Mets' Max Scherzer ejected from bench for second time this season
Mets manager Buck Showalter (11) argues a call with officials during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Miami. Credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
MIAMI — Max Scherzer was ejected Sunday from a game he was not playing in — yes, again.
In the first inning of the Mets’ eventual 9-3 win over the Marlins, Scherzer apparently voiced his displeasure over a call that manager Buck Showalter did not like, enough that he got booted from the dugout.
“That was nice of him,” Brandon Nimmo said.
Nimmo was in the middle of the sequence. The first batter of the game, he tripled to left-centerfield. Plate umpire Angel Hernandez made him go back to second, ruling that the ball got stuck in the outfield wall padding, making it a ground-rule double.
Showalter didn’t like it. Neither did Scherzer, who also was ejected from a game in May for arguing balls and strikes on behalf of Dominic Smith. He wasn’t playing that day, either.
“He’s a beauty,” Showalter said.
On his way out of the ballpark after the game, walking away with his rolling suitcase, Scherzer laughed and yelled at reporters: “Angel strikes again.”
Baseball-wise, the news continued to be positive for Scherzer, who is on the injured list with left side irritation. His bullpen session Sunday, his first since going on the IL, was normal/went well, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said.
Remembering 9/11
In remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Francisco Lindor intended to wear specially made NYPD- and FDNY-themed gloves against the Marlins. But he forgot them in New York, not realizing last weekend that Sept. 11 was on this road trip.
“Blooper of the day,” he said.
Lindor instead will wear them Monday when the Mets host the Cubs. Then Rawlings will auction them off, with the proceeds going to charities benefiting those first-responder agencies.
As is their renewed tradition, the Mets wore first-responder caps during Sunday’s game.
Rough Ruf
No. 5 hitter Darin Ruf went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, one double play and six runners left on base — and all that happened in just 5 1/2 innings Sunday. He has one hit in the past month.
Showalter pulled him for Tyler Naquin in the bottom of the sixth.
“Naquin could play rightfield,” Showalter said. “[Ruf is] fine physically. I wanted to give him another at-bat too. I’m hoping to try to get him going a little bit.”
Debut day
Mark Vientos went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and six runners left on base in his major-league debut. He batted eighth and was the DH.
“I told him after the game, don’t give them too much credit. You can do this,” Showalter said. “The old scouts years ago used to say, time the pop-ups. It gives you an idea of how to gauge power, the ability to generate bat speed and spin. He had some good fly balls today. Seriously.”
As the rotation turns
The Mets have Chris Bassitt starting Monday and Jacob deGrom doing so Tuesday, opting to give the latter an extra day of rest.
David Peterson would be lined up to pitch Wednesday, but the team had that day’s starter listed as TBD.
Minors details
Showalter spoke to High-A Brooklyn manager Luis Rivera and Low-A St. Lucie manager Robbie Robinson to wish them luck in their respective league playoffs, which begin this week.
“I remember the playoffs in the minor leagues,” said Showalter, who managed in the minors from 1985-89. “It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal to get a ring at any level, obviously . . . We will be watching the scores.”
Extra bases
Trevor May is “looking good” to return Monday from the COVID-related injured list, Showalter said. The Mets will activate Luis Guillorme (strained left groin) on Monday or Tuesday . . . Starling Marte (fractured right middle finger) on the emotional hit of going on the IL: “I feel better. I’m coming more to terms with it . . . It was bothering me in all ways. Holding the ball, holding the bat, moving the finger. That’s why we decided to go on the IL. That was the only decision left for us.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
