Everyone talked about how incredible Max Scherzer pitched down the stretch last year after being acquired by the Dodgers. The Mets were getting a great pitcher but they weren’t getting Dodgers Scherzer. Yet the thing is – they’re pretty close to getting that guy and two more starts like last night’s and they’ll have gotten something even better.
Dodgers: 11 games, 7-0, 1.98 ERA, 0.820 WHIP, 11.7 K/9
Mets ’22: 9 games, 5-1, 2.26 ERA, 0.880 WHIP, 11.3 K/9
We all marveled – rightly so – about Jacob deGrom‘s insane half season in 2021. But we should be marveling about Scherzer, too. His 179 ERA+ is the fourth-best mark all time among pitchers with at least eight starts in their age-37 season. He won’t catch Satchel Paige, who put up an incredible 333 ERA+ in 16 starts in 1944. But that comes with a huge asterisk. Not only was it in the height of World War II, it was also in the Negro Leagues.
The other two are 1928 Dazzy Vance, with a 190, and 2001 Randy Johnson, with a 188 ERA+.
Scherzer’s .880 WHIP is the best all-time among 37 year olds with at least eight starts, a group of 206 players. Now, Scherzer’s numbers will likely fall off from where they are now by the end of the season. But we should appreciate what he’s done so far and that he’s given the Mets more than what could reasonably be expected when he signed. Some predicted a decline from what he’d been the previous few years, given that he missed the World Series start. Everyone thought he would drop off considerably from his numbers the last two months of the regular season.
Thru nine starts, he’s been dominating.
Is Vientos the trade chip? The Mets seem hesitant to stick him at DH in a pennant race. He has no position. Would the O’s,Nats, Dbacks etc swap a DH and a reliever for him?
I think Mauricio is the trade chip. No position for him behind Lindor. But I’d be wary of trading any top prospects for a rental.
Pete Alonso says he will participate in the HR Derby only if he is voted in as the starter for 1B. Hope he isn’t. Chill Pete, what has winning it twice gotten you?
We are at the half way point and the Mets are 50-31. Can they sustain this pace for the second half? They only had one three game losing streak. With their pitching, I can’t fathom a four game losing streak. Their longest winning streak was seven games. I can imagine that they can duplicate that in the second half. Because of that, I predict a 100+ wins. ( When I look at the schedule I feel confident of at least 98 wins and the Braves not more than 93). I’m optimistic! LGM
100 wins,that’s pretty,pretty good.
The Tigers have this pitching prospect named Wilmer Flores. Flores will be playing the in the Futures Game next week with Francisco Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Flores happens to be the Tigers #1 pitching prospect, has been lights out this year and has an older brother playing on the Giants with the same name! My buddy!