Anyone heard of Max Scherzer
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:54 pm
He's a 6-foot-3 strikeout machine for the Diamondbacks fresh from the minor leagues and armed with a glossy dossier, ready for a chance to become a star. On Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 20,241, his major-league career began with a bang.
Relieving an ineffective Edgar Gonzalez, who lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs against the Houston Astros, the right-handed Scherzer made his debut a memorable one.
The former first-round draft choice, a starting pitcher who was called upon earlier this week to help fill a temporary need in the bullpen, was lights out. The Diamondbacks lost 6-4, but Scherzer energized Chase Field with a performance one would expect from a veteran.
In 4 1/3 innings, Scherzer, 23, retired all 13 batters he faced, striking out seven during a 47-pitch effort that included 35 strikes. When he walked off the field for good after the top of the seventh inning, he was treated to a rousing standing ovation. "He's good. He's got a live arm," said Astros third baseman Geoff Blum, who hit a three-run double off Gonzalez in the third. "We didn't know much about him, other than all the hype. . . . But he threw strikeouts, and that's what you need to do. He's going to be good."
Scherzer routinely hit 96 mph with his fastball, but he used decent off-speed pitches to keep the Astros off balance.
Since 1956, the most batters to be retired from a pitcher making his debut as a reliever was 12, accomplished by the Dodgers' Pete Richert on April 12, 1962. The seven strikeouts were one short of the major-league record for most in a debut relief appearance, as the Pirates' Barry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986.
"I was excited and really just anxious to get out there and see what happens," Scherzer said. "I just wanted to get it over with. I wasn't nervous. I just wanted to do my thing.
"But the game slowed down for me, and that helped."
He’s starting Monday against the Phillies..
Relieving an ineffective Edgar Gonzalez, who lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs against the Houston Astros, the right-handed Scherzer made his debut a memorable one.
The former first-round draft choice, a starting pitcher who was called upon earlier this week to help fill a temporary need in the bullpen, was lights out. The Diamondbacks lost 6-4, but Scherzer energized Chase Field with a performance one would expect from a veteran.
In 4 1/3 innings, Scherzer, 23, retired all 13 batters he faced, striking out seven during a 47-pitch effort that included 35 strikes. When he walked off the field for good after the top of the seventh inning, he was treated to a rousing standing ovation. "He's good. He's got a live arm," said Astros third baseman Geoff Blum, who hit a three-run double off Gonzalez in the third. "We didn't know much about him, other than all the hype. . . . But he threw strikeouts, and that's what you need to do. He's going to be good."
Scherzer routinely hit 96 mph with his fastball, but he used decent off-speed pitches to keep the Astros off balance.
Since 1956, the most batters to be retired from a pitcher making his debut as a reliever was 12, accomplished by the Dodgers' Pete Richert on April 12, 1962. The seven strikeouts were one short of the major-league record for most in a debut relief appearance, as the Pirates' Barry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986.
"I was excited and really just anxious to get out there and see what happens," Scherzer said. "I just wanted to get it over with. I wasn't nervous. I just wanted to do my thing.
"But the game slowed down for me, and that helped."
He’s starting Monday against the Phillies..
