Woah, domino effect at its finest. It’s funny how this league barely had the time to breathe after Derek Shelton’s exit from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and now the whispers around the next manager casualty are already taking over the internet. At the center of it all is the team that has an elite roster, but lately, it’s underperforming. Naturally, all eyes turned to their manager, who is on the hot seat. Interestingly, he is nearing the end of his contract with the team, and as per an MLB insider, this time requires a managerial shift. If you picked up the hint, yes, the team is none other than the Toronto Blue Jays.
Unlike the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Blue Jays have a hefty payroll. Well, they even have a strong roster, but the results haven’t been keeping up. They currently hold the record of 17-20, which places them third in their division. They entered the season with a decent 12-8 start; however, with the pace they’ve been trending downward, it’s concerning.
Voicing it up is the MLB insider Robert Murray. He curated a list of managers who are in the hot seat after Derek Shelton’s firing from the Pirates. Murray ominously hinted at the Toronto Blue Jays’ manager, John Schneider. As per him, if the Blue Jays somehow don’t end up in the postseason, they might need a new manager.
The team has extended two stars this season—Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk. So, they certainly don’t lack in terms of talent. According to Murray, if the Toronto Blue Jays eventually decide to relieve him from his managerial duties, there will be many better options the team will have on hand.
See, over the spring, Schneider and the coaching staff attempted to refine their relationships with the players. After all, if players are unable to count on their manager entirely, things can fall apart. It seems like, as of now, Schneider is being held accountable.
The Blue Jays’ manager, John Schneider, opens up about the team’s performance
The Blue Jays have a star-studded roster. They have signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a massive $500 million, 14-year contract. Despite Guerrero Jr.’s presence in the lineup, the Blue Jays haven’t been keeping up well. Their performance has become a hot topic across the league. They have faced 4 back-to-back losses, and as of now, hold a 17-20 record. It might not look bad, but the team and the manager himself aren’t happy.
The Blue Jays are placed third in the AL East, and the cracks have started to show on the surface. Just recently, in a media appearance, John Schneider was visibly frustrated with the team’s recent performance. He unintentionally used NSFW language over the Blue Jays’ performance. Well, could the timing be any worse? On one end, he has been etching his name in the list of those who are in the hot seat after Derek Shelton’s firing. And on the other end, he pulled the league’s attention towards him for the wrong reasons.
When the Blue Jays were handed another 5-4 defeat by the Angels, Schneider lost his cool over 4 consecutive defeats. During the interview, he admitted, “You got to turn the page. And as sh—y as it is right now, sorry for cursing, you get to do it again tomorrow, and we got to be ready to play.” He acknowledged the ongoing tough stretch for the team, but he also emphasized that the team as a whole is still in a position to bounce back stronger.
Well, actually, they did make a strong comeback as they won the final against the Angels by 5-8. The Blue Jays’ next appearance will be against the Seattle Mariners. It will be a three-game series commencing on 13th May, 2025. We are in the mid-stretch of the season, and the fans, analysts, and the league alike will be keeping a close eye on Schneider and his impact on the team till the playoffs.
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