Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has John Schneider searching for patience as the Blue Jays star keeps grinding through a rough stretch at the plate.
Schneider did not sound panicked after Friday's loss. He sounded like a manager who has seen this version of Guerrero before and still believes the turnaround can come fast.
«You never know when it's gonna turn for Vlad,» Schneider said. «It takes a game for him, it takes an at-bat, or it takes a swing.»
That quote matters because it cuts against the mood around Guerrero right now. The frustration has been visible, including the bat snap after a pop out on a 3-0 pitch Friday night.
Schneider's read on the approach was just as important. He has already said this week that Guerrero is trying to do too much, and that usually means the at-bats start getting heavier instead of freer.
Anyone who has watched Guerrero long enough knows how that looks. When he starts chasing the big answer in every plate appearance, the swing can lose the easy carry that makes him one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.
That is why Schneider's patience stands out here. He is not talking like a manager who thinks something is broken. He is talking like someone waiting for his best hitter to find one clean moment and run with it.
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Toronto needs Vladimir Guerrero to stop forcing the breakthrough
The numbers tell part of the story. ESPN's season line had Guerrero at a .323 average with an .867 OPS, but only 1 home run and 7 RBI through the sample available there.
That is the tension around his season. The batting average is strong enough to calm some of the noise, yet the power output still looks light for a player expected to drive the middle of Toronto's lineup.
And that is where Schneider's comment lands hardest. He is not saying Guerrero needs a full mechanical rebuild. He is saying the switch can flip in one swing, which is another way of saying the problem looks mental as much as physical.
For the Blue Jays, that is still a meaningful difference. A hitter who is lost is one thing. A hitter who is pressing is another, because pressing can vanish the second one loud at-bat resets the night.
Guerrero has already admitted that injuries around the roster have made him want to be the guy even more. Schneider clearly sees the same thing, and his job now is getting his star first baseman back to trusting the game instead of trying to rescue it.
That is why the manager's tone matters. John Schneider is not dismissing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles. He just still believes they can end as quickly as they started, and the Blue Jays need that to be true sooner than later.
Will Vladimir Guerrero Jr. break out of this slump with one big swing?
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