CLEVELAND -- They look alike if you squint. Or better yet, if you don’t.
Should Stephen Vogt need a stunt double for the (currently non-existent) movie about the Cleveland Guardians -- or just someone to deliver bad news on his behalf -- his new bench coach, Tony Arnerich, kinda/sorta looks the part.
“That was the whole reason we brought him in was so that we could confuse people,” Vogt deadpanned Friday in a Zoom call with reporters. “We’ve been getting jokes before we even met, that we looked similar, and don't think that didn't go into some of the thought process.”
Among the things that actually went into the thought process, as Vogt sought a new bench coach and a new field coordinator after the departures of Craig Albernaz (Orioles manager) and Kai Correa (Mets bench coach), was of course his familiarity with both Arnerich and field coordinator Andy McKay, both of whom were hired this week, from their shared days in Seattle.
Arnerich was the hitting coach when Vogt was on the Mariners’ staff as a bullpen coach and catching instructor, then took over for Vogt when he left to become Guards skipper. McKay was an assistant general manager for the M’s.
But adding Arnerich and McKay to his now-completed coaching staff wasn’t as simple for Vogt as just dialing up a couple old friends.
“I think we started with 32, 33 names for both positions,” Vogt said. “We did reference calls, background checks on a lot of guys, you know, word of mouth, did our own research, and then dwindled it down to a pretty good pool of candidates for both positions. And they went through the rigorous Cleveland hiring process and through a couple weeks and back and forth, we felt like we landed with two great people to add to our staff.”
Combined with longtime pitching coach Carl Willis’ decision to come back for another year rather than retire, the Guards appear set for Spring Training on the coaching front, though the major changes in the industry that accompany 10 teams changing managers will continue to have ripple effects in a lot of places.
Losing two of his right-hand men was, for Vogt, a byproduct of the success that has also made him the two-time American League Manager of the Year in his first two seasons on the job.
“We know that we have to replace two very, very highly qualified, very talented coaches and great people to work with,” Vogt said. “But in looking at the skill sets and in looking at what the criteria that we needed to replace them, this is an opportunity for all of us to step up and do more. This is an opportunity for all of us to grow. And again, this isn't a step back. This is an opportunity to pick up where we left off and move forward. And we feel like these two gentlemen are going to add into the great staff that we already have, because it's all about getting our players better.”
That Vogt traveled from Seattle to Baltimore for Albernaz’s introduction as Orioles skipper earlier this month speaks to their brotherhood. Vogt is excited to see his friend get the opportunity with the O’s and even more excited to see him get ejected for the first time.
“He’ll be looking up at the umpire more than likely,” Vogt joked of his 5-foot-8 friend. “So it's going to be a really fun time.”
But now Vogt is excited to work with Arnerich and McKay, both of whom have experience coaching in college (McKay as a head coach at Sacramento City College, Arnerich as an assistant at Cal) that the Guardians think will serve their squad well in terms of developing players at the highest level.
“We have to continue with player development at the Major League level,” Vogt said. “You know, every team does, but especially for our group. We want to continue to help them get better. We have a great young group. We have a great young team. And it takes that growth mindset and that mentality of pushing to get better every day.”