How Schneider chose Cease over Schlittler for All-Star start - Sportsnet.ca
Schneider’s Decision for the All-Star Start
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider has chosen Dylan Cease as the American League‘s starting pitcher for the upcoming All-Star Game. The announcement was made in the visiting clubhouse at Petco Park before Sunday’s game, with pitching coach Pete Walker revealing the news to Cease and his teammates.
Cease expressed his surprise at the selection, describing the experience as “pretty surreal” and leaving him “speechless.” This marks a significant moment for Cease, as he becomes the fourth pitcher from the Blue Jays to start the All-Star Game. Previous Blue Jays pitchers to achieve this honour include Dave Stieb in 1983 and 1984, David Wells in 2000, and Roy Halladay in 2009.
Schneider’s final decision came on Saturday night, following consideration of other strong contenders, most notably Cam Schlittler of the Yankees. Despite Schlittler’s impressive season, Schneider ultimately opted for Cease.
Comparing Cease and Schlittler
The choice between Cease and Schlittler involved a comparison of their performances. Schlittler had a compelling case, leading the American League with a 2.05 ERA and pitching more innings than Cease, with 118.2 innings compared to Cease’s 98.1. Schlittler also had a lower walks/hits per inning (0.94 vs. 1.48) and a better ERA+ (205 vs. 177).
However, Cease holds a significant advantage in strikeouts, leading the league with 148, while Schlittler is close behind with 137. Their WAR statistics are comparable, with Schlittler slightly ahead according to Baseball-Reference (4.2 to 3.6) and Cease leading on FanGraphs (3.7 to 3.5).
Schneider justified his decision by highlighting Cease’s league-leading strikeout numbers, stating that a pitcher with such strong performance and “really good stuff” is a fitting representative for the American League. He maintained that his decision to go with Cease was made first, even before Schlittler announced he would not be pitching in the All-Star Game.
Reactions and Implications
The decision has generated discussion within the baseball community, particularly regarding Schlittler’s subsequent announcement that he would not be pitching in the All-Star Game. Schlittler stated he was focusing on the second half of the season and was not injured. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that neither he nor Schlittler were aware of Schneider’s decision before Schlittler’s announcement.
Schneider emphasized that the decision was his to make. He also noted that both Cease and Schlittler are having strong seasons, and they may contend for a Cy Young Award and a playoff position as the season progresses.
This situation draws parallels to a past All-Star controversy in 1993 involving former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston and pitcher Mike Mussina. The current events between Schneider and Schlittler may also contribute to the ongoing rivalry between the Blue Jays and the Yankees, particularly as the league’s best players gather in Philadelphia for the All-Star festivities.
Cease, a first-time All-Star, reflected positively on his first half of the season in Toronto, despite acknowledging room for more consistency in his starts.
Schlittler plans to attend the All-Star Game and remains on the roster, despite his decision not to pitch. He told reporters that he was not hurt and was focused on the remainder of the season, which he believes still has “a lot of baseball” left to be played.
Source: sportsnet.ca
