Fans like to believe it’s real. They want to think the players on their favorite team care about each other. They want to think winning does matter to the millionaires on the field. It’s easy to be cynical.

Stephen Vogt navigated the youthful, surprising Guardians to a playoff spot. So Thursday, the Guardians celebrated him.

Vogt and Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis orchestrate the staff brilliantly. All you need to know about the Guardians’ bullpen, the pitchers that reside there, and the two men – Vogt and Willis – pulling the strings is this: The Guardians’ record when leading after six innings: 68-2.