It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider

Oct 17, 2025

It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider
Toronto Blue Jays Max Scherzer screams "I will never go down" as manager John Schneider approaches to replace the pitcher during the fifth inning of the ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on the 17th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News



It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider
Toronto Blue Jays Max Scherzer is spraying the ball vigorously in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on the 17th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
The Toronto Blue Jays brought the series to square one.

Toronto defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-2 on the 17th (Korean time) by effectively hitting 11 hits, including two home runs, in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) at T-Mobile Park.

Toronto, which gave up both the first and second home games and went on an away trip, won Game 3 by 13-4 the previous day, and drove Game 4 with overwhelming firepower, making it 2 wins and 2 losses in the series, driving the direction of the ticket to the World Series to a foggy situation.




The 41-year-old veteran Max Scherzer contributed the most to Toronto's victory.

Scherzer became a winning pitcher by giving up three hits and four walks in five ⅔ innings and blocking two runs.

However, it was not the pitching content that Scherzer caught the fans' attention. It was a scene where coach John Schneider, who went to the mound to change him, was just sent back to the dugout.




It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider
Toronto Blue Jays Max Scherzer refuses to replace manager John Schneider when he takes the mound during the fifth inning of the ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on the 17th (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News
In the bottom of the fifth inning with a 5-1 lead, Scherzer gave up a heavy hit to leading Dominic Canzon and then handled JP Crawford and Leo Rivas with a fly ball to center field and a line drive to right field, respectively.

However, at this time, Schneider headed to the mound. I was going to change the pitcher. Rivas' low fastball in the middle of Scherzer's 5th pitch of 93.2 miles in 3B1S was a sharp hit with a launch angle of 19 degrees and a batting speed of 104.8 miles. Right fielder Harrison Bader ran to right-center and reached up his glove and managed to catch it.

Scherzer had 70 pitches by then, but as Schneider approached him, Scherzer opened his eyes wide and shouted "Never." He didn't seem to have any intention of giving the ball away. Schneider rushed down the mound after just a few words.




Scherzer struck out the next batter, Randy Arozarena, swinging and roaring. Arozarena's bat went blank on a 78.6-mile curve that went outside for the fourth time in the ball count 1B2S.

Scherzer also took the mound in the sixth inning, striking out Cal Raleigh with a fly ball to right field and Julio Rodriguez with a swing and miss, before walking Jorge Polanco. At that time, the number of pitches was 87. As Schneider kicked out of the dugout, he sent a pitching replacement sign to the third base and approached the mound, it became inevitable. Scherzer handed the ball over smoothly and slowly stepped up to the dugout. My colleagues greeted me with high-fives in unison.

It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider
Toronto Blue Jays Max Scherzer roars after striking out Randy Arozarena, a two-out first baseman, in the bottom of the fifth inning of the ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on the 17th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
After the game, Schneider said "I felt like he was going to kill me. It was really great. As I approached, I glared into my eyes with both eyes. I meant it. It wasn't a fake. Made the Mad Max persona clear tonight"I've been waiting for a moment like today since I made a video call with Scherzer last offseason" he said.

He then said, "There are records, there are forecasts, there are strategies. And there are people. I believe in people, he said. "You can remember it as one of the most brilliant moments as a director."

Regarding Scherzer's confrontation with Schneider in the fifth inning, MLB.com said, `The two faced each other in their best form. Scherzer, 41, is a senior pitcher. Strongly argued, he wanted to keep the mound his way. Schneider, 45, is young for a coach. But at that moment, he knew what kind of mind he had and how to get down the lion.

It's a tough rejection Scherzer, so it works. I thought I'd kill a 45-year-old manager and a 41-year-old pitcher Schneider
Toronto Blue Jays Max Scherzer gives the ball to manager John Schneider as he approaches for a replacement after giving up a two-out walk in the sixth inning of the ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on the 17th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
On Scherzer's post-match situation "When I suddenly saw Schneider come out, I didn't even realize 'Wow, wow, wow." I don't want to go down. (Everything)It was so nice. We had a brief talk, and I said I'd take over more of this game. I think I said a few more words. I knew I was strong, I knew I wanted to keep throwing", he explained.

Game 4 of the ALCS was Scherzer's 26th postseason and 500th starting game in the major leagues, including the regular season.

Scherzer said "The postseason is the reason we play. It's the most important stage of the season. It's one of the must-win games. I play hard all year round. I take all the sacrifices. I put everything into this moment." It's his stubbornness and seriousness to watch baseball.

Scherzer's 96.5-mile fastball to Cal Raleigh in the bottom of the first inning is his fastest pitch since the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 25, 2023, when he was with the New York Mets. In the third inning, Rivas, the first baseman, was caught in check. Scherzer's check-out is the first in nine years since 2016 and the first in the postseason.

Scherzer's postseason victory came in six years since Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros (five hits and two runs in five innings) on October 23, 2019, when he was with the Washington Nationals. Scherzer is the fourth player to win a postseason game at the age of 41 or older, following Roger Clemens, Kenny Rogers and Dennis Martinez.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.