Max Scherzer tried to cheat pitch clock and failed miserably

Max Scherzer boldly tried to go against pitch clock and learned it won’t be so easy during the 2023 season.

Before 2023, MLB pitchers already needed to balance battles. Internal battles, batter battles, nad heck, maybe even some battles with what pitches their catchers are calling. Now, they have another force against them: Pitch clock.

Along with new defensive shift rules, pitch clock is the MLB’s answer to the claims that the sport is too slow and lethargic, and needs to be made more exciting to grow its audience.

Pitch clock is comparable to the NBA’s shot clock: The pitcher must start their wind-up on a pitch by the time the clock hits zero (and batters must be in the box at a certain time, too).

Some of the league’s more particular pitchers might be against the new addition. New York Mets ace Max Scherzer tried to find a loophole to the new rule but failed miserably.

Max Scherzer looks for a way around pitch clock and fails

Max Scherzer attempted a quick pitch on Friday, throwing the ball in essentially as soon as the batter got in the box. It was crafty, no doubt, but it resulted in a called balk. The MLB later sent out a memo to teams clarifying and reminding that a “quick pitch” isn’t legal.

Speaking to the New York Post, Scherzer said, “You’ve got to push the limits on what you can and can’t do with this. I pressed it today.”

Spring training is usually for players to get their bodies and minds back in game shape before the regular season. This year, it takes on a new form: Adjusting to the new rules that will be debuting in 2023, and making mistakes early with them so they don’t make those same mistakes when the games actually matter.

Scherzer is probably fine with taking this balk. Better now than in the regular season.