South Side Sox: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: World Soccer Digest for Soccer Fans!

Brushing Up On "Brushing Up On Zack Greinke"

Photo

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Allow myself to quote...myself:

Greinke is one of those [guys with a big fastball]...with a fastball that he comfortably throws early in the count around 93-94.  Against RHB, he does fairly well.  It looks like "good" is less than a .250 ISO, but that's not exhaustive or anything, it's what I've noticed from doing like 15 of these or whatever the number is.  Anyway, it's an above average pitch that he has plus command of.  He misses the zone just 32% of the time, well below the 36% average.  In addition, with two strikes, he ramps it up to 95-96 and can get whiffs at about twice his average rate for all counts.  Being able to add and subtract, get key misses and throw strikes is about all you're looking for when it comes to the fastball. 

The curve is rarely used, but he likes to throw it early in the count, probably after fastballs to get a quick strike.  He has solid control, particularly for a curve. It isn't a swing-and-miss pitch, but he throws it rarely enough and early enough in the count that he can get poor contact. It is definitely not an out pitch, as he prefers the slider in 1-2, 0-2 counts, as well as the aforementioned fastball, elevated preferably.  The curve has a ton of horizontal movement, which makes me guess it's a bit slurvy rather than a true curve.  It also indicates that he throws from a lower arm slot, so lefties should have an easier time seeing the fastball.  The ISO backs this up (.317) and the BP card indicates he has a bigger split than average.

The slider is tough to get a grip on, as he gets more whiffs from lefties than righties, though when he's ahead, it's an effective out pitch for either.  He's not a huge strikeout pitcher, but the slider-fastball combo is about as good as Danks' curve-change routine, as they both get in the vicinity of 20% K/PA.  Even when he's not getting strike outs, he's still able to get effective results because his offspeed pitches all have relatively low ISO scores.  He may not yet (or perhaps ever) be an ace, but he's a very solid #2 along the lines of Johnny Danks.

AJ, Swish and Thome will be key tonight, as how they do against the slider and, certainly, the change will be important.  Again, like Danks, he goes away with the change up once ahead in the count and uses it to get those reaching, defensive swings that lead to double plays all the time for Johnny.  Danks' is better, but Greinke's is certainly effective and his slider is apparently quite the wipeout against lefties.

Swish has since departed, but lefties will remain key to the effort.  The replacement of his bat with Wise's has already been discussed ad nauseam, but the suckfest is not likely to get any better despite the platoon advantage.  This will be a pretty big test for Chris Getz as well, but one he's more likely to pass.  Greinke isn't homer proof, but without baserunners, the effort may well come up short.  Since Wise isn't likely to do it and I'm less than confident in our non-Thome homering abilities in April, this will also be a solid Q!pportunity.  Even if the going is rough, it's not like it'll be unexpected.  As good as he was in '08, Greinke may well be even better this year.  As MC Chris would say, he's one year older, one year wiser.  Joe Poz certainly sees the possibilities.  Fine tuning his breakout could be the thing that takes Greinke from very good to elite.

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Nicely done for a part time contributor !

And much more readable than last year’s bukkakes or whatever you called them.
With a picture too!

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 5:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Going to tonights game, hope that our righties and Getz make me proud.

It's like he's a cyborg sent from the future to draw 22 walks a season or something.

by omnipotent grab on Apr 8, 2009 5:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Go Sox woohoo!

Coach says he needs more toughness. I gotta step up.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 8, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Woohoo indeed!

It's like he's a cyborg sent from the future to draw 22 walks a season or something.

by omnipotent grab on Apr 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Look for BobbySouthSide in 116 or the loo.

(Loo for Hoodie. )

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ill be at 111

It's like he's a cyborg sent from the future to draw 22 walks a season or something.

by omnipotent grab on Apr 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

They almost destroyed this kid bringing him up too soon

I’m glad for him that he bounced back

Coach says he needs more toughness. I gotta step up.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 8, 2009 5:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Although if he had washed out

I’m sure we would have seen him enter the Don Cooper career clinic/land of lost toys.

White Sox: Trying to roll a hard six.

by vince_ on Apr 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good point

He definitely would’ve been a perfect reclamation project for the good doctor

Coach says he needs more toughness. I gotta step up.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 8, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Read the Poz article

He was probably too immature to handle the big leagues, but he’s always been ready physically.

I don’t think the Royals could have/should have done anything different. In fact, if they had left him linger in the minors, the situation might have gotten worse or gone undiagnosed

by The Cheat on Apr 8, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or they'd have turned him into a hitter.

The lack of which he was fighting.

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gives me a thought: can you imagine him in the NL?

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's tough when the organization has been bad so long

Hard to lay the blame on Greinke. Danks, eg, was able to come up without the massive expectations. Greinke was supposed to be the Wunderkind from the get go, that’s a lot of pressure on someone that young. I admire him for gutting it out and overcoming that horrible start of his career.

Coach says he needs more toughness. I gotta step up.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 8, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He confirmed. Not sure that's admirable.

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Conformed. Not confirmed.

"I never had sex with that Governor" -
Roland Burris

by Chiburb on Apr 8, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just don't let it happen again ok?

First night game, and it’s televised on WGN down here – and the wife is out of the house until 10pm EST. Time to sit back and hunker down and unseal the bourbon boys woohoo

Coach says he needs more toughness. I gotta step up.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 8, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about Chicago White Sox.
Start posting about the White Sox »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Frank_thomas_small
Do The Right Thing
Georgia1_small
Beckham is not only good, but classy
Deadhorse_small
White Sox Minor League Update: I just want to say one word to you - just one word.... 'prospects'.
Stash1_small
Buerhle might wanna take a drive down Lake Shore Drive next slump

Recent FanPosts

Img_0161_small
This is probably old but whatevs, Twins get new uniforms
Small
Three way deal for Gonzalez?
Belle-thomas_small
Will we all be disappointed this offseason
Aroldis_chapman_small
A letter from a Cuban fan inside Cuba
Dead_horse_4_small
Why the nickname bacon sucks and why you should all stop using it.
Bear_down_small
Ozzie Joining FOX For World Series

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Tim Lincecum Hearts WHIP, Tells Greinke To Pound FIP
ESPN - OTL: Field of Schemes?
Top Ten BR sponsorships
Zack Greinke hearts FIP
Beginning Wednesday, street light banners commemorating a series of special events in Chicago are going on the auction block for charity.

Some of the banners were shown off Tuesday, including those featuring Pres. Barack Obama both before and after his election.

A White Sox World Series Championship banner, signed by pitcher Mark Buehrle, is also being sold, as is a Blackhawks playoff banner signed by Denis Savard and Stan Mikita.

The bidding starts at 12 p.m. Wednesday at Daley Center. Money raised goes to help the Chicago Anti-hunger Federation and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
John Danks is a MLB scout
Yankees' key to financial success
Buehrle wins Gold Glove
Dotel & Dye are Type A Free Agents
Jim's Off-Season Sox Schedule...

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

SPONSORS

South Side Sox on Facebook

Managing Editor

Thecheatsmoking_small The Cheat

Editors

Deadhorse_small larry

Sealab_murphy_small colintj

Scenemissingsss_small thecip

Dog_small homesickalien

Omar_small U-God

Authors

Headerrock_bigger_small shaftr

17258_0003_small The Actual El Guapo