John Schneider says the faltering Blue Jays ‘have to get better’
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Her recent loss led to this Toronto Blue Jays The players are demanding an aftermath briefing in response to a 9-2 loss that manager John Schneider described as a “slap in the face”.
“We have to get better,” said Schneider after the 6-3 defeat on Thursday Tampa Bay Rays. “When it comes to us as employees, the expectations are put right in front of you. There is an urgency that it takes to meet those expectations. Wins and losses are out the window, the last 10 days are over.” “It’s been great and I feel the urgency to meet those expectations isn’t there.”
“Yeah, that’s up to me and the players…Ultimately up to me,” Schneider added. “If the players recognize that and bring it to their attention, that will carry a lot more weight than any single staff member trying to get angry or look them in the face.”
Zach Eflin became the third major league winner in seven games by defeating staging Alek Manoah when the Rays took three out of four games from the Blue Jays.
Eflin (7-1) allowed a run and six hits in seven innings while the major league leaders Rays (37-15) stole seven bases for the second time this season and went 24-5 at home. He joined his teammate Shane McClanahan (8-0) and Minnesota joe ryan (7-1) as the Big League’s winning pitcher.
“Elite pitch execution,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “Getting them to swing at the start of the count and not propel the ball speaks to Zach’s talent.”
Manoah (1-5), a 16-game winner last year, extended his winning streak to nine starts after giving up five runs, three hits and five walks over three innings with six strikeouts. He threw just 44 of 87 pitches for strikes and his ERA rose from 5.15 to 5.53, ranking 68th out of 72 qualified pitchers this season (his ERA of 2.24 last season was fourth lowest) .
The Rays stole five bases while he was on the mound.
“We know we’re better than we’re playing,” Manoah said. “We just have to stick together and keep fighting.”
Toronto (26-25) is 8-15 in May. The Blue Jays are 6-15 in division play after going 43-33 last year. They are 10½ behind the Rays and the teams have only met in six games in the final ten days of the season.
“We’re all grown men here,” said the Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman called. “It is up to us. We are the ones on the field. Our coaches can’t hold our hands. We have to go out there and find ways to win games.”
“We have to communicate with each other and try to make each other better because we are a team. We want to win, and if we want to win a division or play in the playoffs, it’s up to us to find ways to get there.” “We’re back on track. It’s up to none other than us.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
