The Cleveland Guardians have surprised a lot of people over the past two years en route to winning back-to-back AL Central titles and reaching the ALCS in 2024. Somehow, the team has found a way to win against all odds, and the Guardians will have to do it again in 2026 if they want to three-peat since reinforcements aren’t coming due to the team refusing to spend money in free agency.
Cleveland hasn’t signed anybody for a guaranteed contract larger than $1.5 million this offseason, but somehow, there is still plenty of reason for optimism. It all starts at the top, as manager Stephen Vogt recently shared what the secret to success has been for this franchise over the past couple of years.
MLB Network recently had Vogt stop by for a brief interview, and they asked him about his team’s success of late. Vogt pointed out that it’s nothing out of the ordinary and credited his team for understanding its identity.
“I think what it is is just understanding who we are. We’re built differently. We have to play differently. We just find ways to win, and I think that’s the mentality that we’ve adopted. Let’s go out every night with the intention that we know we’re better, we know we’re going to win. It may look different on any given night, but that’s why you play all the games. We’re never out of it until we are,” Vogt said.
Back-to-back AL Manager of the Year Stephen Vogt takes us through the success he has found in his first two seasons as skipper of the @CleGuardians:
“Understanding who we are… we just find ways to win.”#MLBNHotStove | @SageUSAmerica pic.twitter.com/IKmRtUTSDW
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 10, 2026
It’s obvious that this has been the Guardians’ approach under Vogt’s tenure, and it’s a sustainable model of success. This team’s success has always been due to effort and grit and not due to simply relying on talent.
Vogt has done a tremendous job from the minute he took over as this team’s manager, and this fan base is lucky to have such a steady hand guiding the ship. Hopefully, more of the young talent on the roster can emerge in 2026 and help boost the team to new heights.
This city is dying for a World Series, and Vogt looks like the guy to get them there. The question is whether or not the rest of the organization can help give him what he needs to make it happen.
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