The Cleveland Guardians woke up on Tuesday with the second-best record in the American League at 36-18, after dropping their series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
The offense showed up and scored six runs, but starter Xzavion Curry couldn’t keep the Rockies off the scoreboard and was chased out of the game after allowing six runs in the fourth inning alone.
Even after the defeat, they remain one of the best teams in baseball this season; and one game won’t change that.
They have the look of a playoff-caliber squad, and that’s in large part thanks to the energy of first-year manager Stephen Vogt.
Yes, Vogt was unproven as a skipper, but he has brought lots of things to the table and has led the Guards to a .667 winning percentage after the first two months of the season.
In MLB, winning two thirds of the games you play is definitely not easy, but thanks to Vogt, Cleveland has been able to achieve that.
That’s why Guardians insider Jensen Lewis has Vogt as his early-season AL Manager of the Year candidate.
Current analyst and former pitcher Dontrelle Willis recently posted his picks for early-season awards (via FOX Sports: MLB) and gives the AL MOY to New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone.
Lewis begs to differ.
“You mean Stephen Vogt for AL Manager of the Year, right?” he wrote.
You mean Stephen Vogt for AL Manager of the Year, right? https://t.co/QsyrmFNeqG
— Jensen Lewis (@JLEWFifty) May 23, 2024
Technically, Boone’s Yanks have the better record, but only by half a game at 37-18.
Half a game might not be enough to give Boone the edge considering the enormous payroll difference between the two organizations.
That has to be included in the equation, too: who is achieving more and with what?
The Guardians are full of talented players, but they rarely go after pricy free agents.
They have their own way.
Vogt’s job is to get everyone to perform to the top of their abilities: veterans, rookies, and even unexpected sources.
That’s why he deserves the nod if the season ended today.
It doesn’t, though, so everyone will have to keep on fighting.
NEXT: Steven Kwan Officially Set For Latest Rehab Appearance
