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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Max Scherzer strikes out 15 but falls 1 short of Mickey Lolich’s team record

Donut fruit preserved!

Scherzer struck out 15 Pittsburgh Pirates, one short of tying the Tigers’ record, and became the winning pitcher when his teammates scored three runs for him in the bottom of the seventh — en route to a 4-3 victory.

Alex Avila’s slow-rolling grounder through a drawn-in infield, after a passed ball by catcher Rod Barajas moved runners from first and second to second and third, proved to be the difference.

Not only did the Tigers need those runs, but Avila desperately needed the hit — because he was 4-for-40 in his last 12 games at the time.

Scherzer, though, was outstanding. He allowed a pair of solo home runs in his seven innings, but the Pirates missed nearly everything else he threw.

All 15 of his strikeouts were on swings.

Repoz Posted: May 20, 2012 at 04:42 PM | 21 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: pirates, tigers

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1. TomH Posted: May 20, 2012 at 05:08 PM (#4136425)

all 15 swinging? That seems more impressive somehow than 18 KOs where 12 of them were called. Is there an official record of most Swinging KOs In One Game?

Or we could simply make a Pirates joke here.....

2. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: May 20, 2012 at 05:49 PM (#4136449)

Or we could simply make a Pirates joke here.....

Maybe we should, because these types of performances seem to happen against the Pirates at an alarming rate. Both of Strasburg's mega-K games (his 15K debut and his recent 14K one in 6 innings) came against Pittsburgh too. And that was two years ago! Against an almost completely different lineup!

3. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: May 20, 2012 at 05:55 PM (#4136455)

Pirates suck and yet somehow the Cubs suck even worse.

4. TVerik Posted: May 20, 2012 at 06:28 PM (#4136472)

I've always liked that guy. Right now, Scherzer is the second-best player in the Granderson deal.

5. Every Inge Counts Posted: May 20, 2012 at 06:57 PM (#4136488)

The Tigers made out very nicely in that trade. Jackson, Coke, and Scherzer plus the biggest reason the trade was made to cut payroll. This trade is going to be known as the Austin Jackson deal soon enough.

6. Cowboy Popup Posted: May 20, 2012 at 07:08 PM (#4136492)

Right now, Scherzer is the second-best player in the Granderson deal.

He's got a 5.73 ERA. Jackson and Granderson are clearly better. Kennedy might be.

I know this is supposed to be about Scherzer, but I missed the last Jackson love fest and wanted to get in on another one. .331/.414/.544, his walk rate is way up, K rate way down, a 213 ISO! And his career BABIP is .371, so I'm not especially nervous about his super high BABIP. The guy is turning into a stud and I'm extremely happy to see him take a step forward like this.

Edited since I originally put up his ERA from before today's game.

7. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: May 20, 2012 at 07:09 PM (#4136494)

I've always liked that guy. Right now, Scherzer is the second-best player in the Granderson deal.

Second-best what? Unless you're restricting your time frame to the last 24 hours, then Mr. Scherzer isn't close.

Coke to Cowboy, even without any mention of Coke.

8. Zipperholes Posted: May 20, 2012 at 07:19 PM (#4136500)

(Tigers fan) I think all three teams made out very nicely. Great trade all the way around. Kind of crazy when you consider how much boom-or-bust type of young talent was involved.

As for Scherzer, don't forget his masterful performance against the Yankees in the playoffs. That means a lot more to me than whatever his ERA is right now. And yeah, he sucked in one of his ALCS starts, but was pretty good in the other.

9. Good cripple hitter Posted: May 20, 2012 at 08:48 PM (#4136536)

all 15 swinging? That seems more impressive somehow than 18 KOs where 12 of them were called. Is there an official record of most Swinging KOs In One Game?

According to the Sunday Night Baseball telecast, it's the second most by a pitcher since 2000. Randy Johnson had 18 swinging K's in one game.

10. ShoeGrit Posted: May 20, 2012 at 09:10 PM (#4136547)

I was behind home plate the night Scherzer made his major league debut. Such electric stuff. You knew there would be nights like this for him. But as usual, he is atop the leader board in pitches per inning. Thats what has always held him back.

As for the trade,

Ian Kennedy 472 IP, 117 ERA+, 7.3 pitcher WAR
Max Scherzer 432 IP, 99 ERA+, 3.8 pitcher WAR

So D Backs did well on that part of the exchange.

Curtis Granderson 1398 PA 127 OPS+, 10 WAR
Austin Jackson 1502 PA 102 OPS+ 12 WAR

Jackson's defense obviously making the difference here and if these walk and K rates hold up over a full season, then he has officially broken out into a terrific offensive player too.

11. TVerik Posted: May 20, 2012 at 09:16 PM (#4136549)

Second-best what? Unless you're restricting your time frame to the last 24 hours, then Mr. Scherzer isn't close.

I'm way down on Austin Jackson. And IPK is a desert mirage.

12. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 20, 2012 at 09:24 PM (#4136552)

Its not that impressive. All 15 strikeouts came against Pedro Alvarez.

13. TVerik Posted: May 20, 2012 at 09:26 PM (#4136553)

Despite being dim on Austin Jackson's abilities, I think he was by far the best Jackson in the deal.

Andrew would be better than Edwin.

14. ShoeGrit Posted: May 20, 2012 at 09:53 PM (#4136559)

And IPK is a desert mirage.

The won loss record is a mirage of course, but he is an above average innings eater. He's done well against most of the National League, not just the NL West teams. AL teams continue to hit him hard though, it's true.

We are not talking small sample size flukes. We are talking about actual production in well over 400 IP......IPK has been better than Scherzer.

15. Zipperholes Posted: May 20, 2012 at 10:54 PM (#4136582)

The D-backs got Daniel Hudson for Edwin Jackson. So whether you like Edwin or not, they've made out pretty well.

16. Petunia inquires about ponies Posted: May 21, 2012 at 12:28 AM (#4136619)

Normally I try not to post when I have nothing to add, but I had to show some love for [12].

17. zack Posted: May 21, 2012 at 10:12 AM (#4136721)

I had never noticed before, but Scherzer has some serious heterochromia working. Who is the greatest heterochromatic ballplayer of all time?

18. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: May 21, 2012 at 10:27 AM (#4136732)

I went to the Pirates-Nats game the other night. My official and newsworthy scouting report: McCutchen is a very, very good baseball player. The rest of the team...not as good.

19. KT's Pot Arb Posted: May 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM (#4136752)

460.2 innings at a 102 ERA+ doesn't make the lesser Jackson bad.

20. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM (#4136762)

Who is the greatest heterochromatic ballplayer of all time?

I believe Mike Piazza was homochromatic.

21. zack Posted: May 21, 2012 at 12:33 PM (#4136842)

I believe Mike Piazza was homochromatic.

His hair sure was...

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Max Scherzer strikes out 15 but falls 1 short of Mickey Lolich’s team record

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