John Schneider calls out Blue Jays after latest loss

Sep 9, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Toronto Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider (14) walks back to the dugout during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider has sent a firm message to his team after another disappointing loss on Friday.

The Blue Jays lost 9-3 to the Washington Nationals on Friday, their third consecutive loss and ninth in their last 12 games. The loss came after Schneider gave a pregame quote that seemed to be trying to instill a sense of urgency in his players.

#BlueJays manager John Schneider struck a much different tone here in Washington than I've heard from him this season (publicly).

"The time is now. The time is not, ‘It’s going to happen.’ The time is now."

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 3, 2024

That did not work. The Jays scored three runs in the second inning to take the lead, but did not score again as Washington scored four runs a piece in the seventh and eighth innings. Toronto had just three hits after the second despite being up against Patrick Corbin, who had entered the game with a 6.82 ERA.

Schneider openly suggested after the game that the Blue Jays did not battle enough against Corbin, and that the hitters “let him off the hook.”

“You can’t let guys off the hook, whether it’s Corbin or f—ing Babe Ruth. It doesn’t matter. Cy Young, it doesn’t matter. You have to keep grinding,” Schneider said, via Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.

Two weeks ago, the Blue Jays were 13-10 and appeared to be poised to be a contender in the AL East, as many expected them to be. They are now 15-18 going into action Saturday, and they cannot really afford to keep falling behind the likes of the Yankees and Orioles.