So here's what we know about Zack Greinke: He forced the trade, and the Royals thought he was a twerp. No longer in a position of having to pamper the delicate star, the Royals are letting it be known that life with Zack was a trial when he wasn't on the pitching mound and focused on the task at hand.
A story in The New York Times says Greinke offended people in the organization when he refused to address the crowd after being presented with his Cy Young award and other baubles on the field of Kauffman Stadium at the beginning of the 2010 season.
Local media figures are delivering the message that Greinkeworld was an unhappy place, as well. Yesterday on 810-WHB, Kevin Kietzman went on a Greinke tirade, calling him a prima donna who made life hell for Mike Swanson, the team's v.p. of communications. As Kietzman was speaking, it was easy to visualize Swanson sitting his desk, sorting his mail, a satisfied grin on his face.
With Greinke, it was always hard to know where social-anxiety disorder ended and being a jerk began. The Royals' stance seems to be that the right-hander used his antidepressant prescription like a crutch. Greinke wrote his own rules. But over time, the line between self-preservation and selfishness became blurred. Did he give so little of himself because he was awkward or just not very giving?
In addition to popping off about his weariness with the Royals' inability to surround him with players who approached his talent level, Greinke showed a tendency to act like a clubhouse lawyer. One of the most telling stories to come out of the locker room last year was Joakim Soria's revelation that Greinke liked to tease him about his contract. Soria is paid journeyman's wages for elite-closer results.
Greinke likes to mess with people. On Tuesday, he met with the Milwaukee media, the men and women whose lives he will make difficult for the the next 18 to 24 months. Greinke said he wanted to get out of Kansas City before immediately correcting himself and using the term "preferred."
So he won't stand up and say that he demanded a trade -- the point Sam Mellinger made in his column yesterday. But he'd like people to know that, yes, he can make a front office look like a No. 8 hitter if he's in the mood.
It's easy to pile on Greinke now that nobody around needs anything from him. WHB's Nate Bukaty deserves credit for saying on the air several weeks ago that Greinke was not a likable guy. It's true. Greinke wasn't likable. We rooted for him because he was friggin' awesome (when he wanted to be), and he was under the Royals' control (until he didn't want to be).
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Zack wanted out and i don't blame him. He had one of the worst offensive support and one of the worst defense behind him and the reliever were awful. Atleast Felix had good defense behind him.
I don't think any guy who has social anxiety disorder and has a job of not only working with a team but also working with media will have a hard time and will not be very likeable to media personell (esp for Communicatin staff at Royals). the guy didn't pose for SI cover and he didn't address the crowd after CY young because he doesn't like it or can't handle it. It is very INSENSITIVE to pile on him. Saying bad things about him in that way is like saying that a one legged man denied to run and we should hate him for that. The only person I'll hate in this instance is the guy who asks me to hate the one-leged guy who didn't want to run. It should be pretty obvious but journalist (a few exception like joe posnanski) can be dumb.
The (dysfunctional) Royals' front office had tales to tell about all the below trades:
David Cone/Chris Jelic dealt for Ed Hearn, Mauro Gozzo, and Rick Anderson;
Carlos Beltran for for Mark Teahen, John Buck, and Mike Wood;
Appier, Sabes, Tucker, Dye, Damon...the list of quality Royal trades is endless. I imagine the Greineke trade will work out just as well.
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