March 30, 2010

Players A to Z, Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke pitches as a stater for the Kansas City Royals. He won the AL Cy Young award in 2009.

Greinke gave us one of the more interesting stories of the aughts. He came to the majors at age 20 in 2004 and pitched well. In 2005, he slid a bit, striking out fewer, walking more and giving up a ton of hits. Before the start of the 2006 season, the Royals put him on the disabled list. At first it appeared he simply did not want to play the game. As the situation progressed, however, it came out that he was suffering from a mental illness, social anxiety disorder, that made him uncomfortable around people, tough when you’re trying to perform in from of thousands at a baseball game. He overcame that illness, and built himself back into a phenomenal pitcher. The promise he showed in 2004 came back fully in 2008 as he pitched 200 innings for the first time and posted a 3.47 ERA. He showed his full potential in 2009 with a 2.16 ERA, with superlative strikeout, walk and home run rates.

Those three statistics are the key to Greinke’s success. He and fellow Royals starter Brian Bannister pitch to minimize their Fielding Independent Pitching, FIP. Greinke appears to have made it an art form.

I also love his situational stats over the last two seasons, as in that time he’s responded better to tougher situations. Note how opposition batting goes down with men on base. Note how devastating he is against the 1-4 hitters in the order, usually the toughest part of a lineup. Give him a lead and he does everything in his power to hold it.

Greinke’s a gem, fun to watch, and fun to cheer on. I’m glad he overcame his troubles so we can see one of the greats pitch.

1 thought on “Players A to Z, Zack Greinke

  1. Hunter Felt

    My favorite non-Sox player. This society stigmatizes people who happen to be mentally ill, so the fact that the best pitcher in the American League happens to has a mental illness that he’s successfully treating is inspirational.

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