Blue Jays manager's Cam Schlittler ASG snub was clear response to Yankees ragebait

Yankees-Blue Jays tensions have been well-documented in a longtime AL East rivalry, but one could argue they've never been heightened to such a degree over the last five years with manager John Schneider at the helm in Toronto.

He's a loudmouth agitator with little to back it up, but the Yankees of course gave the Blue Jays ammo last season by ceding the division to them before letting the Toronto bounce them in the ALDS. This is now the Jays' entire identity, even though the Yankees have gotten the better of them for the last decade or so.

The Blue Jays are an antagonistic bunch, with unprompted Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trolling to Toronto broadcasters aimlessly calling out New York. It's exhausting for many reasons, but now it's a tired act because the backlash now fully stems from the Blue Jays blowing the 2025 World Series in historic fashion.

The city will never live that down, and they really can't handle Cam Schlittler saying Toronto fans are easy to ragebait. That's why Yankees fans can't help but feel Schneider's latest stunt was in response to his hatred of the Blue Jays' rival and Schlittler's recent comments.

Schlittler opted out of the All-Star Game on Sunday because of his pitching schedule and the Yankees dealing with injuries, but Schneider, the manager of the AL side, revealed that whatever choice the right-hander made wouldn't have earned him the start.

Cam Schlittler would've been snubbed from All-Star Game start regardless of Yankees decision

Schlittler is the best pitcher in the American League, and it's not close ... unless your lone argument is FIP and strikeouts. There's no doubt Cease has a chance to best Schlittler by the end of the season, but that's not the reality at the moment, especially since he has three fewer starts to his name due to an IL stint.

Schneider clearly wanted to stir things up with his commentary on the All-Star Game subject ... because the other option was simply saying nothing at all. Schlittler gave him the easy way out by choosing not to play. At that point, the decision was obvious with Cease.

For theatrical purposes we must admit this is fun. It adds more flair to the rivalry and it gives Yankees and Blue Jays fans another reason to be at each other's throats. That's what makes baseball entertaining, right? We live for the trash talk and drama.

But the Schneider schtick is an outdated one, equivalent to that of a faceless social media account ensuring they are the first contrarian comment on a topic they know will get people riled up. The Blue Jays were exposed for being whiners during last year's Fall Classic, but hopefully Schneider's try-hard tough guy behavior with Schlittler and the Yankees shows his true colors to the general baseball community.

We know everybody is always going to hate the Yankees, but even the average fan might agree this is an absolute desperation heave with the Blue Jays sitting dead last in the AL East and a mountain to climb with their 2025 run looking more like a flash in the pan by the hour.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow