2025 has really been a tough year for Blue Jays fans. First, the team fell short in the World Series after putting together such an impressive season, and now there’s growing uncertainty around key players like Bo Bichette. To top it off, manager John Schneider just missed out on the AL Manager of the Year award. He finished second behind Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, who went back-to-back with the honor after leading the Guardians to yet another AL Central title.

Well, Vogt’s win does make sense on paper… The Guardians pulled off a remarkable late-season surge. They won 19 of their last 23 games to overtake the Tigers after selling at the trade deadline. But still, not everyone agrees with the decision, especially Blue Jays fans who felt Schneider’s leadership this year deserved more recognition.

“The official BBWAA AL Manager of the Year ballot,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale shared.

So why Vogt?

Well, Vogt pulled off something special with the Guardians this season. The Guardians overcame a 15.5-game deficit to win the AL Central, finishing with an 88-74 record and a playoff berth, all while scoring the third-fewest runs in MLB. Moreover, despite dealing with a midseason slump and off-field issues involving two key players, Vogt kept his team focused, relying on small-ball tactics and elite pitching.

But what about John Schneider? He wasn’t far behind…

Under his leadership, the Blue Jays posted a stellar 94-60 record, better than both the Mariners and the Guardians. If you remember, just a year ago, Toronto sat at the bottom of its division. But Schneider managed to completely flip that script, guiding the team to the best record in the American League. By all accounts, that should’ve made him a leading candidate for the award.

Still, the final voting didn’t reflect that, and Blue Jays fans aren’t exactly on board with the outcome.

And this comes as the 2025 World Series was promoted as US vs. In the Canada series, MLB was accused a few times of acting against the Jays.

Blue Jays fans are calling out for Schneider’s snub

Is Schneider getting snubbed from the AL Manager of the Year is, something against the Blue Jays? Fans think so. “MLB despises Toronto,” a fan said. “John Schneider not winning is a f****** joke. MLB and its AP hate Canada,” added another. Remember, just at the last leg of the regular season, Springer was visibly upset when a hit against the Red Sox he believed to be fair was ruled foul by the umpire? “If they want New York to win, just tell me and give it to them already!” He said that time.

In doing so, Springer implied that MLB/umpires were biased in favour of the Yankees clinching the division (AL East) and that missed calls were benefiting New York. So, just another example of why the fans think MLB is acting against the Blue Jays and even against Canada.

“Ernie Clement was robbed of the utility gold glove, Alejandro Kirk was robbed of the catcher gold glove for the third time, and now John Schneider was robbed of Manager of the Year. Just ridiculous,” another user added to the list of heartbreaks for the Blue Jays fans. “Worst November in franchise history,” another said.

So yes, despite playing their best in recent times, November this year would be a haunting memory for the Blue Jays for a long time. It started with losing the World Series, then losing out on the Gold Glove races, and now Schneider. More heartbreaking because Vogt won for overcoming a 15.5-game deficit, while Schneider is snubbed despite overcoming 2024’s last position. “It’s bullshit. Schneider should’ve won. And I’m from Seattle,” another one agrees.

This isn’t the first time fans have questioned the logic behind MLB’s Manager of the Year voting. In 2020, Dave Roberts led the Dodgers to a 98-win season and a World Series title, yet he wasn’t even nominated for the award. Many felt his steady leadership through injuries and pressure-packed moments deserved recognition, proving that even clear frontrunners can get overlooked when the voting narrative leans elsewhere.

That’s because the award often rewards surprise success over consistency or dominance. In 2006, Joe Girardi won despite the Marlins finishing below .500, simply because he exceeded expectations with a young roster. Historically, only a handful of winners have managed the league’s best team. So Schneider’s snub fits a familiar pattern — results alone don’t always win over the voters’ perception of adversity.

So, what’s next? Both Schneider and Vogt with face each other again next year with their respective teams. And it would be interesting to witness who wins the battle.