Blue Jays Skipper Sends Phillies’ Alec Bohm Message After Shocking Move

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 01: Manager John Schneider (14) of the Toronto Blue Jays looks connected successful the dugout during the MLB crippled against the St. Louis Cardinals connected August 01, 2026 astatine Rogers Centre successful Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays produced 1 of the much melodramatic games of their latest bid pinch the finale connected Sunday, pinch a precocious managerial determination putting polarizing Phillies infielder Alec Bohm straight successful the mediate of the action.

The Phillies escaped pinch a 7-6 triumph successful 12 innings, but the astir astonishing infinitesimal for fans came soon earlier the winning tally was scored arsenic Blue Jays skipper John Schneider preferred to debar Bohm contempt a play that is erstwhile again frustrating the fanbase.

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With runners astatine first and 3rd and 1 retired successful the 12th inning, Schneider intentionally walked Bohm to load the bases. It was a astonishment for anyone who has consistently watched Bohm astatine the sheet this season.

“But successful the 12th inning, Schneider held up 4 fingers arsenic Bohm walked up to the plate,” Destiny Lugardo recalled for Phillies Nation. “For anyone that has watched the Phillies for an extended play of clip this year, it seemed for illustration a shocking determination successful the moment.”

The strategy was designed to get to Derek Hill, a platoon outfielder who had struggled successful earlier opportunities successful the game, but yet made Toronto pay. Hill lined a walk-off azygous past shortstop Andres Gimenez, giving Philadelphia the victory.

There were immoderate statistical reasons for Schneider to locomotion Bohm successful that situation, arsenic he entered pinch an awesome .852 OPS pinch runners successful scoring position, but he is besides tied for the 3rd astir double plays successful the fields pinch 16. And arsenic Bohm heads to free agency aft an up-and-down Phillies tenure, it seems that the squad is apt to move connected from him soon.

Toronto Blue Jays Skipper John Schneider Sends Alec Bohm Message

After the game, Schneider was speedy to explicate that his determination wasn't needfully an indictment of Hill. But successful his appraisal of the hitters he wanted to look pinch an exhausted bullpen and a crippled that had already stretched into the 12th inning, the skipper cited Bohm’s credentials, which do see an All-Star crippled successful 2024.

“I’m going disconnected way grounds a small bit, thing against anyone,” Schneider said of the astonishing determination to locomotion Bohm, per Lugardo. “These guys are each large leaguers and you’re conscionable trying to hunt outs… So you’re conscionable hunting outs, really. You’re hoping a shot goes astatine personification and conscionable trying to spell aft guys that whitethorn beryllium not arsenic accomplished arsenic immoderate others.”

Schneider’s determination mightiness not repetition if Bohm doesn’t prime up his .227 batting mean this season. He has been the attraction of waste and acquisition rumors for astir of his tenure pinch the squad and it’s imaginable the Phillies person been forced to clasp onto him until he is eligible for free agency.

“I don’t cognize whether Bohm moreover has waste and acquisition worth astatine this point, pinch a $10.2 cardinal net and accumulation beneath replacement level,” Keith Law wrote for The Athletic. “And because he’s a free supplier aft the play anyway, the Phillies person nary inducement astatine each to support playing him.”