Mad Max
Mad Max Scherzer got ejected for going nuclear on umpire Jeremy Riggs’ strike zone … and he wasn’t even pitching
They say you can take the dog out of the fight, but you can’t take the fight out of the dog, and Max Scherzer is a dawg. Whether pitching with a blood bubble in his face, screaming profanity-laced pep talks at himself, or even obliterating manager Dave Roberts for trying to give him encouragement because, and we quote, “this is my job, I don’t need any support or congratulations,” Mad Max has made a Hall of Fame career out of being an absolute crazy person.
It probably goes without saying that guys like that don’t take days off, even when it’s their off-day. Tuesday was supposed to be one of those for Scherzer, but instead of kicking back in the sauna or catching up on ‘Barry,’ Scherzer was getting tossed from the Mets’ Tuesday night game against the Braves for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Jeremy Riggs from the dugout. Never change, Max. Never change.
Needless to say, that’s about as hot as you’ll ever see a pitcher on a “rest” day, but it didn’t seem to bother manager Buck Showalter much. “I’m sure it won’t be the last one Max gets this year,” he told reporters after the game, cracking a knowing smile.
Scherzer isn’t even expected to pitch in the Mets’ four-game series against the Braves, but should be ready to go for a two-game tilt in Philly later this week. Phillies fans will hope he cools down by then because a mad Max is the scariest Max of all.