Meche Named Opening Day Starter

From Dick Kaegel’s article on MLB.com:

"Manager Trey Hillman confirmed that Meche will start on April 6, Opening Day at Chicago. Greinke will go in the second game against the White Sox on April 8."

They way they have it now, Meche will pitch April 6th on the road, and then Saturday April 11th at home against the Yankees.  This means that Greinke, after pitching on the 8th, will not get a start in the opening weekend series against the Yankees.  His 2nd start will come Monday April 13th at home against the Indians.  I’m sure the Royals are banking on all three Yankee games being sold out regardless of who pitches.  I’m sure they’ve figured out they will get a bump in ticket sales for the Monday night game if Zack Greinke makes his home debut that night.  Weather permitting, that would be the game I’d most want to see due to Greinke starting.

Naturally it is nothing to get all worked up over, but the Royals decision to go with Meche instead of Greinke disappoints me.  I had hoped that after signing the long term contract, the Royals would finally cement Zack as the ace of the pitching staff and let him pitch on opening day.  Trey Hillman obviously disagrees and had this to say about Meche:

"“He’s our No. 1 pitcher for me, until proven otherwise,” Hillman said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t like Zack Greinke.”"

I don’t know what guys have to do to prove things to Trey Hillman, but between this and their refusal to remove Horacio Ramirez from the rotation because they “need” a lefty I’m stumped.  Ho-Ram has already proven he doesn’t belong in the starting rotation and Greinke has already proven he is the Royals ace.

Greinke had a better season last year than did Meche.  Greinke has had a better spring than has Meche.  Greinke, not Meche, is the long term future of the Royals rotation.  And it is Greinke, not Meche, who Royals fans get excited to see pitch.  We get excited because we know Zack is a true MLB ace, or ace in the making if you are pessimistic and hard to please.  We get excited because when Greinke is on the mound we could see a 10-15 SO game, we could see a no hitter, we could see a level of dominance by at starter that is so very rare these days.  Gil Meche is a solid ML pitcher and I am glad he is on the Royals, but he is ideally suited to be a #2 starter.  Because of all of these things, Greinke deserves the nod on opening day and also the chance to pitch in the opening series against the Yankees.

If that logic doesn’t sit with Hillman then the Royals should jumble the rotation to have Zack pitch the home opener on Friday, April 10th.  As fans we deserve to break in the “new” K with Greinke on the mound mowing down Yankee hitters.  I feel a little cheated, but at least it will be easier for me to get a ticket to the Monday night game against the Indians.