What Should the Royals do with Zack Greinke
There are several schools of though about what to do with Zack Greinke.
Let him continue to flourish in middle relief
- Greinke is really doing well in the bullpen. The resurgence of the bullpen coincides with the movement of Greinke into the pen. For now it seems as though Buddy Bell and the Royals enjoy having a reliever that is a true power arm. When Greinke was in the starting rotation his fastball was sitting somewhere between 89-91mph, but since he moved to the pen, his fastball speed has really jumped regularly hitting between 94-96mph. He comes into games throws strikes and gives the Royals a chance to win on a regular basis. helping the Royals get to their closer with the lead. Another positive is instead of effecting one or two games a week, Greinke has a chance to impact 3-4 games a week.
Move him back to the starting rotation
- Greinke's stuff is too good to only be used in the bullpen. Nothing is as important to a baseball team then starting pitching. If you don't have starting pitching, the game won't matter in the 7th inning. The Royals used a first round draft choice on Greinke to be a starting pitcher and they only gave him 64 starts before they decided that he wasn't good enough to be a starter. Look a Jeremy Bonderman's numbers. It took him almost 100 starts before he became the stud he is today(2003: 6-19, 2004: 11-13, 2005: 14-13, 2006: 14-8.)
Move Greinke to the closer
- Zack Greinke has lights out stuff. He hits his spots with all of his pitches...power fastball, sweeping curve, diving changeup... He is too good be be left in middle relief and with his stuff he could just blow people away in the 9th inning a la Jonathon Papelbon. Octavio Dotel is not doing so hot this season and will hopefully be dealt by the trading deadline leaving the closer's job in the air. Joakim Soria, would be the obvious choice because of his experience earlier this season, but why not give Greinke a chance. If the Royals have given up on Greinke as a starter the next most valuable position as a pitcher is the closers job. Let's see what he can do...
As for me...
I would like to see Grienke back in the starting rotation. That being said I don't think he'll crack the starting rotation again this year, so yes, I'd like to see what he'd do as the closer. Dotel makes me nervous each time he enters the game and I just don't feel comfortable with him in the game. I'd like to see Dotel dealt for anything except an outfielder. Greinke is too good to be in middle relief and his talents need to be utilized as something in a role that has more of an impact on the game. Sure middle relief is important, but you can find it: David Riske. IF the Royals are entertaining the notion of moving Grienke to closer they need to do it sooner then later and definitely not in November. To tell the truth I'm not sure how Greinke would react to the stresses of the closers job, but I think he would relish the opportunity that he might pitch everyday and could have a large impact on the game.
I guess I change my answer...let me see what Greinke does as the closer and then let me make up my mind. Also as a sidebar: I'd like to see Soria switched to a starter after this Rule V season.
-b
Royals 2007 Record: 36-48
