Scherzer, a sabermetric guy.

[Angrioter]

Scherzer's brother, who committed suicide, was a great sabermetric lover. Now, Max is a sabermetric student.

 

Max Scherzer's internal pep talk as he approaches each season, each game and each pitch goes something like this: As an athlete, you're either getting better or you're getting worse.

 

And for Scherzer, there's no option. He's going to get better.

 

This plain-and-simple, professional mantra, along with an ardent curiosity, unyielding determination and good old-fashioned love of the game are all catalysts to Scherzer's career success up to this point. He's a perfectionist, always searching for that next tweak that will improve the way he plays the game. He's simply not content to let himself remain in the same spot for too long.

 

A willingness to evolve his style of pitching has led to a continuous growth spurt on the mound, which involved the 2013 Cy Young Award winner not only reworking a few of his standbys, but also adding more pitches to his collection.

 

When Scherzer started out in 2008 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was known to primarily throw a mid-90's fastball and an 85-mph changeup.

Those two pitches were enough to secure him a memorable MLB debut and a full-time starting position with Arizona heading into the 2009 season.

 

In a nod to both his late brother, Alex, and college major in business finance, Scherzer began to use advanced baseball statistics (sabermetrics) to identify weaknesses in his performance and begin to make improvements. He soon realized that to become fully effective, he'd need a full arsenal of pitches, which meant refining his slider and picking up a strong curveball.

 

Scherzer's fastball has always been his primary pitch and is an offering Tigers manager Brad Ausmus calls "generally always good." A slight decline in fastball velocity -- approximately one mile per hour since 2012 –- hasn't appeared to hinder his heater's effectiveness or strikeout rate.

 

An increased familiarity with his changeup and more control over it in recent years have made this one of his most reliable pitches, as well. As recently as a few starts ago, Scherzer made some adjustments to his changeup (a slight modification to his grip, resulting in more downward action) and has since reported positive results.

 

His slider, a pitch Scherzer has worked for years to refine, frequently bottoms out on batters, dipping at the last possible moment, only after a batter has already committed to a swing. The secret to his curveball was discovered almost by accident when he began slowing the pitch down until he found its point of maximum effectiveness. Fifteen miles per hour slower than his average fastball, he prides his curveball on its ability to disrupt a batter's timing.

 

And just like that, with one tinker after another, Scherzer became a four-pitch weapon.

Scherzer's full battery was on display in last Thursday's 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He employed all four pitch types in the victory, throwing a season-high 14 strikeouts in eight shutout innings, and holding Pittsburgh to three hits and two walks over the contest.

 

Tuesday night in Tampa, Scherzer gave up four runs in the first two innings, but was able to settle down and get through seven innings of an 8-6 Tigers victory in 11 innings. He racked up another nine strikeouts along the way.

 

But today, it will be back to work. After all, those pitches aren't going to keep perfecting themselves.

[Angrioter]

Just another reason to want him

 

and the wRC+ guy Votto

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/2189-Joey-Votto-quot-The-stat-I-value-most-is-wRC-quot/page11?highlight=Votto+wRC%2B

[reedjohnsonfan]

Yes he is cool too! Maybe we could buy low! He has a huge contract and Reds are small market.

 

That's an interesting idea.

[GD]

Zack Cozart is pretty bad. I wonder if they'd be absolutely idiotic enough to do a contract swap for Reyes. Probably not. Even they're not that stupid. Unless it would be a money thing, in which case it'd be plausible considering how much less Reyes is owed.

[TheHurl]

There is no one in baseball that would sell more tickets in Toronto than Votto (which is somewhat sad).

 

As for Scherzer, I don't get why every player wouldn't want to understand this stuff. If it can help you as a player it only makes sense.

[Atothe]

There is no one in baseball that would sell more tickets in Toronto than Votto (which is somewhat sad).

 

As for Scherzer, I don't get why every player wouldn't want to understand this stuff. If it can help you as a player it only makes sense.

 

Because you don't need to delve deep into statistics to better one's career (Roy Halladay). Its nice when the stats validate your hard work but one shouldn't necessarily look to stats on how to improve your results. I highly doubt Scherzer did anything but look at them superficially.

[NorthOf49]

There is no one in baseball that would sell more tickets in Toronto than Votto (which is somewhat sad).

 

As for Scherzer, I don't get why every player wouldn't want to understand this stuff. If it can help you as a player it only makes sense.

Somebody wants to be better at their job? It's a miracle!

[Atothe]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/c-j-wilson-on-spin-rate-arm-angles-and-exploiting-weaknesses/

 

Yet he had a bad season. Not exactly a glowing recommendation. Honestly what percentage of players actually understand any of that stuff even if they hired a analyst to break their game down? I say less then 10%. Majority do not care.

[o2cui2i]

Just another reason to want him

 

Jays just wont ever pony up enough money to make him want to come. Someone will give him stupid money for 7 years.

[o2cui2i]

There is no one in baseball that would sell more tickets in Toronto than Votto (which is somewhat sad).

 

As for Scherzer, I don't get why every player wouldn't want to understand this stuff. If it can help you as a player it only makes sense.

 

not everyone can do the math, but they should all be able to look up their own stats and the stats of opponents. all the information is out there and free...

 

I am even more amazed at why team's dont have numbers guys in control of their scouting. there are still way too many "gut feeling" dinosaurs in the scouting depts.

 

many players forget to keep pushing once they get their big money deal. They've arrived at their goal of money and quit. that's why there are so few who have long successful careers. The best players have a burning desire to never quit trying to be the best and those few are the ones most of us love to watch play.