Great, yes. But angry, too? Complicated for sure. He’s Max Scherzer.
What’s the story with Max Scherzer? Fans have to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement to watch him warm-up. After a game in college, he asked his head coach to meet him in the parking lot for a fight. The coach benched him because he wasn’t pitching well.
Max with the Nationals (photo, Friars on Base)
Reportedly, Scherzer’s family has had concerns and consulted with a few psychologists. One analyst said that seeking power/control is like playing a chess game and being willing to do anything to win. And that’s Scherzer’s signature — winning.
But it’s not possible to write a script about Max Scherzer without writing about how a tragedy changed his life. In 2011, his brother, Alex, took his life. It was during baseball season, and Scherzer was slated to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before the game, Sherzer broke down and cried in his manager’s office. However, with family in attendance, he was committed to pitching. And that he did.
Scherzer went six innings, gave up three runs, but lost the game. When he got back to the dugout, he broke down again, saying (later) that it was the most exhausting game of his career.
There are many other stories about Max Scherzer. They point to a complicated person who’s vying to become the greatest pitcher in major league history.
