Comments on: Reports: Zack Greinke To the Brewers*

By: Kings of Kauffman Prospect Rankings: #8 Jake Odorizzi « Kings of Kauffman | A Kansas City Royals Blog

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 06:25:37 +0000

[...] Who: Jacob Odorizzi DOB: 3/27/1990, Highland, Illinois Position: RHP Height: 6’2″ Weight: 175 lb Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Traded with Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Jeremy Jeffress from Brewers for Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt – 12/19/2010 [...]

By: Michael Engel

Michael Engel — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:28:43 +0000

Last year, I don’t know why, but it seemed like Greinke was awfully tentative in a lot of his starts. I remember a game against the Twins in maybe his third or fourth start of the season, he was dancing around the zone against the top half of the lineup. He seemed to try to put his changeup over and wasn’t interested in using his fastball.

I think he may have thrown his curveball more last year than any other season, too. Seemed to me (anectdotally) that he might have used that as a get-me-over strike pitch almost as much as his fastball. Maybe he was bored or afraid. Or trying too hard. I don’t know, but I saw some of that, too.

By: Personal Trainer

Personal Trainer — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 06:33:03 +0000

I saw Grienke pitch three times last year and I was not particularly impressed. Maybe switching clubs will help him. Of course, if there isn’t any hitting behind him what can you expect?

By: Michael Engel

Michael Engel — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:41:24 +0000

Odorizzi seems to have a pretty strong K/BB rate in the minors and has some #2 starter upside.
Jeffress was ranked as having the best fastball in the Brewers minors in the BA handbook where they say he can hit 100 with an easy, sneaky motion.

I really like Cain and if Escobar can hit and get on base better, he’ll be a basestealing force. Neither hitter has much pop so I’m not sure where they fit lineup-wise in 2011. By the time the sluggers make it up, they’ll be some valuable pieces to have on base.

IF this trade happens, that is.

I’ve been waiting for teams to give up the moon, stars and more for Greinke, so this isn’t quite there…but it’s a lot of talent…I’m not sure the Blue Jays were ever gonna give up Drabek/Snider and extras…Rangers made an offer reportedly but it was well short so maybe the hunch was the Rangers weren’t going to give in either.

I’ll have more tomorrow IF this trade goes through. For now it’s just too much speculation so I’m not gonna think about it much. Yet.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:33:22 +0000

yep anytime. What do you think of the trade IF (a really big if) it is true? Personally I watched some highlights and look up stats of cain and escobar… I like those two a lot defensively. They are fast, athletic, and the range they add up the middle is hugeee. Now batting I am hoping escobar hits better and gets on base more than last year. Cain did well in the majors while he was there. As for the pitchers it sounds like one is a reliever (who has been suspended twice for the use of marijuana) and the starting pitcher did well in A ball.

I like the trade overall… I wish it would be for 2 starting pitchers instead of one reliever one starter. But to me I like it

By: Michael Engel

Michael Engel — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:13:38 +0000

That is a pretty big acknowledgment…thanks for passing it on. It’s still removed from directly reporting anything. Retweet of a report that hasn’t been substantiated. BUT no denials from anyone, no immediate refutation.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire?

Again, thanks for the heads up.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:09:05 +0000

For those wanting a big source… Baseball tonight and Steve Berthiaume of Espn tweeted this…

ESPN_BBTN: RT @SBerthiaumeESPN: Milwaukee reports say: Zack Greinke & Y. Betancourt to Brewers for Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain & 1 or 2 pitching prospects.
10 minutes ago via web