Dan Lembke Jr: CLE Sports Talk
@djljr26.bsky.social
I love sports. Write about the Cleveland Guardians for CLESportsTalk.com. Also follow the MLB at large, NBA (Cavs), NHL (Blue Jackets) and NASCAR (Bubba Wallace/Denny Hamlin).
Shane Bieber opting in with Toronto struck me as odd and I couldn't shake it. Decided to write about the whole premise.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/11/17/b...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/11/17/b...
Bieber Accepting Option Was Weird; But Possible Sign of Blue Jays’ Road to Redemption
One of the first moves of the baseball off-season was when former Guardian and current Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber decided return to Toronto for 2026 by picking up the 1-year, $16 million option…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Shane Bieber opting in with Toronto struck me as odd and I couldn't shake it. Decided to write about the whole premise.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/11/17/b...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/11/17/b...
It is great that Carl Willis is returning for 2026, but I wrote about if the Guardians' pitching success is sustainable beyond that.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/10/27/c...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/10/27/c...
Carl Willis Will Return & The Pitching Factory’s Sustainability
If you have read the news that Carl Willis intends to return as Guardians’ pitching coach in 2026, you likely breathed a small sigh of relief (and if hadn’t read that, you can let it ou…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
It is great that Carl Willis is returning for 2026, but I wrote about if the Guardians' pitching success is sustainable beyond that.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/10/27/c...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/10/27/c...
The best post-season in sports starts tomorrow. I tried my best to beat the odds and predict the winners. #MLBPlayoffs
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/29/p...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/29/p...
Predicting the Most Exciting Post-Season in Sports
The regular season is built on sustained successes day after day. Days turn to weeks. Weeks turn to months. Months turned into full bodies of work that get you into the post-season. For the post-se…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The best post-season in sports starts tomorrow. I tried my best to beat the odds and predict the winners. #MLBPlayoffs
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/29/p...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/29/p...
Looking through the schedules, I tried to make a determination on what it will take for the Guardians to make the playoffs. The results...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/10/p...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/10/p...
Playing the Schedule Game: Analyzing the Guardians Playoff Chances
The good vibes have me thinking. What is it really going to take to close the deal? After more than five months of play, the Guardians, and all MLB teams, are down to less than 20 games remaining i…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Looking through the schedules, I tried to make a determination on what it will take for the Guardians to make the playoffs. The results...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/10/p...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/09/10/p...
I wonder if the voting format will change in order to support this new format or if the players that get voted in will have to squish into this pre-determined format. Just interesting because you don't know how many players of what nationality will be All-Stars.
FROM SHAMS:
Reporting for @SportsCenter at Night on NBA's first ever USA-World All-Star Game format in 2026: https://t.co/uyLFIjmy5E
Reporting for @SportsCenter at Night on NBA's first ever USA-World All-Star Game format in 2026: https://t.co/uyLFIjmy5E
Tweet
FROM SHAMS:
Reporting for @SportsCenter at Night on NBA's first ever USA-World All-Star Game format in 2026: https://t.co/uyLFIjmy5E
twitter.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I wonder if the voting format will change in order to support this new format or if the players that get voted in will have to squish into this pre-determined format. Just interesting because you don't know how many players of what nationality will be All-Stars.
My distaste for Max Scherzer has traveled from team to team.
By the time you're 30 you should have one player on a team you don't care about whom you hate for reasons no one understand but you
September 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My distaste for Max Scherzer has traveled from team to team.
Having passed the 120-game mark, I wrote about where the Guardians are at, how they've been performing and what the stretch run is most likely to bring.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/19/e...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/19/e...
Evaluating the Guardians at the 3rd Quarter Pole
Well, the Major League Baseball season just hit about mile 20 over the past week. The Guardians have played 123 games, or about 76% of their season. This feels like a great time to take some invent…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
August 19, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Having passed the 120-game mark, I wrote about where the Guardians are at, how they've been performing and what the stretch run is most likely to bring.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/19/e...
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/19/e...
You probably don't know me well, but just know I spent much of the last five years sports blogging until taking a break for my well-being.
This is my return, starting with some reflection first.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/09/d...
This is my return, starting with some reflection first.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/09/d...
Dear Journal: Pickup Sports Talk CLE is Back
I last posted on this little corner of the internet that I own five years ago. I have to be honest, I was shocked when I went to the homepage a moment ago and saw the dateline on my last post was A…
pickupsportstalkcle.com
August 9, 2025 at 11:42 PM
You probably don't know me well, but just know I spent much of the last five years sports blogging until taking a break for my well-being.
This is my return, starting with some reflection first.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/09/d...
This is my return, starting with some reflection first.
pickupsportstalkcle.com/2025/08/09/d...
With Indiana having Halliburton hurt and doing nothing to improve their roster this summer, I kinda wonder if this Finals appearance will be the peak we see out of that group.
Over the summer, the Nuggets, Rockets and Clippers retooled with superstar trades and draft-day no-brainers.
Meanwhile, the Bulls and Pelicans left fans scratching their heads.
Thoughts on your team's offseason grade?
http://dlvr.it/TMHnrP
Meanwhile, the Bulls and Pelicans left fans scratching their heads.
Thoughts on your team's offseason grade?
http://dlvr.it/TMHnrP
August 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
With Indiana having Halliburton hurt and doing nothing to improve their roster this summer, I kinda wonder if this Finals appearance will be the peak we see out of that group.
Reposted by Dan Lembke Jr: CLE Sports Talk
Cleveland Guardians president Chris Antonetti: "I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made...we’ve gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we’re excited about the future that’s in front of us," he said.
Good job Cleveland! (there’s a comment you don’t hear very often when referencing a Cleveland sports team).
sports.yahoo.com/article/guar...
sports.yahoo.com/article/guar...
Guardians Announce Decision On Name After President Trump's Demand
President Trump wants the Cleveland Guardians to change their name. The President of the United State declared on Sunday that two professional sports teams, the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland...
sports.yahoo.com
July 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Cleveland Guardians president Chris Antonetti: "I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made...we’ve gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we’re excited about the future that’s in front of us," he said.
What surprises me most about this list is how infrequently Seattle and San Diego have led after 6 innings. They are the 2 playoff contenders with fewer than 40 instances here.
Leading After 6 Innings:
51-2 DET
41-2 PHI
47-3 LAD
46-3 TOR
39-3 CLE
51-4 MIL
33-3 KC
43-4 TEX
42-4 HOU STL
34-4 SD
50-6 CHC
32-4 MIA
30-4 WSH
42-6 NYM CIN
35-5 SF
32-5 SEA
38-6 TB
44-7 NYY
29-5 LAA PIT
40-7 MIN
43-8 BOS
37-7 BAL
41-10 ARI
29-8 CWS
32-9 ATL
30-9 ATH
16-7 COL
51-2 DET
41-2 PHI
47-3 LAD
46-3 TOR
39-3 CLE
51-4 MIL
33-3 KC
43-4 TEX
42-4 HOU STL
34-4 SD
50-6 CHC
32-4 MIA
30-4 WSH
42-6 NYM CIN
35-5 SF
32-5 SEA
38-6 TB
44-7 NYY
29-5 LAA PIT
40-7 MIN
43-8 BOS
37-7 BAL
41-10 ARI
29-8 CWS
32-9 ATL
30-9 ATH
16-7 COL
July 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
What surprises me most about this list is how infrequently Seattle and San Diego have led after 6 innings. They are the 2 playoff contenders with fewer than 40 instances here.
Depressing.
Batting Average, Last 35 Games:
.278 TB
.273 SEA
.270 TOR HOU
.265 MIA MIL
.262 BOS
.255 PHI
.254 DET
.253 NYY
.252 COL
.250 WSH
.249 TEX CIN
.248 CHC
.244 NYM
.243 ARI LAA ATL
.242 BAL
.241 STL
.240 ATH SD LAD
.237 MIN
.236 KC
.235 PIT
.225 SF
.218 CWS
.1996 CLE
.278 TB
.273 SEA
.270 TOR HOU
.265 MIA MIL
.262 BOS
.255 PHI
.254 DET
.253 NYY
.252 COL
.250 WSH
.249 TEX CIN
.248 CHC
.244 NYM
.243 ARI LAA ATL
.242 BAL
.241 STL
.240 ATH SD LAD
.237 MIN
.236 KC
.235 PIT
.225 SF
.218 CWS
.1996 CLE
July 18, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Depressing.
Trevor Bauer is an influencer at this point more than a baseball player.
Trevor Bauer returned from the Japanese minor leagues today, and he immediately surrendered the longest home run in recorded history (594 ft) to Hiroshima’s Elehuris Montero
July 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Trevor Bauer is an influencer at this point more than a baseball player.
Reposted by Dan Lembke Jr: CLE Sports Talk
With Sunday's loss, the White Sox are 33 under .500 for the first time this season as they head into the All-Star break. But last season, the team didn't have 32 wins until Sept. 4.
📝 @lamondpope.bsky.social
📝 @lamondpope.bsky.social
Chicago White Sox head into the All-Star break a season-high 33 games under .500 with a 6-5 loss to Cleveland
The Chicago White Sox went into the All-Star break with a 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in 10 innings. The Sox are 8-22 in one-run games this season.
www.chicagotribune.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
With Sunday's loss, the White Sox are 33 under .500 for the first time this season as they head into the All-Star break. But last season, the team didn't have 32 wins until Sept. 4.
📝 @lamondpope.bsky.social
📝 @lamondpope.bsky.social
He has pitched so much better when rested this year.
Emmanuel Clase (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K) was simply not hittable while getting some work in during the Guardians rough loss to the Cardinals. His slider was our RP Pitch of the Day
June 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
He has pitched so much better when rested this year.
4.
I had convinced myself the historic pace would continue all season. This team hasn't proven itself against adversity yet. It would do a lot to see them take on this adversity better with Atkinson now in charge.
All that said, they're still one of the top 5 teams in the sport.
I had convinced myself the historic pace would continue all season. This team hasn't proven itself against adversity yet. It would do a lot to see them take on this adversity better with Atkinson now in charge.
All that said, they're still one of the top 5 teams in the sport.
January 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
4.
I had convinced myself the historic pace would continue all season. This team hasn't proven itself against adversity yet. It would do a lot to see them take on this adversity better with Atkinson now in charge.
All that said, they're still one of the top 5 teams in the sport.
I had convinced myself the historic pace would continue all season. This team hasn't proven itself against adversity yet. It would do a lot to see them take on this adversity better with Atkinson now in charge.
All that said, they're still one of the top 5 teams in the sport.
Reposted by Dan Lembke Jr: CLE Sports Talk
Jimmy Butler suspensions:
January 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Jimmy Butler suspensions:
The way I've heard media talk about them, I wouldn't guess that the Angels and Orioles have matched the Yankees in improvement (at least, by a measure like this).
Projected 2025 WAR,
Offseason Free Agent Signings:
14.3 NYM
13.1 LAD
7.4 TEX
5.6 NYY BAL LAA
5.3 SF
4.9 DET
4.7 CHC
4.6 TOR
4.3 CWS
3.9 CLE
3.6 ARI
3.2 ATH
3.1 HOU WSH
3.0 KC BOS
2.8 ATL
2.1 TB
1.7 COL CIN PHI
0.7 SEA
0.3 PIT
0.2 MIN
0.0 MIA MIL STL
-0.3 SD 😬
Offseason Free Agent Signings:
14.3 NYM
13.1 LAD
7.4 TEX
5.6 NYY BAL LAA
5.3 SF
4.9 DET
4.7 CHC
4.6 TOR
4.3 CWS
3.9 CLE
3.6 ARI
3.2 ATH
3.1 HOU WSH
3.0 KC BOS
2.8 ATL
2.1 TB
1.7 COL CIN PHI
0.7 SEA
0.3 PIT
0.2 MIN
0.0 MIA MIL STL
-0.3 SD 😬
January 27, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The way I've heard media talk about them, I wouldn't guess that the Angels and Orioles have matched the Yankees in improvement (at least, by a measure like this).
Bob Uecker was like an honorary Cleveland baseball hero for his role in Major League. I wrote about that and so much more about him.
clesportstalk.com/in-memory-of...
clesportstalk.com/in-memory-of...
In Memory of The Legendary Announcer Bob Uecker
For those of us who love baseball legends, it is becoming an increasingly tough winter....
clesportstalk.com
January 19, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Bob Uecker was like an honorary Cleveland baseball hero for his role in Major League. I wrote about that and so much more about him.
clesportstalk.com/in-memory-of...
clesportstalk.com/in-memory-of...
I actually would have guessed that the cavs were shooting it even slightly worse than the 27% they are shooting from 3 right now.
January 13, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I actually would have guessed that the cavs were shooting it even slightly worse than the 27% they are shooting from 3 right now.
Pacers slap forearm four times on shots but no whistle. Meanwhile caris levert gets a technical for pointing.
January 13, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Pacers slap forearm four times on shots but no whistle. Meanwhile caris levert gets a technical for pointing.