Officials upset at Zack Greinke
 

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Organizers of Major League Baseball's season-opening series in Australia are upset about comments from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, who said that he was not excited for the trip, according to reports in Australian newspapers.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Australian officials have reached out to the Dodgers and Major League Baseball for an explanation. The newspaper said the officials are "holding off on making comment until they've spoken to relevant parties in America."

The opening series at the Sydney Cricket Ground was planned between Australian officials, MLB, the players association, the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams open their seasons more than a week before the other MLB teams.

Greinke, the Dodgers' No. 2 starter, presumably would pitch one of the games.

"I would say there is absolutely zero excitement for it. There just isn't any excitement to it," Greinke told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I can't think of one reason to be excited for it." LMAO

The Dodgers responded to the uproar from Australia by explaining that the team, as a whole, is looking forward to the excursion.

"Zack has this endearing, contrarian quality to him that we all know and love about him," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "He's famously focused and meticulous about his training regimen. It's what makes him so good and such a great teammate. This is clearly going to alter his routine. I understand that aspect of it.

"But my problem right now is trying to make room for all the people that want to go -- players, family, front-office people. As an organization, we couldn't be more excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Kasten organized a tour of the former Soviet Union by the Atlanta Hawks and has also been part of international trips with baseball teams and said players typically return from such trips and view them favorably.

The Dodgers have not announced their starting pitchers for those two games. They are trying to control ace Clayton Kershaw's workload and have considered holding the Cy Young Award winner out of the games in Australia so they could use him in the United States opener on March 30, as well as in their home opener on April 4.

Kershaw could pitch all three games on at least four days' rest, but Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said the team doesn't want him to throw that many innings so early.

Kershaw, 25, pitched a career-high 259 innings last season, including the playoffs.

The Australian games are to be played on March 22 and 23. Because the Dodgers break camp on March 16, they'll play roughly 10 to 15 fewer Cactus League games than in a typical spring. For the starting pitchers, that means two or three fewer starts to get ready, followed by extra rest after their season-opening starter.

Greinke has said he's willing to pitch in Australia and understands why those games were scheduled.

"It's a baseball thing. It's an ownership thing, spreading stuff around," Greinke said. "That's what it's for and it's for the greater good of baseball."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/s...alia-officials

I would imagine that most of the players on both teams playing in Australia would say the same thing if they were being honest.

Australia is a 14 hour flight from LA.

Both Arizona and LA are going to have to fly round-trip 22+ hours within a week's time-frame.

No thanks.

So they would prefer him to just lie then?

I've been to Australia. It's awesome. I also stayed 2 months when I went. If you're going to make the trip you need to be able to stay and actually see some shit. Otherwise it's just a long freaking plane ride. Don't blame Greinke. Truth be told, I imagine many football players feel the same about the London games.

I would be upset with the travel time period. Who enjoys spending hours on a plane?

Yes, are you new to being an adult associated with an organization?

And that's the problem with sports media.

Not really.

I agree. The problem is he's paid very well by a billion dollar team and league.

Personally I think it's refreshing when an athlete is brutally honest.
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I think he's speaking the truth about how he feels, but I also think he's a dick! It's a trip to Australia for God's sake, that's awesome!

I guess the little whiney **** still hasn't broken off his Mom's tit!

A trip to Australia that's going to involve a brutally long flight, followed by jet lag, practice, practice, practice, junket, play, junket, play, junket, fly home. I doubt they'll be doing a lot of quality sight seeing and "fun" stuff.

Would I bitch about it if I were in his situation? Probably not. Can I understand why he's bitching about it? Hell yes. I absolutely hate traveling and having other people's agendas and schedules forced on my while I travel. It's like going to an amusement park and not getting to ride the rides, or being told exactly which rides you're allowed to ride.

Its not like he's going there as a tourist.
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I hope he's not so bummed out that he missed out on some authentic Australian cuisine at Outback Steakhouse

I'm sure few of them are happy about it but it's part of the job that they're compensated for.