Wrong Kind of Woe: Greinke Sparks Major Concerns

If you go into the Royals clubhouse looking for people willing to admit that they're worried about Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, you're going to spend a whole lot more time looking than finding.

Heck, some of the players get downright angry when even confronted with the idea that the one-time ace could be due for a down year.

“Greinke? Problem? No. Just, NO...” was the emphatic point made by fiery clubhouse leader Jose Guillen while giving himself a pedicure outside his locker Saturday. “We aren't worried about Zack, not even a tiny bit, not even a tiny tiny (expletive) bit – I got a tiger in the Dominican I have more worries about, I got more worries about almost dying or a surgery or almost dying... It's not even a possibility he struggles more.”

This sentiment was echoed by seemingly every other player approached with the question of Greinke's struggles continuing, including at least one valuable member of the Royals' bullpen, Luis Mendoza.

“When I look at Greinke,” offered the newly minted Royal Mendoza, “I see, a younger version of me. He's got some real good stuff, his fastball isn't quite up there with (Jamey) Wright's or mine, but it's good man, it's real (expletive) good. Took me a few years to really harness mine, but I think the kid is close... (he) might be due for a big season here in a few seasons.”

Curiously, when you venture outside of the Royals clubhouse, it becomes clear rather quickly that this steadfast faith in Greinke is not universal. In fact, a recent ESPN headline pertaining to the “aces” of baseball made no mention of the Royals' flamethrower despite coming off a Cy Young campaign. Additionally, self-proclaimed baseball oracle Keith Law made the recent exclamation via Twitter that he always viewed Greinke as “overrated due to Midwestern media bias, Rany Jazayerli and the vast Royals blog-spiracy."

Perhaps more worrying is the waning faith of some members of the Royals' front office, after witnessing Greinke's 3 sub-par starts to lead off the season. One anonymous Royals' scout referred to Greinke as “washed-up”, throwing balls “with all the conviction of a 3-year old girl who wants an ice cream cone”, and “lacking the grit and envelope massaging ability a true winner needs." Royals general manager Dayton Moore could not be reached for comment, due to a potentially related series of on-going meetings with New York Mets GM Omar Minaya.

The meetings with Minaya certainly make sense, as word has been traveling throughout the baseball grapevine that several members of the Royals front office have been privately lamenting the long term contract they signed Greinke to. High-ranking Royals officials are reported as having said that if Greinke has 1-2 more poor outings they will immediately look into trading him.

“While I have no comment on any possible trades at this time,” said Royals assistant general manager Dean Taylor, “It's no secret that we can't afford to have under-performing players signed to large contracts, and we will not hesitate to act aggressively and accordingly in either releasing these players or unloading their contracts as quickly as possible. Performance plays in Kansas City, period.”

In the case of Donald Zackary Greinke, only time will tell.