Blue Jays manager John Schneider brought players back even in the midst of a terrible season.
In the top of the seventh inning on Monday, after Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel hit a fastball inside that landed between Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s uniform numbers, Schneider stormed out of the dugout in an angry manner and said something inaudible to Kimbrel and catcher Adley Rutschman.
“Guerrero looked at Kimbrel and shook his head, and why is John Schneider coming out now?” one of the Orioles announcers said on the MASN-TV broadcast as Toronto led by four.
“Maybe he’ll just come by to check on Guerrero and maybe have a quick chat with Craig Kimbrel on the way.
“I don’t know why Craig Kimbrel threw to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but obviously manager John Schneider is trying to protect his player and is upset about it.”
Toronto ultimately won, 5-2, to give the Yankees a half-game lead in the American League East after their game against the Angels was rained out.
The Blue Jays have a disappointing record of 52 wins and 61 losses and are in last place in the American League East.
When a batsman is hit in these circumstances, there is always the possibility that some form of retaliation was intended.
During a game between the rivals on July 29, veteran Orioles catcher James McCann was hit in the face by a 95 mph fastball, causing a horrifying scene as he fell to the ground, blood spurting from his nose, and medical staff rushed to his aid.
The red-hot sight was gruesome, but McCann remained in the match relatively unscathed.
This is by no means the first time the Orioles have been embroiled in on-field controversy.
Baltimore was embroiled in a bench-clearing brawl earlier this season after Clay Holmes hit Heston Kierstad with a pitch during a game against the Yankees.
