“Do we really need to disrupt the game?” 3x Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer UNHAPPY with automated ball-strike system after Blue Jays Spring Training debut

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer made his Spring Training debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday and picked up 4 strikeouts in 2 innings.

“Do we really need to disrupt the game?” 3x Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer UNHAPPY with automated ball-strike system after Blue Jays Spring Training debut

Max Scherzer (Image via Reddit)

On Tuesday, veteran pitcher Max Scherzer made his debut for the Toronto Blue Jays as he took part in the Spring Training game. He would later have a go at the new automated ball-strike challenge system (ABS) and made his feelings known regarding them.

The inclusion of the automated ball-strike challenge system has been one of the talking points in this Spring Training. This allows the players to challenge the decision of the home plate umpires regarding a strike or a call.

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On Tuesday afternoon, Max Scherzer found himself on the wrong end of the ABS twice. The first instance came when he went up against Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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His pitch was initially ruled a strike. However, after a challenge from Nootbaar, the ball was judged to be off the plate by 2.3 inches and the decision was thus turned into a ball.

The second instance came an inning later when Scherzer seemingly got fooled by the framing of his catcher Alejandro Kirk. A low pitch from him was called a ball. The 40-year-old pitcher would challenge this decision. On review, the ball was found to be way low below the strike zone and the decision was upheld, leaving Scherzer frustrated.

The 8-time MLB All-Star would later speak with Jayson Stark of The Athletic. During this, Scherzer expressed why they need to ‘disrupt’ the game with this new system.

Can we just play baseball? We’re humans. Can we just be judged by humans? Do we really need to disrupt the game? I think humans are defined by humans.

Max Scherzer said

The ABS system has been used in the minor leagues before. It is likely to be implemented in the major leagues soon. Apart from that, the league is also working on including robot umpires to improve strike calls even further.

Coach John Schneider jokes about Max Scherzer following Blue Jays debut

A month ago, the Toronto Blue Jays picked up Max Scherzer on a one-year $15.5 million deal. At the age of 40, the veteran made his debut for his new team during the Spring Training. Following his debut, his coach John Schneider joked about his personality.

John Schneider and Max Scherzer
John Schneider and Max Scherzer (Image via MLB)

In this first start for the team, “Mad Max” threw 2 innings and managed to snag up 4 strikeouts and gave up one run through one hit. Despite the two ABS decisions going against him, the pitcher looked in fine form against the Cardinals.

Speaking about him after the game, Schneider claimed that Scherzer is not a huge fan of “high fives” in the dugout.

We kind of realized on the fly that he doesn’t really like giving high fives on the way in.

John Schneider said

This year Scherzer is hoping to bounce back after a disappointing time last year. In the 2024 season, he played in just 9 games and went 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA and 40 strikeouts. The team’s main priority regarding him will be to have him healthy. His experience could have a huge affect on the Blue Jays rotation and bullpen this year.