CHICAGO -- There’s a difference between knowing your role and embracing it.
This isn’t the heartless, “do your job” mantra made popular by Bill Belichick and scowling football coaches. There’s no joy in that. Instead, the 2025 Blue Jays have found this magic mix of the right players doing the right things in the right spots at the right times.
Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the White Sox in a rain-shortened, six-inning affair was the Blue Jays’ 10th win a row, leaving them just a game shy of tying the longest winning streak in franchise history (last done in 2015). The Blue Jays’ 54th win is also the most before the All-Star break in franchise history, surpassing the 1992 and ‘85 seasons with four games still remaining.
“We have a group that is really embracing who they are individually and collectively,” manager John Schneider said. “That’s what we’re really grasping onto right now, and it’s what we’re going to continue to grasp onto going forward.”
Win No. 10 was built on some of the classics, like starter Chris Bassitt putting together six innings of one-run ball before the game was called, but so much of the offense came from players doing exactly what’s been asked of them, whether they’re Vladimir Guerrero Jr., or they’re clinging to the final spot on the roster.
The ‘OP,’ George Springer
Springer has given us baseball’s newest buzz word. The DH is dead, long live the OP.
The 35-year-old in the middle of an All-Star worthy season calls the position “Offensive Player” because it’s about running the bases, too, not just hitting. Springer has looked so alive on the bases this year, making some of the Blue Jays’ smartest, most aggressive decisions when taking an extra bag.
When Vladdy rolled a double into the left-field corner in the third, Springer broke from first and did everything in his power to convince third-base coach Carlos Febles to crank him home. When the White Sox left fielder didn’t exactly rush the ball back in, there went Springer, scorching around third to score.
Whatever this magic is that the Blue Jays are enjoying, having buy-in from players of Springer’s stature is crucial.
“It’s easy to say to Tyler Heineman, Myles Straw or Nathan Lukes, ‘Hey, you’re in here right now to do the part we’re asking you to do,’” Schneider said. “When that bleeds over into Bo, Vladdy, George and [Alejandro] Kirk, it rubs off on everyone. The ‘offensive player’ part, I’ll give credit to George Springer because he’s going to try to take the trademark away from me, but offense is more than hitting. How are you going to help the team win, whether it’s in the box or on the bases?”
Bo Bichette, run producer
Schneider was tempted to bat Bichette in the cleanup spot from Day 1, and we’re finally seeing why. Right after Guerrero scored Springer, Bichette strolled to the dish and adjusted himself to the moment and ripped a single to left. It was hit too hard for Vladdy to score, but regardless, Bichette did the job and kept the inning rolling.
“Bo has such a unique ability to put the ball in play against tough pitching,” Schneider said. “I think that his mindset with runners in scoring position is one of the best in the league. He is going to get the job done, and his numbers definitely back that up.”
Was it Davis Schneider all along?
Executive vice president of baseball operations/general manager Ross Atkins said recently that the Blue Jays have been searching for a right-handed power bat, whether that’s internally or externally. Well, it looks like Davis Schneider is back.
Schneider’s job isn’t to slap singles and turn the lineup over. He’s here to take shots, and in a winning streak where there’s a different hero every night, it was only fitting that the No. 9 hitter opened the scoring with a solo home run.
“Any time I’m in there, I feel like I’m going to do well,” Schneider said. “Against Civale, too, I saw him well the last time I saw him and I feel like Schneids knew that. Being in there right now, any day, it’s pretty fun.”
Schneider has wrapped his arms around this role again. He knows the role, he loves the role and it’s all happening the right way at the right time.