Mets' Max Scherzer Wants Clarity, Leniency from MLB on Pitch Clock Rules

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer voiced his concerns with Major League Baseball's new pitch clock Friday afternoon, after his second Grapefruit League start of the spring. The Mets would lose 11-6 to Scherzer's former team, the Washington Nationals.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer voiced his concerns with Major League Baseball's new pitch clock Friday afternoon, after his second Grapefruit League start of the spring.

In the third inning, Scherzer got Washington Nationals catcher to ground into what would have been a double play, had Scherzer released his pitch before the pitch clock hit zero.

After Friday's game, Scherzer spoke with reporters about how he believes umpires should show some leniency with the pitch clock, comparing it the shot clock that is used in both professional and college basketball.

"I think that's one thing I also want to make sure we get cleared up on the rules," Scherzer said. "If you look at a basketball clock when it hits zero-zero, there's still another second on zero-zero, so I want to make sure it's not zero-zero like the moment it hit zero-zero. Or is there a little time on zero-zero? Probably need to get a little clarification on that as we move forward."

The Nationals compiled seven runs and five hits off of Scherzer, in their 11-6 win over the Mets.

For the first time in Major League Baseball history, pitchers will have a maximum of 15 seconds to deliver a pitch to home plate, when the bases are empty. With runners on base, pitchers will have a maximum of 20 seconds. If the ball is not delivered before the pitch clock hits zero, the pitch will be ruled a ball. If a hitter is unable to step into the batter's box in time, it will be ruled a strike.

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