Max Scherzer clarifies Dodgers ‘criticism’ but declines to talk about free agency

Shortly before the lockout ruined this offseason, Max Scherzer’s deal with the New York Mets truly rocked the baseball world. The 37-year-old signed a three-year, $130 million contract to set an MLB record for average annual value ($43.3 million), leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers in the dust.

His introductory Zoom press conference was squeezed in before the work stoppage as well, and, adding to Dodgers fans’ frustration, Scherzer seemingly called out the team for misusing him down the stretch, which may have resulted in the dead arm that kept him out of the NLCS as LA was nearing elimination.

But Scherzer has since gone on the record with the Los Angeles Times to refute that notion and suggest his corporate-esque presser with agent Scott Boras six inches away from him wasn’t what many believed it to be.

He cleared up what he said and made it known he was not blaming the Dodgers, even though he previously said his usage likely contributed to his dead arm. Hmm.

Max Scherzer clears up comments made about usage with Dodgers.

"“I don’t blame the Dodgers,” Scherzer said, via Jorge Castillo of the LA Times. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough in what I was actually talking about.“When I think about the 2021 run — and this is the point I was trying to make at the press conference — was that, and rightfully so, the Dodgers did the right thing protecting Walker [Buehler] and Julio [Urías] and pitching us on the sixth day. Giving us extra rest more often than not. And for me, that was … the most I had ever pitched on the sixth-day rotation. And only throwing 90 to 100 pitches, in my head that actually lowered my work capacity of what I was actually able to do on a day-to-day basis. So when I went into that postseason, I came from a lower work capacity to when I tried to do what I did in 2019 that that was just too big of a jump.“We never took that variable into consideration. I’ve never had that variable taken into consideration and so, like I said, I bear more brunt of that because of me having those discussions with Dave about that, about how I can be used in the postseason and coming up short on that, on my end, of saying I can do something and then it didn’t happen. And that’s where no one’s to blame, no one’s at fault, it’s just you learn from this. It’s something that happens.”"

That’s a more nuanced and descriptive response concerning the situation … but there doesn’t seem to be a mention of the shortened 2020, during which Scherzer pitched only 67.1 innings, that likely played a role in the Dodgers ensuring he was well rested before a potential deep playoff run.

At the end of the day, if he wanted to pitch more, he could’ve easily pled his case instead of just saying, “Hey, I can pitch more if you need me!” But the truth is Scherzer wasn’t exactly dominant in the postseason. He wasn’t great against the Cardinals, lasting just 4.1 innings and somehow throwing 94 pitches. He dominated the Giants in his lone NLDS start, but was shaky in the relief appearance he ended up securing for the series victory. Then came the NLCS, where he made just one start and was removed again after 4.1 innings and 79 pitches (he allowed two runs on four hits and a walk).

Scherzer left one start in early July with a groin issue, was scratched from another a few weeks later with a triceps issue, and dealt with a hamstring issue after the trade, so it’s not like the warning signs weren’t there to pitch him every sixth day a few times in September.

Bottom line: if you’re going to say something that seemingly assesses blame to a certain party, make sure you have this kind of detailed response at the time you’re going to address it instead of waiting five weeks to reveal that’s “not what you meant.”

Max Scherzer surprises Dodgers with blame for playoff dead arm

Former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Max Scherzer blames the team for his October dead arm, a worrisome development that shocked the franchise.