Greinke Solid Again

Game Date: March 19, 2007
Royals 4, White Sox 3 / Box Score
Royals Spring Training Record: 9-11

Zack Greinke appears to be on track to win a spot in the rotation. Yesterday he gave up two runs on just two hits. And he walked one. He had his slider working, and according to Joe Posnanski’s column this morning, he broke “three or four bats.” Greinke finally seems to be growing up. During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, he was an overconfident kid who said and did things you’d relate to youth and inexperience—things like throwing big looping curve balls simply because they looked cool.

But here’s what he says now: “In 2004, I was too confident. I thought all I had to do was throw a strike to get a guy out. Now, I’m confident, but I’m not so confident that I think no one could ever hit me. I have to keep at it—not just think you’re going to succeed because you’re you.”

After his performance yesterday, his ERA is 3.86. He’s struck out 14 guys in 14 innings and he only has one walk. And even though it is only spring training, he seems to have put 2006 far behind him and that’s nice to see.

Something else that was nice to see was another scoreless outing by Octavio Dotel. He pitched two innings, striking out five, and only giving up one hit. He still hasn’t allowed an earned run yet this spring.

At the plate, it was the Ross Gload show. He went 2-for-4 with a home run. And Emil Brown was 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases.

The Royals are off today.