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Nationals are all in because Max Scherzer goes all out Nationals are all in because Max Scherzer goes all out
(about 4 hours later)
VIERA, Fla. — Max Scherzer, the antidote to lethargy, bounced through the hallway just before noon Sunday, impervious to a chaotic morning. VIERA, Fla. — Max Scherzer, the antidote to lethargy, bounced through the hallway just before noon Sunday, impervious to a chaotic morning.
It was an exhausting schedule for everyone but Scherzer. He didn’t look like he had been at Space Coast Stadium since about dawn, joining the Washington Nationals for a hectic schedule that included photo day, live hits from ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” a visit from Major League Baseball officials led by former managers Joe Torre and Jim Leyland and an intrasquad scrimmage. Thirty minutes earlier, Scherzer had thrown 23 pitches in a scoreless inning of work during the game, but he was already out of his uniform and dressed in shorts and running shoes, ready to exercise.It was an exhausting schedule for everyone but Scherzer. He didn’t look like he had been at Space Coast Stadium since about dawn, joining the Washington Nationals for a hectic schedule that included photo day, live hits from ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” a visit from Major League Baseball officials led by former managers Joe Torre and Jim Leyland and an intrasquad scrimmage. Thirty minutes earlier, Scherzer had thrown 23 pitches in a scoreless inning of work during the game, but he was already out of his uniform and dressed in shorts and running shoes, ready to exercise.
If you had asked him to jog a mile, he probably would’ve sprinted. You can’t measure his vivacity on a scale of 1-10 because Scherzer would make the needle break. At all times, he is turned up to 25, at least. If you had asked him to jog a mile, he probably would have sprinted. You can’t measure his vivacity on a scale of 1-10 because Scherzer would make the needle break. At all times, he is turned up to 25, at least.
“You’ve got questions!” he exclaimed to reporters. “I’ve got answers!”“You’ve got questions!” he exclaimed to reporters. “I’ve got answers!”
Scherzer is a persuasive retort to the belief that you must be gentle with pitchers. The fragility of the pitching arm remains a vexing issue, and there is no comprehensive solution because all bodies are different. But caution is a preferred tactic because you really look like a fool if you’re reckless. But Scherzer is full throttle all the time, and he has been durable his entire career.Scherzer is a persuasive retort to the belief that you must be gentle with pitchers. The fragility of the pitching arm remains a vexing issue, and there is no comprehensive solution because all bodies are different. But caution is a preferred tactic because you really look like a fool if you’re reckless. But Scherzer is full throttle all the time, and he has been durable his entire career.
[Scherzer, Joe Ross and others throw in intrasquad game][Scherzer, Joe Ross and others throw in intrasquad game]
Still, the concern never wanes. Scherzer is 31 now and has six years remaining on a $210 million deal. How could he possibly make it to age 37 and still justify his massive salary when he’s being so serious, throwing so much heat and striking out two batters in a meaningless February exhibition? Still, the concern never wanes. Scherzer is 31 and has six years remaining on a $210 million deal. How could he possibly make it to age 37 and still justify his massive salary when he’s being so serious, throwing so much heat and striking out two batters in a meaningless February exhibition?
For Scherzer, relentlessness is the trick. Maybe if he doesn’t stop, nothing will dare try to stop him. That approach isn’t for the majority of pitchers. But it’s all Scherzer knows.For Scherzer, relentlessness is the trick. Maybe if he doesn’t stop, nothing will dare try to stop him. That approach isn’t for the majority of pitchers. But it’s all Scherzer knows.
“I’ve never been a guy who paces himself,” Scherzer said. “I’ve always been, ‘Let’s go.’ I was out there trying to throw balls as hard as I could. But you just kind of know what your arm is capable of. You have to know what you need, take a day where you don’t throw as much as you normally would, to try to give your arm a breather. As soon as you get a day of light catch, you know the next day, if your arm’s gonna feel good. Understanding your body, what it needs, so when you do toe the rubber, you’re able to give everything you’ve got.” “I’ve never been a guy who paces himself,” Scherzer said. “I’ve always been, ‘Let’s go.’ I was out there trying to throw balls as hard as I could. But you just kind of know what your arm is capable of. You have to know what you need, take a day where you don’t throw as much as you normally would to try to give your arm a breather. As soon as you get a day of light catch, you know the next day if your arm’s going to feel good. Understanding your body, what it needs, so when you do toe the rubber, you’re able to give everything you’ve got.”
It’s interesting to compare Scherzer’s approach to another outstanding Cy Young Award winner that I covered for nine seasons in Seattle — Felix Hernandez. Both players are diligent about their conditioning, which is an underrated key. But Hernandez — a six-time all-star who has thrown at least 200 innings in eight straight seasons — has a much more relaxed throwing regimen at the start of spring. Scherzer is already requesting to throw more during bullpen sessions and facing live hitters. Hernandez just threw his first bullpen session on Saturday. It’s interesting to compare Scherzer’s approach to another outstanding Cy Young Award winner whom I covered for nine seasons in Seattle — Felix Hernandez. Both players are diligent about their conditioning, which is an underrated key. But Hernandez — a six-time all-star who has thrown at least 200 innings in eight straight seasons — has a much more relaxed throwing regimen at the start of spring. Scherzer already is requesting to throw more during bullpen sessions and facing live hitters. Hernandez just threw his first bullpen session Saturday.
Hernandez, 29, is about two years younger than Scherzer, but he made it to the majors at 19. He has learned to ease into the season, and he doesn’t throw 96 mph anymore. But he has surpassed 230 innings in five of the last eight seasons. Hernandez, 29, is about two years younger than Scherzer, but he made it to the majors at 19. He has learned to ease into the season, and he doesn’t throw 96 mph anymore. But he has surpassed 230 innings in five of the past eight seasons.
Scherzer is more of a maniac. He starts fast, and if you can’t recall how he finishes, go find video of his no-hitter against the New York Mets last October. Scherzer has made at least 30 starts for the past seven seasons. He has pitched more than 200 innings the past three years and compiled at least 230 strikeouts for four straight years. And that doesn’t include the 62 2/3 innings he has pitched in the postseason during his career. Scherzer is more of a maniac. He starts fast, and if you can’t recall how he finishes, go find video of his no-hitter against the New York Mets in October. Scherzer has made at least 30 starts for the past seven seasons. He has pitched more than 200 innings the past three years and compiled at least 230 strikeouts for four straight years. And that doesn’t include the 62 2/3 innings he has pitched in the postseason during his career.
[Ian Desmond’s ex-Nats teammates wish him well as Rangers left fielder][Ian Desmond’s ex-Nats teammates wish him well as Rangers left fielder]
The difference in how the two aces prepare isn’t as relevant as the fact that they have a deep understanding of how to take care of their bodies. After acknowledging he was out of shape early in his career, Hernandez found a training routine about nine years ago that maximizes his health and performance. Scherzer has always trained hard, but he has refined a few things. Too many pitchers don’t figure out how to prepare until after they suffer a devastating injury. Hernandez and Scherzer didn’t need a setback.The difference in how the two aces prepare isn’t as relevant as the fact that they have a deep understanding of how to take care of their bodies. After acknowledging he was out of shape early in his career, Hernandez found a training routine about nine years ago that maximizes his health and performance. Scherzer has always trained hard, but he has refined a few things. Too many pitchers don’t figure out how to prepare until after they suffer a devastating injury. Hernandez and Scherzer didn’t need a setback.
“Ever since I’ve been 22 years old, I still lift the same,” Scherzer said. “I just kind of condition differently now, and it’s more about fine-tuning my off-speed stuff. For me, now, I came up with only one breaking ball with a slider. Now, I’m trying to pitch with three breaking balls — a curveball, slider and a cutter. For me, it’s about getting the feel of spinning the ball “Ever since I’ve been 22 years old, I still lift the same,” Scherzer said. “I just kind of condition differently now, and it’s more about fine-tuning my off-speed stuff. For me, now, I came up with only one breaking ball with a slider. Now I’m trying to pitch with three breaking balls — a curveball, slider and a cutter. For me, it’s about getting the feel of spinning the ball .”
.” After experiencing Scherzer’s first season with the Nationals, you already know what his dedication can do for a team. In the first half of 2015, he carried an ailing rotation that was supposed to be historically excellent, and despite some second-half woes, Scherzer’s year was outstanding overall: career highs in strikeouts (276) and innings (228 2/3 ); a .918 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched); a ridiculous, MLB-best 8.12 strikeouts-walks ratio; an all-star nod; and two no-hitters.
After experiencing Scherzer’s first season with the Nationals, you already know what his dedication can do for a team. In the first half of 2015, he carried an ailing rotation that was supposed to be historically excellent, and despite some second-half woes, Scherzer’s year was outstanding overall: career highs in strikeouts (276) and innings (228 2/3 ), a .918 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), a ridiculous, MLB-best 8.12 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, an all-star nod and two no-hitters.
[Brewer: Straddling the line between winning now and building for later][Brewer: Straddling the line between winning now and building for later]
That season wasn’t just the result of working hard. Scherzer is smart with his work, too. He has focused on being a more efficient pitcher, throwing more first-pitch strikes, reducing his amount of pitches he throws in early innings and making his work less stressful in the later innings. He’s always been a workhorse, but Scherzer is now a better, more consistent pitcher for longer stretches. That season wasn’t just the result of working hard. Scherzer is smart with his work, too. He has focused on being a more efficient pitcher, throwing more first-pitch strikes, reducing the amount of pitches he throws in early innings and making his work less stressful in the later innings. He always has been a workhorse, but Scherzer is now a better, more consistent pitcher for longer stretches.
“I’d like for him to continue his history of durability,” Manager Dusty Baker said, grinning. “His all-out mentality, that doesn’t bother me. I’d rather have a guy like that, that I’d have to maybe settle down than I would some guy that I’d have to prod to be excited and go forward. “I’d like for him to continue his history of durability,” Manager Dusty Baker said, grinning. “His all-out mentality, that doesn’t bother me. I’d rather have a guy like that that I’d have to maybe settle down than I would some guy that I’d have to prod to be excited and go forward.
“You think he’ll ever be, like, a sedated personality?”“You think he’ll ever be, like, a sedated personality?”
The manager, who has endured criticism for overusing pitchers in the past, laughed. He knows Scherzer is a rare pitching species.The manager, who has endured criticism for overusing pitchers in the past, laughed. He knows Scherzer is a rare pitching species.
“Everybody can’t be like Max Scherzer,” Baker said.“Everybody can’t be like Max Scherzer,” Baker said.
That’s both a compliment and a disappointing truth.That’s both a compliment and a disappointing truth.
For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.