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Former Blue Jays All-Star Rips John Schneider Over Costly Shane Bieber Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 12:28 PM ET

Highlights:

With the chance to put the Yankees' season to bed in a three-game sweep, the Blue Jays dropped Game 3 at Yankee Stadium by a score of 9-6.
Several questionable errors and decisions were the culprit Tuesday night, including one by manager John Schneider
A highly-esteemed Blue Jays All-Star shared his disapproval of Schneider's main error.

With marquee trade acquisition Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, on the mound for a possibly series-clinching ALDS Game 3 in front of a raucous crowd at Yankee Stadium, the Blue Jays felt good about their chances.

That confidence felt even more so after a two-run home run and two-run singles by Ernie Clement (4-for-4) and Anthony Santander powered Toronto to an early 6-1 lead by the top of the 3rd inning, forcing Yankees starter Carlos Rodon out of the game and reducing a roaring crowd to not much more than a peep.

However, the Yankees began to power back - Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge both hit doubles off Bieber, and Cody Bellinger singled to bring Ben Rice up as the tying run. Even after Bieber retired Rice and Stanton (RBI sac fly), Blue Jays manager John Schneider had seen enough.

Oct 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) and catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) walks to the dugout prior to the game against the New York Yankees during game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Bieber left the game after just 53 pitches.

As the decision unfolded and Jays reliever Mason Fluharty entered the game, esteemed former Blue Jays All-Star Vernon Wells posted his disapproval of Schneider's move.

"You don't take Shane out with 53 pitches with Game 4 being a bullpen game," Wells posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Wells, who spent 12 seasons with the team and clubbed 223 home runs with the team, made three All-Star teams in 2003, 2006, 2010.

You don’t take Shane out with 53 pitches with Game 4 being a bullpen game.
— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) October 8, 2025

Schneider's decision would have been looked upon far more kindly had the Blue Jays won. Instead, they need to get 27 outs Wednesday night from a relief corps that had to get 16 outs Tuesday night.

Leading the bullpen into battle Wednesday night is flame-throwing righty Louis Varland, who gave up the game-tying and go-ahead home runs to Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr Tuesday, ballooning his postseason ERA to 6.75.

After being traded from the Twins, Varland had a rough start to his Blue Jays tenure, posting a 6.00 ERA in August (eight runs in 12 innings) but improved to a 3.86 ERA in September (five runs in 11.2 innings).

Schneider's decision made sense at the time as one that was aggressive and put the pedal to the metal. The Jays still had a chance to finish off the Yankees' season, and it made sense to go with arms that had been rested as Bieber floundered.

Should the Yankees force this series back to Toronto for a Game 5, Schneider’s gamble on the bullpen might stand as the move that changed the momentum.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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