Zack Greinke News: Pro Sports Daily

Greinke works three more scoreless innings as Royals top Rockies

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March 11

Kansas City Star

"One benefit generally afforded to veteran big-leaguers in spring training is that long bus trips are minimized. That explains why the Royals' travel roster for Wednesday's 300-mile round trip - one of two this spring to Tucson - didn't include José Guillen, Jason Kendall, David DeJesus, Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik, Willie Bloomquist, Yuniesky Betancourt or Josh Fields. There was one position player - minor-league utilityman Wilson Betemit - on the trip who possesses sufficient major-league service to qualify for arbitration. The eight bullpen options failed to include a single pitcher certain to break camp with the club. So it might seem strange the starting pitcher was Cy Young winner ..."

Royals' Greinke not planning to watch Lincecum pitch

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March 7

Kansas City Star

"Zack Greinke has no plans Sunday to hang around to watch the other league's Cy Young Award winner when the Royals play host to the San Francisco Giants at Surprise Stadium. Tim Lincecum is scheduled to pitch for the Giants. "Do we have to stay for that game?" Greinke asked. "Then no, I won't be studying him." Manager Trey Hillman's rules require all pitchers to remain for the first five innings of home games -- except those against National League opponents. "I'll study him on the videos," said Greinke, who made his spring debut Friday with three scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory over Texas. "It's weird. He only throws 90-91 (mph) now, but he just dominates hitters. "There's something ..."

Cy Young winner Greinke picks up where he left off

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March 6

Kansas City Star

"Wondering what Zack Greinke can do for an encore? Well, here's a bit of sobering news for the rest of the American League: He's already ahead of his Cy Young pace of a year ago. Greinke made his spring debut Friday afternoon with three overpowering innings in the Royals' 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. He retired nine of 10 hitters with three strikeouts on only 27 pitches. The only blemish was an opposite-field, two-out single by David Murphy in the first inning. Otherwise, Greinke was in complete control. Murphy's single was one of only two balls to leave the infield. Even Greinke was a bit surprised. "My first outing, usually, is not good," he said. "I've probably ..."

Hillman impressed with Greinke's samurai sword

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February 21

Kansas City Star

"Royals manager Trey Hillman was impressed at learning Mizuno, the Japanese sports equipment company, presented Zack Greinke with a samurai sword in recognition of his winning the Cy Young Award. "Having worked over there," Hillman said, "I know how the samurai sword is looked on as something that's a great honor. Having been over there for five years, I might have a little more feel for how much respect that exudes on who it's given to. "Hope he doesn't break it out in the clubhouse." Hillman managed the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2003-07 before signing a three-year contract with the Royals."

Greinke skips workout after having two teeth pulled

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February 18

Kansas City Star

"Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, sporting a swollen mouth, skipped his planned bullpen workout Wednesday afternoon after having two teeth extracted. "They took out one wisdom tooth and one broken tooth on the side of my mouth," he said. "So I'm taking the day off. I'm planning to play catch (today) and throw a bullpen on Friday." In short, Greinke won't miss any of the Royals' official workouts, which begin today for pitchers and catchers at the club's complex on the northwest edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Greinke has already thrown two bullpen workouts since arriving last Friday for early preparation."

Greinke savors Negro Leagues museum honor

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January 22

Kansas City Star

"Awards shows aren't really Zack Greinke's thing. He could do without the attention, the suits and especially the speeches. But he also holds a genuine affection for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is why he wanted to go by the 18th and Vine district on Thursday afternoon to personally pick up the Wilber "Bullet" Rogan Award as the American League's most outstanding pitcher. "I haven't been to the actual National Hall of Fame Museum, but this one's really nice," Greinke said. "I can't imagine it being much better, and you can learn a lot of stuff while you're here, too." This was actually the second time Greinke had visited the museum. The first was about five years ago, when he ..."

Royals honor Greinke, others during annual awards ceremony

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January 15

Kansas City Star

"Zack Greinke is the American League Cy Young Award winner now, it's part of his biography, and part of his title. When he's introduced, it will be as Cy Young winner Zack Greinke. This is a life-changing thing, a lasting legacy — or, at least, that's what you might assume. Not so much for Greinke. "At the gym, more people talk to me," he says. "That's about the only difference, I guess." Greinke dropped that line in his usual understated way, a few hours before being officially honored as the Royals' 2009 pitcher of the year at the club's annual awards night. There was a pretty good turnout of former players on hand for the $75-per-plate party at the Overland Park Convention Center on ..."

Zack Greinke's masterpiece salvages something from yet another lost season

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November 18

Kansas City Star

"The one thing you get used to in Kansas City is learning how to appreciate athletes who perform valiantly when there isn't much at stake. Well, it's all we have left. The Chiefs have not won a playoff game in 15 years, and the Royals have played 24 straight seasons without making the playoffs. Still, the games go on, and here in the Heartland, we are left cheering Will Shields for still blocking hard in the mud during a lost season or Tony Gonzalez for catching 200 extra balls at practice to keep sharp or Mike Sweeney for cracking a double into the gap with the Royals about to lose again. Yes, it does get old after a while. Still, we should pause and take special joy from Kansas City ..."

Greinke gets almost unanimous support for Cy Young

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November 18

Kansas City Star

"The headline on the announcement that Zack Greinke was the American League Cy Young winner called the voting a "landslide." It figures, then, that most of the opinions among voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America followed. "I voted for Greinke and for me, it was an easy thing to do," said Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. "He was on top, and he never permitted anyone to knock him off," said Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "Yes, he won 'only' 16 games, but he had nine games in which he allowed two or fewer runs and didn't get a win," said Tracy Ringolsby of Baseball America, FoxSports.com and InsideTheRockies.com. Greinke received 25 of 28 first-place votes in the ..."

K.C.'s Greinke is AL Cy Young

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November 18

San Francisco Chronicle

"Zack Greinke won the American League Cy Young Award on Tuesday, easily beating out Felix Hernandez after a season short on wins but long on domination. Greinke went 16-8 with a major-league-low 2.16 ERA for the Royals. Hernandez was 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA for the Mariners. Greinke received 25 of 28 first-place votes and three seconds for 134 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Hernandez drew two first-place votes and 80 points. Detroit's Justin Verlander was third."

Greinke gets one more win: AL Cy Young

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November 17

Kansas City Star

"Zack Greinke’s sweep of the major awards is complete after being named the American League Cy Young winner by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Greinke won with 25 of 28 first-place votes, and 134 points, easily beating runner-up Felix Hernandez of Seattle, who received two first-place votes and 80 points. Detroit’s Justin Verlander received the other first-place vote. Greinke went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts in 229 1/3 innings, his breakout season becoming a needed point of pride in an otherwise dreadful Royals season. His ERA was more than a third of a run better than Hernandez, who finished second, and the AL’s best mark since Pedro Martinez in 2000."

Win or lose Cy Young, Greinke wants to play for a winner

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November 17

Kansas City Star

"The Royals' first Cy Young winner has simple advice for the man expected to become the latest. "Whatever his pregame meal is," Bret Saberhagen says of Zack Greinke, "just keep on eating it." Greinke, of course, had a breakout season in 2009, when his 2.16 ERA was the best in the American League by more than a third of a run, and the best overall mark since Pedro Martinez in 2000. He went 16-8 and struck out 242 in 229 1/3 innings, dominant enough that most expect him to be honored when the Baseball Writers Association of America selects the winner this afternoon. In the shadows of the announcement, it's worthwhile to consider what the future will hold for both Greinke and the Royals — win ..."

Players pick Greinke as American League's top pitcher

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October 29

Kansas City Star

"Royals right-hander Zack Greinke garnered another award Wednesday as the top pitcher in the American League. This one came courtesy of his peers in balloting for the Players Choice Awards. Greinke was previously selected as the AL's top pitcher by The Sporting News and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum after going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA. He now appears positioned as the favorite for the Cy Young Award, which will be announced Nov. 17."

Players pick Greinke as American League's top pitcher

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October 28

Kansas City Star

"Royals right-hander Zack Greinke garnered another award today as the top pitcher in the American League. This one came courtesy of his peers in balloting for the Players Choice Awards. Greinke was previously selected by The Sporting News as the AL's top pitcher and looks to be the favorite for the Cy Young Award, which will be announced Nov. 17. Toronto's Roy Halladay and New York's CC Sabathia were the other finalists in balloting by players to determine the league's most outstanding pitcher."

Greinke among those honored by Negro Leagues Museum

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Yet another award for Zack Greinke. In what figures to be a long line of honors, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on Wednesday selected Greinke as its AL Bullet Rogan Award winner as the American League's best pitcher. Chris Carpenter is the National League winner, with Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols winning the Oscar Charleston MVP awards for the AL and NL, respectively. Bud Selig is the Buck O'Neil Award winner, presented for outstanding support of the museum, and Joe Morgan is the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award winner for career excellence in the face of adversity."

Greinke leads Legacy awards

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Another day, another award for Zack Greinke - this one on his 26th birthday. In what figures to be a long line of honors leading up to the American League Cy Young Award on Nov. 17, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum named Greinke their AL Bullet Rogan Award winner as the AL's best pitcher. The awards will be formally presented in January at the museum's 10th Annual Legacy Awards, to be held at the downtown Convention Center. Chris Carpenter is the NL's winner, with Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols winning the Oscar Charleston MVP awards for the AL and NL, respectively. Bud Selig is the Buck O'Neil Award winner, presented for outstanding support of the museum, and Joe Morgan is the Jackie ..."

Greinke picked by The Sporting News as AL pitcher of the year

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Royals ace Zack Greinke received a present Wednesday - on his 26th birthday - from The Sporting News: He was honored by the online magazine as the American League pitcher of the year. Greinke won the award in a vote by 31 major-league general managers and assistant general managers. Bret Saberhagen, the 1989 recipient, is the only other Royals pitcher to win the award. The Sporting News' result typically is a harbinger of the Cy Young Award, which is generally viewed as the game's most prestigious honor for pitchers. The Sporting News' last 14 AL winners went on to win the Cy Young balloting. Greinke went 16-8 for a 65-97 club and led the majors with a 2.16 earned-run average. San ..."

Greinke is in an arms race for the AL Cy Young

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October 6

Kansas City Star

"Votes are due today, so it's a good time to look at perhaps the most interesting American League Cy Young race in years. Zack Greinke, with a strong cyber-push from various baseball observers, at one point looked like a near lock. He's still the favorite, but the weekend put doubt back in the minds of some. First, Greinke gave up four runs in six innings at Minnesota, a game shown on national TV, a game Greinke called his biggest of the season. The defense didn't help him much, and there is no shame in giving up the key hit to MVP-to-be Joe Mauer. But, still: If there are voters looking for a reason to not vote for Greinke, they probably will cite an underwhelming final start. Then came ..."

Mauer solves Greinke as Royals fall to Twins Cy Young stats watch

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October 4

Kansas City Star

"Let's start by working backward: The decisive blow Saturday afternoon was Michael Cuddyer's tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning that carried the Minnesota Twins to a 5-4 victory over the Royals at the Metrodome. It was a no-doubt, one-out drive to left against rookie reliever Dusty Hughes, and it means the Twins will enter today, the season's final day, with their postseason aspirations still intact. But the drama, and one of the season's finest moments, came earlier when the Royals allowed Zack Greinke to face Joe Mauer in the sixth inning of a scoreless game with two outs and a runner on third. It was a decision that, strategically, is almost impossible to defend: Even if you're the ..."

Greinke challenges Twins' best and Mauer makes him pay

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October 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Zack Greinke had every chance, and every reason, to pitch around Joe Mauer in the sixth inning Saturday. In a scoreless game, Greinke had two outs and a man on third. Why go after the major leagues' best hitter? "I feel like I could get him out if I make my pitches," Greinke said. The Kansas City Royals' ace has done it before, and he came close again Saturday, but this time it was Mauer who prevailed, starting a four-run Twins rally with a run-scoring single after falling behind 0-2. "You've got the best pitcher — well, certainly the best pitcher we've faced — on the mound with two outs. It's kind of what everybody wanted to see," Mauer said after the 5-4 win. "I was glad (he pitched to ..."

For Zack Greinke, a Cy is just a sigh

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October 3

Kansas City Star

"This seems like a good time for an unfiltered look at Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, and not only because he makes his final start of a magnificent individual season today. It's his last chance to make an emphatic statement to the 28 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who will vote before Tuesday on the American League Cy Young Award. It is that award that generally designates the league's best pitcher. Greinke, with a 16-8 record and 2.06 earned run average, appears to be the favorite in the regular season's final weekend. There's more, though. Greinke proved again this past week that he is a candid enigma whose distaste for individual attention forever clashes with ..."

Royals pitcher Zack Greinke says Tigers' pitching could Yankees hard time

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September 30

New York Daily News

"Zack Greinke has not pitched against the Yankees this season, but the Kansas City ace has an opinion about which AL Central contender the Bombers should prefer not to face when the playoffs open next week. Just as you'd expect a Cy Young front-runner to say, Greinke gives the edge to the Tigers over the Twins because of their pitching. "I didn't think Detroit's pitching would do as (well) as it did for as long as it did," Greinke said before the Yankees beat the Royals, 4-3, Tuesday night at the Stadium. "They've got three guys who could pitch well in the playoffs for them, and the Twins don't really have a (Justin) Verlander or (Edwin) Jackson or (Rick) Porcello. (Minnesota's) bullpen ..."

Greinke makes another case for Cy Young with win against Twins

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September 28

Kansas City Star

"Joe Mauer shook his head. He looked down at the ground, then back at home plate. More head-shaking. Jason Kubel had the same disbelief, but his came while his bat slammed into the ground, immediately followed by his helmet. He screamed something, though at this point the crowd was yelling too loud for anyone to make it out. Behind Kubel, Zack Greinke made that slow, confident walk back to the dugout after another scoreless inning. An ovation that belies the Royals' disappointing season showered down from 28,721 who came to cheer Greinke on his march toward the Cy Young Award in a 4-1 win for the Royals against the Twins on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. "It's pretty annoying, actually," ..."

Greinke makes another case for Cy Young with win against Twins

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September 28

Kansas City Star

"Joe Mauer shook his head. He looked down at the ground, then back at home plate. More head-shaking. Jason Kubel had the same disbelief, but his came while his bat slammed into the ground, immediately followed by his helmet. He screamed something, though at this point the crowd was yelling too loud for anyone to make it out. Behind Kubel, Zack Greinke made that slow, confident walk back to the dugout after another scoreless inning. An ovation that belies the Royals' disappointing season showered down from 28,721 who came to cheer Greinke on his march toward the Cy Young Award in a 4-1 win for the Royals against the Twins on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. "It's pretty annoying, actually," ..."

Suddenly, Twins to see KC ace in spades

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September 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Each time the Twins prepared to face Kansas City this season, someone with the club peeked at the pitching matchups and responded, "We're missing Zack Greinke." So the Twins had to be impressed from afar as Greinke, who fought social anxiety and clinical depression earlier in his career and once left the club to sort out his problems, dominated the league. They no longer can avoid him. Grienke will be 60 feet, 6 inches away from the Twins on Sunday in Kansas City, throwing his impressive array of pitches as Minnesota tries to keep close to the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central race. "It's amazing we haven't faced him yet this year," Twins outfielder Denard Span said. Greinke, ..."

Red Sox heap praise on Greinke

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September 23

MLB.com

"Sitting by his locker, David Ortiz leaned back in his seat and gave his typical round smile. The question was a simple one, and Ortiz had a simple answer. Should Zack Greinke be the American League Cy Young Award winner? Should Greinke -- the Royals' pitching savant who had just thoroughly dominated the Boston Red Sox during Kansas City's 5-1 win on Tuesday -- be voted the best pitcher in the AL? "Why not?" Ortiz said. Greinke had just allowed two hits over his six innings of work. He had lowered his Major League-leading ERA to 2.08. He had struck out five more batters, giving him 229 for the season. And now his Cy Young candidacy had the support of one of the biggest personalities in ..."

Greinke trying to enjoy the added attention

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September 23

Kansas City Star

"Zack Greinke is growing more comfortable with being the center of attention and is trying, he said, to show his appreciation to fans for their support. "Earlier in the year," he admitted, "I don't think I was ready for it. I'd get a little anxiety with all of the attention. But I got used to it, and it's been more fun than anything. It doesn't bother me any more." The spotlight keeps getting brighter on Greinke, whose battles with social anxiety and clinical depression are well-documented. His breakthrough season has already included a cover shot for Sports Illustrated and an All-Star Game appearance. It now heads down the stretch with Greinke positioned as one of the favorites -- perhaps ..."

This young ace looks like royalty

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September 23

Boston Globe

"Zack Greinke lowered his ERA last night, which was hard to do, not so much because he faced the Red Sox but because of math. That's become his problem. Greinke's ERA started at 2.14. Say last night he allowed two runs in 8 1/3 innings - "that's an amazing game,'' he said. But, by just a little, Greinke's ERA would have gone up. "I look at it some,'' Greinke said. "It's kind of hard to believe. It's kind of like watching Joe Mauer hit, where he'll get a hit [in a game] and his batting average will go down. You're like, 'That's unbelievable.' So, I don't know, I look at it every now and then.''"

Greinke handcuffs Sox

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September 23

Boston Globe

"It was the eight straight balls that got to him. That, after all, is the opposite of what Paul Byrd is about. With the first two Royals singling in the first inning of last night's game, the Red Sox starter faced Billy Butler. He walked him on four pitches. Then Byrd faced Mike Jacobs with the bases loaded. He walked him on four pitches. And even though plate umpire Andy Fletcher might have squeezed Byrd, he'd still allowed a run because of his wildness."

Zack Greinke puts on show

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September 23

Boston Herald

"Until last night, it had been more than two years since the Red Sox [team stats] faced Zack Greinke. If it takes that long for them to meet up again, no one in the Sox lineup will complain. Greinke toyed with the Red Sox for six innings, limiting them to two measly hits, spread five innings apart. The closest they got to any sort of rally against the Kansas City Royals ace came in the fifth inning when, in an uncharacteristic spot of wildness, Greinke issued back-to-back walks with one out. The Sox don't get a say in the Cy Young balloting, of course, but if they did, they would cast a first-place vote for Greinke. "Why not?" said David Ortiz [stats], who was 0-for-3 with a strikeout in ..."

Greinke OK to start on Tuesday

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September 20

Toronto Sun

"Kansas City Royals ace Zack Greinke, hit in his throwing arm by a line drive during his previous start, played catch yesterday and should be able to make his scheduled start Tuesday against Boston. "As long as there are no setbacks, it will be Zack on his regular day," manager Trey Hillman said. "He felt fine. There's a little bit of swelling in his forearm. It's continuing to go south. We hope that's dissipated in the next 72 hours before Tuesday." Greinke, 14-8 this season with a major league-leading ERA of 2.14, was struck by a line drive off the bat of Detroit Miguel Cabrera on Thursday. After being hit in the fourth inning, he stayed in the game and pitched one more inning. He's ..."

Line drive happened too fast for Greinke to do anything

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September 18

Kansas City Star

"That line drive by Miguel Cabrera, it seems, happened way too fast for Zack Greinke to do much of anything. Too fast, even, to be scared. "I don't even remember moving out there," he said. "But when I saw it (on tape), I thought, 'Man, I was sort of close to catching it.' Still not very close, though. I didn't even get a glove on it." Greinke didn't appear to flinch but had time only to turn his body a fraction. "It would have hit me right in the side if I hadn't moved at all," he said. "I moved my body to try to catch it, but my arm went right into the ball. It was hit really hard." The ball caromed just a few feet in front of Greinke, who pounced on it and, with his arm quickly numbing, ..."

Royals' Greinke hit in arm by line drive, stays in game

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September 17

Kansas City Star

"Royals pitcher Zack Greinke was struck in his right arm by line drive Thursday afternoon off the bat of Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in the fourth inning at Comerica Park. Greinke remained in the game after testing his arm with several practice pitches. The Royals led 5-0 at the time. Cabrera's leadoff line drive struck Greinke just above the elbow. Greinke recovered in time -- never flinched, actually -- to recover the ball and flip to first base for the out."

Royals can't help Greinke but extend winning streak to five with 2-1 win over Indians

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September 12

Kansas City Star

"Well, sure, Zack Greinke was disappointed Friday night. But, being Zack, it wasn't because he settled for another no-decision before the Royals pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 12 innings. No, Greinke's regret had nothing to do with seeing a possible victory slip away in his pursuit of the American League Cy Young Award. Instead, he was hoping to see the famous Northeast Ohio midges swarm into Progressive Field as they did two years ago when the Indians played the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Who could make this stuff up? "I really wanted to see the bugs to see how bad they actually are," Greinke insisted. "I can't imagine them being as bad as ..."

Royals waste eight strong innings from Greinke in 2-1 loss to Angels in 11 innings

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September 6

Kansas City Star

"Wedge yourself for a moment into Trey Hillman's cleats on the Royals' bench. You've already watched Zack Greinke pitch eight marvelous innings with no reward. You've already used Joakim Soria for a scoreless ninth. Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels is heading into extra innings. Your bullpen, beyond Soria, has been - let's be gentle - a bloody mess. What do you do? Hillman opted for Yasuhiko Yabuta, and, no, it didn't work: The Angels pushed across the winning run in the 11th inning for a 2-1 victory at Kauffman Stadium. It's been that kind of year, hasn't it? Greinke threw a career-high 125 pitches while limiting the Angels to one unearned run in eight innings. All he got ..."

Greinke's Uphill Climb to Cy Young Award

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September 6

New York Times

"What is Kansas City's Zack Greinke going to have to do to win the American League Cy Young Award? Unfortunately for Greinke, right, the win column is often the first place people look when handicapping the race for the award, and that is the one statistical area where he is lacking. Greinke's 13 victories are tied for eighth most in the league. Everywhere else, Greinke, a right-hander, is right at the top. He leads A.L. starters with a 2.22 earned run average; he is second to Detroit's Justin Verlander with 210 strikeouts; and his 1.08 walks and hits per inning pitched are best in the league. He is tied for the league lead in complete games (six) and led in shutouts (three), which are two ..."

Greinke's turnaround impresses Sweeney

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September 1

Tacoma News Tribune

"The first time Mike Sweeney met Zack Greinke, the kid was a 17-year-old pitcher who seemed even younger to the Kansas City Royals veteran. "He was nave, innocent," Sweeney said. "A great kid, but shy." They later became teammates in Kansas City, and Greinke had well-publicized battles with anxiety. They were serious enough that, at one point, Greinke wanted to stop pitching altogether. "He went in to (then-manager) Buddy Bell's office and said he wanted to quit, to start over and come back as a shortstop," Sweeney said Sunday. "Today, Mariners fans probably wish he had." Greinke's one-hitter beat Seattle, 3-0, and one of the batters he faced was former teammate Sweeney. "I smiled a couple ..."

Greinke player of week; Hillman leaves team after father-in-law's death

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September 1

Kansas City Star

"Royals pitcher Zack Greinke - who else? - was selected Monday as the American League Player of the Week after delivering overpowering performances in his last two starts. Greinke set a franchise record last Tuesday with 15 strikeouts while pitching eight innings in a 6-2 victory over Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium. He followed that Sunday with a complete-game one-hitter in a 3-0 victory at Seattle. It is Greinke's second weekly award of the year. He shared the honor for the week of April 13-19 with Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler. Royals first baseman Billy Butler won the award for the week of Aug. 3-9. Greinke is 13-8 after the two victories, which lowered his league-leading ERA to 2.32. ..."

One-hit wonder: Greinke shuts out Seattle

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August 31

Kansas City Star

"Even if Zack Greinke wasn't trying to make another statement Sunday afternoon regarding his status as a Cy Young Award candidate … consider it made anyway. It doesn't get much better than this: Greinke pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout that provided the Royals with a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. "Things just kind of flowed well," he said. "A lot of balls were hit at people early on. Later on, I started to pitch better. (Shortstop Yuniesky) Betancourt made a couple of nice plays to help out." Betancourt made one play in particular that stood out: He turned a bad-hop grounder by Jack Wilson into the last out in the second inning with two runners on base. Then ..."

Greinke's next step in Cy Young quest is Sunday against Mariners

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August 30

Kansas City Star

"Zack Greinke kept a close eye Friday night on Seattle's Felix Hernandez and admits he avidly follows the other leading contenders for the American League Cy Young Award. Not because they are contenders, necessarily; but because they are good enough to be contenders. There's a difference as Greinke explains. "I'm looking at guys because I want to be better," he said. "There are times when you don't think you can do any better, but you look at other guys and think, `Hey, maybe I can do better if I make my pitches.' "If you see other people doing things, then you think, `OK, it's possible to do those things.' You know it's not impossible." All eyes Sunday will be on Greinke when the Royals ..."

Greinke strikes out club records 15 as Royals beat Indians 6-2

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August 26

Kansas City Star

"As bad as it is Royals fans, there's still Zack Greinke. And that's still enough to turn an ordinary Tuesday night in this lost season into something extraordinary. Greinke set a franchise record with 15 strikeouts in a 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. That knocked Mark Gubicza out of the Royals' record book and offered a respite from the usual dismal happenings. The record fell when Andy Marte swung through a 1-2 slider for the second out in the eighth inning. That brought the crowd of 17,353 to full roar - which baffled Greinke. "I don't know why," he said, "but I thought (Luke) Hochevar had 15 and no walks (earlier in the season). So I couldn't figure out what ..."

Greinke admits trying to dupe runners into stealing

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August 15

Kansas City Star

"Here's a new one from Royals starter Zack Greinke. A new revelation, anyway, because he admits it's a tactic he regularly employs. Greinke said he often slows his delivery with a runner at first base in an effort to dupe them into thinking they have a better chance to steal second. "I want people to steal on us," he said, "because (catcher Miguel) Olivo is going to throw out everyone who tries to run." Greinke employed that ruse on Curtis Granderson after a two-out walk in the fifth inning. "I was trying to go slow enough to make him think he could make it to second," Greinke said. "I do that to everyone. I go just slow enough to make them think they can go, but Olivo is always just a ..."

Rays rough up Greinke in 10-4 victory over Royals

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August 4

Kansas City Star

"Tampa Bay's 10-4 victory Monday afternoon provided the latest piece of evidence that pitching indoors just might be the biggest remaining chink in Zack Greinke's pitching armor. Greinke's winless streak reached six starts when yielded a season-high six earned runs over just five innings inside Tropicana Field. He struck out nine but also surrendered a season-high 10 hits - and not many cheapies. "Today was just bad pitching to start the game off," Greinke said. "That got me in trouble. It really wasn't them today in the first couple of innings. It was more me getting myself in trouble." This wasn't the all-too-familiar circumstance of Greinke pitching well and getting no support. Instead, ..."

Greinke has been a diamond in a rough season

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July 26

Kansas City Star

"Ernie Banks thinks he can relate to Zack Greinke as well as anyone in the world. They've never met, and Banks thinks this is a shame. He'd like to change it. They have so much in common. Banks has been talking a few minutes about what it's like to play baseball games that don't matter, in front of small crowds and sometimes with teammates who don't belong, all the while doing your very best despite the sinking standards around you. Greinke is living that life this summer, pitching a Cy Young-caliber season that may not save his teammates from a march toward 100 losses. This was Banks' life with the Cubs for 19 seasons and more playoff-less games than any athlete in major sports history, so ..."

Short trip, huge honor for Hillman, Greinke

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July 15

MLB.com

"Zack Greinke treated his first All-Star Game appearance like it was a regular game. But as great as he has pitched over the season's first half, few of his outings have gone as quick as this. "It was a lot like just a regular game out there," Greinke said. "But [the inning] was real short, and it was like, 'Is it really over already?' It was cool, though, still." It was much the same for his manager. While Greinke pitched a perfect fourth inning out of the bullpen, part of a string of 18 straight batters retired by American League pitching, Royals manager Trey Hillman coached on AL manager Joe Maddon's staff during their 4-3 victory over the National League squad. Though it was a short ..."

Greinke should be starting the All-Star Game - but he's handling it well

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July 14

Kansas City Star

"OK, start with some blunt honesty because that's how Zack Greinke likes it: Greinke should be starting tonight's All-Star Game. That is no offense to Toronto's Roy Halladay, who is getting the start. He has been a terrific pitcher for years now, and he had a terrific first half also. Not as good as Greinke's. But terrific. "You look at the whole body of work," American League manager Joe Maddon said. And that's fine … except that's not how it has been. Last year, Cliff Lee got the start over Halladay because he was pitching better. Two years ago, Dan Haren got the start over Johan Santana because he was pitching better. Three years ago, Kenny Rogers got the start over Halladay and Santana ..."

Greinke loses out to Halladay for All-Star Game start

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July 14

Kansas City Star

"You probably know by now that Zack Greinke will not be the starting pitcher for tonight's All-Star Game. Some of you wish he would. Others don't care. Greinke, depending on when you catch him, is in either group. "It doesn't matter," Greinke says at one point Monday. "I would've liked to start," he says at another point. Toronto's Roy Halladay will start for the American League, and he is a fantastic pitcher. Greinke clearly has better overall numbers, which we'll get into soon. For reasons that go beyond the numbers, there is no easy answer here. The list of men who've started past All-Star Games reads like a who's who of former Cy Young winners and future Hall of Famers: Randy Johnson, ..."

Greinke won't start in All-Star Game

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July 13

Kansas City Star

"Royals pitcher Zack Greinke will not be the starter in the All-Star Game, The Star has learned. The Blue Jays' Roy Halladay will start for the American League squad in the game, which is Tuesday in St. Louis."