Are things as bad as they seem with Guardians? Hey, Hoynsie

HOUSTON — Do you have a question about the Guardians that you’d like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? You can subscribe to Subtext here, text Hoynsie at 216-208-4346 for a two-week free trial or email him at phoynes@cleveland.com. Hey, Hoynsie: Is everything as disastrous as it appears? Even the two long losing streaks last year didn’t seem as dire as what may happen to the Guardians over the next month. This feels like a season quickly circling the drain before they even face the White Sox. — Terry Richards, Peoria, Ariz. Hey, Terry: Losing Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter is no joke. It could easily change the course of the season, which is why Thursday’s win over a good Milwaukee team helped ease concerns for at least a moment. However, that was followed by a one-sided loss Friday night to Houston. As manager Stephen Vogt said, it’s going to take some time until Cleveland’s new offense finds a personality. Hopefully, the pitching holds out until it does. Hey, Hoynsie: Hypothetically, if the Guardians ran out of position players during a game due to injuries, do they have any pitchers that could play the field? — John Kyle, Westfield Center. Hey, John: I know Parker Messick played first base in high school and was a designated hitter at Florida State. In fact, he hit a home run in his first at-bat in college. In that game against Detroit where the Guardians lost Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter, Vogt said he told Slade Cecconi that he might have to hit. Pitchers, of course, all believe they can swing the bat. Hey, Hoynsie: With all of the injuries on the team right now, is it possible that the Guardians look outside the organization for another bat? — Chuck, Chagrin Falls. Hey, Chuck: If they do make a deal, it would probably be closer to the Aug. 3 trade deadline. They’re not ready to do that just yet. Should the Guardians make the postseason, it’s going to be on the backs of the players who are already in the organization. Hey, Hoynsie: Can the Guardians hold serve and qualify for the playoffs with Jose Ramirez missing a good portion of the season along with Steven Kwan not having his typical offensive season? — Andy Mees, Sandusky. Hey, Andy: It’s going to be much easier to answer that question after the next month to six weeks when we have an idea how this team has played without Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter. No doubt, it’s going to be a struggle. The one thing in their favor is that besides the White Sox, no team in the AL Central has played well. Hey, Hoynsie: I believe signing Steven Kwan this past spring was a high priority for the front office. Do you think that has changed with the young players they have and Kwan’s performance? — Shaun, Ashtabula. Hey, Shaun: I think what will drive the Guardians’ decision on Kwan is the fact that he can be a free agent after the 2027 season. This year has been a struggle, but they know what kind of player Kwan is. Hey, Hoynsie: How long does Rhys Hoskins have to step up? Seems to me he is taking a roster spot from one of our up-and-comers. — Roger Luca, Tallahassee. Hey, Roger: I like what Hoskins has brought to the Guardians. Lately, he’s been swinging and missing a lot, but he’s been driving in runs as well. The Guardians need some kind of power threat to hit in the middle of the lineup and right now Hoskins is their best hope. Hoskins has also played well at first base. Hey, Hoynsie: Brayan Rocchio went from the most productive No. 9 hitter in the American League to a big-time slump when he was moved up in the lineup. Why mess with success? — Roger Amoroso, Macedonia. Hey, Roger: The lineup is in crisis mode following the injuries to Ramirez, Martinez and DeLauter. They had to move Rocchio to the top of the lineup because he’s one of the few Guardians who is hitting consistently. Initially, the move to the top of the lineup seemed to unnerve him, but he’s been better the last couple of games. Hey, Hoynsie: Before the injury was Jose Ramirez on a trajectory to miss the All-Star Game for the first time since 2020? — Darron Miller, Parma. Hey, Darron: There was no All-Star Game in 2020 because of COVID-19. Ramirez’s numbers are certainly down this year, which may hurt him in the fan vote for the starting lineup. But he could still be voted in by the players simply based on his reputation. He’s a seven-time All-Star. Hey, Hoynsie: Last Saturday when the Guardians had three players get hurt, including outfielders Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter, could they have rotated the outfielders for every batter depending on who was hitting to keep the ball away from Rhys Hoskins? — Bob “Moose” Maskulka, Mayfield Village. Hey, Bob: Yes, the Guardians could have done that as long as the ball was dead (between pitches or batters) and the umpires were informed. When Hoskins went from first to left field in the sixth inning, Dillon Dingler hit a leadoff triple over his head but did not score. I’m not sure if Vogt would have rotated his outfielders on a batter-by-batter basis to protect Hoskins, but the triple happened so quickly that he didn’t have a chance at the start of the inning. It was Hoskins’ first game in left field since 2018 with the Phillies.