It's Friday and we have a big time ballgame tonight! And fortunately for me, I get to write ~before~ the game tonight instead of after! Through 3 games our Cleveland Guardians have scratched and clawed and clutched their way to a 2-1 series lead, but with 2 more wins necessary and more bad weather on the horizon, we are far from comfortable in this series.
Speaking of being uncomfortable and bad weather (the apocalypse?) on the horizon; a thought has dawned on me when thinking of the keys to Game 4. Four. 2024. The nickname of that bullpen was THE FOUR HORSEMEN. Cade, Gaddis, Herrin and of course, Death incarnate, he who shall not be named, made up for a record setting end of the bullpen en route to an ALCS birth. And while that was a great nickname for that quartet, I figure we can use that again today as we head into the storm and towards Game 4.
So, without further ado, the FOUR HORSEMEN OF GAME FOUR!
(The quotes are taken from the Book of Revelation 6: 1-8)
#1, The White Horse aka Conquest:
I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Horsemen: Steven Vogt, Manager, CLE
Now, through this interpretation, one could go many directions. But considering who is still to come, I ruled Jose out (for now) and decided again to go with Steven Vogt… Most people won't consider the Manager for one of the keys to victory, but it needs to be said: he's pushed all the right buttons in these wins. When to pull a pitcher, which reliever to go to, the Halpin starts and pinch hitting Bailey, all thanks to Vogter making the right moves at the right time. He has helped us go from scrapping around .500c to conquering the #1 seed, and if we are to conquer again, we will need him to continue to make all the right moves. Whatever they may be…
#2, The Red Horse aka War:
Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
Horsemen: Jose Ramirez, 3B, CLE
Ok damn this is dark. But come on, is there anyone more ready to lead us into War than Jose Ramirez?! Especially in this interpretation where, he does make the other team want to pull their own hair out as he beats you in every way possible. He is the spiritual leader on this team, and it has never been more obvious than it has been over the last 10 days. When he performs, we rally, when he doesn't, we sink. For example;
ALDS G 1 & 2, both L's: 0-6
ALDS G3 W: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, 2B, 3B, SB, a classic Jose run created (2B, SB, take home on an infield in FC)
ALDS G4 W: 2-5, 3 RBI including the 2run HR to take the lead that gave us home we were gonna win this thing
ALDS G5 W: 2R HR, only runs of the game
ALCS G1 W: 3-5, RBI & a steal attempt that got Caminero to move out of the way of an Adell 2 run single
ALCS G2 L: 1-4, but a huge error that cost us 3 runs and well as a mental error that he knows he's better than
ALCS G3 W: 2-3, BB, SB
Clearly, you see the trend here. When he performs, we Win, when he doesn't? We are left for dead… Jose Ramirez is our Horsemen Leader into the ALCS War.
#3, The Black Horse aka Famine:
So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.
Horsemen: Nick Martinez, SP, TBR
Ok so the translation kinda gets lost for this one but the point here is that the Third Horsemen is responsible for famine, starvation, and going hungry. And if the Guardians are to take Game 4, they will face this head on in the form of Nick Martinez. Who is somewhat the ambassador of starvation, aka, lack of runs.
In 2 starts vs Cleveland this season, Martinez has absolutely dominated… he's thrown 13 shutout innings, scattering 7 H, 1 BB while striking out 9. Now, he hasn't been the same pitcher since those first two incredible months, but I hardly think that applies here. With their season on the line, Cash and the Rays are gonna lean heavily on Martinez to be far more than the JAG he had been earlier in his career, and continue to be the All Star Frontline Starter he's become. The best way to get to him is getting on base, threatening early, turning the lineup over for a 3rd time thru by the 5th so that Cash will be forced to go to the 'pen early. Threaten, Turn it over, Force a move or score some runs.
Hopefully we have adjusted, or be prepared to be starved!
#4, The Pale Horse aka Death:
And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
Horsemen: Cade Smith, RP, CLE
I could be wrong but that's literally what the narrator says as Cade walks by you at any given point. And there is no better way to describe your Closer than DEATH.
Cade has been phenomenal this run. He's pitched in every victory, and will continue to be leaned upon for as many outs as he can give. In the 7 games he's pitched, he's thrown 9 innings, striking out 13 while giving up 1 run, a meaningless Solo homer up 5. The Guardians have made their plan simple, get the lead after the 5th and its "operation: bullpen", which will end unceremoniously with Cade striking out three more victims en route to total annihilation.
So there it is, the plan to victory through the eyes of the 4 Horsemen of Game 4. Vogt needs to make the right moves and continue to pull the correct levers in attempt to conquer, Jose must lead us into War thru his patented style of play, both must keep us from starving at the hands of Nick Martinez, and finally, get to the 8th with a lead and eventually hand it over to Cade Smith. Who will slam the door shut and kill any chance at life.
Sounds like a plan.
