John Schneider fires back at Blue Jays pitcher

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider responded to criticism he received from starting pitcher Eric Lauer on Friday night after the team’s 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Lauer voiced his frustration for entering the game in the second inning after the Blue Jays turned to Braydon Fisher as an opener against Arizona. 

Lauer gave up five hits and three earned runs in five innings pitched and earned a loss on his record for the effort.

“To be real blunt, I hate it. I can’t stand it,” Lauer said of not being able to start the game in the first inning, arguing that it messed up his pre-game routine. “Hopefully it’s not something that we will continue doing, but that’s above my pay grade.”

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On Saturday, Schneider fired back at Lauer’s comments, saying the decision as to who starts was certainly above the pitcher’s job description.

“I respect everyone’s opinion,” Schneider said, via Yahoo Sports. “I know the end of his quote was ‘it’s above my pay grade,’ and it definitely is above his pay grade as to how we use him. We’re trying to win; you know what I mean? My job is to put him in spots to try to have success. That’s what I try to do. He’s aware of that. He gets that.

“I think that anyone who’s been bounced around a little bit, he wants to start. I get it. He’s on board with us, just trying to win and go out and execute until we take the ball from the big fella and do it again the next time.”

Schneider said he didn’t appreciate Lauer’s comments to the media, believing the pitcher should have told the coaching staff he had an issue.

It’s no wonder there are frustrations in the Blue Jays clubhouse. After making the World Series last season, Toronto is 7-13 and at the bottom of the AL East before entering Sunday’s game against the Diamondbacks.

The Blue Jays are on a four-game losing streak and are 4.5 games back from the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the division.

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