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Thursday, February 14, 2013

MLB Dodgers’ Greinke a ‘baseball junkie’

Almost immediately after Melvin informed Greinke of his trade to the Angels, Greinke asked him, “Who did you get?” Melvin replied: Shortstop Jean Segura and right-handers John Hellweg and Ariel Pena.

Greinke said he didn’t know who those players were, but liked the deal for the Brewers after he heard more about them. He earlier had told Melvin that the team’s farm system was short on power arms, “guys who could throw 100 out of the bullpen.” And shortstops, he said, are the “hardest guys to get.”

Zack Greinke nuggets and details are always fun.

Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: February 14, 2013 at 03:27 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: angels, brewers, dodgers, royals, zack greinke

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1. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: February 14, 2013 at 05:39 PM (#4369881)

Stupid news submission. What'd I do wrong? Anyway, this is a terrific read if you find Greinke as interesting as I do.

First two paragraphs are from TFA.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 14, 2013 at 05:55 PM (#4369901)

On draft day, Greinke was ready.

“He came in with a big piece of paper,” Melvin said. “He was sitting on the floor (in the war room) or a chair against the wall. I said, ‘Who do you like? Who do you think we should get?’ He said, ‘I really like Seager.’”

Specifically, Corey Seager of Northwest Cabarrus High in Concord, N.C., the younger brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager.

Melvin continued the conversation.

“I asked, “Which pitcher do you like the best?’ ” Melvin recalled. “He said, ‘Pitching is too hard to figure out.’

TINSTAAPP

3. Der_K Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:00 PM (#4369910)

Also from TFA:

The Brewers knew that Greinke would be a goner as a free agent. But before trading him to the Los Angeles Angels last July, Melvin and his special assistant, Craig Counsell, jokingly made the pitcher a unique offer:

“Re-sign with us, and we’ll let you make our second- and third-round picks in next year’s draft.”

Read this thing.

4. Ken Griffey's Grotesquely Swollen Jaw Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:02 PM (#4369916)

Zack Greinke is the best. That is all.

5. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:05 PM (#4369925)

Zack Greinke is the best. That is all

Agreed. Another guy who makes baseball more interesting and fun.

6. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:11 PM (#4369930)

I like how he called the Dodgers "stupid" for the Red Sox trade.

7. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:17 PM (#4369933)

Well, I'm a Zack Greinke fan now.

8. Nasty Nate Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:30 PM (#4369946)

The article starts with discussion about if how Kyle Lohse signs with a team after the June draft, there would be no compensation. This got me wondering if it actually might be a sensible thing for him to wait until then.

9. phredbird

Posted: February 14, 2013 at 07:19 PM (#4369968)

i so want to see this guy pitch.

10. WSPanic Posted: February 14, 2013 at 07:47 PM (#4369977)

I'm a Royals' fan, so my view is definitely biased. But, in my opinion, he is the most interesting pitcher to watch since Greg Maddux. It's fun to watch the different approaches he takes to different guys as the gamem progresses. And the fact he has four plus pitches makes it entertaining to watch.

11. Tripon Posted: February 14, 2013 at 08:12 PM (#4369987)

Greinke's probably going to become a Scouting Director after he retires. I'd say GM but the requirements have jumped way higher than the 'high school' graduate that Greinke is.

12. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: February 14, 2013 at 08:47 PM (#4370015)

I don't think the lack of a college degree is what would hold Greinke back from a GM's position. He'd obviously have to work his way up the ladder, but he seems well suited to be the guy who can merge both an understanding of what the stats guys and the scouts are telling him.

13. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: February 14, 2013 at 08:56 PM (#4370025)

Greinke on Felix Hernandez getting a bigger contract, per the LATimes: "He's worth it. I'll tell you right now, he's a better pitcher than I am."

14. Walt Davis Posted: February 14, 2013 at 09:14 PM (#4370039)

Greinke a ‘baseball junkie’

Is this covered under PED testing or is it a "drug of abuse"?

15. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: February 14, 2013 at 09:44 PM (#4370051)

Greinke on Felix Hernandez getting a bigger contract, per the LATimes: "He's worth it. I'll tell you right now, he's a better pitcher than I am."

Okay, I'm sold. I'm a fan.

16. flournoy Posted: February 14, 2013 at 09:54 PM (#4370052)

Greinke's probably going to become a Scouting Director after he retires. I'd say GM but the requirements have jumped way higher than the 'high school' graduate that Greinke is.

Do you think so? He strikes me as rather autistic. I'd be curious to see how he'd do in a people-management position, but it wouldn't surprise me if that weren't in the cards.

17. VoodooR Posted: February 14, 2013 at 10:38 PM (#4370065)

this is a terrific read if you find Greinke as interesting as I do.

It sure was. I didn't find Greinke as interesting as you, but I sure do now!

It's always interesting to find out which players are truly baseball fans -- whether students of the history of the game or, like Greinke, fascinated with the nuances of modern team construction -- and which guys don't really give a sh!t, a la Jeff Kent (if I'm remembering correctly, he practically loathed baseball aside from it being his day job).

18. Bhaakon Posted: February 15, 2013 at 12:15 AM (#4370103)

That's explains why he can't perform up to his FIP. Always chasing after one more hit.

19. Jim Wisinski

Posted: February 15, 2013 at 12:16 AM (#4370104)

I'm pretty sure that education level isn't something that tends to come up much when teams decide who to interview for a GM job. If Greinke does a good job as Scouting Director, Assistant GM, whatever and has a good reputation in the game then he'll draw interest because that's what gets GMs their jobs. The problem for a high school graduate is getting his foot in the door in the game; as a former player with a reputation for intelligence and understanding of baseball Greinke will have no problem getting a job in a front office.

20. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: February 15, 2013 at 02:11 AM (#4370131)

I was going to say "Kenny Williams was an uneducated ballplayer and he did pretty well as a GM", but it turns out he spent four years at Stanford.

21. Dash Carlyle Posted: February 15, 2013 at 02:30 AM (#4370132)

I'm sort of a "baseball junkie," too, but for heroin.

22. Matt Welch Posted: February 15, 2013 at 11:37 AM (#4370234)

Great article.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

MLB Dodgers’ Greinke a ‘baseball junkie’

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