The California Penal League: A Cleveland Guardians Podcast

The Cleveland Guardians are squarely in the postseason chase. It's been an improbable, mystifying run, but they are playing their best ball at the right time. Let's take a look at how they've gotten themselves back into the race. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prior to MLB's trade deadline, we looked at the current landscape of the Cleveland Guardians, who are inexplicably still in the playoff hunt despite every bizarre challenge being thrown their way. What will this resilient bunch do? Shane Bieber is already gone to the Blue Jays - is Steven Kwan next? Let's talk about it and more. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod! Learn more about your ad...

The Cleveland Guardians sure do keep it interesting, don't they? With a 6-1 road trip to close things out before the All-Star break, Cleveland has put itself right back into the playoff conversation. Let's dive in and see what the rest of the season might have in store for the Guardians. Check us out on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your a...

If you've been watching the Cleveland Guardians the past few weeks, you wouldn't be wrong to think this team is absolutely cooked. And though they do look dead in the water right now, the Guardians do still have reason to hope - if they have the courage to make a few crucial moves right now. Follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your...

We are no longer asking the Cleveland Guardians to promote Chase DeLauter - it's a demand. The time has come for the team to stop disrespecting this current roster and acting like the fans have no idea what they're talking about. If Cleveland wants any chance at a wild-card berth, DeLauter has to come up. Follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn mo...

With an offense that is truly painful to watch, we are officially on Chase DeLauter watch. And if the Cleveland Guardians aren't willing to promote their first-round pick who is tearing up Triple-A pitching, what are we even doing here? Follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prior to the Guardians' falling flat in Seattle over the weekend, we took a look at the current state of the floundering Cleveland offense and what the team might be able to do to make some improvements and potentially salvage the 2025 season. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

There is still a ton of season left, but the Cleveland Guardians are falling into the trap of having a moribund offense that couldn't even be saved by the promotion of a few prospects. Let's see if the team can dig itself out of this funk so we can avoid a painful trade deadline. Catch us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

The Cleveland Guardians are getting more consistent pitching performances, but the bottom of the lineup could use some serious upgrades. Who should be sent down to Columbus to get those everyday at-bats and sort themselves out? Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cleveland Guardians just wrapped up a tough stretch against the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers and came out of it 5-4 with plenty to be happy about. Is this a sign of more good things to come this season? Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Guardians team sure keeps you on your toes, doesn't it? Cleveland just took three out of four on the road against the Detroit Tigers and the team continues to will itself to wins despite some inconsistencies. And their prize? A series at home against the Dodgers. Follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

Ahead of the Tigers series this weekend, we looked at the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Cleveland Guardians to this point. While there has been plenty of great things going on with the team, there is plenty of room for improvement - and there could be plenty of help on the way. Follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad cho...

The Cincinnati Reds are struggling, so it's the perfect time for the Cleveland Guardians to hit the road and take on their old manager Terry Francona. Plus, there are plenty of reinforcements coming to help this team really hit its stride as the summer approaches in what looks to be a brutally competitive AL Central. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians...

It might not always be pretty, and sometimes you might be left scratching your head as to how it's happening, but the fact is the Cleveland Guardians just keep on winning and are one of the best teams in the American League. Let's bask in that baffling (to some extent at least) glory, and when you're done basking, be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.su...

Ahead of the weekend's series against the Phillies (which was a great series as predicted), Chris took stock of a Guardians team that keeps finding a way to win, with plenty of reinforcements on the way. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though the Cleveland Guardians aren't without their own myriad issues and flaws, the fact is they have one of the best records in the American League. One week - and a solid road trip - can make a world of difference in how a team can be perceived, and maybe, just maybe, the Guardians are on a true upswing. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack....

The Cleveland Guardians are going to exit April over .500 and Tanner Bibee just put in his best start of the young season, but there are plenty of things that have us uneasy about the rest of the year. What's going well and what's currently an issue for this team? We review April and look ahead to May in our latest episode - be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandg...

What a difference a few series can make. The Cleveland Guardians were mired in mediocrity to start the season, but appear to be turning a corner following series wins against the Pirates and Yankees. With one of the best records in the AL thanks to a hot stretch, is this the Guardians team we can expect to see the rest of the season? Catch us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguar...

After a disappointing series in Baltimore, the Cleveland Guardians' flaws are certainly bubbling to the surface more than we'd like to see. Will a weekend series in Pittsburgh help the rotation and offense get back on track? After all, a series with the New York Yankees is looming next week... be sure to catch us on social @calpenalpod or on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more...

Cleveland Guardians second baseman Gabriel Arias is off to the best start of his career, which has us asking the question: Is he finally tapping into his tantalizing potential? It's still early, but he's certainly bolstering the Guardians' lineup in the early going. Be sure to follow us on social @calpenalpod and on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Ahead of the weekend series win against the Kansas City Royals, Chris is looking at a roller coaster of a week in which the Guardians got back on track following the bumpy end to their opening road trip. Are the Guardians finally settling in to the 2025 season? Be sure to follow us on social at @calpenalpod! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some early trends are emerging for the 2025 Cleveland Guardians - some good, some bad. Here is what we like - and what truly concerns us - about the team so far in the young season. Catch us on social @calpenalpod or on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine games in and it's clear the Cleveland Guardians have a lot of things to fix. What's been going right? What's been going wrong? Nobody's talking about the beloved panic button by any means, but the Guardians do need to figure out their identity and what will work for them this season with just a bit more urgency. Catch us on social @calpenalpod or on Substack at clevelandguardians.substack.com...

We are officially rolling on the 2025 Guardians season! It's the smallest of sample sizes, but let's take a look at what we've liked - and not liked - so far in the young campaign. Be sure to follow us on social too @calpenalpod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The time has come for our third annual Cleveland Guardians season predictions! In this packed season preview episode, we throw out all of our 2025 predictions for both the lineup and Guardians pitching staff. Be sure to check back in October when we look back at how terrible we did! We did it - the season is finally here! Catch us on social all year long @calpenalpod while you're at it. Learn more...