TORONTO (Oct. 5) — For their manager’s sake, the Blue Jays had best wrap up this American League Division Series in the minimum three games. Which was all but a certainty until a screw popped loose in John Schneider’s brain. How on Earth do you remove a beastly, cocksure pitcher like Trey Yesavage working on a no–hitter after 5.1 innings and graced with a 12–run lead? Three more innings and the Blue Jays prevail in a shutout, completely destroying any sense of assurance from the Yankees, who didn’t have a pulse. They were deader than dead can be, losing 22–1 in aggregate score after 14 innings. Game 3 in the Bronx would have been an afterthought… and the raucous crowd at Rogers Centre may well have witnessed history. Imagine a rookie hurler no–hitting the fabled Bombers in his first playoff start. You can’t write a script like that. Or, ruin such remarkable theater and drama.

But, Schneider — always overthinking — did just that. Instead of a quick, staggering and tidy victory in Game 2, the manager needlessly ran through his bullpen. Seven relievers followed Yesavage. More critically, he provided the Yankees a whiff of confidence. Again, for no reason. When the New Yorkers had not a shred of hope or viability. Forget the sheep in Blue Jays Nation that applauded the move “in case Yesavage was needed in Game 5.” GAME 5?! There was no chance at all of this series extending to a fourth match. It was total and complete destruction on behalf of the Blue Jays; never has a Toronto sports team been in position to so thoroughly annihilate an opponent in consecutive encounters. And, it had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of Game 2. Under no circumstance were the Blue Jays going to cough up a 12–run lead. Why not leave the kid out there? His arm hasn’t exactly a ton of mileage on it. We’re not talking about a 15–year veteran who could easily blow a rotator cuff. This was an absolutely ridiculous call by Schneider, who accomplished nothing but to offer the Yankees a glimmer of hope. Naturally, he’ll hide behind the harebrained analytical argument of pitch count and conservation.

As he did when removing Jose Berrios against Minnesota in the 2023 wild card series.

When you have an opponent by the throat, you strangle it. You don’t make a “safe” move and wind up crapping yourself in the dugout as that team erupts for seven unnecessary runs. Every person in the ballpark and watching on TV could sense the absurdity of Schneider’s decision. Even Dan and Buck were dying slow deaths in the telecast booth, but ever–so–carefully avoiding the subject. Schneider’s name wasn’t even mentioned by two of the sharpest baseball minds in the biz. Which, as I’ve written a gazillion times, is the scourge of team/media ownership. Finally, toward the end, Buck said “a game that was a laugher for John Schneider is no more.” Ya think?

Now, because of Schneider, the Yankees return home with some life. Contemplating how they might jump on the Bieber kid early in Game 3 and find themselves back in the series. There was no hope — zilch — of any such notion before Yesavage was removed from Sunday’s game. The annihilation would have continued on Tuesday night. It still may, but only in spite of Schneider, not because of him. Yesavage has some Reggie Jackson in him. He’s a hot dog that can walk the walk. His actions speak far louder than his words. Did you see him nod his head from side to side after his 11th strikeout? Rookies in professional sport aren’t supposed to comport themselves in such a manner. Why take the damned ball out of his hands? The kid’s a freakin’ beast. Let him go for the no–hitter. Just more than three innings. Eleven outs. With an arm that is wickedly strong and accurate. If Trey gets into trouble; gives up a couple or three hits, then okay. But, there wasn’t a hint of any such difficulty. None. What plausible excuse was there for Schneider to yank Yesavage when he did? Other than killiing the Dome atmosphere.

The excuses will be aplenty in Monday’s local media. Hopefully someone will have the nuts to call it like it is. That the Blue Jays’ manager has given the Yankees a hint of life when there was none to speak of. All that remained after 14 innings was lowering the Yankee casket into the ground. Now, we’re not quite so sure. Instead, seven arms were used when none needed to be. That, my friends, is very poor managing. The Blue Jays will not win the World Series with ticky tacky decisions. Even if there is no team, in either league, that can match up to Toronto in a five or seven–game series. When there is no life, leave your opponent to die. Do not provide artificial respiration.

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