ICYMI: Blue Jays' Max Scherzer talks pitching, teammates, family with Sportsnet's Hazel Mae
Photo credit: https://x.com/thehazelmae
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer sat down for a one-on-one interview with Sportsnet's Hazel Mae to discuss his love/hate with analytics, his teammates, family and the winning culture in Toronto.
Max Scherzer plays with the analytics, but also has an old school flare for the art of pitching.
Being good isn't good enough, the future hall of famer wants to be great everyday.
Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer shares his thoughts on modern pitching and the art and science of it
In a sit down one-on-one interview with Hazel Mae the first thing she asked Scherzer was: Where do you stand on analytics? And is there a piece of data or information you always go to?
"This is where I have a love, hate, with analytics. Pitching is kind of science and art, with me there is both. When I first came into the game everybody was focused on the art of pitching, for me personally I thought there was a little more science to it. Now as we get more into this part of the game everybody wants to get more into the science part of it, they're looking at every little metric and every little attribute of pitch shape. I've kind of reverted away from it, there is a whole art piece to this, a human dynamic with what the hitter is thinking, where you actually have to locate the ball. I think we kind of overlook that, we sit there and look at the metric of the pitch instead of the location of the pitch or the sequence of the pitch. Everybody talks about the metrics in pitching, nobody talks about the art anymore. Nobody talks about how to pitch in certain situations just the metrics. We are losing the art of pitching, the next generation only talks about metrics. All I talk about with my teammates is the art of pitching."
Scherzer shares on what it's like to be a father and having his sons watch him pitch
Mae followed that up by asking: Being the father of four boys, what do you want your kids to take away from watching you on the mound?
"It's fun, I always see the videos of them watching me pitch on the mound, they're at the age where they can appreciate me still being able to pitch at the highest level it makes it all worth it."
Blue Jays manager John Schneider share his thoughts on Scherzer's approach and his influence on teammates
Scherzer carries his own binder and conducts extensive research.
«He knows exactly what every hitter's slugging percentage is in a certain spot on a certain velo in a certain count,» says Schneider, and that's among the ways the 41-year-old has impressed teammates and coaches all season.
«His stuff is back to where it should be,» said John Schneider. «So, he can be a difference maker down the stretch. It's been trending in the right direction for a while, and back-to-back good starts is really good for us.»
| POLL | ||
AOUT 4 | 153 ANSWERS ICYMI: Blue Jays' Max Scherzer talks pitching, teammates, family with Sportsnet's Hazel Mae Do you agree with Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer's take on the art of pitching? | ||
| Yes | 138 | 90.2 % |
| No | 15 | 9.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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