After winning the American League Central division title two years ago, the Cleveland Guardians were looking for a return to the postseason. In 2023, they fell short of that goal.

They finished 86-76, “good” enough for third place in the division, and Cleveland fans everywhere said goodbye to beloved manager Terry Francona, as he retired after 11 seasons with the club in a tenure that consisted of six playoff appearances, four A.L. central titles and a trip to the World Series in 2016.

Naturally, a lot of doubt surrounded Northeast Ohio’s baseball team. 

But so far in this young season, the doubt seems to have been settling down.

Cleveland is atop the big league standings to start the year, and a big reason why is due to their new manager. Stephen Vogt now takes over as skipper of the Guardians as this is his first year taking the reins of a big league team, and by the looks of it, you would have probably guessed he’s been a manager for the last five years or so.

He has crafted lineups that have produced production out of every Guardian, and these ball players are competing like they are trying to get back to October baseball in Cleveland.

Third baseman José Ramírez has been playing at the level that baseball fans have come to expect out of the five time All-Star. 

But it’s the level of play from guys that experienced the pride of playing in postseason baseball in ‘22 and had to discover the discomfort from watching the playoffs from their couch in ‘23 that have been rising to the occasion.

Left fielder Steven Kwan has shown recent signs of power, as in the April 11 game against the White Sox that resulted in a 7-6 walk-off win in 10 innings, he launched a home run that traveled 395 feet into the seats in front of the bullpens in right center field.

Josh Naylor has discovered his clutch gene for the first time this season with a game tying double in that same game in the bottom of the tenth. His younger brother Bo won it on a walk-off single to right center field on National Siblings Day nonetheless.

Andrés Giménez has a batting average in the .300s range to go along with a Platinum Glove Award that he earned last season as the best defensive player in the American League, and it seems to be that he could have a career year in 2024.

Now obviously, I’m not going to get carried away.

In their first three series, the Guardians have won every one of them. The thing is however, they have all been against clubs that did not make the postseason last year. So like almost anything in sports, and in life, the road will get tougher to climb for these Guardians to reach their goals.  

On the other hand, the pitching is a little worrisome as 2020 A.L. Cy Young Award winner, Shane Bieber, is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery after two really strong starts to begin 2024. Also, the young rotation of the Guards have E.R.A.’s in the 4.00s and the 5.00s. 

But so far, it has been very clear that this team knows how to win games. Whether it’s been dominating from start to finish, or having to come from behind to come out on top. And that should be encouraging for Guardians fans as these April showers will give way to May flowers and the summertime this baseball season.

Matt Kiraly is an opinion writer. Contact him at [email protected].