[ALCS GM 5] Blue Jays (Gausman) vs Mariners (Miller): 10/17/25, 6:08pm

[Omar]

26 minutes ago, Terminator said:

I don't like the move to Little but I am curious as to who you think was the slam dunk choice there?

The Jays have no slam dunk choices.  But of the choices the do have, Little should be near the bottom of the totem pole.  My fear wasn't that Little would give up a homer run, rather I was fairly certain that he would walk the bases loaded.  The home run was jus the cherry on the sundae.  Unfortunately.

[Terminator]

Just now, glory said:

Yeah they don’t seem him as a high leverage option, which is sad. It’s not like the pen is stacked. Fisher has performed well all season and was unfairly demoted. Since they think Louis Varland is a right handed Andrew Miller and they obviously think the 8th inning is a no-no for Fisher, then they could have tried Fisher in the 6th-7th to face the bottom of the order, and then gone with Varland in the 8th to face the top of the order. Not sure I would have trusted Varland in that spot either but more than Little? Without question. 

Yeah Varland has the stuff that he's just kind of our de facto fireman, whether he deserves it or not. He would have been the best pick there but they had already used him by that point.

[Stangstag]

26 minutes ago, Terminator said:

It's kind of weird because the board has been hating on Hoffman for months. Schneider rides him like he's Mariano Rivera anyway.

All the sudden Schneider stops using him like Rivera and it blows up in his face. Now the board is mad at him.

SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO YOUR GUNS JOHN

Right? People acting like they wouldn’t have been just as angry at Schneider for using Hoffman in the 8th there if he blew it.

Reality is, we lost this game because the bounces didn’t go our way and we didn’t capitalize on the gazillion chances we had to score runs tonight. s*** happens.

Even if Little goes 1-2-3, Hoffman easily could have blown it in the 9th.

[Jimcanuck]

2 minutes ago, Big_Walleye said:

Imbecile?  Lol.  

Keyboard warrior!!

Nah, just stating the obvious.

[Spanky__99]

23 minutes ago, Big_Walleye said:

You have no idea.  Exactly what I thought.

When they fire John Schneider (which won't happen) do me a favor and apply for the job.

Relax buddy, how about dat Vladdy?!

[Jonn]

Why whenever we lose people fight over the dumbest s***. I just don't understand.

[Omar]

4 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Right? People acting like they wouldn’t have been just as angry at Schneider for using Hoffman in the 8th there if he blew it.

 

Everyone would have been angry but could accept the rationale.  With Little not so much.  

If's and but's, candies and nuts.

[Big_Walleye]

6 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

Nah, just stating the obvious.

Name calling is what people resort to when they lose an argument. 

[Big_Walleye]

5 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Relax buddy, how about dat Vladdy?!

He's been great.

[Stangstag]

2 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Why whenever we lose people fight over the dumbest s***. I just don't understand.

Because a bunch of weenies think they could have won the game if they managed things differently. 

Idk if you noticed, but there’s a lot of big egos around here and people that refuse to acknowledge that baseball has a s*** ton of luck involved at the end of the day.

[metafour]

2 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Right? People acting like they wouldn’t have been just as angry at Schneider for using Hoffman in the 8th there if he blew it.

Reality is, we lost this game because the bounces didn’t go our way and we didn’t capitalize on the gazillion chances we had to score runs tonight. s*** happens.

Even if Little goes 1-2-3, Hoffman easily could have blown it in the 9th.

What chicken-s*** logic.

They needed to get 6 outs to win and they brought in their most volatile and COLDEST reliever to face the opponent's best hitters.

There is zero defense of this. Don't tell me that someone else could have also blown it so it doesn't matter anyway. As the Manager, all you can do is play your best players in the correct matchups when they need to be played. There is no scenario where Brendan Little was the correct choice.

Like I posted earlier: they could have NOT used Hoffman last night in a 6-run blowout and instead brought him into the 8th inning tonight against the heart of the lineup which is what any Manager with a brain would do. You can then use Dominguez or Fisher in the 9th inning against Seattle's lesser hitters, or have Hoffman pitch as long as he can if he is shoving (which incidentally, he did last night).

Just so you guys are aware: Hoffman has surrendered just 1 HR and 2 runs since August 31st. He has NOT been bad lately. And he is quite clearly much better than Little. This isn't even a decision.

 

[Pinkfloid]

Would really hate to have this magical season end with such a questionable decision. Let's hold out hope for a resurgent Sunday and Monday night!!

[Stangstag]

1 minute ago, metafour said:

What chicken-s*** logic.

They needed to get 6 outs to win and they brought in their most volatile and COLDEST reliever to face the opponent's best hitters.

There is zero defense of this. Don't tell me that someone else could have also blown it so it doesn't matter anyway. As the Manager, all you can do is play your best players in the correct matchups when they need to be played. There is no scenario where Brendan Little was the correct choice.

 

Like I posted earlier: they could have NOT used Hoffman last night in a 6-run blowout and instead brought him into the 8th inning tonight against the heart of the lineup which is what any Manager with a brain would do. You can then use Dominguez or Fisher in the 9th inning against Seattle's lesser hitters, or have Hoffman pitch as long as he can if he is shoving (which incidentally, he did last night).

Just so you guys are aware: Hoffman has surrendered just 1 HR and 2 runs since August 31st. He has NOT been bad lately. And he is quite clearly much better than Little. This isn't even a decision.

 

Tldr

We need more/better lock-down relievers because we kinda don’t have any. I think we can all agree on this.

[Jonn]

8 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Right? People acting like they wouldn’t have been just as angry at Schneider for using Hoffman in the 8th there if he blew it.

Reality is, we lost this game because the bounces didn’t go our way and we didn’t capitalize on the gazillion chances we had to score runs tonight. s*** happens.

Even if Little goes 1-2-3, Hoffman easily could have blown it in the 9th.

I would have been pissed if he blew it no doubt. But I couldn't question the decision making to use Hoffman in that situation. He's obviously had his ups and downs this Season. But his stuff has really come back in the Playoffs probably due to all the rest. And he is the guy you paid to be your Closer. Whether people like him in that role or not.

Between not using your best reliever agianst the heart of the order and John Schneider's reasoning of wanting them to see a different look is where most the anger should be pointed. If he's now referencing this as a reason to not use guys. Why has he used Hoffman multiple times in blowouts this post season alone.

[Brownie19]

37 minutes ago, glory said:

If JS knew that Braydon Fisher is one of his best relievers (maybe the best given how Hoffman looked this season), then I think the call in the 8th inning would have been more of a slam dunk. Could Fisher have blown the 8th? Maybe, but that's the analytical move to make. LHB have a .232 wOBA against him. That's what the nerds would/should have been saying to go with.

But JS views him as a low leverage option unless he has no choice, unfortunately. So you're left with asking "who was the best option" when the only real options available (because of the manager) were Hoffman, Little, and Dominguez.

Id much rather send Fisher out there in that situation if he truly wanted to give them a different look.  That kid has been nails in big situations this year.

[Big_Walleye]

2 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Because a bunch of weenies think they could have won the game if they managed things differently. 

Idk if you noticed, but there’s a lot of big egos around here and people that refuse to acknowledge that baseball has a s*** ton of luck involved at the end of the day.

Exactly.  All these guys with their BS on these threads every time something goes wrong like they could do better.  I'd like to see them try to manage an MLB team in the playoffs.  They'd all piss their pants and melt into the puddle by the 1st inning.

[Doubleplay21]

Dodgers look unbeatable, so the AL winner seems doomed anyway

[Jonn]

4 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Because a bunch of weenies think they could have won the game if they managed things differently. 

Idk if you noticed, but there’s a lot of big egos around here and people that refuse to acknowledge that baseball has a s*** ton of luck involved at the end of the day.

Baseball is a very luck and momentum based sport that's for sure. I didn't like the usage of Little in that situation personally but he has been the 8th inning guy a bulk of the Season. I really point back on all the missed chances to add on runs. Whether it was failure to execute an extra 90 feet or be able to get a guy in at third with less than 2 outs. Miller was on the ropes multiple times in the game and they couldn't put runs on the board. Some of that was bad luck some of that was bad at-bats. We saw a lot of both tonight.

[Jonn]

1 minute ago, Doubleplay21 said:

Dodgers look unbeatable, so the AL winner seems doomed anyway

That's a s***** mindset. Obviously the Dodgers would be the heavy favorites. But I think the Blue Jays or Mariners could beat them. I would not be shocked if it went 6 or 7 games with either team. The Dodgers pitched incredibly in this series but they shaky bullpen and Jays get to good pitching a lot. 

[Spanky__99]

14 minutes ago, metafour said:

What chicken-s*** logic.

They needed to get 6 outs to win and they brought in their most volatile and COLDEST reliever to face the opponent's best hitters.

There is zero defense of this. Don't tell me that someone else could have also blown it so it doesn't matter anyway. As the Manager, all you can do is play your best players in the correct matchups when they need to be played. There is no scenario where Brendan Little was the correct choice.

Like I posted earlier: they could have NOT used Hoffman last night in a 6-run blowout and instead brought him into the 8th inning tonight against the heart of the lineup which is what any Manager with a brain would do. You can then use Dominguez or Fisher in the 9th inning against Seattle's lesser hitters, or have Hoffman pitch as long as he can if he is shoving (which incidentally, he did last night).

Just so you guys are aware: Hoffman has surrendered just 1 HR and 2 runs since August 31st. He has NOT been bad lately. And he is quite clearly much better than Little. This isn't even a decision.

 

Even considering last nights' usage, I'd have liked to seen Hoff shovin' the 8th tonight. 

[Omar]

6 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Even considering last nights' usage, I'd have liked to seen Hoff shovin' the 8th tonight. 

Yeah, when Schneider was talking post game of giving them different looks, I was thinking, dude you realize there may only be one game left in the series.  Fck the different looks put everything into winning this game.  

Oh well....maybe we win it in seven games and all this just be a bad memory.  

[Spanky__99]

It's a baffling decision, like Bassitt could've nailed out the game last night and you wouldn't have to worry about looks? lol... that's what blows my mind. And I can't wrap my head around that. Term had the most logical explanation, and kudos to him, but this all just makes you scratch your head, thinking Da' Fuq? 🤔

[metafour]

2 minutes ago, Omar said:

Yeah, when Schneider was talking post game of giving them different looks, I was thinking, dude you realize there may only be one game left in the series.  Fck the different looks put everything into winning this game.  

Oh well....maybe we win it in seven games and all this just be a bad memory.  

He is talking out of his ass.

1) He has used Varland in like every game all postseason. So apparently he doesn't mind how many looks he's giving up there.

2) If you want to make sure Seattle isn't getting repeated looks on your closer, maybe don't pitch him the night before in a game that you are winning by 6 runs?

And that's the whole lunacy of it all. In a low-leverage situation he throws out his closer, and then in the highest leverage situation of the entire series a day later he throws out his most volatile reliever while simultaneously flipping Raleigh and Polanco to their stronger sides at the plate.

[metafour]

7 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

It's a baffling decision, like Bassitt could've nailed out the game last night and you wouldn't have to worry about looks? lol... that's what blows my mind. And I can't wrap my head around that. Term had the most logical explanation, and kudos to him, but this all just makes you scratch your head, thinking Da' Fuq?

No man, Bassitt is categorized as a "long man" and therefore you can NOT use him in the 8th/9th innings. Because he is a long man, you are only allowed to use him from innings ~3 to 6.

This is in the MLB rule-book.

[Spanky__99]

3 minutes ago, metafour said:

No man, Bassitt is categorized as a "long man" and therefore you can NOT use him in the 8th/9th innings. Because he is a long man, you are only allowed to use him from innings ~3 to 6.

This is in the MLB rule-book.

What's this now? lol

 

[BB17]

29 minutes ago, Omar said:

Yeah, when Schneider was talking post game of giving them different looks, I was thinking, dude you realize there may only be one game left in the series.  Fck the different looks put everything into winning this game.  

Oh well....maybe we win it in seven games and all this just be a bad memory.  

Yeah that was the most annoying part of that. This is the manager that brought in his best relievers all postseason long in blowouts plus low leverage literally giving the other teams "free looks". Maybe don't bring in your best relievers up 6 f***ing runs last night if you had that same logic. 

Schneider has made some great moves this postseason I'll the first to tip my cap but he's truly has some puzzling and moronic bullpen decisions and it clearly cost them tonight. You just hope the Jays can bounce back as it would be a huge shame for the season to end like this. 

[Stangstag]

26 minutes ago, metafour said:

No man, Bassitt is categorized as a "long man" and therefore you can NOT use him in the 8th/9th innings. Because he is a long man, you are only allowed to use him from innings ~3 to 6.

This is in the MLB rule-book.

Except he pitched the 7th/8th in game 2 lol

[Terminator]

56 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

It's a baffling decision, like Bassitt could've nailed out the game last night and you wouldn't have to worry about looks? lol... that's what blows my mind. And I can't wrap my head around that. Term had the most logical explanation, and kudos to him, but this all just makes you scratch your head, thinking Da' Fuq? 🤔

Yeah if you are THAT worried about looks then you wouldn’t have used Hoffman last night 

[ComeTogether]

 

 

[G-Snarls]

Blair and Barker s***ing all over John Schneider's bullpen usage tonight and rightfully so