Max Scherzer Experiments With Pitch Clock Limits

Max Scherzer Experiments With Pitch Clock Limits

Major League Baseball's new pitch clock has provided pitchers and hitters with an opportunity to experiment with strategies. Max Scherzer was no exception as he attempted his second spring training start Friday against the limits of the rules.

Scherzer held the ball until 0:00 before throwing to Riley Adams, hoping the umpires would call him for a balk. With runners on first and second, Scherzer wanted to wait to see if the umpires would call him out on it.

Umpires aren’t sure what to do with Max Scherzer’s balk

Major League Baseball pitcher Max Scherzer knows exactly what it takes to succeed, and that has nothing but hard work and dedication. That drive has enabled him to excel in big games - whether they be single games or the postseason. His competitive spirit has earned him many admirers throughout his career.

He's known for his success, but also has a tendency to get emotional on the mound. He frequently shouts and yells at umpires or teammates. Furthermore, he has an unusual eye condition - heterochromia iridum - where each eye has different colors.

That means when faced with an important moment like Scherzer did in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series in 2016, he can become overwhelmed by emotion. That explains why he struggled so much in that particular scenario.

After allowing three runs in that inning, Scherzer was removed from the game. He attempted to control his emotions in such a critical moment but it did not work out.

On his next start, Scherzer experienced a minor misstep when the pitch clock hit zero in the third inning - an error which ultimately cost him the game 6-3 to the Nationals. That is because in basketball it's common for shot clocks to run down before balls are pitched; something Scherzer was curious if there were similar rules in baseball as well.

What happened was that Washington's right-hander threw a slider to Tabata in the high and outside corner of the strike zone, but as expected, Tabata didn't have time to swing before it hit his glove. There was some movement toward swinging, but not enough for it off of his pad - which provided all the information the umpire needed to call for a balk.

Though the rule is straightforward, umpires often struggle with how best to apply it. They don't want to take away a chance for the Nationals to win a game but also don't want to confuse batters and give them an unfair advantage.

Umpires are uncertain of their ability to resolve this grey area in the future; it's too subjective, and they don't want to spend the time trying to figure it out.

Scherzer’s balk was a good learning experience

Scherzer has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for years, so his balk during Friday's Nationals' 6-3 win against the Mets wasn't particularly surprising. Instead, it served as a valuable learning experience for him as he struggled to adjust to new pitch clock limits.

This season, MLB implemented several rules designed to increase speed and action in the game - an effort they hope will improve player safety and create more excitement for fans. While not perfect and there have been some questions about its application, Scherzer believes the pitch clock will give him control of the pace of play.

He's confident he can utilize the pitch clock to his advantage in other situations, like during Friday's game when he tried various strategies to disrupt Washington hitters' rhythms. Thanks to some creative moves by Scherzer and home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs, the Nationals scored two runs in the third inning.

Riggs initially called Scherzer's fastball to Robles a balk, but after the pitcher reset the clock and threw a low pitch to Adams, Riggs decided to award it an automatic ball. This marked the first time since inception of this rule that Riggs had seen such an occurrence.

In the inning before that, Scherzer allowed a run on three hits and intentionally walked a batter. He'd thrown six pitches, including two strikes, but no hits were made by any of them. Finally, an error by shortstop Luis Guillorme allowed for another run to score, giving Washington a commanding 3-0 lead.

With runners on first and second with no outs, the Nationals turned to their bullpen. Unfortunately, this cost them both the lead and a chance at tying the game.

After returning to the field, they turned once more to their bullpen as the Nationals allowed the Dodgers to score another run in the fifth. One more run was added on in the sixth before Scherzer left due to an injury to his hamstring.

On Wednesday night, Max Scherzer was warmly received by Dodgers fans in the seventh inning as he donned his signature blue uniform. As the Los Angeles crowd cheered for the ace, his teammates in the dugout gave him high-fives and hugs in return.

Scherzer achieved an amazing victory this season after overcoming a challenging 2017 campaign that ended due to his check swing. Although his ERA is still high this season, he's still producing impressive numbers and striking out plenty of batters - ranking second in the league in strikeout percentage and one of the best at mixing up pitches. It has been an amazing journey for him.

Scherzer says he’s confident he can use the pitch clock to his advantage

Scherzer isn't too concerned about the pitch clock, and he plans to experiment with batters' timing in order to take advantage of the new rule changes that have been instituted.

Pitchers have 15 seconds with no bases loaded and 20 seconds with runners on base, plus eight additional seconds to be inside the batter's box.

But that's not the only advantage they can exploit, and there are other aspects to consider as well. Additionally, these changes will have a major effect on the game's players; some will adapt more successfully than others.

Some umpires are uncertain what to make of a balk, while others worry that the new rules will give hitters an advantage. That's why some pitchers are taking extra precautions in order to ensure they don't get caught breaking the laws.

Another new rule is that hitters can only request time once per plate appearance. If they do, the pitcher will be charged with a ball and they will be given a strike.

Some hitters may find this change counterintuitive, having spent years honing their timing and finding the ideal moment to swing at a pitch. And while Scherzer believes he can utilize the pitch clock strategically, he also wants to take care so as not to injure himself or others in the process.

He was pleased with how the pitch clock worked on Monday night, when he pitched two scoreless innings of shutout ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed just one hit and recorded five strikeouts.

Scherzer also noted he has some other strategies to employ with the new rules. In addition to throwing a fastball that's hard to hit, he's considering using curveballs more frequently.

"This is something we must work together on as a team to address. We need to determine our strategy and see if there's any benefit," he said.

Scherzer anticipates being able to manipulate hitters' timing in his favor, giving him an edge in games where being the most effective is key.

Scherzer is focused on getting ready for the Mets' opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he hopes to have a strong start and then stay healthy enough to make it to the postseason, where he hopes to repeat as Cy Young Award-winning pitcher.

Scherzer and his teammates felt Scherzer's balk was a beneficial learning experience, teaching them about how the new rules will impact the game. After surgery to repair a fracture in his left shoulder earlier this season, he is glad to be back pitching for the Mets again. As part of their rotation, they're counting on him to help them win the World Series this year.