ESPN’s Buster Olney has the scoop on Zack Greinke’s mysterious departure from spring training. Sounds to me like he doesn’t like his bosses and has perhaps lost the desire to play baseball:
"Talked to several folks in baseball yesterday about Zack Greinke’s departure from Kansas City’s camp. Greinke, according to these sources, was going through some drills halfheartedly last week, and K.C. manager Buddy Bell got on him, pushing him to improve his effort; Greinke, displeased, later met with Bell. And then, a couple of days later, he packed up and walked out of camp.
According to one source, Greinke indicated that he felt the team’s new pitching coach had nothing to offer him. Greinke’s discontent was felt last year, as well, when he repeatedly indicated to others that he was fed up with the way his baseball career was going. He told others he was ready to walk away."
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This blog posting kind of implies that Greinke was considering walking away sometime during 2005, but it’s news to me either way. According to Olney, this wouldn’t be unprecedented:
"This reminded me of a former Mets prospect, Ryan Jaroncyk, who simply decided he didn’t enjoy baseball that much."
Jaroncyk, a shortstop, was selected 18th overall by the Mets in 1995 and didn’t make it past A ball. Jaroncyk never actually liked baseball (he actually grew to hate it), and was playing for the sake of his father. I hate it when parents force stuff on their kids. Word is that Jaroncyk threw his equipment in a dumpster and walked out for good.
Michael Barrett was the only useful Major Leaguer taken after Jaroncyk in the first round (although Roy Halladay was selected 17th by the Jays). Interestingly, Carlos Beltran was taken 49th overall that year by the Royals, directly after the Mets grabbed the immortal Brett Herbison with their second pick.
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