ST. LOUIS — Forget about the final score. For the Cleveland Guardians, it’s time to celebrate again.
Cleveland won its second Mid-American League championship in three years on Saturday when the Kansas City Royals lost at home — but it was another impressive feat for rookie manager Stephen Vogt.
So, despite losing 6-5 in St.
“I keep saying, it’s about the players,” said Vogt, who puffed on a victory cigar. “Of course, as a manager, you’re the one who brings everyone together and keeps them focused in the right direction – but it’s the players who drive. That’s who they are.
“We need a lot of time to know who he is, watch our team, see how we come together and watch carefully. It’s just using his skills and what he does well to put him in a position to be successful. I’m very proud because I love people- that person.”
Cleveland wrapped up the division title while Kansas City lost 9-0 to San Francisco. Jose Ramirez and the Guardians have earned a postseason spot and they celebrated Thursday at home after locking up at least the AL wild card spot with a 3-2 win over Minnesota.
“Our goal is always to try to find a way to get a day like today because we want to win the World Series,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “The only way you win the World Series is to pop champagne to get there. We have made some difficult decisions along the way, but all the decisions are in line with us trying to find a way to get to the postseason and win.”
It was the franchise’s fifth division crown since 2016. Cleveland returned to the playoffs for the first time since losing the 2022 AL Division Series to the New York Yankees in five games.
“I remember ’22 like it was yesterday,” Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan said. “I thought I would be prepared for what it is, but the house is packed at Progressive, it’s just different. I’m very excited for what will come up.”
Kansas City came from 10 games back on June 25 to tie the Guardians at the top of the division with a 6-1 victory in Cleveland on August 27. But the Guardians rallied to win 7-5 the next day to prevent a four-game sweep. .
That started a seven-game skid for the Royals, and he was pulled away in September.
“You can kind of understand the dynamics that are going to go, but we have no choice but to just know that we have to win every day,” Kwan said about what he learned from August 27. “162 games, you know? That’s going to be a lot of games, a lot of ups and downs.”
It was Cleveland’s 12th division crown, all coming in the AL Central since 1995.
“The resilience shown by the group throughout the year, how much they care about each other, the way they play until the end,” said Antonetti about what this team has seen compared to others since joining the Cleveland organization in 1999. .
“It’s a group of people around people. They love being around each other. They love picking each other up and supporting them. Everyone here is just trying to figure out a way to help us win baseball games, and that’s all they care about. That’s all they cared about from day one.”
Cleveland is in a nip-and-tuck race with the AL East-leading Yankees for the top seed in the American League playoffs. But the Guardians are close to nailing down at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
Cleveland went 76-86 last year in Terry Francona’s final season as manager. Vogt, a former All-Star catcher, was hired in November despite having no managerial experience.
It certainly looks like a smart phone at the moment.
“He embraced learning from day one,” Antonetti said. “He obviously came to the project with a lot of skills and personal attributes and experience, but he has encouraged work and tried to learn and become better every day. .”
Vogt is the fifth Cleveland manager to win at least 90 games in his first full season, joining Francona in 2013, Charlie Manuel in 2000, Al Lopez in 1951 and Tris Speaker in 1920.
Under Vogt, 39, Cleveland is off to an impressive start. They have a nine-game lead in the AL Central and a 51-26 record after beating Baltimore 10-8 on June 25.