Arizona Diamondbacks: Different start this spring for Zack Greinke

Right-hander Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks believes he is off to a quicker start than last spring.

Despite a 17-7 season a year ago, including winning 13 of 14 at home, there’s a different feel and look to the start of the spring for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Zack Greinke.

Unlike the previous year, Greinke went through this past winter with limited distractions and a clear focus. Admitting to Call to the Pen after his bullpen session Thursday “I did less travel and a few others I’d rather not get into,” Greinke now created a state of readiness and arrived at the Diamondbacks’ Salt River training facility with a clear focus.

That approach provided less organization interference with his preparation and prompted manager Torey Lovullo, on Thursday, to explain that Greinke is essentially left alone in his planning.

The result is a distinct method and Greinke’s on-going desire to refine skills. After his initial bullpen session of the spring Thursday, Greinke told Call to the Pen that he created a measured agenda, so the essence of spring training does not become a grind. At the same time, Greinke reported he is perfectly fine with Lovullo’s use of the starters for the Diamondbacks.

Here, Lovullo asks his starters to get 21 outs and then hand the game over to the bullpen. That strategy worked well last season, and Greinke told Call to the Pen Thursday he expects the same approach.

“I’d rather win games with smart decisions,” he said. “I noticed last year when the starters knew they had to go 100 pitches and go six, seven innings, they didn’t have to look over their shoulder al the time to see if a reliever was coming in. I think it was beneficial. I know that worked for us doing it that way and I don’t know if it’ll always work. I know last year that if I got in a jam in the fourth inning with 70 pitches, I knew that was my jam to get out. I did not have to think about other things.”

After his first season under Lovullo, Greinke merely reinitiated Lovullo’s essential approach to his starters. After workouts on Thursday, Lovullo told Call to the Pen the system of giving starters 21 outs, followed by a solid bullpen, reaped substantial benefits. Going forward, there is no reason to change or alter.

“I haven’t changed my approach,” he said. “I like the results and starters performed in a very special way. We ask for those 21 outs and if that happens, that means less strain on the bullpen.”

Eventual closer for the Diamondbacks?

While discussion around a potential closer continues to swirl about in camp, there remains no firm commitment. At this point, Lovullo and Mike Hazen, the team’s GM, cite Brad Boxberger, Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano as interchangeable parts at the back end of the bullpen.

On Thursday, Lovullo revealed the hint of how this may develop. That’s because Hirano threw his first bullpen of the spring, and afterward, Lovullo told Call to the Pen he was impressed.

“I thought (Hirano) threw very well and wanted to establish is fast ball command,” the manager said. “He showed a good veteran presence and command. He wanted to establish the fast ball and once that was certain, he mixed in the slider.”

Coming off a season for the Orix Buffaloes where he recorded 29 saves in 2017, recorded a 2.63 ERA and fanned 47 hitters in 57.1 innings, Hirano signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Arizona over the winter.

On the comeback trial

Right-hander Shelby Miller is on track to throw his first bullpen session in late March. That was an assessment of manager Torey Lovullo on the second day of spring training.

Coming off Tommy John surgery late last April, Miller’s rehab program, Lovullo told Call to the Pen, is going well. Given a relatively stable start to begin the 2017 season, Miller seemed to have a reversal of fortune from a disastrous 3-12 season in 2016 with a 6.15 ERA. That included a demotion to the minors, but under Lovullo, Miller clearly improved his numbers.

When he went down in late April, Miller posted a 2-2 mark and an ERA of 4.09. That represented a drop of more than two earned runs per nine innings. All of which prompted Lovullo to predict to Call to the Pen.

“He would have a shot for a starting spot,” Lovullo said. “If he continues on a strong path, he would receive strong consideration to join the rotation.”

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Here at the start of spring training, the plan calls for Miller to possibly rejoin the Diamondbacks sometime around the All-Star game.

J. D. back in the desert?

If there is movement to sign J. D. Martinez to an Arizona contact, GM Mike Hazen continues to have his lips sealed.

As far back as the winter meetings last December in Orlando, Hazen would not commit to discussing any player, and that policy was on display Thursday. Telling Call to the Pen during a session with the Arizona media on Thursday, Hazen continued to decline comment on any individual. At his point, he merely repeated the mantra.

“We’re exploring all options,” he would only say. “In any move we make, it’s designed to help our club win. Other that, there is nothing really to day.”

Next: Torey Lovullo says it’s time to move forward

Asked for his observation on why several productive players remain free agents after spring camps opened, Hazen was matter-of-fact with his response to Call to the Pen regarding the Diamondbacks.

“I’m interested in ways to help our team. Other than that, I don’t have a comment on the industry.”