Officials upset at Zack Greinke

[T-post Tom]

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."

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

[stonedstooge]

He gets paid $7,462.69 dollars per pitch. I think I'd be keeping my mouth shut

[-King-]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

He gets paid $7,462.69 dollars per pitch. I think I'd be keeping my mouth shut

So just because you get paid a lot means you shouldn't be honest when someone asks you a question? That'd just dumb.
Posted via Mobile Device

[The Franchise]

Did he explain the exact reason that he wasn't excited? Maybe something was going on back at home that he would rather be there for.

[King_Chief_Fan]

I would say there is ZERO excitement in how Zack Greinke thinks or feels about anything

[Dayze]

I heard in Australia he'll be pitching left-handed.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

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.

While it is one hell of a LONG flight, flying with your teammates First Class on a jumbo jet is pretty sweet accommodations these days and many of these flights have BEDS that lie 100% horizontal with pillows and partitions to sleep.

I've flown from Newark NJ to Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Beijing more than 18 times R/T and it was very easy even in Business Class. Can't imagine moving up to First.

I would NEVER fly this far in coach!!!

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by -King-

So just because you get paid a lot means you shouldn't be honest when someone asks you a question? That'd just dumb.
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't really care about this one way or the other, but Greinke does go on to admit that it is for baseball's greater good. If it is for the good of the organization that pays me so much goddamn money, wouldn't it be smart for me to support it?

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NewChief

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.

Well he's living really well. And knowing MLB, I'm sure they'll get a bit better treatment while they're there than many of us would. So his point isn't lost, but when you make the kind of coin thee ****ers make, perhaps cutting the bosses some slack while they experiment with the brand might be in order. Lord knows I've been sent on far more useless trips (jet lag or not), and I didn't get a nice seat. So again, I get his point, and there is some truth behind it, but maybe his millions of dollars can help him get over it.

And what's funny, is some kid making the league minimum didn't say anything. And some players might take their family too. Perhaps making some lemon-aid from lemons??? In Zach's case, maybe he can bring his Mommy! The little anti-social ****!

I wonder if the Olympics has to put up with this shit every two years? And don't give me the whole "it's two weeks" thing... This is their opening series, they could travel right after their Spring training league ends to halp with the jet lag.

If that doesn't work for a guy who only works every five days anyway, I'm back to telling him to and deal with it. Or go play in Japan - I'm sure they don't have to deal with such horrible working conditions.

It doesn't surprise me that HE'S the one who cried about it. I hope he gets a beat-down on an Australian mound this time! He can fly home with something else broken...

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Well he's living really well. And knowing MLB, I'm sure they'll get a bit better treatment while they're there than many of us would. So his point isn't lost, but when you make the kind of coin thee ****ers make, perhaps cutting the bosses some slack while they experiment with the brand might be in order. Lord knows I've been sent on far more useless trips (jet lag or not), and I didn't get a nice seat. So again, I get his point, and there is some truth behind it, but maybe his millions of dollars can help him get over it.

And what's funny, is some kid making the league minimum didn't say anything. And some players might take their family too. Perhaps making some lemon-aid from lemons??? In Zach's case, maybe he can bring his Mommy! The little anti-social ****!

I wonder if the Olympics has to put up with this shit every two years? And don't give me the whole "it's two weeks" thing... This is their opening series, they could travel right after their Spring training league ends to halp with the jet lag.

If that doesn't work for a guy who only works every five days anyway, I'm back to telling him to and deal with it. Or go play in Japan - I'm sure they don't have to deal with such horrible working conditions.

It doesn't surprise me that HE'S the one who cried about it. I hope he gets a beat-down on an Australian mound this time! He can fly home with something else broken...

This attitude is why athlete interviews are boring wastes of time.

[GloryDayz]

Oh, and I wonder if the troops who fly half way around the globe and get dropped-in cry like this "honest" bitch! Just kinda funny to see where his level of "keep his mouth shut" is! For a skinny ****, he's got a lot of honesty - no wonder he's still on his mom's tit!

He's such a bundle of sticks!

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

This attitude is why athlete interviews are boring wastes of time.

Oh, I don't mind him being interviewed, or honest, but I also think it's fine to call him out for what he says... But if having this particular clown keep his ****ing mouth shut can be done, I'm all for it.

[GloryDayz]

And not that he can't hit it, but I hope his strike zone for his game in Austrailia just got smaller!

Or.... I hope they leave him home... I'm sure there's somebody who might not mind the flight.

[scho63]

Not too bad if he flies Quantas

[BlackHelicopters]

Honesty. How refreshing.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by scho63

While it is one hell of a LONG flight, flying with your teammates First Class on a jumbo jet is pretty sweet accommodations these days and many of these flights have BEDS that lie 100% horizontal with pillows and partitions to sleep.

I've flown from Newark NJ to Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Beijing more than 18 times R/T and it was very easy even in Business Class. Can't imagine moving up to First.

I would NEVER fly this far in coach!!!

I did a semester abroad in Australia in college... I flew direct from London to Sydney with a brief stop for refueling in Bangkok... total time on the airplane was 22 hours... all from middle seat in coach.

Coming back I flew Sydney to LA, LA to Miami... two different flights but both were middle seat in coach.

Pure hell.