Schneider says ‘uncomfortable’ conversations will make Jays better
DUNEDIN, Fla. — In the immediate aftermath of a playoff game that will stick with him for as long as he’s in baseball, Blue Jays manager John Schneider had a steady stream of players stop by for words.
Some were understanding, joining in the lament that he was dealing with external pressures when he lifted Jose Berrios from a game he was dominating in the fourth inning. Others wondered pointedly what had just gone down.
And still others on that October evening in Minneapolis were sharing a shoulder to commiserate with the most gutting of defeats after a game that mirrored much of what had gone wrong during the regular season.
“That will suck for my whole life, to be honest with you,” Schneider said during an interview with Postmedia News, rueing the loss and the decision that played a role in the fateful conclusion. “This is the only team I’ve ever been a part of and all I want to do is win a World Series here.
“A lot of attention gets thrown at taking Jose out early and I wish I had pivoted differently. But having those guys come in (to talk about it), I think we’ve landed in such a good spot.
“It was my first (full) year and I was learning on the fly a little bit. But when they’re saying, ‘What’s up?’ it’s just important for them to understand that with all the information we’re privy to every decision is mine.”
On a recent quiet morning at the Jays player development complex, Schneider is relaxed during a half-hour chat, one that touches on many bases with a team that made the playoffs the previous two years, but still feels like an underachieving disappointment.
In front of us on Field 2 of the vast Jays training grounds, batting practice is taking place and the 44-year-old manager is both reflective and brutally honest, not just about the aftermath of Game 2 in Minnesota but the pushes and pulls tied to being a manager in the big leagues.
Though he was not entirely to blame — remember, his players with bats in their hands scored just one run in the two games of that deflating series — Schneider wore it, part of the job description he learned the hard way in 2023.
“It took some uncomfortable conversations between me and everybody,” Schneider said. “The first month and a half of the off-season before we get into what we did good, it was, ‘Let’s talk about the things we need to flush out. What do you guys need from me? Here’s what I need from you.’ That’s the only way you get better.
“This job is hard. I respect the fact that I have it. I respect the fact that you can have open, awkward, tough conversations with the entire front office. And when you don’t have them, you’re going to repeat the s—ty things that do happen.”
That’s not to say that any of it was easy.
Schneider, remember, took the brunt of the blame from many irate fans, a sentiment that was exacerbated by the perception that general manager Ross Atkins threw him under the bus with his postseason comments.
“In this day and age, a lot of blame goes on me or the organization, which is the nature of the beast,” Schneider said. “I’m not by any means blaming the players. But we had to take a hard look in the mirror — up and down, from everyone involved with the team — and ask ourselves what we need to do (to get better.)”
Moving forward was essential, however. Schneider’s reputation in the clubhouse — so critical during a 162game season — depended on it. After just his first full season as a big-league manager, lessons were learned, but fences were in need of mending.
“At the time, was it tough?” Schneider said. “Yeah, it was the hardest off-season for me just trying to make sure everyone was on board. You’re trying to sort things out with the way things are communicated because you care so much.
“It could have gone one of two ways. I tried my hardest to communicate with the guys in the off-season that this is how it’s going to be and you guys can trust me on this.”