Paul Payne: My “Vogt” As To Why Baseball’s Opening Day Is More Special This Year

The long-awaited arrival of Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is restorative to me. Like a metronome, baseball recalibrates my life while connecting me with childhood memories that never seem to fade.

Baseball has always been my passion, even though a talent deficit short-circuited my playing career at the ripe age of 13. There was something cathartic about the rhythm of the game that captivated me from the earliest days, and many summer evenings have been spent with the Atlanta Braves providing the background soundtrack of our home.

I had a unique opportunity to connect with the game while serving as a chapel leader in the Tampa Bay Rays organization for ten years when I lived in Montgomery, Ala., doing the same with the Lookouts for a couple of seasons after moving back to Chattanooga. Those years allowed me a front-row seat to the challenges of professional baseball along with creating some long-lasting relationships that continue this day.

That’s why the start of the 2024 season is even more special to me personally. Stephen Vogt, one of my closest friends in baseball who I met in 2011 when he played for the Biscuits, is the manager of the Cleveland Guardians. His story of perseverance and determination represents everything good about the game and has shifted my allegiance.

Candidly, my attitude toward Cleveland’s MLB team – be it the Indians, or the new version known as the Guardians - has been one of general ambivalence up to this point.

I can think of only a few times when they even registered a blip on my radar screen. Once was in 1995 when the Indians lost to the Braves in the World Series, their lone championship during the historical run of 14 straight division titles under Bobby Cox.

The only other time the Cleveland baseball was relevant to me was when the Lookouts were the organization’s Double-A affiliate from 1978 to 1982. Despite the Indians lackluster support across their farm teams, those years did produce some lasting contributions to Chattanooga’s baseball history. The legendary Joe Charboneau played here in ‘79 before capturing the American League Rookie of the Year the next season, and it introduced our city to Sal Rende, an enduring relationship that continues this day.

Other than these unrelated occurrences, my knowledge of Cleveland baseball history is shaky at best. But my interest in the team took on new relevance back in December when Vogt was named the Guardians manager replacing long-time skipper Terry Francona.

Vogt was an unlikely choice for the position, having retired in 2022 after a ten-year career in the big leagues and spending last year as Seattle’s bullpen coach. But once you begin to peel back the layers of his journey and understand the fabric of who he is, the move begins to reveal the genius behind Cleveland’s decision.

Drafted in the 12^th round in 2007 out of Azusa Pacific University in California, Vogt’s career path has been a winding journey littered with career-threatening setbacks and hard-fought redemptions. He spent time in the majors with six different teams – Tampa Bay, Oakland, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta. He had numerous season-ending surgeries. He was released and designated for assignment multiple times. He had a walk-off hit in the playoffs, and he was twice named an American League All-Star after going hitless in his first 35 plate appearances in the majors.

But through it all, he kept grinding. There were plenty of chances to walk away from the game, but he simply would put his head down and work harder, convinced this was the calling for his life thanks to the relentless encouragement from his wife, Alyssa. He recognizes that all of the failures and successes he’s experienced have prepared him for this next stage of his career.

“No matter what these players are going through, I've done it,” Vogt said. “I've been really good. I've been really bad. I've been injured. I've been released and I've been traded. I won a World Series. I've lost in every step in the playoffs. I know what every single feeling feels like, except losing the World Series. It's all prepared me for this.

“I know what those players are feeling, and it's about them. That's why I keep reminding everybody in the organization that everything we do is for the players. Servant leadership is what's going to lead us to success. Hopefully that means World Series championships, but success is making our people better for life.”

The foundation for Vogt’s future as a manager was laid early in his career. Ten games into the 2009 campaign with High-A Port Charlotte, Fla., he had season-ending shoulder surgery. Players with a long recovery timetable are normally not part of the daily team rituals, but manager Jim Morrison saw something unique in Vogt that prompted an exception.

“I went to our farm director (Mitch Lukevics) and he agreed that Stephen could remain with the team,” Morrison said. “He was such an integral part of the clubhouse and had such a positive attitude dealing with his injury. He became my outfield coach when we got into playoffs, and let me know some information during the games that was helpful. That showed me the quality of person Stephen was, and Cleveland is so lucky to have him managing their team.”

Vogt bounced back to lead the Florida State League with a .345 average in 2010, earning a promotion to Montgomery where he encountered another role model who would help prepare him for his future. Billy Gardner Jr. was the skipper of the Biscuits, an old-school leader whose father had managed both the Twins and Royals in the big leagues.

“What I loved about Billy was he was short and to the point,” Vogt said. “He didn't sugarcoat things. I'll never forget this one interaction when I was catching and would make a mound visit when I thought the pitcher was in trouble to calm him. I didn't know any better. After the game, Billy called me in and said, ‘You're going to the mound too much. You need to pick and choose your spots. Only go out there when they really need you. Have a good night.’

“There wasn't any need for a conversation there. He wanted me to get the point and get the heck out of his office. He understood that I was a cerebral player that was going think about every single word he said. I got more out of that one interaction with him than he'll ever know.”

Gardner, now in his 26^th season managing in professional baseball leading Miami’s High-A affiliate, saw something special in Vogt.

“Stephen had a very high baseball IQ and I knew someday he would manage,” Gardner said. “He was a leader and players responded to him. He had the ability to connect with people and build relationships. He had a great sense of humor but also a competitive spirit.”

The benefit of being with multiple organizations has given Vogt exposure to a smorgasbord of different managers, all who have made an impact on his approach in leading the Guardians.

“If you asked me who was the most influential, I’d say it’s every single person that I played for,” Vogt said. “I had to take coaching and I had to listen to what everybody said. I was a good player, but I needed coaching and to be willing to try whatever was thrown my way. That all started with Q (current Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro), then Jimmy Mo (Morrison) and Billy (Gardner).”

Over the course of his major league career, Vogt played for many successful managers who each left their imprint on his odyssey and started him considering his future path.

“When I saw the way Bob Melvin did things at Oakland, I started to think about managing,” Vogt said. “But it really hit me in 2018 when I was in Milwaukee. I was injured and on the bench, and Craig Counsell really taught me a lot and went out of his way to help me, along with Pat Murphy. I knew then I wanted to manage.

“Then I played for Bruce Bochy, and that led into playing for Tory Lovullo, Brian Snitker, and then getting a first-year manager in Mark Kotsay my last years in Oakland. Each one of these taught me something valuable, as did Scott Servais last year when I was part of his staff in Seattle.”

When looking back at his playing days, Vogt lists winning the 2021 World Series with Atlanta as the pinnacle of his career. Acquired from Arizona in July, Vogt provided some needed veteran leadership that led the Braves’ late-season surge. Vogt homered twice in an early September game before suffering a hip injury fielding a bunt that would shelve him for the remainder of the year. But his presence in the dugout was felt throughout the Braves title run, earning him a World Series ring.

His three children – Payton, Clark and Bennett – played a role in his second most memorable moment. Vogt had decided to retire after the 2022 season, and was playing his final game in Oakland. With his kids introducing his at-bats over the public address system, he stroked a home run in his final plate appearance that demonstrated his unbridled love for the game. (See video of Vogt Final At Bat)

Vogt has fond memories of his first major league hit – also a home run - with Oakland in 2013, a season capped by his game-winning hit in the American League Division Series. He garnered a cult-like following among A’s faithful, the stadium echoing with the chant “We believe in Stephen Vogt!” each time he strode to the plate, something that would follow him when visiting other ballparks.

The thing that I saw in Vogt from our first meeting in Montgomery was someone with an unquenchable desire to be excellent and to make others better. But it was never at the expense of his marriage, his children and his faith. He was someone who never thought too highly of himself, remaining humble and approachable to all.

Former Montgomery teammate Ryan Reid, who pitched in the major leagues for Pittsburgh in 2013, is not surprised by Vogt’s latest gig.

“Vogty has always been the guy you want in the clubhouse – a strong believer, light in nature, optimistic and a hard worker,” Reid said. “He had the ability to capture the room. He’s a born leader and I don’t believe anyone that has played with Stephen would say they are surprised to see him already in a manager position. He checks all the boxes. He is transparent and communicates better than anyone. He loves the game and the game has loved him back wherever he has been.”

When meeting him over dinner recently during spring training in Arizona, Vogt was the same humble person I encountered in 2011. There were a few more gray hairs invading his beard than when we last met, but he was genuinely interested in getting updates on my family and life events rather than discussing baseball.

Failure and success have been equal partners in shaping the baseball path of Vogt. But through it all, he remains a man of principles and convictions with his priorities in proper order. That’s why the start of the MLB season this year is more special than any other I can recall.

Because I believe in Stephen Vogt.

----

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com