Remember back on April 30, 2023, Cal Raleigh crushed two homers in a 10–8 Mariners win over the Blue Jays. Toronto manager John Schneider downplayed it, saying, “He’s not very tough to pitch to when you execute your pitches.” Fast forward to this year’s ALCS, with the same two teams squaring off again, and that old quote is making the rounds.

But things are different now… Raleigh’s gone from a 30-homer guy to leading the league with 60 bombs this year while hitting .247. And this time around, Schneider isn’t letting those old comments about Raleigh become any storyline. “I don’t want that to be a narrative in this series at all. I think he’s a phenomenal player.” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith shared how Schneider just backtracked from his previous comment.

Given how Raleigh has been a nightmare for the Blue Jays over the years, it’s no surprise that Schneider is softening his stance. And guess what, the numbers say it all…

Raleigh has absolutely tormented Toronto’s pitching. Reportedly, in 2023, he posted a 1.586 OPS with five homers and eight RBIs. In 2024, he followed that up with an .868 OPS, two homers, and three RBIs. And this season, he’s still at it, hitting .935 with a homer and four RBIs. So, that adds up to a massive 1.116 OPS, eight HRs, and 15 RBIs in just 17 games against the Jays. For the unversed, that’s way above his .825 OPS versus other teams over the past three seasons.

So now, as the Blue Jays chase their first World Series title since 1993, Schneider isn’t about to poke the bear again. “I think he’s a phenomenal player, and we’re definitely going to be aware of where he is in the lineup,” he said. That’s a clear sign that the Jays skipper is ready to bury the hatchet with the guy who’s been their biggest headache.

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And just if you think that the Jays are the favorite in the ALCS, the reality says otherwise! Notably, ESPN’s MLB panel predicted the 2025 ALCS results, and it turns out that the Mariners have the upper hand. 8 experts, including Jeff Passan, voted for the Mariners, while the Jays got 7 votes. Hence, it’s commendable that Schneider accepted the reality and preferred to stay grounded in the ALCS.

The Jays have a history with the Mariners

Well, this ALCS is going to be the latest edition of the decorated rivalry between the Blue Jays and Mariners.

Back in April, things got heated between the Blue Jays and Mariners when Jose Berrios thought Raleigh was tipping pitches to his teammates. Result? Words were exchanged, and both benches cleared. And for a moment, it looked like things might get ugly, but they just stopped short of a full brawl. Still, Raleigh got the last laugh. He ripped a game-tying double off Berrios, and Seattle went on to win 8–4 in extras.

Afterward, Raleigh didn’t hide his frustration, saying, “I didn’t have the pitches. But that’s just how it is. I’d want my pitchers doing the same thing if somebody thought they were tipping.”

So, given that history, it’s easy to see why Schneider is taking a more diplomatic approach this time around. It makes sense for him to bury the hatchet, as the Jays have learned the hard way that firing up Raleigh usually ends badly for them. But let’s see if it means Raleigh also moved away from the past.