The Blue Jays, having taken the first two games of the ALDS in Toronto, entered Yankee Stadium for Game 3 with momentum on their side. They jumped out to a 6–1 lead early, and fans were beginning to envision a sweep. Toronto had acquired Shane Bieber via trade in July, hoping that the two‑time All-Star and former Cy Young winner could bolster a rotation already featuring Max Scherzer, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Kevin Gausman.
Reuters
+2
ESPN.com
+2
Bieber, coming off Tommy John surgery, was considered a high-upside gamble.
Reuters
+2
Wikipedia
+2
Still, expectations are high in postseason play—and any misstep looms large.
The Decision That Sparked Outcry
In Game 3, Bieber lasted just 2⅔ innings, delivering 53–54 pitches, allowing five hits, a walk, and giving up three runs (two earned).
Yardbarker
+3
bluejayscentral.com
+3
New York Post
+3
But the part that drew intense criticism was manager John Schneider’s decision to pull him at that juncture—with the bullpen game already scheduled for Game 4 looming in the back of everyone’s minds.
Schneider defended the move, saying he was trying to go for the win immediately instead of holding back arms.
New York Post
+1
But the bullpen failed to hold, allowing six runs over 5â…“ innings, including a game-tying three-run homer by Aaron Judge off Louis Varland.
New York Post
+2
EssentiallySports
+2
Vernon Wells Speaks Out
Enter Vernon Wells, Blue Jays legend and former three-time All-Star. Wells did not mince words in his criticism, posting on social media:
“You don’t take Shane out with 53 pitches with Game 4 being a bullpen game.”
New York Post
+1
Given Wells’s long history with Toronto and deep knowledge of the organization, his voice carries weight among the fanbase. He was blunt: in his view, the decision was unnecessarily aggressive given the playoff context.
bluejayscentral.com
+1
The Arguments For and Against
In Favor of the Move
Bieber was in trouble in that third inning: he allowed consecutive hits from Grisham and Judge, a single, a sacrifice fly, and then walked Jazz Chisholm Jr.
bluejayscentral.com
+2
New York Post
+2
Schneider may have judged that letting Bieber face tougher matchups again would risk a bigger inning that could unravel the lead.
New York Post
+2
Sportsnet.ca
+2
The game situation (lead, playoff stakes) arguably forced an aggressive posture: win it now or risk it slipping away.
Against the Move
Removing a former Cy Young winner after just 53 pitches—while ahead—seems overly cautious, especially when the bullpen was going to be taxed anyway in ensuing games.
The bullpen collapse that followed vindicated critics: it could not hold the lead.
With a bullpen game already on deck, managing arms becomes critically important, and early overuse or overexposure of relievers can backfire.
Moreover, the optics are bad: having acquired Bieber as a postseason weapon, pulling him so early undermines confidence in both the trade and the managerial approach.
What It Means Going Forward
This decision now hangs over Schneider and the Blue Jays’ postseason hopes. If Toronto is forced into a decisive Game 5 back home, critics will point back to this moment as a turning point.
Schneider will have to show he can manage not just matchups, but pitcher usage, bullpen leverage, and risk/reward in real time. On the flip side, players and relievers will need to respond—not with excuses, but with performance.
For fans, veterans like Vernon Wells voicing displeasure underscores how fragile trust can be in October. One misstep becomes a potent talking point.
Leave a Reply