Do you ever wonder about your name? How many famous people or characters share your name? While Buster isn’t really my given name, there are actually more than 6,000 people in the US named Buster (www.howmanyofme.com/search). Famous people named “Buster” include Buster Keaton (silent film star), Buster Douglas (knocked out Mike Tyson) and Buster Brown (comic strip character dating back to 1902).
This week, the Arizona Diamondbacks called up a starting pitcher with the 563rd most popular first name in the United States. According to howmanyofme.com, there are 89,668 people with this gentlemen’s first name. If all goes as planned, Max Scherzer may become the most famous Max of all time, or at a minimum, the most popular Max in fantasy baseball.
It’s not like he has much to compare against. Think about any famous people you know named Max. Think again. There’s not many, are there. Let’s see, there’s Maxwell Smart, secret agent 86. I guess he doesn’t count, huh. How about Mad Max? What about Maxwell Edison? Not familiar with Edison? Max Edison was the subject of Lennon/McCartney’s Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.
Actual people named Max include Max Ludwig Planck, a German physicist who provided the watershed between classical and modern physics and Max von Sydow, the actor who portrayed the priest who rescued Linda Blair from evil in The Exorcist. On the baseball side, good Maxes were few and far between. Hall of Famer Max Carey was a star, but he played long before Fantasy Baseball was created. More recent Maxes include Max Venerable, Randy (Max) Ready and Turner (Max) Ward. Not much to choose from. Coincidentally, or not, Max is currently the most popular name for dogs in the United States.
So, Max Scherzer has a realistic chance to become famous, and not only because of his name. Scherzer can pitch, and to date, is likely the biggest call-up in the major leagues. Scherzer was originally drafted out of high school in the 43rd round (the 1291st player picked), but instead opted to go to the University of Missouri. After three strong seasons in Missouri, Scherzer was chosen 11th overall in the 2006 draft by the Diamondbacks.
Max started in high A ball at Visalia, but proved to be too good for the competition, posting a 0.53 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 17 innings. Max went up to IND-Fort Worth for three games, a 0.56 ERA and 25 punch outs in just 16 innings, before landing in AA Mobile for 14 starts. At Mobile, Max proved more human, with an ERA of 3.91 and “just” 76 strikeouts in 74 innings.
2008 started with Scherzer in AAA Tucson, where he started four games, going 23 innings and striking out 38 AAA batters. In doing so, Max posted an ERA of 1.17, and a WHIP of 0.65. Amazing!
Scherzer is set to make his major league debut Monday at home against Jamie Moyer and the Phillies.
Don’t confuse Max with another minor league phenom, Nick Adenhart who got shelled Thursday in Anaheim. Adenhart is going to be a great talent, but he isn’t yet in Scherzer’s class. Additionally, Adenhart went on three days rest Thursday, and after a fine first inning, just couldn’t find the plate. Prior to 2008, Adenhart had a minor league ERA of 3.14, and a WHIP of 1.29. Good numbers, but not Max Scherzer numbers.
Adenhart is likely available in your league as well, but the real money ought to be spent on Scherzer. Other potentially available difference makers include a pair of Mariners, Wladimir Balentine and soon-to-be (perhaps) catcher eligible Jeff Clement.
It’s going to be an expensive free agent weekend.
Best of luck,
Buster