Image Source: Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com
Key Takeaways
- Bill Livingston, a longtime Plain Dealer columnist, passed away at the age of 77 after a brief illness
- Livingston was known for his passionate, informed, and unfiltered sports commentary that both challenged and captivated Cleveland fans
- He had a distinctive voice and style that set him apart from other sports writers
- The Cleveland Guardians have made several moves in the offseason, including signing Ettore Giulianelli, a right-handed pitcher from Italy
- The team is also dealing with the injury of Carlos Hernandez, who was involved in a car accident in Venezuela
- The Cubs have signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, which could have an impact on the NL Central division
Introduction to Bill Livingston
Bill Livingston, a renowned sports columnist for the Plain Dealer, passed away last week at the age of 77 after a brief illness. For nearly four decades, Livingston’s byline was synonymous with passionate, informed, and unfiltered sports commentary that both challenged and captivated Cleveland fans. As Joe Noga reflected on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, "If you’ve been a Cleveland sports fan, if you’ve been a reader of The Plain Dealer or of cleveland.com at any point over the last, you know, three to four decades, you knew Bill Livingston. You knew his work, and you knew what he thought. You knew his opinions. They were… crystal clear."
Livingston’s Writing Style and Legacy
Livingston’s writing style was distinct and set him apart from other sports writers. As Paul Hoynes, a colleague of Livingston’s, noted, "He always said, when we were on deadline, ‘Well boys, Livy is working without a net tonight.’ And everybody else was working without a net, too, you know. Meaning the deadline is coming and you’ve got to get it in at a certain time. But he was excellent at that. He was excellent under pressure." Livingston’s ability to perform under pressure and deliver high-quality writing was remarkable, and his legacy will be remembered for years to come.
Cleveland Guardians Offseason Moves
The Cleveland Guardians have made several moves in the offseason, including signing Ettore Giulianelli, a right-handed pitcher from Italy. Giulianelli has a unique pitch, a screwball, which could be an asset to the team. As Paul Hoynes noted, "When you have not seen a lot of screwballs throwing in the big leagues recently, Joe, just because of such, of the emphasis is, is such on velocity and power pitching. But this is an interesting diversion and what he played for the Italian 23 and under team last season." The team is also dealing with the injury of Carlos Hernandez, who was involved in a car accident in Venezuela.
Impact of Alex Bregman’s Signing
The Cubs have signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, which could have an impact on the NL Central division. As Paul Hoynes noted, "I think so. You know, they just added Edward Cabrera to the rotation. They’ve added five or six relievers to the bullpen, and now they add Bregman at third base or wherever he’s going to play. I would imagine it’s third base. You know, they, you know, they made the postseason last year. I would think that this probably makes him the favorite in the NL Central." The signing of Bregman could make the Cubs a strong contender in the division, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs in the upcoming season.
Remembering Bill Livingston
As the Cleveland sports community mourns the loss of Bill Livingston, it’s clear that he will be deeply missed. As Joe Noga noted, "He will be missed around here. I know that there will be gatherings and, and conversations and, and folks will get together and share their memories. This week of Bill Livingston, and it’s a big loss for the Cleveland sports community for sure." Livingston’s passion, knowledge, and dedication to sports writing will be remembered for years to come, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of sports writers and fans. As Paul Hoynes reflected, "He cared about who he wrote about. He cared about the city. And, you know, he came from Texas. You know, he’s kind of adopted. An adopted Clevelander but, you know, he spent the bulk of his career here, and it’s just anybody who read him was better off for reading them."
https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2026/01/working-without-a-net-remembering-bill-livingstons-fiery-legacy-in-cleveland-sports.html
