ATLANTA -- If this was it, what a way for Zack Greinke to go out.
The 38-year-old right hander just went out and gutted his way through four innings in World Series Game 4. There was a reason for that. It's because Greinke is running on fumes.
Why praise Greinke for a four-inning start? He suffered a neck injury in September and was relegated to only short outings as a result. He was removed from the Astros' rotation. In his last three regular season starts, he was touched up for 18 earned runs in 13 innings. He gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings in a regular season relief appearance. There was talk of him maybe being left off the playoff roster, but he said he was eager to help the team in any way he could. He was added to the bullpen.
In Game 3 of the ALDS, he threw just 21 pitches in his one inning. He started Game 4 of the ALCS, but coughed up two runs in 1 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out none.
This was clearly a compromised pitcher who, by the way, just turned 38 years old. Between the regular season and postseason, he had 3,219 innings of mileage on that venerable right arm. Remember that Cy Young winner, striking out more than a hitter per inning? Greinke's now throwing his fastball around 90 miles per hour and he only struck out 120 batters in 171 regular season innings in 2021.
This was the man tasked with giving Dusty Baker as many innings as he could in Game 4 with the Astros facing a 2-1 series deficit. His teammates on offense didn't come through in a 3-2 loss, but Greinke delivered. Greinke only gave up four hits (all singles) and didn't walk anyone. He struck out three, but mostly relied on getting grounders. He got six of them, compared to zero fly outs.
He erased two of the singles with inning-ending double plays. Anyone not impressed didn't understand the circumstances of the situation -- both with how worn down Greinke is and how much his team needed Game 4. Someone who knows a thing or two about big games weighed in.
On top of that, there is the possibility this was the last start of Greinke's career. He's 38. His contract is up. He's made over $300 million in his playing career. If the Astros win the World Series -- which would be his first ring -- he might not even pursue a job in free agency. Who knows?
After the game, Greinke was asked if this was going to be his final season and he said he didn't want to answer that question at this time. That tells you retirement is at least a consideration, I think.
If this was the last one, Greinke was special in it and that's a fitting way to go out. The six-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glover has a Cy Young. He's won the ERA title twice. He's won 219 games with 2,809 strikeouts in over 3,000 innings. Hall of Famer? I'd say so. For those curious, he's right with Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander in JAWS, sitting right around the average Hall of Fame starting pitcher.
Also fitting? Greinke got a hit.
Check out that smile. He loves hitting, running the bases and fielding. He wants to be a complete player. Before the game, Carlos Correa said that, yes, Greinke's a good hitter for a pitcher but he's not as good as he thinks and that Greinke believes he's as good as like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Obviously that was tongue in cheek, but Greinke can swing it for a pitcher. He's a career .225 hitter.
On the mound is where Greinke's been a maestro for such a long time, though. And at least for four innings Saturday night, it was Greinke reminding us he can still be a master of his craft, even banged up and fending off Father Time. Perhaps it was the last time we'll ever get to see him pitch. If that's the case, a tip of the cap to Mr. Greinke. It's been a pleasure to watch his career.
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October 31, 2021 at 12:05PM
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Astros' Zack Greinke guts way through four World Series innings in what could be final start of MLB career - CBS Sports
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