John Schneider didn't sugarcoat it after Jeff Hoffman's latest blown save, and the message was pointed directly at a problem that's dogged him all season.
The Toronto Blue Jays lost their last game before the break after Kevin Gausman's strong start went to waste in the eighth inning.
Xander Bogaerts and pinch runner Jase Bowen both stole bases against Hoffman, setting up a go-ahead sacrifice fly from Ty France that sealed the loss.
Stolen bases have been a real problem for Hoffman all year. He's now allowed 13 steals in 16 attempts this season, a number that's impossible to ignore at this point.
Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith didn't hold back either, writing that Toronto ranks among the bottom five in baseball in runs scored and "too often gotten in their own way" with moments exactly like this one.
Schneider was direct about where the fix needs to happen.
"We've got to give the catcher a chance," Schneider said. "It's something we've talked about a lot."
Why this issue keeps resurfacing at the worst times
Hoffman's numbers back up why this particular flaw stands out. He's carrying a 4.57 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP across 44 appearances this season.
Even when Hoffman executes his pitches well, letting runners advance easily adds pressure on both him and Toronto's defense behind him.
That's the frustrating part. A pitcher can do everything right on the mound and still lose control of a game because of what's happening on the bases.
It's a bit like locking every door in the house but leaving one window wide open the whole time.
Does a fixable mechanical issue like this actually get solved with a conversation, or does it take repeated in-game consequences before real change happens?
Toronto enters the break at 45-51, and Hoffman's habit of allowing steals has become exactly the kind of self-inflicted problem this team can't afford if it wants any real shot at October.
Is Jeff Hoffman's stolen base problem a bigger concern than his ERA right now?
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