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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Scherzer Impresses in Loss

No witnesses of Tuesday night’s game will be talking about the shaky start by Edgar Gonzalez, the Diamondbacks’ defensive miscues or their missed opportunities at the plate.

Not after Max Scherzer made his major-league debut.

Firing fastballs up to 98 mph, the rookie right-hander threw an overpowering 4 1/3 innings in relief, retiring all 13 batters he faced while dominating the Houston Astros in front of 20,241 at Chase Field…

Scherzer entered in place of Gonzalez, and it now seems likely that the club will flip-flop the pitchers’ roles, with Gonzalez moving into long relief and Scherzer getting a crack at pitching every fifth day.

Manager Bob Melvin seemed to half-smirk when asked about the possibility, saying it was too soon after the game to make a determination.

“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now. There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a set-up guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.”

We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: April 30, 2008 at 07:08 AM | 32 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Kyle S at work Posted: April 30, 2008 at 11:59 AM (#2763985)

How long until levski and shoewizard make an appearance? Quite a debut for Mad Max. The Sturgeon Generals can't wait to slot him into their rotation, hopefully for a two-start week next week. Does Gonzalez have another scheduled start this Sunday?

2. Kyle S at work Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:23 PM (#2764010)

Here's the MLB.com video of the out pitches.

The called strikeout in the second inning Max pitched was pretty dubious. Other than that, pretty filthy stuff. The 88mph diving pitch - what the hell was that? It seemed too fast to be a changeup and looked like a splitter or something. The changeup where he induced the broken bat ground-out was a great pitch.

3. BeanoCook Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:26 PM (#2764012)

I used to think Kershaw is better than Scherzer, but not after last night. A fastball consistently over 95 with more movement and sink than any fastball, that pitch is impossible to hit.

4. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:26 PM (#2764013)

The called strikeout in the second inning Max pitched was pretty dubious.

It came after he'd thrown a slider down the middle for a ball.

5. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:40 PM (#2764020)

Kyle, I posted here last night.

Does Gonzalez have another scheduled start this Sunday?

Uh, no. And that's my final answer.

6. Repoz

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:50 PM (#2764031)

Max Scherzer is yet another reason that the Dbacks are a must watch team.

Now if something could only be done with Mark Grace and the constant panning of the sign-holding igno's in the crowd.

7. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:51 PM (#2764034)

Nick Piecoro with interesting comments before Scherzer's start. In short, he believes the Dbacks used the "tired bullpen" as an excuse to get Scherzer in the majors. Josh Byrnes made the trip down to Tucson to see Scherzer in his last start there (which ironically was Scherzer's worst start this year in AAA) and the Dbacks front office must've made up their minds that Mad Max is ready. Max is light years better than Edgar, no doubt; however, he's much better than Doug Davis as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Davis is ready to come off the DL

8. Kyle S at work Posted: April 30, 2008 at 12:57 PM (#2764039)

But he is scheduled this week? So if Scherzer takes that start, he won't get two starts next week? Dammit.

9. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 01:00 PM (#2764044)

The Dbacks have an off day on Thursday, and that'll push everyone back a day. So it'll be Webb on Fri, Owings on Sat, Haren on Sun (I believe). That would put Scherzer on course to start two games next week

Looking at the schedule, Scherzer's two starts will be vs. PHI and @ CHN

10. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 30, 2008 at 01:03 PM (#2764047)

"It'll be interesting to see what happens when Davis is ready to come off the DL."

I think that people have, in general, been way too optimistic about the timeline for his recovery. As such, it won't be an issue for a while.

11. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 01:04 PM (#2764049)

Vlad, I think Davis has been very optimistic about the timeline. The Dbacks (and their fans) have been quite cautious.

12. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: April 30, 2008 at 01:53 PM (#2764062)

it'll be Webb on Fri, Owings on Sat, Haren on Sun (I believe).

Make that Owings on Fri, Webb on Sat, Haren on Sun, vs. the Mets

13. We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2764241)

Max Scherzer is yet another reason that the Dbacks are a must watch team.

The great part is that once Scherzer goes to the rotation, all of a sudden Dan Haren becomes their least interesting starting pitcher.

Webb is Webb. Johnson's on a race against Father Time to get to 300 (and still pitching well). Owings is a must-watch every time he's in the lineup. And now you're going to add Scherzer?!?

Sure Dan Haren, you started the all-star game last year and got some #######' facial hair to boot, but you really need to get yourself some kind of "hook".

14. AROM Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:36 PM (#2764250)

Owings is a must-watch every time he's in the lineup.

Owings only has good pitching numbers because he's the only pitcher in baseball who will never have to pitch to Micah Owings.

15. We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:46 PM (#2764270)

Max Scherzer is one of those NL-inflated prospects, levski.

Don't forget his PCL-inflated pitching stats!

16. Kyle S at work Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:46 PM (#2764271)

kevin, you had a perfect chance to mention PCL stats inflation! You blew it!

EDIT: Damn - too slow.

17. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: April 30, 2008 at 05:21 PM (#2764335)

This is in a Rotoworld column today:

The possibility of a Randy Johnson further increases the chances that Scherzer can remain in the rotation.

I laughed.

18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 30, 2008 at 06:43 PM (#2764475)

"The Dbacks (and their fans) have been quite cautious."

This is probably true; as a local, you'd have a much better feel for such things than I do. I only see national coverage, and most of that has seemed to be relatively sanguine.

19. Moe Greene Posted: April 30, 2008 at 08:17 PM (#2764572)

Now that he's officially been announced as Monday's starter... Fantasy time...

I've held off on using a waiver claim so far, and now I have the #1 priority. Is Scherzer worth that #1 waiver priority?

20. Dan Posted: April 30, 2008 at 09:12 PM (#2764585)

Max Scherzer is yet another reason that the Dbacks are a must watch team.

Now if something could only be done with Mark Grace and the constant panning of the sign-holding igno's in the crowd.

Agreed on both counts. I've been watching them a lot this year.

21. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: April 30, 2008 at 10:58 PM (#2764648)

Max Scherzer is yet another reason that the Dbacks are a must watch team.

Now if something could only be done with Mark Grace and the constant panning of the sign-holding igno's in the crowd.

They spent alot of time on these hicks last night. Long enough for me to get a capture of them.

22. ValueArb Posted: May 01, 2008 at 12:11 AM (#2764721)

Micah's pinch hit home run that tied the game must have been his desperate attempt to grab the "most interesting" title back on the Diamondback's staff...

23. Robert S. Posted: May 01, 2008 at 12:38 AM (#2764777)

As good as his stuff looked, the most impressive thing about Scherzer was the command. Into the fire against the Phillies - I can't wait.

24. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: May 01, 2008 at 02:53 AM (#2764790)

Moe, if your team needs pitching help, Scherzer might be a good gamble. If you have enough pitching and are holding out for offense, you might want to wait a bit for Jay Bruce, for example.

Dahlian, I'm pretty sure Byrnes recognizes Scherzer belongs in the rotation

Byrnes and Melvin talked before the game, very briefly, and swapped Scherzer and EGonzalez in the rotation. Word is the conversation went like this:

BM: Dude?
JB: Dude!
BM: Dude.

25. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:08 AM (#2764799)

Scherzer does get 2 tough matchups next week: Phillies and Cubs at home. Both team have power, and can cause some serious damage. The Dbacks won't be babying Max like they did RJ, bringing him in to face the weaklings of the NL West. Then again, Scherzer gives AZ a better shot at winning those two games; Edgar would've been tortured, tarred and feathered by the time Grace could put his "Boooya" voice on.

26. shoewizard Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:39 AM (#2764814)

I think that people have, in general, been way too optimistic about the timeline for his recovery. As such, it won't be an issue for a while.

Doug's Dad post at DBBP once in a while under the name Daddy D. He was kind enough to share this information with us.

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
I understand that some of you think Doug will be out for awhile. I'm going to bring you up to speed. Tuesday he goes in to take the radiation pill to kill any remaining cancer, if any, he hopes to have a start soon after that in Tucson and depending on how things go be back with the team soon after. He says that he feels great. He'll has started taking his thyroid pills to lower his THS. So depending on what happens with the radiation pill he should be back on track. Go D-Backs

Link

Doug has been seen playing catch since about a week after the surgery. If things go ok with the radiation pill, and he doesn't have any strong reactions to it, I would think he would throw a couple of bullpens within the next week, and then a couple of rehab starts. It's not out of the question he could be back by May 15th. Optimistic, sure, but not out of the question. And if RJ has 2 or 3 more starts like he did today, it may not be Scherzer that Davis replaces when he comes back.

27. BeanoCook Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:55 AM (#2764825)

A couple of comments to rain on this parade. What is Scherzer's innings limit this year (OCT included) and let's chalk this 1st appearance up to luck. BABIP of .000 is unsustainable.

kidding! That is actually my biggest pet peeve of the past 2 years. Way too many fringe fans posing as stats analysts only understood part of the BABIP work. Now anyone that is above or below .300 you hear some of the worst analysis. Pitchers can make a difference, Voros was wrong, or at best, not entirely correct.

28. shoewizard Posted: May 01, 2008 at 04:19 AM (#2764834)

HUH?
Talk about out of left field. Who is talking about BABIP and Voros here?

Oh, and what exactly is a "fringe fan".....is that something like a "lesser primate" ?

29. shoewizard Posted: May 03, 2008 at 11:13 PM (#2768105)

Guess I had this one kind of right in #29 above. Steve Gilbert of MLB.com wrote:

PHOENIX -- Doug Davis was hoping to return from thyroid cancer surgery on May 9. The left-hander isn't going to make that date, but he's not going to miss it by much.

Davis, who took his iodine pill on Tuesday, threw a bullpen session on Friday, and he said that he expects to start his rehab assignment either Monday in extended Spring Training or with Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday.

"We'll sit down and map out a plan here in the next day or two," Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes said.

"I'm going to need at least two starts in the Minor Leagues," said Davis, who had his cancerous thyroid removed April 10. "We'll see what happens after that. I'm trying to be back for the Detroit series [on May 16-17]."

Link

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Scherzer Impresses in Loss

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