Toronto — The Rogers Centre press room was quiet for the first moment on October 13 when coach John Schneider took the podium after the Toronto Blue Jays’ 3-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the ALCS – which cost the team home field advantage from the start. However, the 44-year-old coach turned the press conference into a powerful message of spirit and resilience that cannot be erased.
“We still have a long way to go. One loss doesn’t mean you’re done,” Schneider said in a low but determined voice. “If the fans stick together, we’ll come back and rewrite the story in our own way.”
Game 1 of the ALCS at Rogers Centre saw the Mariners completely control the tempo. Remember, George Springer opened the scoring for the Blue Jays with a home run to lead off the game – extending a historic run of assists, but then Bryce Miller was steadfast in the dugout, holding the advantage for six innings, before Cal Raleigh tied the Mariners 2-2 with a homer in the sixth. Jorge Polanco then sealed the game with a late RBI single, sealing a 3-1 victory for Seattle and taking home field advantage.
Schneider, who led the team past the New York Yankees with a solid bullpen in the ALDS, said the powerful reason behind the message: “We were underestimated, we were told we didn’t have enough talent – but what I taught the players from day one was to never give up. We got here not just on individual talent, but on each other.”
In the first statistical game, Bryce Miller (WIN, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 SO) and the Mariners bullpen extinguished all the inspiration of the Blue Jays, when Kevin Gausman, despite throwing consistently, still got the decisive run in the 6th inning. The big concern for coach Schneider now is the psychological and tactical pressure, as the Mariners are aiming for their first title in the history of the league since moving to the NL in 1998.
“We are not giving up because of today’s result,” Schneider added. “Tonight is the beginning, not the end. No matter what anyone says, we will continue to fight together.”
John Schneider’s message was not only a reassurance to the players, but also a call to the fans: “A support force that never leaves the field is what makes us stronger. Believe in this team like we believe in it.”
Although the defeat in Game 1 brought with it huge consequences in terms of score and psychology, Schneider sent a clear signal: Toronto did not collapse because of one loss, they would use the remaining time of the series to “write an unexpected story”.
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