CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians clinched a playoff berth with their 3-2 walk-off win over the Rangers on Saturday night.
It’s the second time in as many seasons that Cleveland’s manager Stephen Vogt has led his club to the postseason.
Here’s what the 2024 Manager of the Year had to say after the Guardians’ historic surge to the playoffs:
VOGT: I am just so proud of these guys. I know we’re not done, we’re not satisfied, but just to stop and think about where we came from to get here. There’s no words. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys and they’ve earned every bit of this and I’m just so excited. Is it emblematic, just this team, that one, you win in on a hit by pitch two, Jonathan Rodriguez steps in and delivers and that you had to fight to the end. It’s exactly us. Find a way. You never know. Show up, play. Let’s go embrace the new guys. That’s what this group does so well. Johnathan Rodríguez hasn’t had a bat since he’s been back and then goes in the four hole and goes backside bridge first at bat. It’s a different guy every night. They support each other, they love each other. And then yeah, of course we’re going to get in on a walk off, hit by pitch.
Question: How important was it do you think after you guys go down one to immediately fire back?
VOGT: Oh, it was huge. We always talk about score first. They did, but then we answered and that’s what this team does. We find ways we come back when we need to. The pitching was absolutely outstanding tonight. Joey Cantillo, we couldn’t have asked for anything more from him. And then the bullpen was obviously lights out. So just super proud of our guys.
Question: Why did you have Rodríguez bat cleanup tonight?
VOGT: When we were looking at it, it was just kind of like it made the most sense with how he controls the at-bats. And then obviously we can pinch-hit behind Jose if they go to a righty. But Johnathan earned that third at-bat by his first two. And sometimes you just got to go on a hunch and Johnathan’s been known to hit left-handed pitching and honestly he’s had really good at-bats in Columbus.
Question: How much fun are these guys to celebrate with?
VOGT: This group, we get after it. We have a good time. I love these guys. They fought, they went through heck and back all year long. Never wavered, never stopped believing, never stopped working, stayed positive. They earned every bit of this champagne burn tonight.
Question: When you said there was light at the end of the tunnel in early July, is this what you envisioned?
VOGT: Absolutely. You never know until that E is next to your name, you’re not out of it. And that’s what we preach with these guys. Until you’re eliminated, you still have a chance. And my goodness, I couldn’t be more proud of them. But again, it’s not over. We’re not done. We’re not going to stop. We’re going to keep working and keep pushing.
Question: What does it take for Rocchio to be that heads up [in the eighth] and then the play to play?
VOGT: It’s funny, we worked on that play all year, all spring training. We’ve worked on it all year and it wasn’t until Game 161 that we absolutely needed it and our guys executed. It’s unbelievable. That’s how talented these guys are and what a great play.
Question: Talk about the way that you guys have persevered. What allows this clubhouse to do that?
VOGT: They have each other’s backs. They know that nothing’s going to get ‘em down. They’re going to continue to push and continue to fight and show up every day with the mindset we’re winning today.
Question: Was there any thought to laying a bunt down with Arias at third in the fifth with nobody out?
VOGT: No, I mean, runner on third. We don’t suicide squeeze. You got two guys to put the ball in play. I mean, that was a tough inning, but our guys didn’t let that get them down.
Question: Do you a pitcher for tomorrow?
VOGT: Logan Allen’s here to start tomorrow.
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