Zack Greinke Shuts Down Detroit, Strengthens Cy Young Case

by Freneau on Sep 17, 2009 4:14 PM EDT in Kansas City Royals News

The Royals continued their late-season dominance of the tranquilized Tigers Thursday afternoon, thanks to a strong start from Zack Greinke and a huge day by the usually impotent Royals offense.

Greinke struck out eight Tigers in just five innings, allowing only three hits and zero runs in the process. On the season, Greinke's ERA now stands at 2.14, easily tops in the American League. Greinke's good fortune on Thursday was that, unexpectedly, his Royal teammates actually helped him out.

Because of that run-support, Greinke was able to pick up his (stupidly) important pitcher win, moving to 14-8 on the season. In five starts against Detroit this season, Greinke's ERA is 1.00. Imagine if Greinke got to face the Royals? Ask Cliff Lee how that can work out for you. There are so many absurd Greinke stats out there, and as many have ointed out, he's not just having the best season of anyone in the American League, he's having one of the greatest seasons ever.

Royal hitters banged out twelve hits and drew six (!) walks. Tigers pitchers seemingly fell behind all day (when the Royals draw six pitches against you, you suck) and the Royals made them pay. Miguel Olivo blasted a three run homer early, but the real highlight of the day was Josh Anderson's epic three-run blast in the sixth. It was truly a magical moment for Royals fans, as Anderson enacted some sweet sweet revenge against his hated former team, the Tigers. No mention of this game would be complete without bowing down before St. Willie Bloomquist, who had four hits. Really, this was Trey's dream lineup out there today (well except for Gordon, who was lifted late) and it randomly worked out. Yay!

Although the Royals had an 8-0 lead in the 6th, the game started to look interesting thanks to a predictably quick two-run homer allowed by Bruce Chen. An inning later, Chen injured himself, bringing in Farnsworth. An inning later, Farnsworth fell down making a pitch, but stayed in the game. The glorious win was concluded with a garbage time inning from Soria.

So, now that the Royals are winning games again, are wins supposed to matter or not? I know Dayton and Trey are extremely concerned about the problems caused by a need for instant gratification in our society.

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Comments

People will talk of this game for generations.

Pecota, watch over us.

by castille on Sep 17, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

Only if Zack is injured and never able to pitch again

by sterlingice on Sep 17, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I wasn't able to watch, listen to, or follow this game

but in future years, I will swear that I did. Just like Woodstock.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 17, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

X Thank you Zack, and Anderson, and Miggy, and Spork, and pretty much everyone

Sponor of the Will Ebner Physical Therapy Center for Players Who've Been Hit By Will Ebner and Want to Try to Stop the Ringing. Or WEPTCPWBHBWEWTSR for short.

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Sep 17, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

I heart instant gratification

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Sep 17, 2009 4:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

wins only count when you win

when you don’t win, wins aren’t important. How is this hard to understand? Trust the Process, Grasshopper.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 17, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Is there any word on the status of Greinke's elbow?

by KCBear on Sep 17, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

That's what I'm concerned about

That, and I don’t know what “ointed” means. :)

by AxDxMx on Sep 17, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It's A Verb

Much like “ork”, as in “coworker”.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Sep 17, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don't think I want to know what "ork" means

by AxDxMx on Sep 18, 2009 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Dutton's twitter

X-rays negative on right arm of #Royals RHP Zack Greinke. Will be monitored but should make next start.

by swing and a miss on Sep 17, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

we are awesome

where's ross gload to explode the process?

by blue bandwagon on Sep 17, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The Royals are now 15-15 in Greinke's starts

If they had a rotation of guys with 2 ERAs they’d be a .500 team!

by swing and a miss on Sep 17, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

That sounds good.

It should be easy to find four more Zack Greinke’s.

by hunter s. royal on Sep 17, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

So ZG got hit by a line drive....

what’s the deal? Left because of tightness? The epic outpouring of runs?

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Sep 17, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

No tightness or swelling was reported, AFAIK

They took him out of the game and X-rayed the elbow as precautionary measures.

Seemed like a no-brainer with an 8-run lead. Even the Royals can get that one right sometimes.

by 2X2L on Sep 17, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

last 37 innings

21h 4r 3er 6bb 42k 0.73era

by 9il on Sep 17, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

amazing simply amazing

Sponor of the Will Ebner Physical Therapy Center for Players Who've Been Hit By Will Ebner and Want to Try to Stop the Ringing. Or WEPTCPWBHBWEWTSR for short.

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Sep 17, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm happy for Zack

But it’s hard to care.

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 17, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

That's extremely negative but it's how i feel

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 17, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

They showed a graphic on Sportscenter

that showed that today was the first time this season that Zack has taken the ball in the first with a lead.

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 17, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

with this offense

it’s like he can take the ball in the first and be behind

"The life of a (Royals) fan must be lived forward but can only be understood backward" -- Kierkegaard (more or less)

by benfunke on Sep 17, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Does anyone know

what Zack’s ERA in his 8 losses is vs. his 14 wins? It seems like he actually lowered his ERA in several of his losses.

by FretFriendly on Sep 17, 2009 9:48 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

possibly, didn't he lose nearly 6 games after only giving up 1 before he was pulled?

I don’t have time to look it up, but I think it is something like that

Sponor of the Will Ebner Physical Therapy Center for Players Who've Been Hit By Will Ebner and Want to Try to Stop the Ringing. Or WEPTCPWBHBWEWTSR for short.

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Sep 17, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

His 6 ER Loss really blows that away

If you take that out, it looks better, but then you are cherry picking.

by AxDxMx on Sep 18, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions

The really crazy split is this:

2009 Grass ERA: 1.75 in 200 1/3 IP
2009 Turf ERA: 9.90 in 10 IP

Career Grass: 46-44, 3.59
Career Turf: 2-9, 5.50 (both wins came in 2007, when he was 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in 16 IP on turf)

His two worst outings of the year both came on the fake grass. Hopefully he’ll overcome this turf phobia in his presumed last game of the year at the Metrodome.

by swing and a miss on Sep 18, 2009 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions