If the Dodgers need anymore motivation from a pitcher or a teammate not named Clayton Kershaw, they surely got it Tuesday when Zack Greinke somehow convinced doctors, trainers, a general manager, manager and an owner that is paying over $14o million to let him pitch Wednesday.
And I thought Greinke was a beast when he stood toe-to-toe on the mound with frustrated hot-head who is shaped like a linebacker in Carlos Quentin that was running at him at full speed. When the Dodgers signed this quirky pitcher I knew that their would be some baggage that came with him, but all I have seen is a peaceful warrior.
He is a guy who sees his team is in last place and in bad need for their No. 2 guy to make a fearsome threesome along with Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu to help the Dodgers get out of the NL West basement. What his teammates and fans have to understand is that if he is so focused pitching and forgets not to dive for a ball, or some how doesn’t remember to move out of the way when he covers first, we can lose him for a Chad Billingsley-long time, if not longer.
Matt Kemp uses the moniker “Beast Mode.” This is bigger than that. Especially after today’s Greinke’s news, and Kershaw’s dominating 130-pitch performance against the Nationals, the whole needs to look in the mirror and then walk over to both their lockers and apologize to the both of them. Because if they had as much as heart as these two, fans would realize they should stop blaming manager Don Mattingly and start holding their star offensive players more accountable.
If these high-paid Dodgers need more examples just look at a list of injuries some of the major-leaguers have sat out with. In no way do baseball players have a hockey mentality. Remember, Greinke is coming off a broken clavicle.
- Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos was put on the 15-day disabled list when he held back a sneeze and felt a pain in his side.
- Former Oakland A’s and Detroit Tigers infielder Brandon Inge was put on the 15-day DL when he strained a muscle trying to set a pillow behind his son’s head.
- Disappointing Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya has been injured a lot, but he once sat out three days when he strained his arm playing “Guitar Hero.”
- Not a pitcher but utility journeyman Geoff Blum went on the 15-day DL after injuring his elbow putting on a T-shirt.
- Former Cubs pitcher Donavan Osborne was bit by teammate’s Kyle Farnsworth‘s dog before a game and was ruled out.
- Farnsworth himself got his payback when he kicked an electric fan and was out for a couple of weeks.
- Former Dodger Juan Castro hurt his neck sleeping on a Ritz Carlton pillow and didn’t play for a week.
- Ex-Braves hurler John Smoltz missed a start when his chest was burned after he finished ironing his shirt.
- Former Twins outfielder missed some time when he burned his face in a tanning salon.
- Always-injured Rich Harden missed a start after he strained his arm turning off an alarm clock.
- Ex-Dodger and Phillie pitcher Terry Mulholland was scratched in the eye by a feather that popped out of his pillow when he woke up. He missed a start.
- Ken Griffey, Jr. actually missed one game after his cup slipped and pinched his testicle. And he is a sure first-ballot hall-of-famer.
- Sammy Sosa‘s alleged steroid use couldn’t help him not land on the 15-day DL after he sneezed and hurt his back.
- Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano was once diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome for spending more than 5 hours a day on his computer and was put on the DL.
