Stephen Vogt is not asking Slade Cecconi to be perfect. He is asking him to be himself.
Ahead of Cecconi’s next start on Sunday, the Guardians manager delivered a simple and direct message to his young right-hander. After a start in Seattle where the velocity was down and the feel was not quite there, Vogt is not pushing the panic button. He is pushing something else entirely.
Vogt said he wants to see Cecconi just be Slade on the mound on Sunday.
“His velo was down a little bit in Seattle and he didn’t have great feel, but still he threw the ball pretty well,” Vogt said. “I’m looking for him to go out and just be himself.”
Cecconi has shown enough at this level to earn the benefit of the doubt. One uneven outing in Seattle does not erase what the Guardians believe he is capable of, and Vogt’s tone makes clear that the organization is not looking for a mechanical overhaul heading into the weekend. They are looking for the version of Cecconi that competes, attacks hitters, and does not try to be something he is not.
Young pitchers who get into their own head after a rough outing often compound the problem by gripping the ball tighter and nibbling at the zone. Vogt is essentially giving Cecconi permission to exhale. Go out there, trust your stuff, and let it happen.
The Guardians are 5-3 on the young season and have gotten strong pitching performances from Joey Cantillo and others in the rotation. The expectation now is that Cecconi steps into that same standard on Sunday and reminds everyone why Cleveland believed in him enough to hand him a spot in the first place.
Vogt has seen enough of his roster to know what each guy needs. For Cecconi, the answer is not more instruction.
It is more confidence.
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