Will Shane Bieber pitch for the Guardians this season? Hey, Hoynsie

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Hey, Hoynsie: What do you expect from Shane Bieber this season? — Brent, Delray Beach, Florida.

Hey, Brent: I’m not a doctor and I didn’t sleep at a Holiday Inn last night.

Bieber’s rehab from Tommy John surgery is going well. He threw his sixth bullpen session Tuesday since the start of spring training, and he’s playing long toss at 135 feet.

On April 12 it will be a year since Bieber’s surgery. Recovery time usually takes 12 months to 15 months, but there’s still no defined timeline on when he’ll return.

A conservative estimate has Bieber returning after the All-Star break.

An optimistic estimate would have Bieber returning before the break.

Hey, Hoynsie: If Andrés Gimenez had hit better last season, do you think the Guards might have kept him? Or was he a goner in any case because of the team’s financial austerity policy? — Bill, Peoria, Arizona.

Hey, Bill: If Gimenez had continued to build on his 2022 season (.297, 17 homers, 69 RBI, 25 steals an a .837 OPS), I think he’d still be playing second base for the Guardians.

Gimenez’s salary this year with Toronto will be $10 million as part of the seven-year $106.5 million extension he signed with the Guards. I think the Guardians could have carried that if they felt Gimenez was more of an offensive threat.

Hey, Hoynsie: Who do you think has the lead for the second base job, and what’s your starting rotation as of now? — Greg Benedetto Cottonwood, Arizona.

Hey Greg: I think Gabriel Arias will win the job, but I don’t think it’s going to be a one-man position as it was with Andres Gimenez. I think players such as Tyler Freeman and Daniel Schneemann could see playing time there.

As for now, my rotation is Tanner Bibee, Ben Lively, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz and Triston McKenzie. Ortiz and McKenzie, who is out of minor league options, have been inconsistent. I would not be surprised if one of them was seriously challenged by lefties Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo or Doug Nikhazy. Allen has been excellent so far this spring.

Ortiz, unlike McKenzie, has options.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you see the Guards signing a veteran catcher for Triple-A Columbus in case Bo Naylor or Austin Hedges get hurt? If not, do you think they’d go with one of their younger catchers? — Jim Harris Newark.

Hey, Jim: They already have a veteran catcher in Dom Nunez, who has been getting a fair amount of playing time this spring. Nunez, who caught parts of four years with the Rockies, spent last year at Columbus.

Cooper Ingle, Kody Huff and Jacob Cozart are three of the Guardians younger catchers. Ingle was just sent to the minors after hitting .455 (5 for 11) in 10 Cactus League games. The Guardians like all three, but I don’t think they’d be their first choice if they needed a catcher in Cleveland.

Hey, Hoynsie: I know it’s just spring training, but Luis Ortiz isn’t pitching well. What are you seeing from him and are you concerned that the Guardians gave him a rotation spot? — Marv, Phoenix.

Hey, Marv: In four spring starts Ortiz has been inconsistent. Then again it is spring training, he’s with a new team, working with new coaches and he knows he has a great chance to open the season in the starting rotation. He certainly could be pressing.

He’s 0-3 with a 12.66 ERA, allowing 15 earned runs and 16 hits in 10 2/3 innings. He’s having trouble refining his pitches. One game there’s not enough variation between his fastball and off speed pitches. The next game he doesn’t have command of his fastball. It’s a concern, but spring training is about easing those concerns.

Hey, Hoynsie: What are the chances the Guardians are sandbagging until the season starts? — Colleen, Cleveland.

Hey, Colleen: To steal a line from Major League, “This isn’t the California Penal League.” Ideally, the Guardians would like to win every Cactus League game they play, but in a way your question makes sense.

The final score in spring training isn’t the most important thing. The individual performances are important, especially to young players trying to make an impression and players competing for a job, but they aren’t the end all and be all.

The perfect spring training would be to play .500, avoid serious injuries and have every pitcher stretched out and ready to go on opening day.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is Chase DeLauter turning into the outfield version of right-hander Adam Miller? He has a ton of talent, but can never stay healthy. — Bobby, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Hey, Bobby: No.

Miller had one specific injury, a damaged finger on his pitching hand that ended his career. DeLauter has had a series of injuries, but none of them career threatening. He is expected to make a full recovery from his latest injury, a sports hernia

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