CLEVELAND — As the Guardians brass met with local reporters for a season wrap-up session on Oct. 7, they reflected on the historic comeback that recaptured the division title , but also the quick playoff exit that became the story of their 2025 season, and the why behind it all.

They also expressed some amazement to think about how different the tone of that day could have been.

As of late July, the Guardians were floundering. They needed binoculars to see the divisor-leading Detroit Tigers , they had just lost their second pitcher to a gambling investigation and, with the trade deadline looming , appeared to be a sinking ship that was still taking cannon fire on the way down.

All of it only seemed to galvanize the Guardians, who were among baseball's best teams with arg

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