Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah chirped at Adam Frazier of the Baltimore Orioles but was forced out of the game due to manager John Schneider's error.
For a team that stressed the importance of the rules, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider forgot a major one on Saturday. After a week in which he and pitching coach Pete Walker complained about where the New York Yankees base coaches were standing throughout their four-game series, both forgot about how many mound visits they are allowed to have with their pitcher before it results in automatic removal from the game.
Toronto starting pitcher Alek Manoah was looking to rebound after a rough start against the Yankees earlier in the week. In the top of the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles, Manoah had a man on base and got Adam Frazier to strike out after the third base umpire ruled that he didn't check his swing. Frazier didn't agree with the call, and he and Manoah exchanged words. Specifically, Manoah told Frazier to "keep walking that way," pointing to the dugout.
But after that, is where the blunder by Schneider happens.
Blue Jays: John Schneider forgets the rules, results in Alek Manoah being removed from the game
After that at-bat, Manoah was visited on the mound by manager John Schneider. There was one problem, this was the Blue Jays' second mound visit with Manoah of the game. Walker had visited the mound earlier in the inning. According to the rules implemented by MLB, a pitcher must be removed from the game after two mound visits in the same inning.
So, Manoah exited the game with one out remaining in the top of the sixth inning. Whoops.
What was going on where Schneider forgot that Walker had met with Manoah that same inning? Whatever it was, it got Schneider's attention off the field.
Tim Mayza replaced Manoah, and he was able to get Joey Ortiz to fly out to end the inning.
Manoah recorded five strikeouts and one walk while surrendering two earned runs on six hits in 5.2 innings.
For the Blue Jays faithful, this is a tough look that their manager forgot the rules. For those that were growing tired of Schneider, Walker, and the Blue Jays' comments and complaints about where base coaches were standing or Aaron Judge side-eying during an at-bat, this had to make their day.
