MLB playoffs 2025: Mariners manager Dan Wilson on decision to pitch Eduard Bazardo against George Springer: 'Sometimes you have to live and die with it' Jason OwensOctober 21, 2025 at 2:09 AM 0 The secondguessing of Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson probably began before George Springer even cross...
- - MLB playoffs 2025: Mariners manager Dan Wilson on decision to pitch Eduard Bazardo against George Springer: 'Sometimes you have to live and die with it'
Jason OwensOctober 21, 2025 at 2:09 AM
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The second-guessing of Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson probably began before George Springer even crossed home plate after his stunning, three-run home run to propel the Toronto Blue Jays to the World Series.
The blast was euphoric for Toronto, which won the AL pennant with a 4-3 victory largely on strength of Springer's blast into the left-field bleachers at Rogers Centre. For Seattle, it was a gut punch that will haunt the franchise that was eight outs away from reaching its first World Series.
And it raised hard questions for Wilson, whose fateful decision in that pivotal seventh inning to pitch reliever Eduard Bazardo instead of closer Andres Muñoz prompted immediate second-guessing in his postgame news conference.
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There was speculation before the pitching change that Wilson would go with Muñoz for a two-plus-inning save. Muñoz had pitched just two innings in the ALCS and was relatively fresh for the series finale. And he hadn't allowed a run in 6 1/3 postseason innings.
Bazardo, meanwhile, had pitched five innings in three ALCS appearances, including a two-inning stint in Sunday's 6-2 loss in Game 2. He also pitched in all five games of Seattle's 3-2 ALDS win over the Detroit Tigers.
So why did Wilson make the call that he did?
GEORGE SPRINGERTHREE-RUN SHOTBLUE JAYS LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Qh7qwqYpRx
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2025
Wilson talks decision to pitch Bazardo
"Bazardo has been the guy that's gotten us through those situation[s], those tight ones, especially in the pivot role, and that's where we were going at that point," Wilson told reporters.
Until Bazardo entered the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners were in control. Julio Rodriguez led off the game with a double and came around to score, and the Mariners went into the seventh with a 3-1 lead behind strong pitching from starter George Kirby and regular-season starter Bryan Woo, who came out of the bullpen in the fifth.
Woo pitched two scoreless innings but allowed two baserunners with no outs to begin the seventh. After a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, Woo's night was done. Then came Wilson's call to put Bazardo in the game.
Two pitches into Bazardo's appearance, Springer hit the home run that shifted the outcome of the series. The Blue Jays now have a chance to secure their first World Series title since 1993. The Mariners will continue to wait for their first World Series since, well, ever.
Did Wilson consider putting Muñoz in the game?
When asked specifically if he considered Muñoz in that spot, Wilson didn't provide a direct answer. He instead recalled his reasoning for pitching Bazardo.
"Well, I think, like we said, Bazardo's been doing it all is season long and has been so consistent at it, and he's done such a good job all year," Wilson said. "We felt really comfortable with him out there, the way he's been throwing the ball, especially in this series, and it was a good spot for him."
As the news conference went on, reporters took one more shot at asking directly about Muñoz. This time, Wilson was asked, "Does that stick with you at all?" that Muñoz didn't get into the game until the eighth inning, after Seattle had surrendered the lead.
Wilson once again talked about Bazardo.
"Yeah, I mean, you make your decisions, and sometimes you have to live and die with it," he said. "I think, again, the way Bazardo has thrown the ball all season long, we were comfortable with where we were, and it just, again, didn't go our way."
The loss caps an otherwise thrilling season for the Mariners that featured one of the great home run campaigns in baseball history from MVP candidate Cal Raleigh and gave Seattle legitimate hope of winning a World Series.
Monday's loss, obviously, means that that the Mariners won't. At least, not this year. It's a lot to process for the Mariners and their fans — and, understandably, for Wilson.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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