Stephen Vogt grateful for a closer willing to walk the high wire: Guardians takeaways (2024)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was playing his last season with Oakland in 2022, ex-Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus was the bench coach. Vogt said he learned a lot from talking to Ausmus that year, including what makes a closer like Emmanuel Clase so good under pressure.

“(Ausmus) said, if you take a card table and you say, ‘Hey, walk across the card table,’ anybody can get up on top of that table and walk across it,” Vogt said. “Now put that cart table 5,000 feet up in the air, who’s going to walk across it?”

Vogt said Clase, who is quickly closing in on Cleveland’s all-time saves record, would walk across the table.

In Sunday’s 5-3 win at Minnesota, Clase loaded the bases with nobody out before striking out Willi Castro on a 102 mph cutter and getting Trevor Larnach to ground into a game-ending double play. It marked the first time in his career that Clase allowed the first three batters of the ninth inning to reach before posting a scoreless frame.

Clase has converted 22 consecutive save opportunities since May 20, the second-longest stretch of his career, and his 145 saves rank second behind Cody Allen (149) in club history. Vogt said knowing Clase is out there helped him stay calm and locked on the game.

“I just looked at him the whole time,” Vogt said. “That dude didn’t take a deep breath. He didn’t gather himself, he didn’t flinch, and he just reared back and hit 102.

There is no doubt in Vogt’s mind that Clase would walk across that 5,000 foot card table.

“I see that in Emmanuel every single night,” Vogt said. “He’s not afraid.”

Consistent barrels

Cleveland’s 25-9 record against left-handed starters is the best in the majors after the Guardians went 24-35 against lefties last season. A big part of the turnaround is the way José Ramírez has swung the bat from the right side of the plate.

Ramírez is slugging .726 against left-handers, the to lead all of Major League Baseball. Vogt said the thing that keeps Ramírez consistent at the plate, no matter what side he is swinging from, is the simplicity of his swing.

“You see a lot of guys with complex leg kicks and hand movement, and that’s where the inconsistencies can come,” Vogt said. “But for José, he just keeps it simple. What blows my mind with him, it is not the hits, it’s just how hard he hits the ball. Even when he gets out, it’s like it’s on the barrel, whether it’s in the air, and even when he pops up, it’s 102 mph off the bat. He just consistently finds the barrel.”

Hentges still hurting

The Guardians will continue to be without left-hander Sam Hentges for the foreseeable future. Hentges, sidelined with shoulder soreness since July 12, recently met with Cleveland’s team physicians after stopping his rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus.

Vogt said Hentges will seek a second opinion before determining his next steps. The 6-foot-6 lefty has appeared in 25 games after a finger injury in spring training delayed the start to his season. Hentges struck out 27 batters in 23 2/3 innings with five walks and a 3.04 ERA, but went on the injured list July 12, just prior to Cleveland’s series in Tampa Bay.