Motivated Scherzer determined to be even better

VIERA, Fla. - Max Scherzer arrived for his first official day of work with the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium on Friday. After a mandatory physical and some clubhouse introductions, the $210 million man met the media for the first time since he was introduced at Nationals Park on Jan. 21.

"Just to be able to be a part of this organization, it's been great so far," said Scherzer. "They've treated me so well so far. It also helps having a few faces around here that I know as well. I played with Doug (Fister), worked out with Matt (Thornton) . So it's already an easy transition for me."

Thornton was only with the Nats for just over two months last season after being acquired on a waiver claim with the Yankees. The left-hander responded with 11 1/3 scoreless innings while also stranding 100 percent of inherited baserunners. Despite his short time in Washington, Thornton seems to be the guy Scherzer has leaned on the most for background on his new team.

"I worked out with Matt Thornton the whole offseason," he said. "Actually, I have done that for the past few offseasons. He had great things to say about the clubhouse and how much fun it is and how tight-knit this group of guys is. So it's going to be fun. Obviously, you got to get to know everybody but give it a few games and everything will come together."

In his last two seasons in Detroit, the 30-year-old Scherzer compiled a dominating 39-8 record with a 3.02 ERA and 492 strikeouts in 434 2/3 innings. Those numbers are scary to think about for National League hitters, but Scherzer says his main focus is on improving during spring training.

"Of course," he said. "I'm always trying to find a way to get better. In sports, you never stay the same. You either get better or you get worse and I'm focusing on ways to get better. There's things I think I can do this year that I haven't been able to do in the past. I'm looking to continue to get better and refine stuff that I can do on the mound."

When asked if he could expound on what he's working on, Scherzer quickly snapped back, "No," followed by laughter.

"I don't want to tell everybody what I'm trying to do. It's just having all my pitches evolve, keep getting better and more consistent with everything I do. That's the most I can tell you."

Top secret. He'll fit in perfect in Washington.

The addition of Scherzer makes the starting rotation frighteningly good.

"I've kind of said this before, but it's one of those things where you could almost have the other team pick which three starters they want to face that night and we'd gladly throw them out there," new Nats reliever Casey Janssen said.

But Scherzer wasn't interested in the hype when the topic turned to this possibly being a historicly good rotation.

"Let's talk at the end of the year," he said. "You can be as good as you want on paper, but that doesn't mean anything until the end of the year. We got to stay healthy. We got to go out and execute the way we can. Obviously, I think we're as talented as anybody in the league right now. and on paper we look great, but that doesn't mean anything when you go out there during the season. Everybody's going to be gunning for us and everybody's going to want to take their best shot at us, so it's a matter of what we do in response to that. How much harder we're going to be at our best."

Scherzer brings a wealth of playoff experience to a Nats team that's planning on hanging around much longer in October this year. He's made 10 postseason starts including one in the 2012 World Series. On Friday, he revealed a bit of what's behind his competitive drive.

"You can have motivations to prove people wrong, but for me, that doesn't work," Scherzer explained. "Trying to prove people wrong just doesn't do it for me. Going out there and competing against the other team and going out there and having to compete over 33 starts and trying to win every single time - that's my motivation. That's what makes me tick. That's what makes me work hard is finding that way to compete against everybody."