The Toronto Blue Jays lost Game 5 against the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) Friday night, leaving fans upset at the eighth inning move by coach Schneider.
The two teams went into Game 5 with a 2-2 tie. Though elimination was not on the table, tensions ran high in the jam-packed T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Outfielder George Springer took a hit to the right knee in the top of the seventh inning from a pitch travelling at more than 153km/h by the Mariner’s Bryan Woo. Fortunately, initial medical assessments ruled out any serious injuries. His walk off of the field was met with boos from the stadium, which prompted reactions from baseball fans online.
“Would suck to lose Springer. People that boo someone getting injured are trash. That simple,” an X user said.
“The amount of hate this guy is already getting has to stop. We’re not the Yankees, we don’t boo or go after our own. And Mariners fans have to stop the bs for Springer, it’s cruel & honestly disgusting cheering when a dude gets injured. Thought u guys were better than that,” another X user posted.
“Crazy Mariners game. Still energized at this time of night. Just wanted to say as I see replays and before I call it a night, that I hope George Springer is ok. Not cool to cheer or boo after injury, no matter what. Let’s go Mariners,” a Mariners fan posted on X.
Blue Jays coach John Schneider also denounced the unsportsmanly conduct by fans.
“I think the fans that were booing him should take a look in the mirror and understand what kind of player he is,” Schneider told reporters post-game. “When a guy gets hit in the knee and he’s in obvious pain, and you’ve got 40,000 people cheering, not the right thing to do.”
Schneider is also on the hot seat for turning to Jays pitcher Brendon Little in the eighth inning. From the mound, Little gave up the Jays’ 2-1 lead with a home run from Mariner’s Cal Raleigh, followed by a grand slam from Eugenio Suarez.
Many Jays fans say Schneider’s call was the wrong one.
“Legacy move by Schneider and NOT in a good way,” an X user said.
“People tend to rip on analytics in sports, especially baseball. What John Schneider did bringing in Brendon Little was a pure gut play, wanting the Mariners to ‘see a different look.’ There were NO stats to support this decision. It was the anti-analytics move,” another X user wrote.
“Literally any Jays fan could’ve made a better decision. Utterly inexcusable,” a Jays’ fan said on X.
“Obviously it feels terrible,” Little said following the loss. “We’re trying to win every game. We had the chance to do that tonight until obviously I blew it.”
Schneider defended his decision, however.
“Little’s been one of our best pitchers in big spots,” Schneider said. “I trust every single guy on this roster. … Decisions are hard. I think being convicted in the process is important and you make a decision and you leave it behind you. It’s part of baseball. Second guessing is part of it.”
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The Jays will face the Mariners for Game 6 on Sunday at Toronto’s Rogers Centre where they will look to tie the series. Tickets for Game 6 and a tentative Game 7 are available here.
