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I hearken to nearly each Kansas Metropolis Royals recreation on 610 KCSP-AM. Insert joke right here about how they’re so dangerous, you wouldn’t be capable of watch them on TV with out spewing your lunch throughout your sneakers.
Whereas which may be partly true, as seven consecutive dropping seasons would point out, the true motive is due to the ridiculous native black out coverage of Bally Sports activities. Which is a very completely different article solely.
One absolute shiny spot of listening by way of radio is the published group. Denny Matthews has been calling video games since 1969, the primary season in franchise historical past. Grizzled vet with the expertise and vernacular of a real old-schooler. I like him and the whole crew; Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Physioc, Jake Eisenberg, and Steve Stewart.
Throughout video games that Zack Greinke begins, or is even talked about as an upcoming starter, the published group and sure Royals advertising and marketing promotions confer with Zack Greinke as a “future Corridor of Famer.”
I get it – they should promote tickets to an in any other case uninspiring assortment of gamers.
And with proprietor John Sherman‘s perceived belligerence and ensuing insistence that Kauffman Stadium must be torn down due to “concrete most cancers” that does/doesn’t exist relying on who you ask, there usually are not many positives to promote or concentrate on.
Salvador Perez being the lone holdover from the 2015 World Collection champion being the one different marketable participant and angle. If it weren’t for Shohei Otani (extra on him later), Salvy would’ve won the 2021 American League MVP Award.
Is Zack Greinke a Corridor of Famer? Does he should make the MLB Corridor of Fame?
Not should you have a look at this season.
In 2023, Greinke is in the course of what initiatives to be the worst season of his professional baseball pitching profession.
By means of 18 begins, he’s 1-9 with a strong 5.44 ERA. The one comparably dangerous season is 2005. Greinke was 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA.
That was for a horrible 56-win group. In 2023 the Royals are even worse, with simply 26 wins every week earlier than the All-Star Sport.
If Zack Assault is ready to equal the 5 win whole of ’05 with the ’23 model of the Royals, it might take a Herculean effort.
So what makes a Corridor of Famer? What’s the standards?
Right here is the advantageous print from Baseball Hall of Fame website:
Voting: Voting shall be primarily based upon the participant’s document, taking part in skill, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the group(s) on which the participant performed.
It’s undoubtedly a nebulous definition. So let’s break every one down within the case of Greinke as finest we are able to.
Participant’s Document: As of this writing (7/4/23), Zack Greinke’s document throughout his 20-year profession is 224-150 with a 3.48 ERA and a couple of,946 strikeouts.
Taking part in Potential:
6× All-Star (2009, 2014, 2015, 2017–2019)
All-MLB Second Workforce (2019)
AL Cy Young Award (2009)
6× Gold Glove Award (2014–2019)
2× Silver Slugger Award (2013, 2019)
2× MLB ERA chief (2009, 2015)
The Silver Slugger award denotes the perfect hitter within the recreation by place. (Mark) Previous to scripting this piece, I didn’t understand how good of a hitter he has been.
In 521 at bats, he sports activities a .225 common with 9 homeruns and 34 RBI. The 2023 Royals are batting .233 as a group in 2023.
He additionally has hit for the “cycle” of kinds with 29 doubles and 1 triple. He’s additionally stolen 9 bases on 10 makes an attempt.
Integrity, Sportsmanship, Character: I’m lumping all of those collectively as a result of it’s a bunch of word-salad/synonyms your third grade English instructor could be proud that you just knew had been synonyms.
Zack Greinke has lengthy been referred to as one of many MLBs biggest weirdos. Which is why individuals love him. And why some individuals don’t love him.
Right here’s a hyperlink to a video “How Zack Greinke Became The Weirdest Player In Sports” that is superb.
He additionally allegedly pretended to sign a kid’s ball and instead threw it into the stratosphere. Which I discover hilarious. He has an incredible, very DRY humorousness. How else might he tolerate pitching for the Royals for thus lengthy?
Contributions to the Workforce: Greinke has been in eight completely different MLB playoffs pitching in 17 completely different sequence. He has began 21 video games. His document is 4-6 with a 4.14 ERA. He has appeared in two separate World Collection.
He entered Sport 5 of the 2021 World Collection as a pinch-hitter and recorded a success, being the primary pitcher to have a pinch hit in a World Collection recreation since Jack Bentley of the New York Giants in 1923.
How a lot ought to longevity be weighted in contemplating HOF standing?
Corridor of Fame Participant Comparisons
With the intention to spherical out my understanding of his place in historical past, I appeared to the current previous. Who had been the most recent starting pitchers to be inducted in the HOF?
In 2022 Jim Kaat was inducted. Try how compares to Greinke:
| Rk | Identify | From | To | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Kaat | 1959 | 1983 | 20-44 | 283 | 237 | .544 | 3.45 | 898 | 625 | 102 | 180 | 31 | 17 | 4530.1 | 4620 | 2038 | 1738 | 395 | 1083 | 116 | 2461 | 122 | 6 | 128 | 19023 | 108 | 3.41 | 1.259 | 9.2 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 2.27 |
| 2 | Zack Greinke | 2004 | 2023 | 20-39 | 224 | 149 | .601 | 3.47 | 573 | 531 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3334.1 | 3149 | 1380 | 1285 | 357 | 752 | 25 | 2943 | 77 | 6 | 101 | 13650 | 121 | 3.50 | 1.170 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 7.9 | 3.91 |
In 2019, Roy Halladay was inducted. Right here is the comparability for every:
| Rk | Identify | From | To | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy Halladay | 1998 | 2013 | 21-36 | 203 | 105 | .659 | 3.38 | 416 | 390 | 6 | 67 | 20 | 1 | 2749.1 | 2646 | 1135 | 1034 | 236 | 592 | 28 | 2117 | 81 | 9 | 56 | 11287 | 131 | 3.39 | 1.178 | 8.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 6.9 | 3.58 |
| 2 | Zack Greinke | 2004 | 2023 | 20-39 | 224 | 149 | .601 | 3.47 | 573 | 531 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3334.1 | 3149 | 1380 | 1285 | 357 | 752 | 25 | 2943 | 77 | 6 | 101 | 13650 | 121 | 3.50 | 1.170 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 7.9 | 3.91 |
Within the case of Kaat, it’s problem to match apples to apples. Kaat dominates in wins, full video games, shutouts., innings.
Nevertheless it was a unique period the place workhorse pitchers had been the norm. Greinke smokes him in strikeouts and walks. Kaat’s 25-year profession is insane. Greinke’s 20-year profession and counting is equally spectacular.
Versus Halladay, I can’t inform if Greinke’s Corridor of Fame marketing campaign will get stronger or weaker.
Halladay wins in ERA, full video games, shutouts. And he gained practically as many video games in 25% much less the time. He additionally pitched on greater phases and was as clutch as they arrive, as his playoff excellent recreation signifies.
Will Zack Greinke Make The Corridor of Fame?
I wrote this piece as a solution to consolidate my ideas on if he’s HOF worthy. He undoubtedly is, there is no such thing as a query about that.
I used to be stoked to see Greinke’s begin in opposition to the California Angels on 6/18/23. He confronted off in opposition to Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. As a Royals fan, you go to the video games to look at the opposite groups.
Ohtani and Trout hit back to back homeruns on this recreation off Zack. I even caught the Shohei bomb on this video:
I left the sport and listened to the Royals postgame on the radio as I left Kauffman Stadium.
Josh Vernier summed up the day by saying, “we misplaced an in depth one at this time, however you bought to see three sure-fire Corridor of Famers – Trout, Ohtani, and Greinke.”
Did we actually although? Or, did I simply see this era’s Bert Blyleven? If we did, than Greinke will get into the HOF.
Since it’s universally accepted that no pitcher will ever eclipse 300 wins once more, you’re taking the following neatest thing.
And Zack Greinke might be that.
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