New York Mets manager Buck Showalter had a bizarre comparison for what Friday's Opening Day starter reveal was like.
The team announced that three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will be taking the mound to begin the 2023 regular season on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Their NL East foe will counter with last year's NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.
Buck Showalter on waiting this long to reveal Max Scherzer as Opening Day starter:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 24, 2023
“It’s like a gender-reveal party. I think we should hit a golf ball or a baseball and it explodes.
“What color would Max be?” pic.twitter.com/7ooihtuqL1
Recently ranked as MLB's most handsome manager, Showalter has gained a reputation over the years for providing colorful quotes (pun intended).
Last September, as the Mets were making their trek towards the postseason, the 66-year-old spoke on the atmosphere at Citi Field and said "When we have a full house, I want the hot dogs to be hot. I want the beer to be cold."
Ever since his first managerial gig with the New York Yankees in the 1990s and continuing throughout his runs with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and now Mets, Showalter's always been one for an entertaining soundbite.
As for New York's outlook in 2023, despite the devastating injury to star closer Edwin Diaz at the World Baseball Classic and the offseason departure of ace Jacob deGrom, pitching should be a strength for the Mets. Following Scherzer in the starting rotation will be fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and the enticing Japanese talent, Kodai Senga among others.
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