Max Scherzer to Matt Williams: "I want it! I f***ing want it!"
By Kyle Koster
Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams went out to ask if Max Scherzer wanted to stay in a tied game with two outs in the seventh inning. Williams received a clear answer.
"Williams said he “wanted to make sure I looked him in the eye.” Scherzer’s classic response was profane and fervent. “I want it,” Scherzer shouted, according to replays of the incident, looking down and almost frothing at the mouth for the next batter. “I [expletive] want it. I [expletive] want it.”"
Scherzer remained in the game following the passionate display and induced an inning-ending grounder.
Yelling at a manager is nothing new for the fire-balling right-hander. His fiery competitive streak has been on full display with Tigers managers Jim Leyland and Brad Ausmus in the past.
Williams seemed to take the moment in stride, saying:
"“I just wanted to make sure he was good to go for the next guy, and I knew he was,” Williams said. “He was fired up to get the out. He is a horse. … I asked him if he [wanted Gordon], and he said yeah, among other things.”"
The Nationals would eventually win, 5-4, in extra innings. Sadly, all the emotion in the world likely won’t be enough to overcome an eight-game New York Mets division lead.