{"id":65801,"date":"2022-09-04T15:28:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-04T15:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzers-setback-shows-nothing-will-come-easy-for-mets\/"},"modified":"2022-09-04T15:28:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T15:28:00","slug":"max-scherzers-setback-shows-nothing-will-come-easy-for-mets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzers-setback-shows-nothing-will-come-easy-for-mets\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Scherzer&#8217;s setback shows nothing will come easy for Mets"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--columnist inline-module--author\">\n<div class=\"inline-module--author__img\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Max Scherzer walking down the Citi Field tunnel, followed by a pitching coach and trainer, is not the image Mets fans were hoping to see five innings and 67 pitches deep into what was expected to be a slam-dunk event Saturday night.<\/p>\n<p>Mad Max was supposed to finally nail down career victory No.  200 \u2014 after two failed attempts \u2014 against his former team, the MLB-worst Nationals, and nobody would have been surprised had he delivered eight special innings to mark the occasion, striking out hapless hitters left and right.<\/p>\n<p>But disappear down that tunnel he did, with the score at 1-1, and by the time the Mets announced that Scherzer had departed with fatigue on his left side, they were just starting the process of losing by a 7-1 count.  Of course, the loss didn&#8217;t matter half as much as the alarm bells ringing around the 38-year-old Scherzer, who missed nearly seven weeks earlier this season with an oblique injury on the same side.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s just another example that nothing is ever easy about baseball.  Like golf, it is a sport built around failure and heartbreak, and it&#8217;s all but designed to bring you to your knees.<\/p>\n<p>The bad news is the Braves beat the Marlins, cutting their NL East deficit to two games behind the Mets.  The good news is Scherzer said that he expects to make his next start, and that he could&#8217;ve gone out for the sixth inning under different circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn&#8217;t hurt myself,\u201d he maintained.  Mad Max had beaten himself to a pulp over his decision in May to try to pitch through his oblique tightness, calling it \u201cunacceptable,\u201d and he refused to repeat the mistake and then face the very teammates he would&#8217;ve let down.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"610\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C610&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Max Scherzer\" class=\"wp-image-23732119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption>Max Scherzer<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NY Post: Michelle Farsi<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Scherzer said he first felt the fatigue in the fourth inning, and decided he had to take this precautionary move \u201cespecially where the calendar&#8217;s at.  There&#8217;s no time left to re-ramp back up.  \u2026 I just had to play it smart.  There was just too much risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manager Buck Showalter had said before the game that his starter \u201cdoes a great job separating the months\u201d and understanding what each month is about.  Scherzer then went out and proved he understood exactly what September baseball means for October baseball.<\/p>\n<p>We will see if this setback impacts Scherzer in any meaningful way.  Meanwhile, Showalter is always citing the baseball gods for a reason.  If you want to make them laugh, the manager says, tell them about your plans.<\/p>\n<p>At least the Mets aren&#8217;t unraveling like the Yankees.<\/p>\n<p>And that schedule of theirs is still as soft as your favorite pillow.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"no\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=NYPH6681568823&amp;light=true%20\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Not that Showalter ever wants to talk about it.  In fact, if you are not asking about the opponent standing directly in front of his team, he would rather spend double the time he&#8217;s already spent in US Open traffic than engage the question.<\/p>\n<p>Entering this holiday weekend series, the Mets were set to play 24 of their final 30 games against the Nationals, Pirates, Marlins, Cubs, and Athletics, teams that entered Saturday a combined 151 games below .500.  Even though they still have to play a series at Atlanta (and one at Milwaukee), the Mets have been gifted the schedule maker&#8217;s version of a red carpet right onto the October stage.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Showalter&#8217;s face might turn redder than that carpet if someone were to bring that up.  He&#8217;s forever talking about the need to respect every club, about the need to take nothing for granted.  Showalter very much subscribes to the notion that the other guys are on scholarship too, no matter what the wins and losses say.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why he acted taken aback when asked if the standings would dictate whether he gave a day of rest to a key player down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Applicant?&#8221;  Showalter said.  \u201cSure, if we got it clinched we&#8217;ll rest some people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The manager then rattled off the number of days off he has found for the Pete Alonsos and Francisco Lindors on the roster.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re trying to win, right?\u201d  Showalter said.  \u201cI don&#8217;t foresee it being easy to get to.  I don&#8217;t think Atlanta&#8217;s doing anything.  I think Philadelphia&#8217;s right there too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia was 11 \u00bd games behind the Mets when Showalter gave that response.  It&#8217;s his job to worry about everything.<\/p>\n<p>The Braves remain an ultra-legitimate and serious concern, for all the obvious reasons.  The Mets just need to beat the bad teams often enough to hold Atlanta off.<\/p>\n<p>Scherzer was in prime position against Washington to advance the cause.  He has seen it all in baseball, and his experience should be an invaluable asset this month and beyond.  Scherzer&#8217;s leadership, Showalter said, \u201cis more by example.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd believe me, he&#8217;s got an opinion on it, and on what works and what doesn&#8217;t and what you&#8217;d better be ready for if we can get to that point where we&#8217;re in the playoffs.  But he&#8217;s very, &#8216;I&#8217;ll show you.  And if I need to tell you I will, but just watch.&#8217;  \u201d<\/p>\n<p>Saturday night, the Mets could only watch the great Scherzer exit, stage left, after 67 pitches.  Suddenly their schedule didn&#8217;t look quite as easy as it looked two hours earlier.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Max Scherzer walking down the Citi Field tunnel, followed by a pitching coach and trainer, is not the image Mets fans were hoping to see five innings and 67 pitches deep into what was expected to be a slam-dunk event Saturday night. Mad Max was supposed to finally nail down career victory No. 200 \u2014 &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzers-setback-shows-nothing-will-come-easy-for-mets\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Max Scherzer&#8217;s setback shows nothing will come easy for Mets<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[3304,1732,661,1476,307],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":65357,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/new-york-mets-ace-max-scherzer-leaves-game-with-apparent-injury\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":0},"title":"New York Mets ace Max Scherzer Leaves Game With Apparent Injury","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Not a great sign. New York Mets ace Max Scherzer left Saturday night's game against the Washington Nationals with an apparent injury. After throwing 67 pitches across five innings, Scherzer was seen walking back into the clubhouse with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and a trainer following behind him. right hander\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65863,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/mets-ace-max-scherzer-eases-panic-after-explaining-why-he-left-saturday-start-early\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":1},"title":"Mets ace Max Scherzer eases panic after explaining why he left Saturday start early","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! New York Mets fans can breathe a sigh of relief after hearing what ace Max Scherzer had to say following an abrupt ending to his start on Sunday at Citi Field. Scherzer left the Mets' game against the Washington Nationals early due\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65385,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/new-york-mets-max-scherzer-leaves-after-5-innings-due-to-fatigue-on-left-side\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":2},"title":"New York Mets&#8217; Max Scherzer leaves after 5 innings due to &#8216;fatigue&#8217; on left side","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"New York Mets right-hander Max Scherzer left his start earlier than expected Saturday against the Washington Nationals because he felt \"fatigued\" on his left side, the team said.Scherzer lasted just five innings and 67 pitches, departing with the score tied 1-1. The Nats went on to win 7-1.Scherzer said afterward\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65363,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzer-exits-start-early\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":3},"title":"Max Scherzer exits start early","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"NEW YORK -- For Max Scherzer, a milestone win is proving elusive. Now for the sake of a Mets team hoping to ride Scherzer deep into October, they hope it won't be too long before he gets another bite at that apple. This after the oblique issue that shelved Scherzer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1552,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzer-treated-mets-minor-league-teammates-to-7k-meal\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":4},"title":"Max Scherzer treated Mets minor league teammates to $7k meal","date":"July 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"For a minor league player, it's always exciting when a major leaguer comes down for a rehab assignment. It's even more exciting when that major leaguer is future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. After making his second and final start in Binghamton with the Rumble Ponies, Scherzer made sure the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Max Scherzer throws during a rehab start for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on June 21, 2022.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/scherzer-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11777,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/max-scherzer-dominates-as-mets-beat-braves-in-series-opener\/","url_meta":{"origin":65801,"position":5},"title":"Max Scherzer dominates as Mets beat Braves in series-opener","date":"July 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"ATLANTA \u2014 Truist Park became circus Maximus on Monday, but only one ace named Max really delivered. That was Max Scherzer, who dominated the opposition while his Braves counterpart, Max Fried, was lucky to survive the early innings. With Scherzer in charge the Mets' wasted opportunities weren't so pronounced. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Max Scherzer pitches Monday during the Mets' win over the Braves.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/BASEBALL-MLB-CIN-NYM_-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Max-Scherzer-2-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65801"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65801\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}