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The Baseball Roundtable “Who’s Your Daddy?” series focuses primarily on premier pitchers from the past – like Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax and Greg Maddux. Readers have requested that I occasionaly toss in a currently active moundsman, so this edition will take a look at three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
Max Scherzer, by the way, is nicknamed “Mad Max” due to his intensity on the mound, at the plate and in the field.
“Max goes to a different level with everything; hitting, base running, pitching – all aspects of the game.”
Derek Lilliquist, Washington Nationals Pitching Coach.
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Who’s You Daddy? What it’s all about.
Those of you who read Baseball Roundtable regularly are familiar with the “Who’s Your Daddy?” series – presenting lineups of players who performed unexpectedly well against some of baseball’s top pitchers. (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who’s Your Daddy? series can be found the end of this post.) As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.” They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.
Note: The stats in this post as of June 2020.
Before we get started on Max Scherzer, here are links to the previous editions of this series:
- Nolan Ryan, click here.
- Sandy Koufax, click here.
- Pedro Martinez, click here.
- Bob Gibson, click here.
- Randy Johnson, click here.
- Greg Maddux, click here.
- Justin Verlander, click here.
- Bob Feller, click here.
- Roger Clemens, click here.
Next up, by the way, Tom Seaver.
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Now, on to Max Scherzer.
Max Scherzer comes at hitters with a high-nineties four seamer, a cutter, change up and curve. The 6’3″, 215-pound righty has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings over his 12-season MLB career (2008-09/Diamondbacks; 2010-14/Tigers; 2015-19/Nationals), and has struck out 12 or more batters per nine frames in each of the past three seasons. He is a three-time Cy Young Award winner; seven-time All Star; and has led his league in wins four times. He has also led his league in starts twice; complete games three times; shutouts twice; innings pitched twice; strikeouts three times; strikeouts per nine innings three times; and strikeout-to-walk ratio four times.
Notably, Scherzer was a bit of a late bloomer, making his first All Star team in his sixth major league season (2013) at age 28 – but he has made up for lost time, being selected to the All Star squad in every season since.
His career stat line to date is 170-89, 3.20, with 2,692 strikeouts in 2,290 2/3 innings pitched. Scherzer is 7-5, 3.38 in 22 post-season appearances; with 137 strikeouts in 112 innings.
Max Scherzer’s career strikeouts per nine innings rate (to date) of 10.58 is fifth all time; and his strikeouts per walk ratio of 4.356 is eighth.
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Now, let’s look at the Max Scherzer “Who’s Your Daddy?” lineup.
Catcher – A.J. Pierzynski … nine RBI versus Scherzer; Salvador Perez … .621 slugging percentage
There haven’t been very many ties in the “Who’s Your Daddy?” lineup series, but when it came to picking a catcher for this squad, I was fit to be tied – bouncing between A.J. Pierzynski’s body of work and Salvador Perez’ blazing start.
To date, no one has driven in more runs against Max Scherzer than A.J. Pierzynski, who collected nine RBI (tied with Michael Brantley), 13 hits and a .302 average in 16 games versus Scherzer. Then there is Salvador Perez, who has ten hits in 11 games (.345 average), with four of those safeties going for extra bases. In his first five plate appearances against Scherzer, Perez went double, home run, single, single, home run. Those trips to the dish came in 2011, when Scherzer went 15-9, 4.32 for the Tigers.
A.J. Pierzynski played 19 MLB seasons (1998-2016 … Twins, Giants, White Sox, Rangers, Red Sox, Cardinals, Braves). The two-time All Star had solid .280 career average (2,043 hits), with 188 home runs, 909 RBI and 807 runs scored. He hit .300 or better in four seasons in which he played at least 100 games.
A.J. Pierzynski shares the American League record for consecutive error-free games at catcher (117 games, April 19, 2005 – October 2, 2005).
Salvador Perez has played eight MLB seasons (2011-18), all with the Royals. He missed the 2019 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. Perez is a six-time All Star and five-time Gold Glover, has a .266 career average, has hit 20+ home runs in four seasons and reached 80 RBI twice. His career line to date is .266-141-503.
A Handy Man
Salvador Perez captured the AL Gold Glove at catcher every year from 2013 through 2018 except 2017, when the award went to the Angels’ Martin Maldonado.
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I Know this Piece Fits in Here Somewhere …
Brad Miller has appeared in four games against Max Scherzer … for three different teams (Mariners, Rays and Phillies), starting at three different positions (SS, 3B and LF; also appearing once as a PH). He has done alright for himself: five hits in ten at bats, one double, three home runs and seven RBI. Notably, in every at bat in which he hasn’t gotten a hit, Miller has struck out swinging.
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First Base – Jim Thome … .438 average
Jim Thome went seven-for-sixteen (.438) in seven games versus Max Scherzer and hit his only long ball against Scherzer in his first at bat against him. Thome’s plate appearances versus “Mad Max” came in 2010-12 (a period when Scherzer went 43-27, 3.89), all before Scherzer’s first Cy Young Award. They were also the final three seasons of Thome’s MLB career (his age 39-41 seasons).
Hall of Famer Jim Thome played 22 MLB seasons (1991-2012 … Indians, Phillies. White Sox, Dodgers, Twins, Orioles). The five-time All Star hit 30 or more home runs 11 times (a high of 52 in 2002). He led the AL in home runs with 47 in 2003 – and hit 190 home runs between 2001 and 2004 (four seasons). Thome also topped 100 RBI in nine seasons, 100 runs scored in eight and drew 100 or more walks nine times.
Over his career, Thome went .276-612-1,699, with 1,583 runs scored. His 612 regular-season home runs are eighth all-time. Thome also had 17 post-season home runs (71 games … .211-17-37). His best season was 2002, when he went .304-52-118 for the Indians. He became a free agent after that campaign and signed with the Phillies, where he led the NL in home runs with 47 in 2002.
A Trivia Tidbit for Minnesota Readers …
Jim Thome record the first “walk-off” hit at Target Field on August 17, 2010. It was a two-run home run, in the bottom of the tenth inning, off the White Sox’ Matt Thornton, in a Twins’ 7-6 win. It should come as no surprise, since Thome currently holds the career record for walk-off home runs (13) and shares the record for extra-inning walk off home runs at eight (shared with Frank Robinson an Albert Pujols).
Second Base – Dustin Pedroia … three home runs and six RBI in eight games
The Red Sox’ Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run in his first at bat against Max Scherzer and has gone on to hit .304, with three home runs and six RBI in eight games against him.
Dustin Pedroia has played in 14 MLB seasons (2006-2019), all with the Red Sox. He is a four-time All Star, four-time Gold Glover, a one-time MVP and was the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year. Pedroia has led the league in runs scored twice (topping 100 runs in four seasons), base hits once (topping 200 hits twice) and doubles once (54 in 2008). He has also stolen 20 or more bases in four season and hit .300+ in five campaigns.
Not a Bad Start
Dustin Pedroia was the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year, and followed that up in 2008 by being recognized as the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Pedroia has a .299 career average, 140 home runs, 725 RBI, 922 runs scored and 138 stolen bases.
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My Kingdom for a Hit …
Rhys Hoskins and Wilmer Flores have the most at bats against Scherzer without ever getting a hit (17). They each drew one walk against him. Hoskins fanned ten times in those 17 at bats, Flores eight. Ryan Braun has the most plate appearances (14) without every getting on base against Scherzer.
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Third Base – Martin Prado … .455 average; Jake Lamb … 1.545 slugging percentage
For the first time ever, the “Whose Your Daddy?” series has a tie at two positions in the lineup. At third base, it came down to Martin Prado’s prolonged excellence and Jake Lamb’s flashy power.
Martin Prado 20 hits (in 14 games versus Scherzer) are second only to Nick Markakis’ 21 safeties (and Markakis has had 65 at bats against Scherzer to Prado’s 44). Prado’s 20 hits include five doubles and one home run. Scherzer has held Prado hitless in only one of 14 games against him. Prado’s best game against Scherzer came (for Miami) on May 25, 2018, when came to the plate four times and had two doubles, a single and was safe on an error. That season, Prado had seven plate appearances against Scherzer and collected five hits (three doubles).
Jake Lamb has touched Scherzer for six hits (.545 average), including two doubles and three home runs, in just five games (1.545 slugging percentage). He has also drawn four walks against Scherzer (versus three strikeouts), giving him a .667 on-base percentage (to date).
Still active, Martin Prado has been in the majors for 14 seasons (2006-2019 … Braves, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Marlins). He is a one-time All Star and carries a .287 career average, with 100 home runs, 609 RBI and 644 runs scored.
A Prado-Lamb Link…
On July 31, 2014, the Diamondbacks traded 3B Martin Prado to the Yankees (for Pete O’Brien and a player to be named later). A week later, they promoted Jake Lamb from Triple A to take Prado’s place at the hot corner.
Like Prado, still active, Lamb has spent the past six seasons with the Diamondbacks – earning an All Star berth in 2017. He has a .242 career average, with 81 home runs and 302 RBI. His best season was 2017, when he went .248-30-105.
Shortstop – Miguel Rojas … .321 average, nine hits
Despite being a career .263 hitter, Miguel Rojas has hit .321 in 12 games versus Scherzer. Further in 2018-19 – when Scherzer was going 29-14, 2.70 with 543 strikeouts in 393 innings – Rojas went 7-for-18 (,389) against him.
Rojas has played in six MLB seasons (2014-2019 … Dodgers, Marlins). He is .263 career hitter, with 20 home runs and 165 RBI.
Honorable Mention at shortstop: Brandon Crawford could easily have taken this spot. The Giants’ shortstop has hit .400 (6-for-15) is six games against Scherzer (and has driven in five runs). So, why isn’t he in the lineup? Perhaps my own bias, but I took into consideration the fact that Crawford has fanned seven times in 16 plate appearances versus Scherzer and that half of Crawford’s hits against Scherzer came in a single game (June 10, 1918, when he had a single, double and home run).
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The Royal Treatment …
The Royals’ Chris Getz has the most plate appearances against Scherzer without ever striking out (17). In those trips to the plate he had five hits (.357), two walks and a sacrifice.
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Outfield – Shin-Soo Choo … .583 average, .667 on-base percentage, 1.125 slugging percentage
Shin-Soo Choo has faced off against Max Scherzer in ten games and acquitted himself well. He has gone 14-for-24 and drawn six walks (against four whiffs). He also collected two doubles, a triple, three home runs and six RBI. At one point, Choo got on base against Scherzer in seven straight plate appearances. It started on September 29, 2010, when Choo collected a groundball single, a bunt single and a two-run home run (as Choo’s Indians topped Scherzer and the Tigers 4-0 and Scherzer gave up four runs in five innings). Choo next faced Scherzer the following April 29 and went walk-single-walk. Their next matchup was June 16 of that season and Choo again prevailed with an RBI triple in his first at bat.
Shin-Soo Choo has been hit by a pitch 150 times (the most among active players), including a league-leading 26 in 2013.
Shin-Soo Choo, still active, has played in 15 MLB seasons (2005-2019 … Mariners, Indians, Red, Rangers). He is a one-time All Star. Choo has topped 100 runs scored and 100 RBI once each, has hit 20 or more home runs in four seasons, hit .300 or better in three campaigns and stole 20 or more bases four times. His current career stat line is .275-213-767, with 948 runs scored and 151 steals.
Outfield – Alex Gordon …. 16 hits, .390 average, .510 on-base percentage
In 16 games versus Scherzer, Alex Gordon has collected 15 hits (.390 average) and ten walks (.500 on-base percentage). His hits include five doubles and three round trippers. He has gotten on base via hit or a walk in 15 of the 16 games in which he has faced Scherzer. In his most recent game against Scherzer – July 6 of last season – Gordon went walk, double, single – as his Royals lost to Scherzer and the Nationals 6-0. In that game, Scherzer gave up just four hits and one walk, while fanning 11 in seven innings.
Alex Gordon has played 13 MLB seasons (2007-19), all for the Royals. He is a three-time All Star and seven-time Gold Glover His best season was 2011, when he went .303-27-87, with 101 runs scored and 17 steals – career highs (to date) in all categories. His career stat line (1,703 games) is .258-186-738, with 852 runs scored and 113 steals.
Gonna Need a Bigger Trophy Case …
In 2005, playing for the University of Nebraska, Alex Gordon went .372-19-66, with 23 steals in 72 games (as a third baseman). He performance earned him the Golden Spikes Award, Dick Howser Trophy, Baseball American National Player of the Year Award, Brooks Wallace Award and American Baseball Coaches Association Rawlings Player of the Year Award. He was the second overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft, behind only high school shortstop Justin Upton (Diamondbacks).
Outfield – Michael Brantley … Eight doubles, nine RBI, .341
Michael Brantley’s nine RBI (to date) are the most of any hitter against Scherzer (tied with A.J. Pierzynski). Ten of his fifteen hits against Scherzer have gone for extra bases, including eight doubles (the most of any hitter against the three-time Cy Young Award winner). Notably, Brantley also has struck out only once in 49 plate appearances versus Scherzer. In 2014, a season in which Scherzer led the American League with 18 wins (18-5, 3.15, 252 strikeouts in 222 1/3 innings), Brantley went 7-for-13 against him (.538) without a single strikeout.
Slow Start …
In his first nine plate appearances against Scherzer, Michael Brantley went 0-for-9 and only got two balls out of the infield. In his subsequent forty plate appearances, he has collected 15 hits (,375) and three walks (.450 on-base percentage).
Michael Brantley, still active, has played 11 MLB seasons (2009-2019), ten with the Indians, one (2019) with the Astros. He is a four-time All Star (including each of the past three seasons). His best campaign was 2014, when he hit .327-20-97, with 94 runs scored, 23 steals and 200 base hits – career highs (to date) in all categories except home runs. His career stat line (1,199 games) is .297-109-618, with 631 runs scored and 121 stolen bases. He has hit .300+ in four full seasons, reached 20 or more home runs twice and stolen ten or more bases eight times.
Honorable Mention(s) in the outfield: Nick Markakis has a .323 average against Scherzer in 23 games and his 21 hits are the most of any batter against Scherzer. He didn’t make the starting lineup on largely because his 21 hits include only seven extra-base hits (all doubles) and produced only four RBI. He also fanned 13 times against Scherzer. Joe Bautista has hit a lusty .478 against Scherzer in nine games, with two homers and five RBI.
Pitcher – Jamie Moyer … Two-for-two
Jamie Moyer only faced off against Scherzer once (May 5, 2008). In two plate appearances, he had a double, single and an RBI. He gets the nod here because Moyer, who pitched in the majors until age 49, was 45 -years-old when he got his two knocks against Scherzer. Note: Scherzer lasted just four innings in the game, won by Moyer and the Phillies (over the Diamondbacks) 11-4.
Moyer pitched 25 MLB seasons (1986-91, 1993-2010, 2012 … Cubs, Rangers, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Phillies, Rockies). He went 269-209, 4.25. The one-time All Star twice won 20 or more games in a season and won fifteen or more five times.
As a hitter, Moyer has a .128 average (51-for-400) with just five extra base hits (all doubles).
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Stathead.com; MLB.com
Who’s Your Daddy? What It’s All About.
On September 24, 2004, in the middle of a tight pennant race, the Yankees handed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox a tough 6-4 loss. Martinez went 7 1/3 innings giving up nine hits and five earned runs. The game came just five days after (in his previous start) Martinez had lasted just five frames against the Bronx Bombers (eight hits, eight earned runs) in a 16-7 loss.
After that second loss, Martinez candidly commented, “What can I say? I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.” Little did he know that his comment – and a Yankee fans’ chant of “Who’s your daddy?” would follow him into future starts in New York (all the way to his final MLB start – against the Yankees for the Phillies – in Game Six of the 2009 World Series.)
The concept of “Who’s your daddy?” became the inspiration for Baseball Roundtable to take a look at the players who “had the number” of some of MLB’s premier pitchers. Again, you can find links to the previous “editions” of “Who’s Your Daddy?” near the top of this post.
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