Zack Greinke is doing his part to show everyone that hitting a baseball is hard, even when you know what is coming.
One of the biggest issues with the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal and Trash Can Gate was that it is much easier to hit a baseball if you know what is coming. Zack Greinke, in his own thoroughly unique way, completely disagrees with that thought.
Greinke has taken to calling his own pitches at times this year, particularly with a runner on second. This strategy, as unconventional as it may be, has worked.
Zack Greinke, Calling his own pitch/Filthy Slider. pic.twitter.com/CzCyQ48H6T
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 13, 2020
Mauricio Dubon never stood a chance. Greinke has also taken to calling out the signs, making certain that he and catcher Martin Maldonado are on the same page when it comes to the pitches he is calling for himself.
For Greinke, this is his way of attempting to speed up the game. And yes, even with his calling his pitches, the two sometimes get crossed up, which happened on Wednesday. He admitted that both were at fault with that issue.
If there is a pitcher that would be able to get away with such a stunt, it would be Greinke. He is known as a baseball savant around the league, a player that sees the game in ways others cannot. This new wrinkle certainly has not hindered his production on the mound, as he has allowed just six runs on 19 hits and four walks over his 21.1 innings, striking out 18 batters.
This also, in a not so subtle way, shows the difficulties in hitting a baseball even if one knows what is coming. Greinke is not hiding his signs at all. The hitter knows what is coming, but cannot do much anyway. At the same time, he is doing his best to question exactly how much the trash can really helped the Astros offense.
There may never be another Zack Greinke. His calling his own pitches just proves that he is not like anyone else in the game.