankees to extra innings before Juan Soto’s home run ended their season.
Bullpen Falters
The relievers who were instrumental to Cleveland’s success finally faltered in the playoffs. Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith allowed three homers in the ALCS after giving up only three all regular season. Hunter Gaddis, spectacular during the year, yielded Soto’s series-winning blast.
They carried us here. If it wasn’t for those guys, we wouldn’t have gotten this far. They deserve a ton of credit.
– Stephen Vogt, Guardians manager
Youthful Progress
Amid the disappointment, there was an acknowledgment of the growth experienced by young players like shortstop Brayan Rocchio and slugger Jhonkensy Noel. Tanner Bibee emerged as Cleveland’s ace, and his emotions after the loss reflected the tight-knit nature of the team.
This was a special group. Those were the words uttered by pitcher Matthew Boyd, capturing the sentiment in the clubhouse. With stars like Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan, and the dominant bullpen set to return, the future remains bright in Cleveland despite the heartbreaking conclusion to the 2024 campaign.
