Most recently, in the opening game of last weekend’s series against the Washington Nationals, the Blue Jays held a 3-1 lead, thanks to a solid performance by Yusei Kikuchi (6IP, 1 ER). However, manager John Schneider opted to bring in Erik Swanson, who has struggled as the Jays’ reliever this season. Unfortunately, Swanson surrendered three earned runs, and Genesis Cabrera gave up four more, leading to a 9-3 loss for the Jays. Keegan Matheson noted that Swanson consistently threw pitches high in the zone, sparking criticism.
A fifth of the way into the season, the Blue Jays find themselves at the bottom of the AL East, the only team in the division with a win-loss record below .500, intensifying pressure on John Schneider. Over the past 13 games, the Blue Jays have only managed three wins, batting an average of .172 with runners in scoring position and posting a team ERA of 5.33. Alarmingly, FanGraphs reports the Blue Jays’ playoff odds at a dismal 25.5%, worse than the 12-24 Houston Astros, whose odds stand at 35.9%. Projections indicate the Jays finishing with an 81-81 record. Schneider’s support among fans is dwindling by the day, prompting questions about his management decisions.
The discontent traces back to the 2023 AL Wild Card Series between the Blue Jays and the Twins in Game 2, when José Berríos was pitching well before encountering trouble in the 4th inning, leading to his substitution for Kikuchi. The decision to pull Berríos received backlash on social media, and even seven months later, it remains a topic of discussion among Blue Jays fans. Consequently, the team has yet to win a playoff game in the Bichette and Guerrero era and hasn’t tasted playoff success since 2016.
John Schneider on Erik Swanson:
“He’s just leaving pitches up in the zone. I don’t know if he’s tipping pitches, honestly. I’m not afraid to say that publicly. He’s better than what he’s showing.” #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 4, 2024
The choice to start Alek Manoah before he was fully prepared wasn’t met with much favor either. Manoah stepped in for Yariel Rodriguez, who had been sidelined due to injury earlier in the week. He began the game promisingly against Washington, but things fell apart in the 4th inning, resulting in him conceding 7 runs, 6 of which were earned, over 4 innings, struggling with his control.
In his post-game comments, Schneider remarked that “control was the issue for Manoah, although his stuff appeared to be the best it’s been in a while, and he’s slated to continue in the rotation.” Additionally, the decision to persist with George Springer in the leadoff position is facing criticism. Springer’s current batting average sits at .206 with 6 RBI and an OPS of .574. Fans have been clamoring for Davis Schneider to replace him at the top of the lineup, as Schneider is currently batting .275 with 13 RBI and an OPS of .858. While Schneider has acknowledged the importance of Springer finding his form again, the question looms: how much longer will Toronto afford him the opportunity to rediscover his best form before he’s relegated down the batting order?
Many recent decisions made by Schneider have left the fanbase puzzled, and these are just a few examples. If the Blue Jays fail to improve leading up to the All-Star Break and the trade deadline, how much longer can he expect to hold onto his managerial position?
