Blue Jays manager John Schneider has his players back even in the midst of a dreadful season.
After Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel went up and in on a fastball that hit the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. between the numbers in the seventh inning Monday, Schneider quickly walked out of the dugout, seemingly angry, and said something inaudible to Kimbrel and catcher Adley Rutschman.
“Guerrero looks at Kimbrel and shakes his head. And why is John Schneider coming out now?” one of the Orioles announcers said on the MASN television broadcast with Toronto ahead by four runs.
“Maybe he’s just coming out to check on Guerrero and have a few words with Craig Kimbrel on the way.
John Schneider had some words for Craig Kimbrel after he hit Vlad Guerrero Jr. pic.twitter.com/cxWZJWMOcG
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 7, 2024
“I don’t know why Craig Kimbrel would throw at Vladimir Guerrero Jr. there, but obviously John Schneider is protecting his player, and he’s upset about it.”
Toronto ultimately emerged with a 5-2 win to give the Yankees, who were rained out against the Angels, a half-game lead in the American League East.
The Blue Jays are a disappointing 52-61 and in last place in the AL East.
There is always the chance that there was some sort of retaliation in mind when a batter is hit in situations like this.
In a July 29 game between the two rivals, veteran Orioles catcher James McCann was drilled with a 95-MPH fastball in the face that left him on the ground and gushing blood from his nose as medical staff rushed to his aid in a scary scene.
While the crimson scene was frightening, McCann came out relatively unscathed as he somehow stayed in the game.
It’s far from the first time that the Orioles have been embroiled in controversy on the field.
Baltimore was involved in a bench-clearing brawl earlier this season against the Yankees after Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad with a pitch.
