Green Machine: Concerned about Zack Greinke? Yes, I am

[Dback Jon]

http://arizonasports.com/story/655737/concerned-about-zack-greinke-yes-yes-i-am/

On December 4, 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks set the baseball world ablaze when word came out they had agreed to a massive six-year, $206.5 million contract with pitcher Zack Greinke.

One of the best pitchers in all of baseball who last season won 19 games and posted a 1.66 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP for the Dodgers, it was the type of move no one expected the D-backs to make.

Not only did Arizona pry him away from the rival Dodgers, but they outbid one of the wealthiest teams in all of baseball to do it. It was impressive. It was exciting.

Needless to say, people in Arizona were pumped. The D-backs found the ace they had been missing, and with Greinke on board could reasonably make a run to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2011.

 

[82CardsGrad]

6 innings and 4 runs should typically be enough to give the Dbacks a chance to win at home. But not this year and certainly not against Cueto.

With Goldy crapping the bed (He was 0 for 4 last night with 3 K's and a ground-out double play!), and Ahmed unable to hit the ball out of the infield, ALL of our pitchers need to be near-perfect for us just to have a shot.

With Greinke, this is so strange... Same for Goldy. Thus far everyone denies anything is wrong physically with either of them, which makes their dismal performances all the more strange. It's one thing to be in a slump, but these two have slipped beyond slump...
Going into the game last night, Greinke was 8 & 0 against the Giants in his career. Going into this season, he has a career 2.00 ERA at Chase Field! Over his career, he had only allowed more than 2 runs twice and this season he's done that an incredible four times!!!!! Just impossible to figure out...

 

[DWKB]

Nothing against green machine, but I'm not exactly sure the purpose of this article. It doesn't have any insight unless you don't actually follow the team.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Nothing against green machine, but I'm not exactly sure the purpose of this article. It doesn't have any insight unless you don't actually follow the team.

Yep... Which is why I tried to provide my own slant and context...

 

[DWKB]

6 innings and 4 runs should typically be enough to give the Dbacks a chance to win at home. But not this year and certainly not against Cueto.

With Goldy crapping the bed (He was 0 for 4 last night with 3 K's and a ground-out double play!), and Ahmed unable to hit the ball out of the infield, ALL of our pitchers need to be near-perfect for us just to have a shot.

With Greinke, this is so strange... Same for Goldy. Thus far everyone denies anything is wrong physically with either of them, which makes their dismal performances all the more strange. It's one thing to be in a slump, but these two have slipped beyond slump...
Going into the game last night, Greinke was 8 & 0 against the Giants in his career. Going into this season, he has a career 2.00 ERA at Chase Field! Over his career, he had only allowed more than 2 runs twice and this season he's done that an incredible four times!!!!! Just impossible to figure out...

I remember looking at Grienke in Chase before and I don't remember his ERA being as good as 2.00. In fact I referred to his previous results as average at best. Where did you get your number from?

 

[82CardsGrad]

I remember looking at Grienke in Chase before and I don't remember his ERA being as good as 2.00. In fact I referred to his previous results as average at best. Where did you get your number from?

Another "idiot" on talk radio this morning mentioned it...

 

[DWKB]

Another "idiot" on talk radio this morning mentioned it...

62 IP
23 ER

3.34 ERA according to baseball-reference.

 

[82CardsGrad]

62 IP
23 ER

3.34 ERA according to baseball-reference.

Does that include this season?

 

[DWKB]

Does that include this season?

No, that would raise it to like 4.61

 

[82CardsGrad]

No, that would raise it to like 4.61

Well, like I said, the stat was mentioned by Doug of the Doug & Wolf show this morning... who can often be more of an idiot than Gambo...

 

[BC867]

There is one major reason for not comparing Greinke's stats with the D-backs vs. those with the Dodgers.

Chase Field is a hitter's park (as is Coor's Field). Dodger Stadium is a pitcher's park.

With fresh, talented pitching, look at our winning record on the road vs. our losing record at home.

It is a false hope to expect the ace starting pitching of the D-backs to have stats as good as an equally talented starting pitcher of the Dodgers.

I suggest that we, as fans, allow Grienke time to settle into the situation, do well on the road and work on using his baseball intelligence to improve at home.

There is only one Randy Johnson who, at 6'10", was absolutely unique. Whomever we would have given the #1 spot to this season (especially after the loss of Pollock) would have had a struggle.

As some people have said, losing AJ was more of a loss offensively and defensively than we expected.

 

[AZ Native]

There is one major reason for not comparing Greinke's stats with the D-backs vs. those with the Dodgers.

Chase Field is a hitter's park (as is Coor's Field). Dodger Stadium is a pitcher's park.

With fresh, talented pitching, look at our winning record on the road vs. our losing record at home.

It is a false hope to expect the ace starting pitching of the D-backs to have stats as good as an equally talented starting pitcher of the Dodgers.

I suggest that we, as fans, allow Grienke time to settle into the situation, do well on the road and work on using his baseball intelligence to improve at home.

There is only one Randy Johnson who, at 6'10", was absolutely unique. Whomever we would have given the #1 spot to this season (especially after the loss of Pollock) would have had a struggle.

As some people have said, losing AJ was more of a loss offensively and defensively than we expected.

Very good post.

 

[DWKB]

Very good post.

Wait a minute? You agree with park factors?

I thought you'd say it was all chicken bones and won't to.

Only 8 year old nerds use park factors, right?

 

[AZ Native]

Wait a minute? You agree with park factors?

I thought you'd say it was all chicken bones and won't to.

Only 8 year old nerds use park factors, right?

I've been to dozens of games in LA and SF. Huge difference between there and Chase. I never mentioned park factors. I have seen it first hand.

 

[Broseph]

Still waiting for one if his "Greinke-like" games this year...

 

[BC867]

Still waiting for one if his "Greinke-like" games this year...

You'll be waiting a long time. As mentioned in the preceding posts, he is no longer pitching half of his games in Dodger Stadium.

What I am hoping for are games worthy of a #1 starter playing half of his games at a hitter's park. That would be more realistic. And he has been moving in that direction.

It wouldn't hurt to remove the .180 hitter (.214 lifetime) from the starting lineup to help the pitchers. It is ironic that with Ahmed batting 9th in front of our 1-2-3 hitters a lot this season, his hitting is worse than ever.

My boy Chip has disappointed me by announcing yesterday that Nick is his SS. Hopefully that will change when Peralta returns (unless he moves to CF to replace Owings and not back to RF to replace Drury (who has literally replaced Pollock batting in front of Goldy). Even then, Owings should replace Ahmed in the middle infield.

That's how you help your starting Pitchers at Chase Field. And leave the damn roof closed now that temperatures have reached the 100's so balls from visitors' bats won't go flying out as often.

 

[BC867]

'Interesting hearing Steve Berthiaume's comment that Hunter Pence's 2-run HR (the Giants are leading 3-1) came right after they opened the roof during today's game.

Pence's hit bounced off the top of the fence and into the stands for a HR.

We're not the only ones commenting that it is an arbitrary situation affecting the outcome of the game.