New York Mets manager Buck Showalter made a suggestion as to how Opening Day starters should be revealed, after naming Max Scherzer starter.
The New York Mets had an eventful offseason, due in part to their flurry of free agent signings. Their biggest had to be Justin Verlander, who had won his second World Series title with the Houston Astros and his third AL Cy Young award.
Bringing in Verlander gave the Mets a dominant one-two combination of Verlander and Max Scherzer, even with Jacob deGrom gone. But who would be the starter?
On Friday, the Mets officially announced that Scherzer would get the Opening Day start for the team, as they take on the Miami Marlins on March 30.
Shortly after the announcement, manager Buck Showalter was asked about why it took so long to announce Scherzer as the Opening Day starter, and responded by saying it was “like a gender-reveal party.”
The quote comes courtesy of The Athletic’s Jayson Stark.
Buck Showalter reveals why it took Mets so long to announce Opening Day starter
As you can see in the tweet above, Showalter suggested that they hit a baseball or golf ball until it explodes as a way to determine an Opening Day starter.
The Mets will go with Scherzer, who joined the team last year to pair alongside deGrom at the start of the rotation. Now, deGrom is with the Texas Rangers after signing a massive five-year, $185 million contract. So, Scherzer is now atop the starting pitcher depth chart.
Scherzer had a solid first season with the Mets, despite missing time due to left oblique issues. In 23 starts, he recorded a 2.29 ERA, a 0.908 WHIP, a 11-5 record,173 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 145.1 innings.
The Mets spent money to make a run at a World Series in the very near future. Their quest officially begins on March 30, with Scherzer on the mound against the Marlins.