Max Scherzer hasn’t changed a bit since being dealt out of Queens.
The fiery right-hander had some words for home plate umpire Dan Iassogna as he walked off the mound in the seventh inning during his start against the Oakland A’s Tuesday night.
According to the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant, Iassogna issued a pitch-clock violation during Scherzer’s between-innings warmups.
Scherzer claimed Iassogna told him he had time for his eighth and final warmup pitch, but he was called for a violation anyway.
“That’s what’s frustrating about this. The umpire tells you that you have one pitch left, and then all of a sudden, now you’re at fault,” Scherzer said, per Grant.
“So, what was I supposed to do? This goes back to a health and safety thing. Pitchers should be allowed their eight warm-up pitches, regardless of the situation, especially when something like [the double play happens]. But this is just the reality of it. And that is what is frustrating.”
The double play Scherzer is referencing came in the top of the seventh, when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe lined out to quickly bring the Rangers’ at-bat to an end and the three-time Cy Young Award winner was slow to get to the mound for the bottom of the inning.
It’s far from the first time Scherzer has had a run-in with umpires this season.
In mid-April, while he was still with the Mets, Scherzer was suspended 10 games by MLB and fined $10,000 after he was ejected from a game against the Dodgers for having what umpires determined to be sticky stuff on his hand.
During a game in June against the Phillies, Scherzer’s warm-ups were stopped at seven pitches by home-plate umpire Tripp Gibson due to the pitch clock going below 30 seconds, peeving the right-hander.
The 39-year-old was traded to Texas at the deadline for infield prospect Luisangel Acuña, brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
Scherzer, apparently, brought his intensity with him, something his new manager, Bruce Bochy, appreciates.
“He’s so intense,” Bochy said. “But that’s what you really enjoy watching from elite pitchers. You understand why they’re so good, why they have great careers – because of what they bring to the mound and how they prepare. When they take the field, they are all in on winning. I appreciate not just the ‘stuff,’ and the talent, but how well prepared [they are] when they go into a ballgame.”
Despite the pitch-clock troubles, Scherzer tossed seven innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts to help the first-place Rangers beat the A’s, 6-1, for their eighth straight win.
Scherzer improved to 11-4 and has won both of his Rangers starts following the trade deadline deal.