MINNEAPOLIS - Stephen Vogt’s calm has become part of the Guardians’ identity, and not everybody is buying it as the losses pile up.
One reader asked when Vogt might show more urgency and stop leaning on the “flush it” message after defeats, saying he’d like to see more passion and less talk about the team being close.
The answer was simple: that edge hasn’t really been part of Vogt’s public act. Over three years of covering him, there has been no sign of him losing his cool or even raising his voice in a press conference.
That steadiness, along with consistency and communication, was described as part of what makes a manager work. What happens behind closed doors is another matter, but the point was clear: Vogt has already taken his team to the postseason twice and could make it three for three in his first three seasons.
There was also skepticism about whether Toronto’s Shane Bieber would be a fit for Cleveland if he reaches free agency after the season. The response: don’t rule anything out, but it would be a longshot. Bieber’s Cleveland run was praised, but the injury issues over the past two years, tied to the Tommy John surgery he had with the Guardians, make that a difficult match.
Another reader wondered whether Browns cornerback Denzel Ward buying 0.1% of the Guardians should mean much to fans. The reaction was that it’s a good local story, a Cleveland athlete putting money into a Cleveland institution. And if the Guardians reach the postseason, Ward should have no trouble getting some solid tickets.
On the roster front, Joey Cantillo’s spot in the rotation came up again. The Guardians had planned to send him out Saturday against the Twins, but rookie Daniel Espino was set to take the ball instead in an opener’s role. Cantillo was given some grace, too: he has already made 30 starts this season, far beyond his previous career high of 13, and the jump in workload may have affected his control.
There was also a note of appreciation for Sandy Alomar, sparked by a reader who still treasures an autograph from when the Indians stopped in Columbus during the winter press caravan. The response: Alomar has always been a great guy, and that kind of moment is exactly why.
Brayan Rocchio’s rise drew praise as well. One reader asked whether anyone expected him to become such an impactful hitter.
The reply made it clear the answer was no - at least not from everyone. Rocchio has grown into a solid two-way player, and this is “Playoff” Rocchio’s time to shine.
He has also developed a clutch gene in big spots.
As for the starting staff, the late-season dip has not gone unnoticed. The Guardians have used only seven starters all year, and the workload was cited as something that may finally be catching up with some of them.
Foster Griffin was defended more directly, with the reminder that he has pitched well since coming over in the trade with the Nationals. One bad inning in Baltimore was not seen as enough to erase the rest of his work.
When asked what record the Guardians need over the final two weeks to reach the postseason, the answer was no prediction at all. The writer said he avoids making them after getting burned in 2016, when he called the Indians dead in the water in late September. They went on to reach the World Series, and he had to jump into Lake Erie in October because of it.
The column closed with a fan note from someone tired of complaints about the Guardians not spending big. The argument was straightforward: year after year, the club is in the playoff mix or close to it.
For a fan who remembers the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, that kind of success is enough. Guards baseball, the reader said, is fun.
In Other News...
Guardians Top Power Prospect Hits A Bad Time For A Setback
Ralphy Velazquezs late-season surge has hit a brief snag, with the Guardians power prospect sidelined since Sept. 6 because of lingering lower body soreness. Cleveland has been careful not to push him too hard after a strong showing, which makes the timing of the setback frustrating but not unexpected as the organization tries to balance development with caution.
Elsewhere on the injury front, right-hander Shawn Armstrong was scheduled for a rehab appearance, Colin Holderman got in a bullpen session and Rhys Hoskins has begun a return-to-swing program. For a club monitoring multiple recovery tracks at once, Velazquezs status is the one that most directly affects how the Guardians want to finish evaluating one of their top bats. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Thomas Is Giving Braves Fans A Familiar Guardians Headache
Lane Thomas has already created a few familiar uneasy moments for the Guardians since landing with the Braves at the deadline, even before this latest setback. Atlanta put him on the 15-day injured list with a left intercostal strain, an injury that was backdated to Tuesday after he had been scratched from a game earlier in the day. The move adds another layer to a stretch that has not gone smoothly since the deal, with Thomas still searching for consistency at the plate.
For Cleveland, the timing is notable because Thomas was exactly the kind of late-season bat the Braves hoped would change their look. Instead, the early returns have been uneven, and now the injury puts another pause on whatever momentum he was trying to build. It leaves Atlanta waiting to see when he can return and whether there is still time for the trade to pay off the way it was intended. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Need Daniel Schneemann In A New Late-Season Role
Daniel Schneemann has already built a reputation as one of the most movable pieces on the Guardians roster, having spent time at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots during his MLB career. Since being recalled to the majors, he has added another layer to that versatility by getting work at first base, a detail that fits neatly with the way Cleveland has leaned on flexibility all season.
Stephen Vogt has not shut the door on using Schneemann there in an emergency, and not just as a patchwork answer if the position suddenly thins out. For a club trying to squeeze value out of every roster spot late in the year, that kind of extra option can matter, especially when one more move could help a lineup stay intact without forcing the Guardians to reshuffle everything else around it. [Read more 🡒]