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Stock Down: John Schneider

They were here last week, however, it was a rough week for the Blue Jays, mainly manager John Schneider. After losing three out of four at home against the New York Yankees, they hosted the Baltimore Orioles for three games over the weekend. It’s safe to say that Toronto and Schneider have seen better days.

They lost the first game last Friday 6-2, but things really fell apart on Saturday and Sunday. In the top of the sixth in a 2-2 game, Alek Manoah struck out Adam Frazier with runners on base. The two exchanged words with Manoah telling Frazier to go back to the dugout, but little did Toronto’s right-hander know that he was too, but he was forced there by a major mistake by Schneider.

Two batters after pitching coach Pete Walker made the first trip to the mound in the inning, Schneider went out there to calm down and talk strategy with his pitcher and infielders. After a short discussion, Schneider turned to go back to the Blue Jays bench when home plate umpire Dan Iassogna stopped him and told him that Manoah needed to come out of the game as it was Toronto’s second trip to the mound from the dugout of the inning. How it was possible that Schneider didn’t realize it was the second trip is stunning, actually.

To add insult to injury, Baltimore rallied with three runs in the eighth inning and one in the 10th for a 6-5 win. Sunday, the Orioles completed the sweep with an 8-3 victory. After a 4-6 homestand, the Blue Jays traveled south to Tampa Bay for a four-game set with the first-place Rays.

After splitting the first two games, they dropped the final two games of the series to fall 10.5 games back in the AL East. Hopes were high going into the season in Toronto, but they are starting to bury themselves in the standings.