Blue Jays Coach Provides New Take On Controversial World Series Play
Former Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (who just left the team following the 2025 season) provided a very interesting and refreshing take on Game 7 of the World Series during his recent appearance on The Show podcast.
Mattingly’s insight was fascinating when it came to one of Game 7’s most controversial plays: Isiah Kiner-Falefa being thrown out at home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning by Miguel Rojas in a series of events that many Blue Jays fans have lambasted Kiner-Falefa and the Blue Jays for since, suggesting that Kiner-Falefa’s insufficient lead off of third base cost Toronto a World Series win.
There’s been a ton of discourse about the play, and plenty of pundits came to the defense of Kiner-Falefa in the days following the World Series, stating that IKF did exactly what he was instructed to do by the Blue Jays’ staff. Further analysis suggested that Toronto’s guidance of Kiner-Falefa was sound in the scenario, diminishing claims that the Blue Jays blew the game during that moment.
Mattingly, however, offered a bit of a mixture of both perspectives with his own intel. While Mattingly acknowledged that IKF’s lead had to be somewhat cautious due to the danger of being doubled off at third on a line drive, Mattingly also admitted that the Blue Jays’ staff could have been more aware of the detail that Daulton Varsho (the batter at the plate during the play) pretty much never lines out to third base.
Mattingly suggested that if the Blue Jays’ staff had had more time to think about the situation, they may have realized the Varsho element and allowed Kiner-Falefa a more generous lead.
It was a very worthwhile perspective from the legend Mattingly that is sure to rile up Blue Jays fans all over again in the days to come.