Give Max Scherzer credit for being a fiery competitor, even if some of that fire was publicly and forcefully directed at his embattled manager Friday night. Give him zero credit for having no chill after backing up his words.
Scherzer kept himself in his start against the Marlins by emphatically telling Nats skipper Matt Williams he "f—ing wanted" the next batter in a key moment. Williams, perhaps loath to further anger his $210 million right-hander, turned and walked back to the dugout.
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Given how bad the Nats' bullpen has been (and was again after Scherzer left the game), Williams probably shouldn't have bothered going out there.
“I asked him, ‘You want him (Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon)?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ Among other things. I don’t know if you can read lips,” Williams told reporters, according to The Washington Post.
To Scherzer's credit, he retired Gordon to end the seventh inning and preserve a tie. Kudos to him for making a pitch and showing he deserved to stay in the game.
What happened afterward is where the whole thing went sideways, and where he created needless drama: He left Williams hanging as he reached the dugout in what looked like a fit of pique.
Everything is fine with the Nats why do you ask https://t.co/afqLpzw5U8
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) September 19, 2015That's not good. Even though it appeared Scherzer thanked Williams (amateur lip-reader here), no dap is no bueno. Give the manager the bump, and then go stew some more on the bench.
Scherzer said he has done the same thing (the yelling part, anyway) to Jim Leyland (an old-school, no-nonsense baseball man), Brad Ausmus (who reportedly is about to be out of a job) and several pitching coaches. Still, his exchange with Williams came at a really bad time. He showed up a manager who is intensely disliked by fans. The seeming inability to turn off the switch will keep the chatter going for at least a news cycle or two.
It's better to give the appearance of "We're good" than of "I'm still ticked that you tried to take me out, and I'm going to let everyone know it."
The Nationals won 5-4 in 10 innings after the 'pen blew a save in the ninth, after Scherzer's no-decision had been assured. Washington stayed eight games behind the Mets in the NL East. A disappointing season moved one night closer to its end.
And an unpopular manager became the focal point of a visual that will help the situation in D.C. not at all.
