Max Scherzer’s tips for taming Yankee Stadium in October and other notes from the Blue Jays

NEW YORK — Someone gave Max Scherzer bad advice. He can’t remember who sent him on the wrong path before his first career postseason start, which took place in a raucous Yankee Stadium. But he remembers the misleading words.

“You’re going to be so excited,” Scherzer recalled. “Make sure you go out calmly. Try to be as calm as possible.”

The message came days before Scherzer entered the belly of the beast in the Bronx, for his first postseason outing with the Detroit Tigers. He was already four years into his big league career, but he had yet to build a long track record as of October with two titles and 15 playoff victories. That happened well into his 18th season, when he arrives at the Bronx ballpark Tuesday alongside his Toronto Blue Jays teammates, looking to close out this American League Division Series.

He won’t tell them to calm down. That’s not how Scherzer survived the Bronx.

“To make the playoffs, just be who you are,” Scherzer said. “Are you a guy who has a lot of adrenaline? Fine. Use adrenaline. Are you a guy who likes ice water? Fine, do that.”

Scherzer is not in the Jays’ roster for this round. He played no role in two stompings in Toronto and will not start the New York portion of the series. He is now a well-rounded veteran who throws bullpens to stay hot, if needed in the future. But in the meantime, he took on another role, bouncing up and down in Toronto’s dugout, dissecting the first two playoff games as a spectator, tasked with giving advice to playoff rookies and his greener teammates.

The advice in this case is rooted in lived experience.

Just 19 pitches into his October debut, Scherzer realized the wise words were actually rotten. It was peaceful and warm in Game 2 of the 2011 ALDS, but the Yankees’ lineup was scary, a storm constantly brewing. Preparing for the release, Scherzer receiver Alex Avila said, was no fun.

“It seemed like every one of their guys hit 40 homers,” Avila said.

When the fresh-faced, short-haired Scherzer followed walks to Robinson Canó and Alex Rodriguez with two fly balls to Mark Teixeira, Avila ran to the mound. Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones joined the team. Scherzer spat to the side, looking at his shoes during the mound tour. Why was he trying to calm down? It clearly wasn’t working.

“I’m not lowering the throttle,” Scherzer said. “I’m not one to throttle back. I accelerate. I throw with my hair on fire.”

On this fall day in New York, Scherzer needed to feed off the adrenaline of the moment. October, Game 2, a roaring New York crowd praying for his downfall. He’s the guy with the boombox who blasts the Top Gun soundtrack during his bullpen between tee times. He prepares for each start, shouting names during the parallel sessions of his future opponents. It’s hair on fire all the time. That’s what he needed in New York.

Scherzer stomped the mound after the first visit to the mound. He pursed his lips, feeling the ball between his fingers as he stood up. Two pitches later, he fired a fastball to earn a needed fly ball. He left the mound with a swagger and didn’t look back.

He faced the minimum over the next three innings. After striking out Canó and Teixeira in the fourth inning, Avila knew the game was over. Scherzer’s fire was back. “We had the game,” Avila said. Scherzer finished with six shutout innings in a 5-3 win at Detroit.

This beginning formed the advice that Scherzer now passes on. He didn’t talk about the playoffs all season, until the Jays finally entered October. But now the Jays are here. He’s not pitching this series, but he remains a resource — an assistant pitching coach, manager John Schneider said. When the Jays walk into the hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium, Scherzer won’t tell his teammates to calm down. He won’t tell them to shoot either. Do what works for you.

“I’m not trying to say I have it all figured out,” Scherzer said. “But you can get bad advice from your teammates.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. avoids talks with Yankees

Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. previously said he would never play for the Yankees, “not even in death.” He said New York was also the easiest team to play against. But not now. Not during peak display material season.

“My emotions are neutral right now,” Guerrero said through interpreter Hector Lebron. “Now is not the time to party.”

The Jays slugger stuck to a script he’s used all year. During two regular-season trips to Yankee Stadium, Guerrero answered different versions of the same question: “Why are you crushing the New York Yankees?” » He was asked after his double in April and again after his four-hit day in September.

The questions grew louder after Guerrero hit two homers, had six hits and drove in six runs in the first two games of the Division Series. The questions became more direct: “Is there a little extra push to do it against the Yankees?”

Each time, Guerrero quickly moved aside.

Playing the Yankees is the same as playing any other team, Guerrero said during Monday’s off day. He also doesn’t know why he hits so well at Yankee Stadium (career 1.002 OPS). Before Game 3, with the Jays one win away from the American League Championship Series, Guerrero remained measured and calm. He’s committed to letting his swings do the talking.

“It’s not over,” Guerrero said. “There is still a lot of work to be done.”

Bo Bichette not in the Bronx; José Berríos still at a standstill

Bo Bichette did not travel with the Jays to New York. He remained in Toronto “still progressing” because of the sprained knee he suffered on Sept. 6, Schneider said. There are “no glaring updates,” according to the manager, which suggests the shortstop still hasn’t started working or hitting his true speed.

The ALCS, should the Jays advance, will begin on Sunday. This gives Bichette six more days to go from progression to progression.

José Berríos, who was shut down in the final week of the season due to elbow inflammation, remains unable to throw, Schneider said. While the Jays haven’t ruled out a return for Berríos at some point this season, it’s hard to see him coming back and overtaking Toronto’s current rotation options, including those already off the DS roster like Scherzer and Chris Bassitt.