Commentary: It's go time for Guardians, and these 10 players better be ready

OK, the All-Star Game is over, the MLB Draft is history and the trade deadline is just around the corner. It's go time Gentlemen, start your engines! You, too, White Sox. The next two-plus months will determine who are the heroes, the villains, the champs and the chumps in the 2024 baseball season. Starting Friday, reputations will be polished or plundered. There is no middle ground, so don't bother looking for any. Starting now, it is Big Boy Baseball the rest of the way. The Guardians began the second half of the season sitting on top of all the other American League teams, and the last time I checked, the we've-got-money-we-haven't-even-folded-yet New York Yankees are in the American League. So there. After a mostly gorgeous first half, that saw the Guardians peak June 25, when they were 51-26 and leading the AL Central by nine games, the Guards came coughing and wheezing down the stretch to the All-Star break. The Fighting Vogtmen staggered across the All-Star break finish line having lost 11 of their previous 18 games. Friday night the Guardinos came out of the break with a still shiny mark of 58-37, but that nine-game division lead had shrunk to 4½ games. Translation: It is go time. If Cleveland is going to play October baseball for the sixth time in the last nine years, here are the 10 guys, in order, who will have to do the heavy lifting: EMMANUEL CLASE The best closer in the majors only comes into games when the Guardians are winning, and he is typically charged with getting just three outs. The last three outs. Nothing is more demoralizing than getting to within three outs of a victory, only to have your closer unable to put the car in the garage. Fortunately for his teammates and bosses, Clase almost always succeeds in closing the deal. That's good, because in September a loss due to a blown save feels like three losses. TANNER BIBEE Shane Bieber Light? Call him what you want, but Bibee has been a warrior, repeatedly rising to the occasion in place of the injured Bieber by pitching like Bieber. That's all great, and everything — but can Bibee do it for another two months? He is the ace of a crippled staff this season, but the season is only half over and, in the next two months, a lot is going to depend on whether Bibee can duplicate his first half with an equally Bieber-ish second half. He got off to a great start, pitching shutout ball into the sixth inning Friday. BEN LIVELY To get to the postseason, every pitching staff needs a ferocious competitor. Ladies and gentlemen: Ben Lively! THE STARTING PITCHER THE GUARDIANS WILL PRESUMABLY TRADE FOR This guy, whoever he turns out to be, might be the most important player on the team the rest of the way — and we don't even know who he is yet! Bibee, Ben Lively and This Guy might be enough to carry the Guardians into October. The hard part is finding and trading for This Guy, who could turn out to be THE GUY! Whom will the Guardians trade in order to get him? That's easy. Give the other team three or four middle infielders. JOSE RAMIREZ The only reason he isn't higher — say, for example, first — on this list is that this Cleveland season is going to be determined by whether the Guardians can jury-rig a starting rotation for two months to get Cleveland to the postseason. Jose will take it from there. STEVEN KWAN Let's just say if Kwan hits .400 this year you have to like the Guardians' chances of playing in October. Kwan, the best Guardians draft pick in (your guess here) is like having three players in one. He is an elite hitter, a Gold Glove fielder and an elite base stealer. JOSH NAYLOR Every baseball team that is serious about reaching the postseason should have a guy named "Josh." Guys named "Josh" get things done. The name alone suggests a no-nonsense run producer. If the Guardians are going to get in those playoffs and rattle some pots and pans, Josh Naylor needs to be vintage Josh Naylor. CADE SMITH In most pennant races, and postseason series, the winning team is frequently the team with the best bullpen. That, in almost all cases, would be the Guardians, 10 out of 10 times. There is still a half-season to go, but it's not premature to suggest that this is the best bullpen Cleveland has ever had. There is no weak link, just plenty of nasty. And one of the key contributors is Cade Smith, who looks the part. HUNTER GADDIS Remember a couple of years ago when he got called up as a starter and gave up more home runs than anyone could count? Nobody is counting now. ANGEL MARTINEZ Every once in awhile the Guardians' obsession with middle infielders pays off in them finding a center fielder. A good one. Contact Jim Ingraham at jingraham4@gmail.com. Follow him @Jim_Ingraham on X.