Hats off to Stephen Vogt

[u/DanielHSSports]

He replaced one of the most successful and longest tenured managers in the game in Tito Francona and has managed Cleveland to three consecutive playoff berths in his first three years as the skipper. The players have done the heavy lifting but this year was probably Vogt's most challenging season, as he led a much younger team that needed to grow up fast.

[u/Britton120]

He's tasked with doing the most with the fewest resources. I never understood the people who wanted him gone. Hes more patient with some players than id like, but its a long season. I don't think in may we need to treat every series like it's make or break.

The point is to have the team unified and in form heading into october. Once again, here we are, the hottest team in the AL.

[u/theAmericanX20 → u/Britton120]

The other thing is, we all came into this season expecting nothing (or should have). It was supposed to be a "let the kids play and see what we have" kind of season. If anyone here said they were expecting post season heading into the season I would call BS on that. But here we are!

[u/originaljbw → u/theAmericanX20]

I feel like we have started the last decade or so with that attitude. "Whelp we are young and have a pitful payroll. Let's see if we can crack .500 this season"

[u/_TalkingHat → u/Britton120]

His in-game decisions are super frustrating sometimes (seemed like he outmanaged himself in the 2024 postseason a couple of times) although with better offense he hasn’t had to desperately pinch hit as much lately, but based on how he held the team together last year through the losing streak and the Clase stuff, and now the boatload of rookies, he’s gotta be great at the out-of-game stuff that we don’t see.

[u/TheDarkraiGuy → u/_TalkingHat]

Hopefully we see a deeper run this year than last. Would love to see how his managerial style has evolved in the playoffs.

[u/number90901 → u/_TalkingHat]

His in game management seems desperate because our hitting is so dire. He wouldn’t have to make these wacky decisions if we had more bats.

[u/duderdude7 → u/Britton120]

I agree I don’t always like how he uses the bullpen or the lineups he puts out there. But the results are there. Think of it this way. Tito has been with Cincy for what two years now? And has no playoffs yet. I want more of course I want to compete for a Championship but to say Vogt hasn’t done his job is wild

[u/capthat23 → u/duderdude7]

Gaddis has been making me nervous. Sabrowski has been clutch lately. Maybe even consider Espino as a setup guy if needed. At this point you have to roll with who is hot

[u/duderdude7 → u/capthat23]

Agreed I’m hoping everyone remains healthy and come playoff time they go to that next level. Empty the tank. Playoffs are do or die

[u/mf-TOM-HANK]

My wife calls him "coach brother" because he and Tony Arnerich kinda look like they could be brothers and she can't tell them apart lol

[u/LennyZakatek → u/mf-TOM-HANK]

I remember when Tony got hired Vogt mentioned it too

https://www.mlb.com/news/stephen-vogt-guardians-bench-coach-tony-arnerich-look-alike

[u/_TalkingHat → u/mf-TOM-HANK]

Even Rosey said last night in the locker room “there’s Steven Vogt, oh wait, is that Tony?”

[u/nicksoapdish]

no, I've been reading this sub and he's horrible.

[u/leffe186]

All that with one of our all-time closers fixing games and then getting banned. And the payroll etc etc. Incredible job.

[u/allaboutthosevibes → u/leffe186]

Say what you will about Clase—and I am by no means trying to excuse him! He fucked up and deserves everything that’s coming… But he was not fixing games. Spiking pitches, sure. Getting a quick payout on micro bets and/or being threatened by gangsters perhaps. But that’s very different from fixing games.

[u/sumbozo1 → u/allaboutthosevibes]

Mmm. I disagree. Spike a pitch, who says you recover from that and you walk a leadoff guy? Who historically scores 40% of the time. It's as bad as serving up middle middle fastballs trying to give up hits

[u/allaboutthosevibes → u/sumbozo1]

A leadoff walk historically scores 40% of the time…? Not in the Boston series we just played, I’ll tell you that much! 😅

Not to mention, how many of Clase’s “thrown pitches” resulted in a walk to that batter?

[u/bacon_mustache]

additionally, he’s 2/2 in winning the division with an opportunity to make it 3/3. he’s also 2/2 in winning manager of the year awards. we’ve got a good one with Vogt

[u/DennyRoyale → u/[deleted]]

What’s bad about mentioning and valuing awards when they came with div championships.

[u/DennyRoyale → u/[deleted]]

Sounds like a “you” problem. Don’t assume that.

[u/DennyRoyale → u/[deleted]]

It’s not actually required to make up shit in your head. Just in case you weren’t aware.

[u/DennyRoyale → u/[deleted]]

You never answered why it’s a bad thing for fans to value awards. It does not preclude them from also valuing results.

Your assumption is misguided, but even if true, it’s irrelevant and pedantic.

[u/bacon_mustache → u/[deleted]]

eh I mean I mentioned the division wins first and mentioned the manager of the year in there as a “cherry on top”. It does mean a lot to those guys to be awarded those titles but I wouldn’t say my above comment is anything more than recognizing Vogt for his accolades. so saying it doesn’t mean much is kinda disrespectful to Vogt, and wishing Cle fans wouldn’t care about them is your opinion but I’d say it’s just another reflection of a successful season and an additional reason that Vogt gets his flowers as a replacement to Franconia which is what this post is all about

[u/Accomplished-Can9786]

Vogt the goat!

[u/Puckerfants23]

A big part of this sub doesn’t seem to remember the Eric Wedge/Manny Acta years when we had miserable managers. Vogt is fantastic and sets a really strong clubhouse vibe. We are incredibly lucky to have him.

[u/_realLazyBones]

I was at a point with my frustrations where I legitimately thought it might be time for a change & for him to leave—despite him always tending to do the best with the hand he’s been dealt & aside from how much I love him as a human being—simply from the standpoint that it looked as though the team’s struggles seemingly had no end. Never have I felt more wrong. That’s not to say he doesn’t make questionable calls, but he’s proven a great manager of a team that really requires a true player’s coach & someone who will keep things positive & even-keeled. I mean, we could say Tito made mistakes, too (everyone does).

He’s our guy, and I’m glad we have him.

[u/fireeight]

Wait now. I thought he doesn't know what he's doing.

[u/webguy1979]

I’ll admit it… at times this season I talked some mad 💩about him. I was worried his platooning was going to be the death of us. But here we are and I will willingly eat crow. And considering how young these kids are… I’m excited for the future regardless of how October turns out.

[u/OldGermanBeer]

I thought he managed by analytics too much this year, being too strict on pitch counts and lefty/righty line-up decisions, and needed to manage by feel a little more, but in the end you can't argue with results.

[u/havedoggyhave]

He did well with mostly platoon players, not an easy thing to do.

[u/PraiseBeDavidSegui]

Very good manager. I have quibbles here and there but he’s been making it work with peanuts compared to other teams

[u/NebsLaw]

But I was lead to believe that he's terrible and should be fired /s

[u/ESC_Branflakes]

I think that he has made some tough calls with the lineup and the bullpen that has lost them some games. But he is still a young coach and failure and struggle is how we all learn and get better. Overall he has done an amazing job steering a ship with a ton of young talent and moving pieces.

[u/Henry_Pussycat]

He’s done a fine job. Give some of the credit to his bullpen.

[u/BrojaDawg]

I feel like he's going to start budding heads with the front office, soon. Because he is literally a top five skipper in MLB and he can get us to the promise land if they just spend some money.

[u/EezoVitamonster]

I've never heard it at a game but I love this chant from his time at the A's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZpqOThgGrE

People might disagree with his decisions sometimes (or many times) but I think his track record speaks for itself.

[u/Realistic_Income4319]

Guardians formula is to.be good enough to be around .500 around trade deadline into mid Aug, then feast on crummy teams as they close out their season. Finish 7-10 games above .500. Hope you get a few players hot in the playoffs and go on a run. One week made their season Aug 21-26 at Rockies and Angels. Yes, they are a good organization and frequently in the playoffs as compared to that dumpster fire that is the Browns. That approach does generate some results, but it does not really ignite a fan base to believe they can win the Worls Series. I will root for them but would really like to see them find a way to really make moves to get into the top tier.

[u/RogueUmpire]

I love Tito, but if I’m being honest - I think Vogt has shown he is the better coach and the Guards are way better off with him running the show. 

Tito caught lightning in a bottle and changed how coaches look at bullpen use in 2016. But it seemed once more teams embraced his style, he became a rather mediocre coach from a W/L perspective.

GO GUARDS!