Amid Tebow circus, Scherzer gets down to business

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - From Max Scherzer's perspective, it was just a guy standing at the plate wearing a No. 83 Mets jersey. The name on the back, or the hoopla that comes with it, mattered little.

"No, I'm out there trying to get him out," the Nationals ace said. "I'm working on my instincts, what I think I need to do to get him out. Just working with (Matt) Wieters going over different things we're trying to accomplish today."

Scherzer, of course, knew the guy's name. How could he not? Every time Tim Tebow steps onto a field these days, the crowd squeals with delight and photographers start snapping away.

So even if he won't admit it, nobody could blame Scherzer if he felt a little extra juice for the first batter of the bottom of the second today at First Data Field. The manner in which he attacked Tebow - curveball for strike one, fastball for strike two, slider for strike three - certainly indicated a pitcher doing more than simply going through the motions in his second exhibition start of the spring.

"Hey, I'm pitching," Scherzer said, shrugging his shoulders.

This wasn't the first time the three-time Cy Young Award winner faced the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. They met last March, and the results were awfully similar: two strikeouts, with Tebow never coming close to making contact.

"He's nasty," the 30-year-old wannabe outfielder told reporters in the Mets clubhouse. "He's really good. ... That's awesome to be able to see one of the best in the league, one of the best doing it a long time. It's great work for me."

Scherzer had plenty to work on today, and the non-roster invitee batting cleanup for New York was the least of his concerns. On the heels of a two-inning spring debut five days ago, the Nationals right-hander wanted to increase his workload and attack hitters.

He did just that, retiring all nine batters he faced over three innings, striking out five and departing with 27-of-41 pitches thrown for strikes.

"He's really good," manager Davey Martinez said in the understatement of the spring. "He said he wanted to try to go three innings if possible. He actually did exactly what he wanted to do."

After a less-than-ideal 2017 spring training in which he had to alter his fastball grip due to a stress fracture in his ring finger, then scramble to build up his arm over the final two weeks of camp, Scherzer has been able to operate on his own terms this year. He threw 60-pitch bullpen sessions before pitchers and catchers even officially reported. He cruised through two innings on 23 pitches Sunday against the Braves. And then he took it up a notch today in three innings against the Mets.

"Built off the last start," he said. "Felt stronger all the way through the start today. I can feel myself getting into the swing of things. No walks, that's always a plus. That's a huge goal of mine every single spring training start. I'd rather give up home runs than walk guys in the spring. So at least I was pounding the zone."

Obviously, it was a work day for Scherzer. For others in attendance, it was a day to be entertained. Who wouldn't get a kick out of watching a football player take his hacks against one of the best pitchers in baseball?

The crowd certainly reacted to everything that Tebow did, oohing and aahing when he swung through Scherzer's fastball but later roaring when he lined a 94-mph fastball from Erick Fedde over the shortstop's head for a clean single.

It makes for something of an awkward scene, with experienced baseball players trying to prepare themselves for the season while a circus act who hit .226 last season at Single-A draws all the attention.

"I look at him as another player," Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "It's impressive what he's trying to do. And I don't fault him for wanting to try and play baseball. Some people get angry for some reason. I don't know why they get angry. He didn't sign himself to come play. It's not his fault someone gave him a chance. Seems like a nice guy. It's kind of silly to get upset over someone playing baseball. I've got no problem with him."