February 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Brewers starter Zack Greinke is to become a free agent at the end of the 2012 season. Brewers' general manager Doug Melvin was interviewed Wednesday on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM by Jim Memolo and Todd Hollandsworth. Melvin was asked about Greinke. Memolo: "From where I'm sitting I'm not sure how you're going to handle Zack Greinke, considering what you gave up in that trade. How are you going to handle that? What's your priority with Zack Greinke right now?""
October 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke has no problems telling his teammates how good he is. On Sunday, he'll get a chance to prove it to them on the biggest stage he's experienced to date. Handed the baseball by manager Ron Roenicke for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the Milwaukee Brewers' prized off-season acquisition will be charged with the task of shutting down the wild-card St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. The challenge will be large. St. Louis comes in not only playing great baseball, having already ousted the NL-favorite Philadelphia Phillies from the playoffs on Friday night, but also sufficiently motivated by the Brewers' NL Central Division title and Greinke's comments Saturday"
October 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If anything goes wrong for starter Yovani Gallardo in the early going of Game 5 of the National League Divisional Series on Friday, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said he wouldn't hesitate to throw right-hander Zack Greinke into the fray. Greinke started Game 2 and surrendered eight hits, including three home runs and four runs in five innings. He would be pitching on his normal rest of four days. "Zack would be available and not just if 'Yo' isn't pitching well," said Roenicke during his off-day news conference at Miller Park on Thursday afternoon. "Who knows, he could get a line drive back off a leg or something, and he's got to come out. So, Zack will be available (Friday).""
October 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers remained undefeated at home in 2011 with right-hander Zack Greinke on the mound. This time, however, Greinke played only a small role in the outcome. The Brewers' offense bailed out their starting pitcher Sunday evening after he let an early three-run lead slip away, rallying for five runs in the sixth to take a 9-4 decision over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the National League Division Series before 44,066 at Miller Park. By holding the home-field advantage they fought so hard to keep, the Brewers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Play will resume Tuesday night (8:37 p.m.) with Game 3 in Phoenix. The Brewers are looking to advance to"
October 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When the Brewers gathered for spring training in Phoenix in mid-February, manager Ron Roenicke wasn't sure what to expect from Zack Greinke. Roenicke had heard about Greinke's social anxiety disorder and wondered whether there would be any problems with the right-hander assimilating into the clubhouse. Almost immediately, that concern was erased. "I didn't know what kind of conversations I'd have with Zack or how he would fit in with the team," said Roenicke, who will send Greinke to the mound Sunday for Game 2 of the National League Division Series vs. Arizona. "You hear some things. Until you're with him and see how he interacts with the other players, it's hard to imagine what was going"
September 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It goes against Ron Roenicke's first instinct. But it sure is tempting. The Milwaukee Brewers manager said Thursday that he and pitching coach Rick Kranitz would talk with right-hander Zack Greinke to see whether it makes any sense to pitch him on short rest in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against Arizona on Sunday. Greinke pitched six innings on short rest Wednesday night against Pittsburgh to clinch home-field advantage for the NLDS. Afterward, Roenicke said he was not inclined to bring Greinke back for Game 2, but the pitcher's home record is so compelling that it merited discussion. "We need to talk today and then talk to (Greinke) if we think that is a possibility,""
September 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, who spent two days in Milwaukee on the last home stand to develop a feature on Zack Greinke, has the story in that paper today. It's a nice look at Greinke's new life in Milwaukee and with the Brewers, how he has adjusted to it, the things he likes and dislikes, and the possibility of staying there beyond his current contract, which ends after the 2012 season. Though you folks might like to check out this solid work by Mr. Mellinger."
August 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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During a season in which the Milwaukee Brewers have posted a remarkable .758 winning percentage at home, Zack Greinke has been even better. He hasn't lost even once. Greinke became the first Brewers pitcher to win his first nine home decisions by tossing seven strong innings Wednesday night in a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers before a sellout crowd of 42,804 at Miller Park. By running their record to 6-0 on this home stand, the Brewers boosted their home record to an incredible 47-15, including 18 wins in the last 20 games and seven in a row. Overall, they have won 19 of 21 to go 22 games over .500 (73-51) and maintain a seven-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central. "It's"
August 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Meaningful baseball in August had been nothing but a pipe dream in Zack Greinke's seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals. With the Milwaukee Brewers, though, it has become a reality, one the right-hander seems to be embracing. Greinke got the better of the St. Louis Cardinals and their ace righty, Chris Carpenter, as the two former Cy Young Award winners squared off Monday night for the second time this season. Greinke allowed seven hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out five in six innings to help lead the Brewers to a 6-2 win at Miller Park. It was just the type of performance Milwaukee was hoping for from Greinke when it traded a passel of prospects to Kansas City for"
July 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When you win the Cy Young Award, it ordinarily is considered a blessing. For Zack Greinke, however, it has become something of a curse. As Greinke tries to find his way with the Milwaukee Brewers, his 2009 season continues to cast a long shadow over him. Not because it was a tough year for the 27-year-old right-hander. To the contrary, he was about as good as it gets. And therein lies the rub. Once you've been that dominant, people expect you to do it again. "A lot of people have different expectations," said Greinke, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Kansas City just before Christmas. "Some people probably expect a lot; some people probably don't expect much. Everyone thinks"
June 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke never had much luck pitching in old Yankee Stadium for the Kansas City Royals. That trend didn't change with Greinke pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in new Yankee Stadium. In his worst outing since coming to the Brewers, Greinke was roughed up for seven runs in only two innings Tuesday night as the New York Yankees romped to a 12-2 interleague victory. Afterward, manager Ron Roenicke didn't know quite what to make of Greinke's shortened outing, which included a whopping 56 pitches. He just didn't see much sense in sending his starting pitcher back out to take a bigger beating. "He already had given up seven runs," Roenicke said. "If I let him go back out there and they get"
June 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers still haven't lost consecutive home games this season — Zack Greinke helped make sure of that Tuesday night. Turning in his best outing of the season, the right-hander scattered four hits and struck out 10 over seven innings to lead the Brewers past the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-1, in front of a crowd of 40,079 at Miller Park. It was the second win in five interleague games for Milwaukee, which remains the lone team in the major leagues to have not experienced a losing streak on its home field. More important, though, was the fact it got the team back into sole possession of first place in the National League Central after the Philadelphia Phillies beat down the St. Louis"
June 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When Zack Greinke pitches, the Brewers win. At least that has been the case since he lost in Atlanta in his Brewers debut on May 4. Since then he is 6-1 and the team has won seven times in his starts. On Saturday Greinke outdueled St. Louis right-hander Chris Carpenter in a battle of former Cy Young Award winners as the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 5-3, before a sellout crowd of 41,930 at Miller Park. Milwaukee moved within one-half game of St. Louis for first place in the NL Central Division. Greinke allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, walking nobody and striking out nine. He left the last two innings to relievers Kameron Loe and John Axford, and they retired six Cardinals"
June 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Obviously no one in the Milwaukee Brewers' clubhouse was complaining about Zack Greinke's last start, which resulted in a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park. After all, any win at that virtual house of horrors is one to be savored for the Brewers. Still, there was a definite sense among those who have seen Greinke at his best that, more than two months into the season and six starts into his tenure with Milwaukee, the right-hander hasn't come close to being that top-of-the-rotation starter he's been in the past. He has shown glimpses - most notably in his seven-inning, 10-strikeout start against Washington on May 25, a game in which he also"
May 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The last and previously only time that Zack Greinke hit a home run in the major leagues, he had a day to forget on the mound. Not this time. Greinke had a memorable game on the mound and at the plate Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park, socking a home run and turning in his best pitching performance yet for Milwaukee as the Brewers pulled out a 6-4 victory over Washington to complete their third consecutive series sweep at home. With nine consecutive victories at home and six in a row overall, the streaking Brewers moved four games over .500 (27-23) for the first time since July 8, 2009. If Greinke continues to pitch as he did against the Nationals, making just one mistake over seven"
May 16
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The way Zack Greinke mowed down the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first four innings of the Milwaukee Brewers' 9-6 win on Sunday at Miller Park, it looked as though the right-hander was throwing well enough to post not only a complete game, but also quite possibly a shutout. One inning later, though, Greinke was out of the ball game, a victim of a five-run Pirates fifth that got Pittsburgh right back in it at 6-5. Greinke faced the minimum through the first four, needing just 49 pitches. But he had problems from the very start of the fifth, beginning with a 12-pitch at-bat turned in by cleanup hitter Neil Walker. Walker, the Pirates' second baseman, fouled off six pitches before taking an 84"
May 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Jonathan Lucroy caught Zack Greinke for the first time Monday night. And he can't wait to do it again. "I'm laughing because it was a lot of fun," the Milwaukee Brewers catcher said Monday night while answering questions about Greinke's first start at Miller Park, which culminated in a 4-3 victory over San Diego. Lucroy didn't catch Greinke during the exhibition season because both were injured and didn't play in Arizona. And when the Brewers' prize off-season acquisition made his 2011 debut last Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader in Atlanta, backup Wil Nieves was behind the plate. So, as Lucroy began calling pitches - using his index finger primarily in the early going to"
May 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Back home at Miller Park and Zack Greinke on the mound. That turned out to be the perfect recipe for success for the Milwaukee Brewers, who put their just-completed 2-8 road trip in the rear-view mirror - they hope - with a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night. Making just his second start with his new team and his first in front of a home crowd, Greinke was as advertised. In a six-inning, 89-pitch outing, the right-hander limited the Padres to five hits and two earned runs without a walk while striking out nine. Toss in some rare timely offense by a team that's been scuffling with the bats and a rally-killing, highlight-reel double play in the top of the eighth started by"
May 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers aren't coming off a road trip to celebrate, but that's not going to stop the club from throwing a party Monday night at Miller Park. The Brewers' front office certainly has done its share to promote the first home start of right-hander Zack Greinke, the club's prize off-season acquisition. Some of the steam escaped from that debut when Greinke cracked a rib playing basketball and opened the season on the disabled list. The Brewers didn't exactly return home conquering heroes, having staggered through a seven-game losing streak in which collecting a hit proved to be a chore, much less scoring a run. They went 2-8 on the three-city journey, scoring a total of 17 runs."
May 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The way the Milwaukee Brewers are playing, it's going to take a lot more than Zack Greinke to rescue them. Looking about as bad as you can look in all facets of the game Wednesday, the Brewers were swept in a doubleheader, 8-3 and 8-0, by the Atlanta Braves, stretching their losing streak to five games after winning the opener of this 10-game trip. "We're not playing good baseball," said manager Ron Roenicke, whose club dropped its second doubleheader of the young season. "We're not doing anything well right now. "We need to start playing the kind of ball I know we can play. It's a great team out there (in the clubhouse). We're not playing that way right now." Showing he has a ways to go"
May 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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In a way, it's almost as if the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Zack Greinke a second time. That's the way some teammates viewed it as the enigmatic right-hander prepared to make his debut for the club Wednesday night in the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field after a rainout Tuesday night. So much time has passed since the Brewers originally acquired Greinke from Kansas City in late December without him throwing a pitch. "It's the equivalent of making another big acquisition," said leftfielder Ryan Braun. "There's definitely a lot of anticipation. We're excited about getting out there and seeing what he can do." Greinke's debut with the Brewers was set back"
May 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Right-hander Zack Greinke will make his Brewers' debut in the second game of the makeup doubleheader Wednesday against Atlanta, manager Ron Roenicke just told us. And, to be clear, the doubleheader will start at 3 p.m. CDT. I wrote 4 p.m. in an earlier blog but that was Eastern Time. The second game will start 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be televised by FS Wisconsin, so fans back home can see Greinke's first game. Their pre-game show will begin at 2:30 p.m. CDT."
May 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Brewers' pitching staff hasn't exactly wilted during the absence of Zack Greinke, which prompted the prized off-season acquisition to ponder his minor-league rehab assignment with Class AAA Nashville. "Everybody has been pitching pretty good," Grinke said. "I was thinking, 'Do they even want me back, or are they going to make me stay down there a little while longer?' " No chance. Manager Ron Roenicke made it official Saturday. As expected, Greinke will make his debut with the Brewers on Wednesday in Atlanta, remaining on the every-fifth-day schedule he has been on while coming back from a cracked rib suffered early in spring camp playing pickup basketball. For Brewers fans anxious to"
April 25
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke will not be rushing back into the rotation, even though he is anxious to contribute after being acquired from Kansas City in a huge off-season trade. Greinke made his second rehab start Sunday, pitching for the Class AAA Nashville Sounds against Omaha. He was on a pitch limit and threw 54 pitches, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in the game played in Nashville. Greinke surrendered both runs in the third inning as the Sounds lost to Omaha, 7-3. Former Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan gained the victory for the Storm Chasers. "He's going to go one more (rehab start), and if he's not where he needs to be it could be two more," Brewers"
April 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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All signs were favorable during and after Zack Greinke's first minor-league rehabilitation outing Tuesday night for Class A Brevard County. "(Trainer) Roger (Caplinger) came in and said his velocity was good," said manager Ron Roenicke. "And he came out of it feeling great; not that fatigued. So, a great report for his first outing." Greinke was sharp with his pitches, throwing 27 of 35 for strikes. In three shutout innings, he allowed only an infield hit while logging four strikeouts. And, though it was Class A competition, Roenicke said that doesn't make it a day at the beach for the pitcher. "They're out there just swinging," said Roenicke. "I've always seen that when pitchers go out on"
April 16
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke is ready to pitch in a game. No more bullpen sessions. No more batting practice. No more simulated action. Greinke pronounced himself ready Friday to go on minor-league rehabilitation after a 30-pitch simulated session against teammates Mark Kotsay, George Kottaras and Erick Almonte. Greinke said he will pitch Tuesday for Class A Brevard County against Tampa, which the club later confirmed. Five days after that, Greinke said he'll pitch for Class AAA Nashville against Omaha. Then what? "We'll see," said Greinke. Manager Ron Roenicke said he thinks Greinke will need three rehab outings, however, before being ready to pitch for the Brewers with a decent pitch count. Roenicke"
April 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke was scheduled to throw batting practice on the field Tuesday for the first time since being sidelined in the Milwaukee Brewers' spring camp with a cracked left rib. When the weather didn't cooperate at PNC Park, the Brewers went to Plan B. Greinke pitched in simulated situations to hitters in an indoor batting cage, with balls and strikes being called. When the 25-pitch session was done, manager Ron Roenicke was impressed. "He threw the ball really well," said Roenicke. "He got after it. "He's trying to come real fast now. I think (trainer) Roger (Caplinger) will have to look at that and make sure that we don't let him go full-go (too soon). That's what he'd like to do, so we"
April 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Because right-hander Zack Greinke felt so good during a bullpen session Saturday afternoon, the Brewers were contemplating moving up the timetable for his first major-league outing. The original plan was for Greinke to throw bullpen sessions and simulated games, then make two starts for Class AAA Nashville during the last week of April, throwing 35-40 pitches in the first and 75 in the latter. With that timetable, Greinke would make his first start for the Brewers during a series from May 2-5 in Atlanta. "His timetable is in flux because of how well he felt today," said assistant general manager Gord Ash. "We will rework the schedule and plan and let you all know early next week." Greinke,"
March 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When right-hander Zack Greinke suffered a cracked rib at the outset of spring camp while playing pick-up basketball, the original hope was that, with scheduled off days in April, he would miss only his first two starts for the Brewers. Manager Ron Roenicke conceded Wednesday that Greinke probably will be absent longer than that. "It may be a little longer than I thought it would be," said Roenicke. "I was planning on (missing) two (starts) and for the third, we were going to see how it went. "I still have my mind set that way but it could very well be three (missed starts)." Greinke is doing long-toss as he works through his throwing program. He has yet to get back on the mound but"
March 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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For the first time in 26 years, the Milwaukee Brewers were headed for the playoffs. The fall of 2008 was a glorious time in franchise history, a cause for everyone associated with the club as well as its dedicated fan base to celebrate. Yet, the Brewers' starting rotation already was starting to unravel, the beginning of a two-year freefall in that department. Ben Sheets, to no one's real surprise, was injured again and unavailable. Pitching on short rest for the third consecutive time, CC Sabathia dominated the Chicago Cubs on the final day of the season to help secure the National League wild-card berth but was running on fumes. Jeff Suppan had gone south, becoming a liability instead of"
March 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Right-hander Zack Greinke finally had to admit Wednesday how he injured the ribs on his left side at the outset of spring training. When you're headed for the disabled list, you have little choice. The Milwaukee Brewers' prized off-season acquisition has a cracked seventh rib and bruised eighth rib, the result of taking a spill during a pickup basketball game. Greinke does not have enough time to get ready for opening day and therefore will start the season on the DL. The timetable for Greinke's return is uncertain, but he is expected to miss at least the first couple of weeks of the season and perhaps most of the first month. "He won't be ready for opening day," said Ron Roenicke, whose"
March 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke doesn't want to be in Ron Roenicke's shoes when the Milwaukee Brewers' new manager announces his opening-day starter. "It's tricky," said Greinke, who made his spring debut with the Brewers on Tuesday in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. "I don't think pitchers are going to be mad, no matter what the decision is. Every rotation is tough to do, but this one's tough." The Brewers' prized off-season acquisition remains the favorite to get that March 31 assignment in Cincinnati. But with incumbent ace Yovani Gallardo as well as Toronto's 2010 opening day starter, Shaun Marcum, in the equation, Roenicke has a juggling act on his hands. Accordingly, Roenicke has held off"
February 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Michael Hunt
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If you read Zack Greinke's startlingly candid comments in this space Wednesday, it might have occurred to you by now that Milwaukee has not had such a highly skilled pro athlete with such a low tolerance for distractions since maybe Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And it's completely fine if Greinke has a Brando-type aversion for everything not directly associated with his craft, as long as he gets hitters out. But let's say you're Doug Melvin or Ron Roenicke. How do you manage such an independent personality? Roenicke is lucky in that he inherited a talented team with a low-maintenance clubhouse. While some of the stars had no problem last year watching Ken Macha's figurative lifeboat sink, none are"
February 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum are well-aware of the high expectations of Milwaukee Brewers fans since they were acquired in separate trades in December. It's enough to make a pitcher just a bit nervous before he throws his first pitch for his new team. "I'm just going to go out and do what I can do," said Greinke, the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner acquired before Christmas from Kansas City. "I try to look at it that way. Each game, you try to pitch as good as you can pitch. If it doesn't work out, as long as you did everything you can do, you can't do anything about it. Sometimes, you pitch good and you still get beat." Greinke certainly knows a thing or two about that. In 210"
December 22
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
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The three biggest superstar free-for-alls of the current off-season — Jayson Werth, Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke — were all won by surprise teams, believed to be long shots at best. All three — the Nationals, Phillies and Brewers — are teams that had observed the Giants' unlikely World Series win and decided the future of contending is now, that rebuilding is day-to-day. For the sad-sack Nationals, signing the free-agent outfielder Werth for seven years at $126 million (all figures U.S.) while he was courted by the Red Sox, among others, was all about contending as soon as their prized No. 1 overall picks are ready for prime time."
December 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The blockbuster trade that brought pitcher Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday paid immediate dividends in terms of increased ticket sales for next season. Rick Schlesinger, the team's executive vice president for business operations, said Tuesday that between Sunday afternoon and Monday night the team sold 1,100 new season-ticket packages. "Those are brand new account holders whom I'm convinced wouldn't be buying if not for the current Greinke deal," Schlesinger said. Coupled with a spike in sales for the team's four-game holiday packs and a higher-than-expected renewal rate for existing season-ticket holders, the Brewers are enjoying a resurgence in interest after a rough"
December 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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As of late last week, it appeared Doug Melvin might come up one pitcher short. The Milwaukee Brewers general manager could not find a suitable return in entertaining offers for slugging first baseman Prince Fielder. Seeking an impact pitcher in return, Melvin wasn't going to trade Fielder just to trade him. Waiting for the right deal proved to be the best thing for the Brewers after Melvin completed a trade Sunday to acquire Kansas City Royals ace Zack Greinke for four young, talented players, including prized shortstop Alcides Escobar and top pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi. The Brewers also received shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash in the trade. Not succumbing to sub-par offers and"
December 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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What exactly are the Milwaukee Brewers getting in Zack Greinke? Unlike other Cy Young Award winners who have switched teams in recent years, such as CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, Greinke has had more ups and downs. Yet, people throughout baseball still consider him one of the top pitchers in the game. A first-round draft pick in 2002, Greinke first surfaced on the national radar screen in spring 2006 when he left the Kansas City Royals due to what later was revealed as social anxiety disorder. At the time, some feared he would quit the game for good. "That was early in his career," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who completed the six-player deal that sent four young"
December 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The hierarchy has been officially adjusted. The table for National League contenders now has to bump some place settings to make room for the Milwaukee Brewers after they traded Sunday for Kansas City Royals ace and 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. The six-player trade forced the Brewers to shake out some valuable farm pieces but immediately catapulted the team into contention in the NL Central after being buried early last season. Having already traded with Toronto for right-hander Shaun Marcum, the Brewers have a solid starting rotation that doesn't resemble the one they put onto the field the last two seasons. In 2010, the rotation finished with the second-worst NL earned-run"