ESPN article on Greinke

PunkinDrublic · 02-07-2007, 08:24 AM

Talent intact, Greinke is back
posted: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry

Zack Greinke's legs were folded underneath him, Indian-style, as he waited for his turn in the Kansas City bullpen this past Sept. 24. The Royals were about to play their final home game of the season, and with the roster expanded, a handful of Kansas City pitchers needed to get in some throwing. Nothing serious, just some daily maintenance work from the rubber.

When it was Greinke's turn to take the mound, he peeled off his jacket and stepped to the rubber. "He threw 15 four-seam fastballs," recalled Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore, "and hits the glove every time." The bullpen catcher shifted his target, move over the inside corner, the outside corner, down. It didn't matter; Greinke's control was flawless. Pop ... pop ... pop .... "It was a thing of beauty," Moore said. "His delivery repeated, every single pitch. The guy is talented."

Greinke had reached the big leagues at age 20, produced a respectable 3.97 ERA in 24 starts in 2004. He was considered to be one of the best young pitchers in baseball, and, because of his remarkable control and the movement on his fastball, he was often compared to Greg Maddux.

But Greinke went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA in 2005, and this past spring, he left the Royals' camp after only a few days, because of psychological issues related to anxiety. He received treatment, returned to the minor leagues and threw well -- better than his numbers indicate, Moore believes -- and will be an intriguing member of the Royals' pitching staff in spring training.

Moore replaced Allard Baird as Royals' general manager in the midst of the 2006 season, and met Greinke for the first time this past summer. "He's very polite, considerate," Moore said. "He's a gentleman. He's a typical 22-year-old kid, put into a situation faster ..."

Moore's voice trailed off. As a member of the Atlanta front office, he recommended many young players for the big leagues, based on the player's swing, his performance, his pitch quality. Sometimes a player seems ready because of his ability, when in fact he might not be ready to handle the major leagues. The great unknown, Moore said, is how a player will react to the highest level of competition, and all that goes along with it. There is no way to know for sure, until the player is in the big leagues, and sometimes, mistakes are made.

"I'm guilty of making those kinds of recommendations myself," said Moore. "I know how it can happen."

Greinke turned 23 in the fall, and he is not expected to be the guy who leads the staff into the future. Gil Meche will have that pressure on his shoulders, after signing a five-year, $55 million deal this offseason. Odalis Perez will be in the rotation, along with Luke Hudson. Jorge de la Rosa has thrown well in winter ball, and may well be the No. 4 starter. Greinke is one of the candidates to fill a spot at the back end of Kansas City's rotation. "He's going to get every opportunity to win a spot in our rotation," Moore said. "If he pitches up to the caliber of pitcher he has been in the past, he should win a spot."

Moore recalled another moment from September, in Greinke's first appearance in the big leagues since rejoining the organization. The Royals were playing the Tigers and Greinke came into the game with a runner at first base and nobody out. He got Ivan Rodriguez to hit into a fielder's choice, then got a couple of pop-ups, looking in command. "It's all there with Zack," Moore said.

The reports of his offseason preparation are excellent, Moore said. "From what people tell me -- people who know him -- this is the first offseason, where he's been excited about spring training."

BigChiefFan · 02-07-2007, 08:33 AM

I hope Greinke can get his mental game down. He's got a lot of talent and very little confidence. I hope he gets it together.

**RockChalk** · 02-07-2007, 08:52 AM

I hope so too.

I know the Royals will be lucky to be play .500 ball this year, but I'm excited. I usually go to about 20 games a year and probably ended up going to about 2/3 of their games last Aug/Sep. It was fun watching Teahen have one of the best month runs from the plate that I've seen a young player have.

Thig Lyfe · 02-07-2007, 09:37 AM

I really hope Moore can get this team to a higher level. He seems to know what he's doing.

Pitt Gorilla · 02-07-2007, 09:55 AM

I'm not sure he'll make the rotation, but the reports on him sound promising. Play ball!!!

**banyon** · 02-07-2007, 12:27 PM

Hopefully Guy Hansen didn't permanently ruin him.

BigChiefFan · 02-07-2007, 12:58 PM

It's nice knowing we don't have to depend on R. Hernadez as one of the pitchers in the starting line-up this year. When Greinke is iffy to make the starting line-up, that's a good sign the rotation has gotten better. Nice job, Dayton Moore!

FringeNC · 02-07-2007, 01:36 PM

The Royals will almost certainly suck this year, but this is the first year in a while that there is some hope. If Greinke returns to phenom status, if Meche is the pitcher Moore hoped, if Hudson wasn't a fluke last year, etc...

Sure, all those things almost certainly won't happen, but at least we are fielding a team with some players that have real upside. That's something, at least.

**HemiEd** · 02-07-2007, 01:54 PM

It has been a very long time since I felt this enthusiastic about an upcoming Royals season.

MGRS13 · 02-07-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

It has been a very long time since I felt this enthusiastic about an upcoming Royals season.

WOW talk about setting your self up for a fall. Unless less you mean you are enthusiastic because the royals might only lose 99 games this year.

**petegz28** · 02-07-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGRS13

WOW talk about setting your self up for a fall. Unless less you mean you are enthusiastic because the royals might only lose 99 games this year.

I will go on record right now saying Royals are .500 or better this year.

**HemiEd** · 02-07-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGRS13

WOW talk about setting your self up for a fall. Unless less you mean you are enthusiastic because the royals might only lose 99 games this year.

Not really, having watched them through the good times and then the bad times, I think they finally have a GM that will make them competitive again.
I am pretty confident they will be competitive. Will they win the division? Nah, but they should not be the laughing stock of MLB baseball anymore.
I feel better about their direction than I do about the Chiefs right now.

sportsman1 · 02-07-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

I will go on record right now saying Royals are .500 or better this year.

and I will go on record as saying The Royals will WIN the World Series..........

Lets see how that turns out....

**DoucheMcCloud** · 02-07-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

I will go on record right now saying Royals are .500 or better this year.

You said that last year. A lot of good it did.

PinkFloyd · 02-07-2007, 04:21 PM

I'm going as far as saying the Royals will be about only 10 games out of first place at the All Star break..

That ---- would be awesome...

02-07-2007, 08:24 AM
PunkinDrublic Reign in Bayside! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Dallas, Tx Casino cash: $35240	ESPN article on Greinke Talent intact, Greinke is back posted: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 \| Feedback \| Print Entry Zack Greinke's legs were folded underneath him, Indian-style, as he waited for his turn in the Kansas City bullpen this past Sept. 24. The Royals were about to play their final home game of the season, and with the roster expanded, a handful of Kansas City pitchers needed to get in some throwing. Nothing serious, just some daily maintenance work from the rubber. When it was Greinke's turn to take the mound, he peeled off his jacket and stepped to the rubber. "He threw 15 four-seam fastballs," recalled Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore, "and hits the glove every time." The bullpen catcher shifted his target, move over the inside corner, the outside corner, down. It didn't matter; Greinke's control was flawless. Pop ... pop ... pop .... "It was a thing of beauty," Moore said. "His delivery repeated, every single pitch. The guy is talented." Greinke had reached the big leagues at age 20, produced a respectable 3.97 ERA in 24 starts in 2004. He was considered to be one of the best young pitchers in baseball, and, because of his remarkable control and the movement on his fastball, he was often compared to Greg Maddux. But Greinke went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA in 2005, and this past spring, he left the Royals' camp after only a few days, because of psychological issues related to anxiety. He received treatment, returned to the minor leagues and threw well -- better than his numbers indicate, Moore believes -- and will be an intriguing member of the Royals' pitching staff in spring training. Moore replaced Allard Baird as Royals' general manager in the midst of the 2006 season, and met Greinke for the first time this past summer. "He's very polite, considerate," Moore said. "He's a gentleman. He's a typical 22-year-old kid, put into a situation faster ..." Moore's voice trailed off. As a member of the Atlanta front office, he recommended many young players for the big leagues, based on the player's swing, his performance, his pitch quality. Sometimes a player seems ready because of his ability, when in fact he might not be ready to handle the major leagues. The great unknown, Moore said, is how a player will react to the highest level of competition, and all that goes along with it. There is no way to know for sure, until the player is in the big leagues, and sometimes, mistakes are made. "I'm guilty of making those kinds of recommendations myself," said Moore. "I know how it can happen." Greinke turned 23 in the fall, and he is not expected to be the guy who leads the staff into the future. Gil Meche will have that pressure on his shoulders, after signing a five-year, $55 million deal this offseason. Odalis Perez will be in the rotation, along with Luke Hudson. Jorge de la Rosa has thrown well in winter ball, and may well be the No. 4 starter. Greinke is one of the candidates to fill a spot at the back end of Kansas City's rotation. "He's going to get every opportunity to win a spot in our rotation," Moore said. "If he pitches up to the caliber of pitcher he has been in the past, he should win a spot." Moore recalled another moment from September, in Greinke's first appearance in the big leagues since rejoining the organization. The Royals were playing the Tigers and Greinke came into the game with a runner at first base and nobody out. He got Ivan Rodriguez to hit into a fielder's choice, then got a couple of pop-ups, looking in command. "It's all there with Zack," Moore said. The reports of his offseason preparation are excellent, Moore said. "From what people tell me -- people who know him -- this is the first offseason, where he's been excited about spring training."
Posts: 5,081

02-07-2007, 08:33 AM	#2
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $107112	I hope Greinke can get his mental game down. He's got a lot of talent and very little confidence. I hope he gets it together. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 14,219

02-07-2007, 08:52 AM	#3
RockChalk Dirty Bit Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $68792	I hope so too. I know the Royals will be lucky to be play .500 ball this year, but I'm excited. I usually go to about 20 games a year and probably ended up going to about 2/3 of their games last Aug/Sep. It was fun watching Teahen have one of the best month runs from the plate that I've seen a young player have. __________________
Posts: 3,689

02-07-2007, 09:37 AM	#4
Thig Lyfe R.I.P HOPE 2008-2009 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: America Casino cash: $529354	I really hope Moore can get this team to a higher level. He seems to know what he's doing. __________________ Matt Cassel sucks and I'm great!
Posts: 24,405

02-07-2007, 09:55 AM	#5
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $86530	I'm not sure he'll make the rotation, but the reports on him sound promising. Play ball!!! __________________ That rabbit is crazy; I'm Brian Waters! Kotter: "You are lucky I'm truly not the vindictive or psycho type...I'd be careful from now on, and I'd just back the hell off if I were you....otherwise, the Mizzou "extension office" life might get exciting" Kotter: "You're just gay. G-A-Y. Gay."
Posts: 18,410

02-07-2007, 12:27 PM	#6
banyon Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dodge City, Kansas Casino cash: $76625	Hopefully Guy Hansen didn't permanently ruin him. __________________
Posts: 32,045

02-07-2007, 12:58 PM	#7
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $107112	It's nice knowing we don't have to depend on R. Hernadez as one of the pitchers in the starting line-up this year. When Greinke is iffy to make the starting line-up, that's a good sign the rotation has gotten better. Nice job, Dayton Moore! __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 14,219

02-07-2007, 01:36 PM	#8
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $51722	The Royals will almost certainly suck this year, but this is the first year in a while that there is some hope. If Greinke returns to phenom status, if Meche is the pitcher Moore hoped, if Hudson wasn't a fluke last year, etc... Sure, all those things almost certainly won't happen, but at least we are fielding a team with some players that have real upside. That's something, at least.
Posts: 7,169

02-07-2007, 01:54 PM	#9
HemiEd Same ol, same ol, 2009 again Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicagoland Casino cash: $7231149	It has been a very long time since I felt this enthusiastic about an upcoming Royals season. __________________ Everyone on board the 10 and 6 train, toot toot! Smith, Cassel, Thigpen, Huard, Green, Grbac, Gannon, Bono, Montana, Kreig, DeBerg, Kenney, Fuller, Livingston Don't dare take a chance on achieving excellence at the risk of failing at mediocrity.
Posts: 23,278

02-07-2007, 04:21 PM	#15
PinkFloyd I've Become - Comfortably Numb Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Cameron, Missouri Casino cash: $1582	I'm going as far as saying the Royals will be about only 10 games out of first place at the All Star break.. That ---- would be awesome... __________________ Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'
Posts: 3,086

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