If the journeyman backup catcher is a cliché as a managerial candidate, it’s for a reason. The background suggests someone who is cerebral, good at connecting with people and skilled at balancing relationships—in short, someone who is equipped to handle much of the basic work of managing. It does not always mean a good hire. But it does at least mean someone who is usually hard to immediately criticize as a bad hire.
Which is the case here. On Monday, the Guardians announced they’d hired former journeyman backup catcher Stephen Vogt as manager to replace Terry Francona, who retired this year at the age of 64. ESPN reported that Vogt had signed a three-year deal.
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