Emmanuel Clase, the 27-year-old closer that manager Stephen Vogt calls “the best pitcher on the planet,” hasn’t even been the best pitcher in the Guardians’ bullpen during the first month of the 2025 season.
Clase led both leagues in games finished each of the last three years — 67 in 2022, 65 in 2023 and 66 last season. He led the Majors in saves each of those seasons — 42, 44 and 47. He blew only three saves in 74 games last season.
That is a lot of high-leverage stress on an arm that was almost automatic in the regular season in 2024. Clase allowed only five earned runs (0.61 ERA) and two home runs in 74 1/3 innings. But he gave up three home runs and was charged with eight earned runs in 14 innings in the postseason.
Clase has a deceiving 3-0 record this season. More telling is his inflated 7.84 ERA in 11 appearances. He has four saves and blown two saves. He allowed only 39 hits all last season — roughly one hit allowed every two games. He has already given 20 hits this season.
Clase did not pitch in any of the three games with the Yankees from April 21-23. The Guardians had an off day April 24. The game April 25 with the Red Sox was rained out.
Before the postponement announcement, Vogt offered a positive medical report on Clase.
“He played catch Wednesday morning before the game, felt good and then came in yesterday, threw a bullpen and feels great,” Vogt said. “I haven’t heard how he felt (April 25) playing catch.”
Vogt’s revelation April 23 before an afternoon game with the Yankees is what prompted the update.
“He came out of the game Sunday (April 20), obviously three in a row, 30 pitches with some shoulder discomfort,” Vogt said.
The Guardians have to be mindful of how they use Clase if they want to preserve his arm for what they hope will be another playoff run in October. Cade Smith earned a save in each of the first two games with the Yankees, There is no reason to call on Clase three straight games repeatedly.
No matter what Vogt says, Clase has not been the same pitcher since he got banged around by the Yankees for two home runs and four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings over three games in the ALCS last year.
“I don’t think he ran out of gas against the Yankees,” Guardians president Chris Antonetti said at the start of spring training. “I just think there were some pitches he might not have executed as well as he would have liked against some of the best hitters in the world. I’m not worried about Emmanuel.”
Clase has given up one home run and three walks this season. He faced 270 batters last season and gave up only 10 walks.
Ice Box Chamberlain was a fighter
Each Sunday during the baseball season, this portion of The Cleveland Beat is dedicated to a player from the 19th or early 20th century known better by his nickname than his given name.
Elton P. Chamberlain, born Nov. 5, 1867, in Buffalo, N.Y., pitched 10 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1886-96. He did not play in 1895. He had a career record of 112-75. Chamberlain played the outfield on days he wasn’t pitching. He batted .203 in 1,051 at-bats and had 110 career RBI.
Chamberlain was nicknamed “Ice Box” because of his “austere calm in the face of all hostility by the enemy,” according to a story posted at the Society for American Ball Research’s website.
Chamberlain pitched more than 400 innings in one season three times in his career. He was 32-15 with the St. Louis Browns in 1889 when he threw 421 1/3 innings — a lot of innings, but not close to the most thrown by one pitcher that season. John Clarkson threw 68 complete games while throwing 620 innings and going 49-19 with the Boston Bean Eaters. By rule, in that era of baseball, a player had to be ill or “disabled” to be substituted for in a game.
Chamberlain pitched for the Cincinnati Reds from 1892 until he was released midway through 1894 when he was 10-9 with a 5.77 ERA. He was happy to be out of Cincinnati and let reporters know it.
“I’ll tell you truly, it was that bum atmosphere coupled with the rankest water in the universe that kept me down,” Chamberlain said.
Ice Box was a brawler. He was sitting at a bar one night when another ballplayer, Jocko Halligan, entered the establishment in a foul mood. Halligan slugged one player and spotted Chamberlain at the bar. Chamberlain, watching in the mirror behind the bar, saw Halligan approaching. Before Halligan started the fight, Chamberlain grabbed a bar mallet, turned, and floored Halligan.
I didn’t know that
… until I read my Snapple bottle cap.
The color of a chicken’s earlobe is a good indicator of the color of the eggshell it will lay. … Children have more taste buds than adults. … Squids have eyes the size of a volleyball. … A lemon contains more sugar than a strawberry. … Antarctica is the only continent with no snakes or reptiles. … Tug-of-war was an Olympic sport from 1900-1920.
Originally Published: April 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM EDT
