Criticism is pouring in on main hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the Toronto Blue Jays’ early elimination from the postseason.
Toronto was defeated 0-2 in Game 2 of the American League (AL) Wild Card Series (WCS) held at Target Field on the 5th (Korean time) and was eliminated with two losses in the series. Fans’ anger is growing as they lost two games in the WCS for the second year in a row and were ‘blown away’.
It is pointed out that the decisive cause of the defeat on this day was the ‘accidental death’ of Guerrero, who is considered the best hitter on the team.
Top of the 5th inning when Toronto was down 0-2. With 2 outs and 1st on base, Guerrero received a walk on a full count from opposing starter Sonny Gray. Then, when Gray’s 87 mph sweeper on the first pitch thrown by right-handed hitter Bo Bichett at bat became a wild pitch that bounced and went backwards, second base runner George Springer and first base runner Guerrero advanced one base each to become second and third base. A single hit could tie the score at 2-2.
Bichette and Gray engaged in a full-count battle up to 6 pitches.
The moment when the eyes of the other team’s dugout, Minnesota fielders, and the 38,518 fans filling the stands were all focused on Gray’s 7th pitch. Gray, who was in a set position, suddenly relaxed his feet and turned to second base to throw a check.
Shortstop Carlos Correa quickly entered base cover and tagged the sliding Guerrero. As the glove touched Guerrero’s stomach, second base umpire Dan LaSonya forcefully ruled the player out.
Correa and Gray held a ceremony where they looked at each other’s faces and exchanged roars of joy. At this time, Guerrero appeared to be asking for a challenge by raising his right hand and waving it towards the Toronto dugout. But the inning ended just like that.
Guerrero had a critical chance to tie the game, but was picked off and was thrown cold water.
MLB.com said, ‘The Blue Jays’ season ended with another wound. The final moment was a heartbreaking sight of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. waving to the dugout and hoping for a miracle while Twins players celebrated in front of him.
I think we’ll all be able to look at each other and talk about why we didn’t do what we wanted to do,” Toronto coach John Schneider said after the game. “It wasn’t a lack of information or preparation for the game. Something happened that couldn’t have happened in that moment.” He said. This is a reference to Guerrero’s outrageous death.레모나토토
“No, definitely not. Especially when there’s a runner on third base,” said Guerrero. “I never thought something like that would happen. Obviously, they did.” It is difficult to predict that a pitcher will keep second base in check when there are runners on second and third base.
Gray, who pitched five scoreless innings and earned his first postseason win, said of the pickoff situation, “After the first inning, Correa said, ‘Listen to me. (The crowd is noisy) The runners over there won’t be able to hear the third base coach.’ “It meant that there would be a situation where we could make a pickoff,” he said. “As expected, the situation came. And we were able to do it as planned. At the full count, I said, ‘This is it. Throw to second base.’ “I could hear it,” he explained.
On this day, Toronto gave all its efforts, including removing starter Jose Berrios after three innings and bringing in Yusei Kikuchi, but the batters fell silent again.
MLB.com said, ‘Such absurd situations have happened a lot in the Blue Jays this season. They had high-profile players, talented players, and countless opportunities, but
He continued, ‘Guerrero’s sudden death that day will be talked about among fans for the next few days, and will appear again in the trailer next spring. As much as Guerrero wanted the challenge, he would have liked to turn back the clock, but time was running out.