Where were you when the Mets swept in and signed Max Scherzer to a record-breaking three-year, $130 million contract?
For some, the shock has yet to wear off. Now that the future Hall of Famer is officially a Met, let’s see how well you know one of the best pitchers of his generation.
When was the last time the Mets had two pitchers with multiple Cy Young awards in their rotation?
The thought of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in the same rotation already has Mets fans salivating. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young winner, while deGrom took home the award in both 2018 and 2019.
As you might have guessed, this is one of the few times that players with multiple Cy Young Awards have been teammates. It is not, however, the first time it has happened with the Mets. Back in 2008, the Amazins pried two-time Cy Young recipient Johan Santana from the Twins in exchange for four prospects. Santana became teammates with Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, himself a three-time Cy Young winner.
The dream of Santana and Martinez forming a dynamic duo never fully materialized, as injuries hampered Pedro in his final year in Flushing.
At which ballpark did Scherzer start his first All-Star Game?
Once upon a time, Scherzer was just a young pitcher with tantalizing stuff whose unique delivery raised injury concerns. After two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Scherzer was dealt to Detroit in the three-team deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. Mad Max fully emerged as an ace in 2013, his fourth season as a Tiger. That year, he went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts en route to his first career Cy Young Award.
The 2013 season also marked Scherzer’s first career All-Star appearance. He started the Midsummer Classic at Citi Field opposite hometown hero Matt Harvey. In his sole inning of work, Scherzer retired the side in order and ended his appearance with a strikeout of Joey Votto.
How many strikeouts did Scherzer have in his 2015 no-hitter at Citi Field?
Scherzer’s Mets tenure is in its infancy, but he already lays claim to the greatest pitching performance in the history of Citi Field. When Scherzer no-hit the Mets on October 3, 2015, New York had already clinched their first division title since 2006 — making their futile offensive effort easier to endure. The more harrowing challenge was to survive the Arctic temperatures and vicious winds that forced fans to huddle under their giveaway fleece blankets.
On that brutally cold evening in Queens, Scherzer was nearly perfect; the only Met to reach base did so on a Yunel Escobar error. Scherzer’s mastery included 17 strikeouts, tying Nolan Ryan (July 15, 1973 against the Tigers) for the most ever in a no-hitter. It was the second no-hitter of the season for Scherzer, as well as the second time the Mets had been no-hit that year.
It wasn’t exactly a praiseworthy performance by the Mets offense, but at least this time they were blanked by a generational talent and not a fringe major leaguer like Chris Heston.
Who is the only pitcher besides Scherzer to have both a no-hitter and a 20-strikeout game?
Scherzer’s surefire Hall of Fame career has been peppered with legendary performances, including his aforementioned no-hitters. Another of his classic efforts was his 20-strikeout start against his former team, the Detroit Tigers, on May 11, 2016.
Mad Max’s command was spotless, as he racked up 96 strikes on just 119 total pitches. He didn’t walk any batters, and nine of his punchouts came on three-pitch at-bats. Scherzer joined Randy Johnson as the only pitchers with a no-hitter and a 20-strikeout performance to their names.
And how’s this for a far-out factoid: that night marked the third time that Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had been the victim of a 20-strikeout game. He was on the losing end when Roger Clemens struck out 20 Tigers in 1996, and again when Kerry Wood accomplished the feat against the Astros in 1998.
Who are the only pitchers with more top-5 Cy Young finishes than Scherzer?
Scherzer’s 2021 campaign was definitive proof that he still has plenty left in the tank. He went undefeated in his 11 starts as a Dodger, and overall finished the season with a 2.46 ERA and 236 strikeouts.
Once again, Scherzer was a Cy Young finalist, giving him eight top-5 Cy Young finishes in his storied career.
The only pitchers with more? Roger Clemens (10), Randy Johnson (9), and Greg Maddux (9). Just like Johnson and Maddux, Scherzer will one day be enshrined in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
Searle’s Final Say
When Steve Cohen first bought the Mets, he said he would be disappointed if the team didn’t win a World Series within 3 to 5 years. Adding Scherzer is just the sort of bold move that could bring a championship back to Queens. Despite his advanced age (37 at the start of 2022), Scherzer is still an elite hurler, with a competitive fire that is simply unparalleled.
