GOODYEAR, Ariz. — New Cleveland Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt likened Saturday’s spring coaching opener to a brand new faculty yr.
“There’s one thing so thrilling in regards to the first day,” Vogt stated earlier than his dugout debut in opposition to Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark. “It is like the primary day of faculty, you will have the brand new outfit you picked out, haircut, all these issues. It is the identical feeling. It is a contemporary begin.
“You simply acquired performed working for 4½ months, working for in the present day, and also you get to see your laborious work repay for the primary time. It is why we do that.”
Vogt, 39, is doing this for the primary time, taking up for Terry Francona in Cleveland. He is just one season faraway from his enjoying profession, which lasted 10 years with six groups. Six of these years have been with Oakland, the place he made All-Star groups within the two seasons during which he performed 100 or extra video games.
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Saturday’s Cactus League recreation did not produce a win, because the Reds received 4-0 and held the Guardians to seven singles. However Vogt stated there have been no snafus within the dugout. Ten pitchers labored for Cleveland, with one mid-inning change.
“All the pieces I assumed was fairly clear,” Vogt stated. “The method of the sport went fairly clean.”
Vogt, a Twelfth-round draft choose by Tampa Bay in 2007, spent most of his profession as a backup or platoon catcher, enjoying some first base, on good groups and unhealthy. All of which figures to be good coaching for coping with a myriad of personalities.
Francona was a grasp of that. The beloved supervisor often known as Tito led Cleveland to 6 playoff appearances and the 2016 American League pennant in his 11 seasons en path to changing into the franchise’s winningest skipper. There is not any changing him, so Vogt will persist with being himself.
“Everyone seems to be their very own particular person. Tito was completely phenomenal and we’re all going to overlook him,” stated first baseman Josh Naylor, coming off a season during which he hit .305 with 97 RBIs. “However I believe it is essential for us to look [ahead]. We’ve got to concentrate on the now.”
It is early, however opinions are constructive up to now.
“I like a man who’s all the time pleased,” nearer Emmanuel Clase stated. “He is all the time discovering methods to speak with me and the opposite gamers, and he is made it very simple for me to work in camp.”
“Superior. Tremendous excessive power man, loves the sport, likes to win,” Naylor stated of Vogt. “Tremendous grateful for him and excited for what the longer term holds.”
Among the previous arms are nonetheless round. Pitching coach Carl Willis and first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. return to offer some continuity. One other acquainted face again in Cleveland is pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who began Saturday’s recreation with a scoreless inning. He competed in opposition to Vogt, holding his new boss to a single in 12 at-bats.
“It has been good. I’ve recognized him for a very long time,” Carrasco stated. “I am glad that he is right here now.”
Carrasco, who turns 37 subsequent month, pitched for Cleveland for 11 years, averaging 15 wins a season between 2015 and ’18. He stated he was glad to be “residence.”
“I am glad that I got here again right here,” stated Carrasco, who spent the previous three injury-plagued seasons with the New York Mets. “I used to be so nervous I could not really feel the ball. I have been enjoying a very long time however I used to be nonetheless so nervous going to the mound.”
At this early stage of spring coaching, feelings are excessive.
“I am excited for everyone to be within the dugout,” Vogt stated. “That is while you bond along with your teammates, that is while you discuss baseball. There is not any telephones, there is no distractions. You are watching the sport, and also you’re simply speaking, attending to know one another. That is what’s essential about spring coaching.”