Arizona Diamondbacks: Is Greinke starting a transformation?

By Mark Brown | Apr 2, 2018

With diminished velocity on his fast ball, will Zack Greinke relying more in secondary pitches? (Norm Hall / Getty Images) /

Right-hander Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks is approaching an important turning point in his career.

Given his history, it’s no secret that right-hander Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks is not regarded as a pure, power pitcher. Throughout a stellar career, Greinke used an adroit combination of physical skills and keen intelligence to sweep through opponents and ascend to the stratosphere for major league pitchers.

Entering his mid-30s, Greinke’s physical skills are beginning to diminish and no longer the kind of pitcher which can challenge hitters with a plethora of varieties. Instead, Greinke is smart enough to realize if he is to survive against younger and powerful hitters, there needs to be a transformation.

Before he experienced a groin injury midway through spring training last month, there were signs that his skills were not as strong. Among a significant notice was a drop in his fastball velocity. Brushed aside by manager Torey Lovullo, that consequence could be a significant issue. Simply, if Greinke misses his location and spots his fastball, clocked for the most part under 90 miles-per-hour, he becomes vulnerable.

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So to compensate, Greinke appears to spot his fastball now in certain locations and rely on secondary pitchers for a majority of outs. That was evident during his first start of the 2018 season Saturday in Chase Field against the Colorado Rockies.

In this game, he recorded nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings, but that number could be deceiving. That’s because that kind of number is usually associated with a hard-throwing pitcher and with the ability to throw past hitters. In Greinke’s case, he recorded a majority of his strike-outs with secondary pitches and admitted to Call to Pen after the Saturday’s game, “it’s was pretty close to how I normally do it. About 50-50.”

"“I try to be around, half fast balls and half breaking pitches,” he said. “If the hitters are hitting the fastball one day, I’ll throw and throw more off-speed, and visa-versa. Just kind of keeping it around that and with some room to play.”"

If numbers tell a story, the speed of his pitches demonstrates what could be an alteration of his career. No longer can Greinke expect to throw a fastball consistently in the low 90s and be same dominant pitcher as in the past.

A guideline here was the way he approached hitters in the Rockies lineup. Save a curve ball clocked at 72 miles-per-hour, and in a bad location to Charlie Blackman leading off the sixth inning for a home run, Greinke showed the necessity to try and reinvent himself.

In the opening inning, Greinke did not touch 90 miles-per-hour with any pitch and his first at 90-miles-per-hour fastball finally reached Carlos Gonzalez in the second, who was hitting fourth in the Rockies lineup. In the fourth inning, Greinke started off both Gerardo Parra and Ian Desmond with fast balls clocked at 87 miles-per-hour. In the sixth, he managed to strike out Desmond. That was on breaking pitch down and away from the right-handed hitter.

Afterward, Lovullo discounted any change which Grienke might commence and instead, relied on the right-hander’s past body of work. While the question of diminished velocity dominated discussion this spring, Lovullo told Call to the Pen there is no concern.

"“That’s not a huge issue for me,” Lovullo said. “I thought Zack gave us a great effort and what more could you ask for a first start from him. He was efficient, and, no, the pitch situation is not an issue for me.”"

Bye-bye? …

According to several sources, the Diamondbacks placed outfielder Yasmany Tomas on outright waivers. If a team claims him, that club would be responsible for his contract.

For the 2018 season, Tomas will make $20 million and has options for 2019 ($15 mil) and 2020 ($17 mil). If he clears waivers, it’s likely the Diamondbacks would send him to the minors and dropped from the 40-man roster.

If he clears waivers and outrighted to the minors. Tomas could choose to beome a free agent and would relinquish the final years of his Arizona contract.

Taking the opening series …

Despite dropping the series finale to the Rockies, 2-1 before 33,346 Saturday in Chase Field, the Diamondbacks took two of three from the NL West division rivals.

Winning this series, and any series remains the goal against each team. In absorbing the defeat Saturday, Lovullo told Call to the Pen the opening three games against Colorado were positive and successful.

"“We hit the ball very well and took the first two games,” Lovullo said. “In the third, we pitched very well. I could not have been more pleased.”"

More NL West …

Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers roll into the desert for a three-game set. The Diamondbacks face a projected rotation of three L. A. lefties in this series.

In the opener Monday night, look for Taijuan Walker to make his first start of the season. Walker is coming off a 9-9 season year ago and a 3.49 ERA in 28 starts. Walker draws Hyun-Jin-Ryu as his opponent.

On Tuesday, Zack Godley, who was 8-9 a year ago with a 3.37 ERA for 25 starts faces lefty Clayton Kershaw, who dropped his first start of the 2018 season 1-0 to the Giants last Thursday, goes for L. A. The series concludes Wednesday afternoon with Patrick Corbin going against Alex Wood.

Next: DBacks place Tomas on waivers

Then, the Diamondbacks leave Chase Field for their first road trip of the season to St. Louis, San Francisco and Los Angeles to face the Dodgers.

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