The $210 Million Man - Scherzer Appreciation and Doubts

[RiotAct]

Max pitched a hell of a game on Thursday

[Slateman]

Max pitched a hell of a game on Thursday

No, not really

[BrandonK]

No, not really

Yes he did.

[spidernat]

Yes he did.

Dude, you're just fueling the contrarian. That kind of crap just makes Slate wood.

[BrandonK]

Dude, you're just fueling the contrarian. That kind of crap just makes Slate wood.

He's back to old ways again!

[HattoriHanzo]

I would have kept Max in for one more batter and then pulled him if he gave up a walk or another hit. IMHO he got pulled a little early. Just like when Dusty pulled Russ Ortiz when he was pitching a solid game then the giants pen shat the bed vs the angels. Dusty continues to make the same mistakes in the playoffs.

[Slateman]

Yes he did.

Did I watch an alternate reality that when his team had a one run lead he gave up a home run?

[dcpatti]

Did I watch an alternate reality that when his team had a one run lead he gave up a home run?

That's on the offense, not on Max. If the lead had been 3 runs, the bomb wouldn't have mattered. Your pitcher can't be expected to throw a shutout game. It's nice when it happens. It just doesn't happen a lot.

[Natsinpwc]

That's on the offense, not on Max. If the lead had been 3 runs, the bomb wouldn't have mattered. Your pitcher can't be expected to throw a shutout game. It's nice when it happens. It just doesn't happen a lot.

Exactly; dod his job.

[Optics]

He did a good job, but was it a $200 Million performance? I mean look at Madbum's performance in the Wild Card game, complete game shutout. I know that's asking a lot, but we needed something more along those lines. 6 innings 1 ER is good but...I don't know it was kinda disappointing too especially since he got rocked in Game 1.

[Slateman]

That's on the offense, not on Max. If the lead had been 3 runs, the bomb wouldn't have mattered. Your pitcher can't be expected to throw a shutout game. It's nice when it happens. It just doesn't happen a lot.

Exactly; dod his job.

He's a 200 million Ace Cy Young contender.  His job was to win and he didn't.

[GburgNatsFan]

Max is not responsible for how much he is paid. I never understand this conflation of salary with performance. He's paid what the market will bear. Just like you and me.

He did a good job, but was it a $200 Million performance? I mean look at Madbum's performance in the Wild Card game, complete game shutout. I know that's asking a lot, but we needed something more along those lines. 6 innings 1 ER is good but...I don't know it was kinda disappointing too especially since he got rocked in Game 1.

[GburgNatsFan]

This is true. Only pitcher wins count.

He's a 200 million Ace Cy Young contender.  His job was to win and he didn't.

[HalfSmokes]

Max is not responsible for how much he is paid. I never understand this conflation of salary with performance. He's paid what the market will bear. Just like you and me.

Expectations go along with salary- a performance from a league minimum journeyman may get righyly praised, but the same performance by some one making $20 million a year would infuriate people.

[GburgNatsFan]

Reasonable, but he gave up one bomb on a not-terrible pitch that the batter took to the opposite field.  For that game it's a 1.3 or so ERA? I think that's meeting expectations for an elite pitcher.

Expectations go along with salary- a performance from a league minimum journeyman may get righyly praised, but the same performance by some one making $20 million a year would infuriate people.

[HalfSmokes]

Reasonable, but he gave up one bomb on a not-terrible pitch that the batter took to the opposite field.  For that game it's a 1.3 or so ERA? I think that's meeting expectations for an elite pitcher.

That game did, doesn't make up for game 1 though

[DPMOmaha]

Max is not responsible for how much he is paid. I never understand this conflation of salary with performance. He's paid what the market will bear. Just like you and me.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

[GburgNatsFan]

You are taking that way, way out of context.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

[varoadking]

That game did, doesn't make up for game 1 though

No it doesn't...the series was lost in Game 1.

[DPMOmaha]

You are taking that way, way out of context.

It's applicable in many, many contexts.

[Natsinpwc]

No it doesn't...the series was lost in Game 1.

Not really. Had a 2-1 lead. Just had to not lose two in a row. And failed.

[dcpatti]

He's a 200 million Ace Cy Young contender.  His job was to win and he didn't.

He kept his team in it against a lefty-heavy lineup that was specifically constructed to eat right handed pitchers for lunch. His job is to give the team a chance. The team has to step up and get it done.

[HalfSmokes]

He kept his team in it against a lefty-heavy lineup that was specifically constructed to eat right handed pitchers for lunch. His job is to give the team a chance. The team has to step up and get it done.

Gio's job is to give the team a chance, his job is to dominate

[Smithian]

For a couple years now the common cost associated with 1 WAR has been around $7 million. So far, Scherzer in two years has produced 10 WAR exactly according to Fangraphs. He is a third of the way to paying off his regular season value. The Nats paid for quality and have received it. This wasn't a shockingly good signing like Murphy or an overpay like Werth where you were trying to make a statement. The Nationals wanted a dominant ace, they paid for one, and have mostly gotten one.

Game 1 Scherzer did not perform. Game 5 he turned in a pretty good start. I think we all expected more this postseason and I think Scherzer would as well. He'll need to produce next postseason opportunity or it starts overshadowing his regular season brilliance.

[Slateman]

2016 Cy Young