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Greinke is a man of the people. One of his most famous quotes in 2009 regarding Chipotle increasing the price of their guacamole - "I like the guacamole. Now, I don't really love the guacamole. So I get it when I feel like it. They changed their guacamole from $1.50 to $1.80. I mean, $1.50 is already pretty darn high. So, they changed it to $1.80, and I'll never again get guacamole. It's not about the guacamole itself, I just don't want to let them win."
The advancement in baseball knowledge from you guys, in such a short period of time, is impressive and really shows your dedication. Keep up the good work gents, you’re killin it
Rube Waddell is actually a very sad story. He was likely mentally ill, but it's quite likely he also had some severe learning/developmental disabilities as well. He just also happened to be able to throw a baseball faster than anyone else at the time. He was also a severe alcoholic and died in his late 30's because of it. And the firetruck thing, teammates would have to physically restrain him in the dugout if he heard a firetruck.
“He began the 1903 season sleeping in a firehouse in Camden Nj and ended tending bar in a saloon in Wheeling WV. In between, he won 22 games for the Athletics, toured the country in a vaudeville play (while earning rave reviews), got married and divorced twice, saved a woman from drowning, accidentally shot a best friend in the hand, and…and…was bitten by a lion.”
The Fire Truck incident is the Legendary Rube Waddell, himself. HOF, one of the best left handers in history, and without question one of the strangest human being to have ever play baseball, lol.....Reacting to his story is a must for you two
Waddell also would famously wave all 7 other fielders off the field and then carve the opposing team with only his catcher. To call him one of a kind is somehow an understatement
And to Rube's credit, he was actually an off-field hero, he saved 6 or 7 people throughout his lifetime, he loved playing with kids in sandlot games, and was overall a very good man, troubled by alcoholism and mental deficiencies. Rube Wadell elso had a lower ERA than Cy Young
I’ve just got to say, I’m really amazed by you gents. I haven’t been able to catch a video in a bit, and now you’re explaining advanced metrics! Well done lads. There are people that have been watching baseball for 50 years who can’t tell you what fielding independent pitching is.
The boys got the general idea of it right, albeit some details wrong, its Home Runs, Strikeouts, and Walks (all of them), and its scaled to ERA, so a good number for ERA would be a good number for FIP.
I'm not sure if Zach could hit well enough to be an every day DH like Ohtani. He could probably hit well enough to be a shortstop but it would be a pretty huge injury risk. But back when the NL had pitchers hit, his bat was definitely an asset.
@@Hornsfan64 I don't know if I'd go that far, he's a career 60 OPS+ hitter, which is better than most pitchers but still not great. However I am curious so I looked it up, over Greinke's career the only starters (going by whoever is named on the team page on baseball reference) he's played with that were worse than that over a single season are: 2022 2B Nicky Lopez 2021 C Martin Maldonado 2018 C Jeff Mathis, 2016 SS Nick Ahmed 2008 CF Joey Gathright 2006 SS Angel Barroa I don't know if I'd say likely, but its not exactly far fetched either.
As someone with the same issues I've always admired Greinke. Like you guys said, back when his issues first started there wasn't as much help available and having those issues made you "weak" in the eyes of many, especially in sports. Greinke is back with the Royals but is probably in his final season. He's not great anymore but he had a great career.
Greinke is one of my favorite players of all time for his weirdness. Not to mention he was a damn good pitcher. His 2015 season is maybe my favorite single season from a pitcher I’ve ever seen
Mark Fidrych didn’t talk to the ball. He was talking to himself to refocus on the job at hand. He was a kooky guy for sure and it was incorrectly reported that he was telling the ball what to do and it stuck. Great personality and absolutely owned baseball in the same way that Ohtani did today back in 1976. Check him out.
Greinke is definitely one of the most loved players in MLB nowadays. Even when he's not at his best, he's still always a massive fan-favorite on every team he's ever played for. And even after his struggles to start his career with the Royals, he's back there now to close out his career where he started. Just an incredibly lovable dude who probably doesn't care whether people like him or not.
Yep, you pretty much nailed Fielding Independent Pitching. It tries to take out all the luck, both good and bad. So it considers strikeouts, unintentional walks, hit-by-pitches and home runs. It takes out anything that isn't solely an outcome between the pitcher and the hitter, i.e., things like pitching behind a bad fielding team, etc.
Rube Waddell use to play marbles with kids outside of the Stadium in the dirt. They would lure him into the stadium with ice cream. He would drift off between innings and had to be rounded up to go back on the mound. His record was 193-143, with a lifetime Era of 2.16 with 2,316 career strikeouts. -Bill "Spaceman" Lee use to wrap his pitching arm in Tinfoil to keep cosmic Rays from hurting his arm. He lives in a underground bunker out west. -John "Turk" Wendel came up with Braves traded to Cubs. He colored his ankles black with a marker because he didn't like socks. He chewed Licorice while pitching (because he wouldn't use chewing tobacco), but spit it out and brushed his teeth between every inning because he didn't like the taste of Licorice.. Baseball breeds Crazy.. Rick Charleston SC
Do you know how that firetruck chasing guy, Rube Waddell, learned to pitch? By throwing rocks at chickens at cows. He was one of the most talented pitchers in baseball history, and they had trouble getting him to stop trying to hit players with the baseball while they were running to get them 'out'. Seriously, the eccentricities of Rube are far beyond anything I've ever heard about. The Dollop did an entire hour podcast on him, but I think there is an 8 min compilation if you are interested in learning about him.
You are absolutely right about FIP - it judges a pitcher based on outcomes they can control like you mentioned - home runs, strikeouts, and walks. FIP should be on the same scale as ERA when trying to evaluate what a good FIP is.
In the last couple years, the Royals were the first team to add a mental health specialist to the dugout/clubhouse so players could talk about mental health issues during games. This wouldn't have happened without Greinke. Before Greinke, and during his early years, you were seen as weak or a nutcase if you had anxiety or other mental health issues. I'm so glad the tone has shifted.
I have dealt with severe anxiety myself, and Zach Greinke was with my team, the Brewers, when I was in high school, around the time that I started experiencing anxiety for the first time. As a result, he's one of my personal heroes. My favorite Greinke story from his time in Milwaukee was when he was asked about his home-road splits during an interview. Greinke's numbers on the road in his first season with the Brewers were pretty good, but his numbers at home were even better, and he was nearly unhittable in his home starts. When a local Brewers reporter asked him why he thought he was having so much success pitching in Milwaukee, he attributed it to being able to brew his own coffee in the morning when he's at home. The reporter thought it was a joke at first, but Zach was dead serious.
the 50 mph pitch was probably the eephus pitch, Grienke is great fun in general. He was just a different cat in general. This video just scratches the surface. Also Grienke was a solid hitter, especially for a pitcher. Also he wasn't telling them what the pitch is, he was asking what the pitch sequence he was using. When they would put down signs, the catchers through a number of fingers down. Most of them mean nothing. But they are looking for a certain number in the sequence to tell them what to through. So when he was hold up the 2 it wasn't his 2nd pitch it was the second number thrown down in the sequence.
Honestly the most real dude. Imagine any blue collar worker having his talents and then putting them through team meetings and media events constantly, they’d be depressed and questioning why they were there the whole time.
I just find it amazing that a guy who has social anxiety disorder as badly as he does (he nearly quit the game because of it) overcame that to become one of the best pitchers of his era! I have a cousin with social anxiety disorder and sometimes just getting him to leave his house is next to impossible!
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 I feel for you. I see what my cousin goes through. It's no picnic. And what makes it worse for him is that he knows his fears are irrational.. but he can't control it.
I am watching this video for the 3rd time. I will never forget watching him in Arizona. It's inside not a lot of people and I'm sitting behind home plate. He literally screams every pitch, it was sooo funny.
Baseball cards, yes!! I’m a collector, and there’s nothing like opening up a fresh pack of cards, especially when there’s a hit like an autograph or low-numbered parallel. Helps you get more familiar with the players too!
13:25.... I know it's got nothing to do with the video, but... love how the Nashville Sounds (current AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) had a scoreboard in the shape of a guitar, because "Music City". They even incorporate it into the new stadium! They used it for 40-45 years. Love it! They even use the guitar frets as the runs scored in innings! That's actually sick!
Greinke is still playing, he’s been back on the royals for the last 2 years. Also, no rings, he left the royals 5 years before they had any success, and the game 7 that was talked about was in 2019, when the Astros lost to the Nationals. He also pitched
Shohei Ohtani is 1 of 1 and I’m not suggesting Greinke is Ohtani but I always thought Greinke could be a two way player if they let him. He could handle himself at the plate pretty well and that was with very little time allotted for batting practice. Loads of major leaguers pitch and hit as youth players before being forced to choose one or the other. I wonder how many players could have handled double duty at the major league level if they were allowed by the coaching staff. Again, what Ohtani is doing might never be seen again but I think there are guys out there that can at least be decent at both pitching and hitting if they are allowed to try.
@@RewardBread619exactly! I think Ohtani’s stardom will single-handedly usher in a new wave of players who put in the work to excel in both pitching and hitting. Not a ton, but definitely some.
Regarding your question about the slowest pitch for a strike, the slowest pitch is called an Eephus. It's rare, but some pitchers will do it just to mess with a batter's timing. And the slowest pitch I've ever seen was last year when Frank Schwindel (a position player) threw a 35 mph pitch that Kyle Higashioka hit for a home run.
I’m an introvert and when I was younger, had pretty bad social anxiety. I admire that Greinke didn’t care about coming across like a weirdo cuz I always did my best to seem like social situations didn’t bother me just to fit in 😅
I am truly shocked at how well you guys understand stats like FIP and WHIP etc, half of my baseball-watching friends couldn't tell you what those mean lol well done
Slowest pitches ever recorded in MLB : 31 mph - Brock Holt, 34.3 - Dee Strange-Gordon, 35.1 - Frank Schwindel. I've seen pitches w/ a high arc (maybe 50') and be called for a strike. Kyle Higashioka hit a HR off Frank's pitch. Brock's pitch was the slowest called strike. The slow pitch is called an eephus pitch and it is (supposably) thrown underhanded. (I've not heard that term or the underhanded part). (I've see it done overhanded. Probably prior to pitch speed records were kept). Zack is still 1 of my fav player of this era. He's back w/ the Royal (My team - die-hard fan) again, but not winning much this year (as the team can't afford great players due to their small market share vs other teams).
I loved the mention of Mark "the Bird" Fidrych at the beginning of the video. Intetesting guy who would talk to the baseball, and manicure the pitching mound. His pitching performance against a high powered Yankees lineup in 1976 was legendary.
Also, with ERA a pitcher can be taken out of a game but if the base runner(s) score on the new pitcher it gets added to the first pitchers ERA. Even though they scored when he wasn’t pitching. So it can be affected by relief pitchers as well.
I've been watching you fellas a long time and I really have to say, I appreciate how you have taken our game seriously. Hearing you talk about FIP, even though you were slightly off in your explanations, shows how much you guys have learned about the game outside of the videos that you've watched. It's one of those stats that even most casual fans aren't savvy to, so seeing people like you, from another country and still relatively new to the game, have some understanding of it and why it is useful is awesome.
The royals got Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain from the brewers when they traded Greinke. Cain was the alcs mvp in 2014 and Escobar was alcs mvp in 2015. Greinke is always great to watch because you never know what may happen and it’s great he was able to conquer his mental health problems to have the career he’s had.
I was at Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training and was trying to get Greinke's autograph. Everyone swarmed him. I stayed at the opposite end of the line. Greinke walked away, toward the gym. Everyone left, and he came back to my end of the line. I just stood there. He grabbed my baseball, looked back and forth between the ball and me. He signed it and gave it back to me. The o ly thing I said the whole time was "thank you." An older lady then asked him for him to sign a baseball card. He looked at her, paused for about 10 seconds, then just walked away. I think he is hilarious. He has signed for me a bunch of times. He is o e of my favorites.
Just a wee technical pro tip: if you're using a Windows PC with CZcams, you can frame forward and backwards with the period and comma keys respectively.
Dude for a British guy, this guy knows his stuff. The UK doesn't have a baseball culture, so to see a British guy speak so confidently about baseball and know so much, Its got me impressed. Would like to see this guy do some commentary at some point or maybe do some play by play highlights.
I've seen Zack Greinke pitch against my Mariners countless times but I didn't know this side of him. Good reaction boys! We're learning together on this one!
I see a lot of similarities with Larry Bird: Superstar talent Taunting/trash talking High IQ Tells opponents what he's going to do Socially awkward Enjoys mowing grass Worked as a garbage man
I feel Greinke. I'm a veteran with a masters degree and I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I'm a teacher, but I dislike being in the teachers lounge for meetings and lunch. I prefer to eat in my classroom alone and limit my interaction with co-workers to one minute greetings and that's it. I don't have any friends but I don't have enemies, and I don't do social-media and I'm happy.
It was great having him with my team, the Astros, but he wanted to go back to the Royals, possibly to end his career with the team he started with. He's one of the most brilliant pitching minds in the modern game. Very wiley. Unpredictable. Great assets for a pitcher.
The video mentions Rube Waddell-definitely the most interesting crazy guy in baseball history. The Pitching Ninja-the best MLB channel on CZcams-did a good video on Rube a few months ago. Worth seeing.
Pitcher is the most isolating position to play. Everyone’s eyes are on you and if you can’t throw a strike or you give up hits you feel like you’re letting your teammates and all the fans down. A lot of pitchers are head cases and it’s really understandable why
I am a Kansas City Royals’ fan (rough these days…and, honestly, most days), who has been on a roller coaster with Zack. I hated him when he was literally the only reason anyone followed the Royals and he demanded to be traded, but loved him when I realized he was right that the Royals NEEDED to trade him. The Royals traded him for SS Alcedes Escobar, CF Lorenzo Cain, and a pitcher named Jake Odorizzi who was then moved to Tampa Bay for Pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis. ALL of those players became All Stars and the CORE of back to back World Series appearances (Though Shields was traded after the first) and a magical World Series win in 2015. The Royals are an insane franchise. They have mostly been awful, but every thirty years or so, they get into the post season, where they always go to the World Series and usually win it lol They are the Zack Greinke of franchises, and I’ll always love the guy. Btw, in a weird full circle, Zack is now at the very end of his baseball career and is back with the Royals, who may have their worst team in a long history of mostly bad teams…and he’s pretty much the only player worth going out to watch…like he was at the beginning lol
Years ago, there was talk regarding if the New York Mets should trade for him. There was a lot of debate if he could’ve handled the New York media and all the attention. It probably wouldn’t have worked out.
🤣 I’m not sure lol, I’m still getting my head around these stats. I’m definitely better with the pitching stats so far. They’ve gotten most of my focus. Appreciate the comment 😂
Nope, no World Series wins. He kept missing out. He left the Royals after 2010, they made it in 2014 and won in 2015. He left the Dodgers after 2015, they made it in 2017 and 2018 and won in 2020. He finally made a World Series with the Astros 2019 but they lost to the Nationals in 7. Then he played with them in the 2021 Series but they lost to the Braves in 6. Now, he's back with the Royals and, yes, he's still playing in his 20th season.
Sadly he lost the World Series against the Washington Nationals in 7 games. Game 7 of the 2019 World Series the game in reference the Houston Astros blew a 2-0 lead and lost 6-2
Yeah you got the general idea of FIP right, its Home Runs, Strikouts, and Walks(all of them), and its scaled to ERA, so a good ERA is a good FIP. Now as with everything its not always absolute, some guys can run a low ERA and be good because even though the balls are being put into play, they're being put into play weakly which pitchers can absolutely influence and weakly hit balls are much easier to field. As always there's nuance to every stat and everyone has opinion's on what's relevant and what's not when examining for a certain context. I'm gonna look at different sets of stats depending on if I'm evaluating for a Cy Young or MVP, for Fantasy, or Armchair GM wanting my team to win.
I don't follow baseball much but I did for a little bit when he was a dodgers, he was incredibly dominant back then I thought he'd be a lock for the HOF
19:25 No, Greinke wasn't with the Royals when they won the World Series in 2015. The players the Royals got in return were actually pretty big pieces for the 2014 and 2015 postseason runs! I kinda wish he could've been there but glad he found success elsewhere too
I dont believe he has ever won a World Series. That pre-game interveiw was in 2019 with the Astros and he did not win that series. That was a very strange WS. The only WS in which the home team never won a game.
He didn’t win, but he didn’t lose either. He was absolutely dealing and gave up a solo homerun late and got pulled even tho he wasn’t showing signs of struggling. Grienke getting pulled there likely cost the Astros the championship. He only played in 2 World Series, both with Houston.
Geinke is one example of many players who could do what Ohtani is doing, and more--let me explain. A lot of pitchers start out as the best hitters on their teams when they are young and then after a while don't get to do anything but pitch--and they can play other positions very well defensively. I don't know if Ohtani can actually play the field (I don't really count pitchers as fielders in the same way other positions must play the field). Greinke was an outstanding shortstop and hitter when he was younger, but in baseball, one is either a pitcher or not--thank you Ohtani for beginning to help break that down again.
He is back on the Royals and he is terrible with a 1-11 record and a 5.49 ERA . But this is his 20th season so for all his wanting to quit he lasted more than most players .
I think Greinke is on the autism spectrum. And not just lightly. He doesn't seem to understand how his words impact others, he can't handle others. He can't handle crowds, he breaks down when social situations don't go as expected. He gets singularly focused on things like drafting or whatever.
As a 56 year old American baseball fan who grew up on simple pitching statistics like ERA and win/losses, I'm not familiar with advanced statistics like FIP and WHIP. Hearing you explain it, as a foreigner, makes me "uncomfortable". It's like having a 10 year old child explain to me how to give pleasure to a woman.
It sounds like he had a chip on his shoulder against the world that people saw as a mental health problem. I mean, I think some people just want to do things their own way and the world be damned. That's what this sounds like to me. I could be wrong. o
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Great video! Need to take a look at some of the weirder pitches throw like the phi’s pitch.
Greinke is a man of the people. One of his most famous quotes in 2009 regarding Chipotle increasing the price of their guacamole - "I like the guacamole. Now, I don't really love the guacamole. So I get it when I feel like it. They changed their guacamole from $1.50 to $1.80. I mean, $1.50 is already pretty darn high. So, they changed it to $1.80, and I'll never again get guacamole. It's not about the guacamole itself, I just don't want to let them win."
The advancement in baseball knowledge from you guys, in such a short period of time, is impressive and really shows your dedication. Keep up the good work gents, you’re killin it
Thank you! We are really trying to learn it as we go 😀
Helping me learn a bunch of stuff I’ve been too embarrassed to ask, so yea, it’s been a great journey with these guys.
The firetruck thing may be the LEAST interesting about Rube Waddell. No other baseball players story could prepare you for The Rube.
Rube Waddell is actually a very sad story. He was likely mentally ill, but it's quite likely he also had some severe learning/developmental disabilities as well. He just also happened to be able to throw a baseball faster than anyone else at the time. He was also a severe alcoholic and died in his late 30's because of it. And the firetruck thing, teammates would have to physically restrain him in the dugout if he heard a firetruck.
Hence the saying “Don’t be a Rube”
“He began the 1903 season sleeping in a firehouse in Camden Nj and ended tending bar in a saloon in Wheeling WV. In between, he won 22 games for the Athletics, toured the country in a vaudeville play (while earning rave reviews), got married and divorced twice, saved a woman from drowning, accidentally shot a best friend in the hand, and…and…was bitten by a lion.”
The Fire Truck incident is the Legendary Rube Waddell, himself. HOF, one of the best left handers in history, and without question one of the strangest human being to have ever play baseball, lol.....Reacting to his story is a must for you two
He would also leave the mound to go pet dogs if he spotted one. Truly one of the wildest figures in sports history.
Waddell also would famously wave all 7 other fielders off the field and then carve the opposing team with only his catcher. To call him one of a kind is somehow an understatement
And to Rube's credit, he was actually an off-field hero, he saved 6 or 7 people throughout his lifetime, he loved playing with kids in sandlot games, and was overall a very good man, troubled by alcoholism and mental deficiencies.
Rube Wadell elso had a lower ERA than Cy Young
I’ve just got to say, I’m really amazed by you gents. I haven’t been able to catch a video in a bit, and now you’re explaining advanced metrics! Well done lads. There are people that have been watching baseball for 50 years who can’t tell you what fielding independent pitching is.
The boys got the general idea of it right, albeit some details wrong, its Home Runs, Strikeouts, and Walks (all of them), and its scaled to ERA, so a good number for ERA would be a good number for FIP.
@@alexisborden3191 I'm aware. Still impressive.
I'm not sure if Zach could hit well enough to be an every day DH like Ohtani. He could probably hit well enough to be a shortstop but it would be a pretty huge injury risk. But back when the NL had pitchers hit, his bat was definitely an asset.
He was likely a better hitter than the worst hitting, starting position player on almost every team he played.
@@Hornsfan64 I think that's possible
@@Hornsfan64 I don't know if I'd go that far, he's a career 60 OPS+ hitter, which is better than most pitchers but still not great. However I am curious so I looked it up, over Greinke's career the only starters (going by whoever is named on the team page on baseball reference) he's played with that were worse than that over a single season are:
2022 2B Nicky Lopez
2021 C Martin Maldonado
2018 C Jeff Mathis,
2016 SS Nick Ahmed
2008 CF Joey Gathright
2006 SS Angel Barroa
I don't know if I'd say likely, but its not exactly far fetched either.
I am still not over the change. Baseball is way less fun with the DH. I hate it. :(
As someone with the same issues I've always admired Greinke. Like you guys said, back when his issues first started there wasn't as much help available and having those issues made you "weak" in the eyes of many, especially in sports. Greinke is back with the Royals but is probably in his final season. He's not great anymore but he had a great career.
Greinke is one of my favorite players of all time for his weirdness. Not to mention he was a damn good pitcher. His 2015 season is maybe my favorite single season from a pitcher I’ve ever seen
I think he got robbed, not egregiously but I think he was definitely better than Arrieta.
Mark Fidrych didn’t talk to the ball. He was talking to himself to refocus on the job at hand. He was a kooky guy for sure and it was incorrectly reported that he was telling the ball what to do and it stuck. Great personality and absolutely owned baseball in the same way that Ohtani did today back in 1976. Check him out.
Greinke is definitely one of the most loved players in MLB nowadays. Even when he's not at his best, he's still always a massive fan-favorite on every team he's ever played for. And even after his struggles to start his career with the Royals, he's back there now to close out his career where he started. Just an incredibly lovable dude who probably doesn't care whether people like him or not.
When you start quoting FIP, your transformation to baseball nerd is nearly complete. ONE OF US
Yep, you pretty much nailed Fielding Independent Pitching. It tries to take out all the luck, both good and bad. So it considers strikeouts, unintentional walks, hit-by-pitches and home runs. It takes out anything that isn't solely an outcome between the pitcher and the hitter, i.e., things like pitching behind a bad fielding team, etc.
I think Greinke got an Eeuphus pitch over at 47 mph earlier this year.
Wow! That’s unreal. Appreciate the info
Rube Waddell use to play marbles with kids outside of the Stadium in the dirt. They would lure him into the stadium with ice cream. He would drift off between innings and had to be rounded up to go back on the mound. His record was 193-143, with a lifetime Era of 2.16 with 2,316 career strikeouts.
-Bill "Spaceman" Lee use to wrap his pitching arm in Tinfoil to keep cosmic Rays from hurting his arm. He lives in a underground bunker out west.
-John "Turk" Wendel came up with Braves traded to Cubs.
He colored his ankles black with a marker because he didn't like socks. He chewed Licorice while pitching (because he wouldn't use chewing tobacco), but spit it out and brushed his teeth between every inning because he didn't like the taste of Licorice..
Baseball breeds Crazy..
Rick
Charleston SC
Do you know how that firetruck chasing guy, Rube Waddell, learned to pitch? By throwing rocks at chickens at cows. He was one of the most talented pitchers in baseball history, and they had trouble getting him to stop trying to hit players with the baseball while they were running to get them 'out'. Seriously, the eccentricities of Rube are far beyond anything I've ever heard about. The Dollop did an entire hour podcast on him, but I think there is an 8 min compilation if you are interested in learning about him.
You are absolutely right about FIP - it judges a pitcher based on outcomes they can control like you mentioned - home runs, strikeouts, and walks. FIP should be on the same scale as ERA when trying to evaluate what a good FIP is.
In the last couple years, the Royals were the first team to add a mental health specialist to the dugout/clubhouse so players could talk about mental health issues during games. This wouldn't have happened without Greinke. Before Greinke, and during his early years, you were seen as weak or a nutcase if you had anxiety or other mental health issues. I'm so glad the tone has shifted.
Truely one of the best of his generation
I have dealt with severe anxiety myself, and Zach Greinke was with my team, the Brewers, when I was in high school, around the time that I started experiencing anxiety for the first time. As a result, he's one of my personal heroes. My favorite Greinke story from his time in Milwaukee was when he was asked about his home-road splits during an interview. Greinke's numbers on the road in his first season with the Brewers were pretty good, but his numbers at home were even better, and he was nearly unhittable in his home starts. When a local Brewers reporter asked him why he thought he was having so much success pitching in Milwaukee, he attributed it to being able to brew his own coffee in the morning when he's at home. The reporter thought it was a joke at first, but Zach was dead serious.
the 50 mph pitch was probably the eephus pitch, Grienke is great fun in general. He was just a different cat in general. This video just scratches the surface. Also Grienke was a solid hitter, especially for a pitcher. Also he wasn't telling them what the pitch is, he was asking what the pitch sequence he was using. When they would put down signs, the catchers through a number of fingers down. Most of them mean nothing. But they are looking for a certain number in the sequence to tell them what to through. So when he was hold up the 2 it wasn't his 2nd pitch it was the second number thrown down in the sequence.
Honestly the most real dude. Imagine any blue collar worker having his talents and then putting them through team meetings and media events constantly, they’d be depressed and questioning why they were there the whole time.
Love Greinke, and very relatable to my struggles. There are a couple excellent highlight videos of his you guys should do as well.
I just find it amazing that a guy who has social anxiety disorder as badly as he does (he nearly quit the game because of it) overcame that to become one of the best pitchers of his era!
I have a cousin with social anxiety disorder and sometimes just getting him to leave his house is next to impossible!
I have it & I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 I feel for you. I see what my cousin goes through. It's no picnic. And what makes it worse for him is that he knows his fears are irrational.. but he can't control it.
I am watching this video for the 3rd time. I will never forget watching him in Arizona. It's inside not a lot of people and I'm sitting behind home plate. He literally screams every pitch, it was sooo funny.
Baseball cards, yes!! I’m a collector, and there’s nothing like opening up a fresh pack of cards, especially when there’s a hit like an autograph or low-numbered parallel. Helps you get more familiar with the players too!
13:25.... I know it's got nothing to do with the video, but...
love how the Nashville Sounds (current AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) had a scoreboard in the shape of a guitar, because "Music City". They even incorporate it into the new stadium! They used it for 40-45 years. Love it!
They even use the guitar frets as the runs scored in innings! That's actually sick!
Greinke is still playing, he’s been back on the royals for the last 2 years. Also, no rings, he left the royals 5 years before they had any success, and the game 7 that was talked about was in 2019, when the Astros lost to the Nationals. He also pitched
I appreciate anyone that is truly genuine, and you can't accuse Greinke of being anything but that.
100% - Love real people, and Zack definitely seems to be just that! Thanks for the comment 🤝
Great job on describing FIP! You guys are probably better informed on baseball than a huge chunk of veteran fans now.
Thank you, we really appreciate it 🤝
Shohei Ohtani is 1 of 1 and I’m not suggesting Greinke is Ohtani but I always thought Greinke could be a two way player if they let him. He could handle himself at the plate pretty well and that was with very little time allotted for batting practice. Loads of major leaguers pitch and hit as youth players before being forced to choose one or the other. I wonder how many players could have handled double duty at the major league level if they were allowed by the coaching staff. Again, what Ohtani is doing might never be seen again but I think there are guys out there that can at least be decent at both pitching and hitting if they are allowed to try.
You don’t think Ohtani can help create a wave of guys that play both ways?
@@RewardBread619 Guarantee that will happen
@@RewardBread619 I do think that it’s possible! I just mourn for the guys that never had a chance haha
@@RewardBread619exactly! I think Ohtani’s stardom will single-handedly usher in a new wave of players who put in the work to excel in both pitching and hitting. Not a ton, but definitely some.
I think the most amazing thing is that Tig Notaro can have a comedic career as well as being a top flight MLB pitcher.
Regarding your question about the slowest pitch for a strike, the slowest pitch is called an Eephus. It's rare, but some pitchers will do it just to mess with a batter's timing.
And the slowest pitch I've ever seen was last year when Frank Schwindel (a position player) threw a 35 mph pitch that Kyle Higashioka hit for a home run.
Ooof. Gotta feel bad after throwing a 35mph pitch that’s hit for a homer! Appreciate this info, thank you for the comment 🤝
I’m an introvert and when I was younger, had pretty bad social anxiety. I admire that Greinke didn’t care about coming across like a weirdo cuz I always did my best to seem like social situations didn’t bother me just to fit in 😅
I am truly shocked at how well you guys understand stats like FIP and WHIP etc, half of my baseball-watching friends couldn't tell you what those mean lol well done
Greinke is still playing. He is currently in the Royals starting rotation.
Thanks for letting us know. Glad he’s still about too.
Slowest pitches ever recorded in MLB : 31 mph - Brock Holt, 34.3 - Dee Strange-Gordon, 35.1 - Frank Schwindel. I've seen pitches w/ a high arc (maybe 50') and be called for a strike. Kyle Higashioka hit a HR off Frank's pitch. Brock's pitch was the slowest called strike. The slow pitch is called an eephus pitch and it is (supposably) thrown underhanded. (I've not heard that term or the underhanded part). (I've see it done overhanded. Probably prior to pitch speed records were kept).
Zack is still 1 of my fav player of this era. He's back w/ the Royal (My team - die-hard fan) again, but not winning much this year (as the team can't afford great players due to their small market share vs other teams).
I loved the mention of Mark "the Bird" Fidrych at the beginning of the video. Intetesting guy who would talk to the baseball, and manicure the pitching mound. His pitching performance against a high powered Yankees lineup in 1976 was legendary.
Love that you two are getting into MLB and NFL.
Thank you 🤝
Also, with ERA a pitcher can be taken out of a game but if the base runner(s) score on the new pitcher it gets added to the first pitchers ERA. Even though they scored when he wasn’t pitching. So it can be affected by relief pitchers as well.
Not sure if you saw the Joey Votto interview last week but it was gold.
I've been watching you fellas a long time and I really have to say, I appreciate how you have taken our game seriously. Hearing you talk about FIP, even though you were slightly off in your explanations, shows how much you guys have learned about the game outside of the videos that you've watched. It's one of those stats that even most casual fans aren't savvy to, so seeing people like you, from another country and still relatively new to the game, have some understanding of it and why it is useful is awesome.
The royals got Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain from the brewers when they traded Greinke. Cain was the alcs mvp in 2014 and Escobar was alcs mvp in 2015. Greinke is always great to watch because you never know what may happen and it’s great he was able to conquer his mental health problems to have the career he’s had.
I was at Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training and was trying to get Greinke's autograph. Everyone swarmed him. I stayed at the opposite end of the line. Greinke walked away, toward the gym. Everyone left, and he came back to my end of the line. I just stood there. He grabbed my baseball, looked back and forth between the ball and me. He signed it and gave it back to me. The o ly thing I said the whole time was "thank you." An older lady then asked him for him to sign a baseball card. He looked at her, paused for about 10 seconds, then just walked away. I think he is hilarious. He has signed for me a bunch of times. He is o e of my favorites.
Just a wee technical pro tip: if you're using a Windows PC with CZcams, you can frame forward and backwards with the period and comma keys respectively.
Dude for a British guy, this guy knows his stuff. The UK doesn't have a baseball culture, so to see a British guy speak so confidently about baseball and know so much, Its got me impressed. Would like to see this guy do some commentary at some point or maybe do some play by play highlights.
Jim Eisenreich - Twins - is another great MLB oddity.
I've seen Zack Greinke pitch against my Mariners countless times but I didn't know this side of him. Good reaction boys! We're learning together on this one!
Thank you 🤝 We really appreciate that!
I see a lot of similarities with Larry Bird:
Superstar talent
Taunting/trash talking
High IQ
Tells opponents what he's going to do
Socially awkward
Enjoys mowing grass
Worked as a garbage man
I feel Greinke. I'm a veteran with a masters degree and I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I'm a teacher, but I dislike being in the teachers lounge for meetings and lunch. I prefer to eat in my classroom alone and limit my interaction with co-workers to one minute greetings and that's it. I don't have any friends but I don't have enemies, and I don't do social-media and I'm happy.
It was great having him with my team, the Astros, but he wanted to go back to the Royals, possibly to end his career with the team he started with. He's one of the most brilliant pitching minds in the modern game. Very wiley. Unpredictable. Great assets for a pitcher.
You guys are so knowledgeable now it’s insane
Thank you 🤝
@@DNReacts mind blown I absolutely was going bonkers when you got to the era fip part
The video mentions Rube Waddell-definitely the most interesting crazy guy in baseball history. The Pitching Ninja-the best MLB channel on CZcams-did a good video on Rube a few months ago. Worth seeing.
I'm glad he's retiring back home, here in Kansas City.
Love you guys ❤ come to the Paris of the MidWest, KC
Thank you for the comment and support 🙏 We really appreciate it!
The “wanted to kill him” part wasn’t literal btw lol. He meant it as someone tried to fight him
I didn’t know about any of this. This is fascinating and pretty funny at times.
Appreciate the comment, thank you 🙏
Pitcher is the most isolating position to play. Everyone’s eyes are on you and if you can’t throw a strike or you give up hits you feel like you’re letting your teammates and all the fans down. A lot of pitchers are head cases and it’s really understandable why
He is widely liked and respected today.
Greinke is such a throwback. Pitchers are *meant* to be eccentric little weirdos. Dock Ellis, Spaceman Lee... I'm here for all of that personality.
Zack is great!!!!
You guys need to check out Jim Abbott. He was an MLB pitcher born without a right hand.
Damo's Knowledge of baseball stats has surpassed mine i think lol
😂 Thank you lol. I’m stronger on pitching stats than any others but definitely getting there. Appreciate the comment
You guys should see if theres a story on Joey Votto. He interviews like nobody else
I am a Kansas City Royals’ fan (rough these days…and, honestly, most days), who has been on a roller coaster with Zack. I hated him when he was literally the only reason anyone followed the Royals and he demanded to be traded, but loved him when I realized he was right that the Royals NEEDED to trade him. The Royals traded him for SS Alcedes Escobar, CF Lorenzo Cain, and a pitcher named Jake Odorizzi who was then moved to Tampa Bay for Pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis.
ALL of those players became All Stars and the CORE of back to back World Series appearances (Though Shields was traded after the first) and a magical World Series win in 2015.
The Royals are an insane franchise. They have mostly been awful, but every thirty years or so, they get into the post season, where they always go to the World Series and usually win it lol
They are the Zack Greinke of franchises, and I’ll always love the guy.
Btw, in a weird full circle, Zack is now at the very end of his baseball career and is back with the Royals, who may have their worst team in a long history of mostly bad teams…and he’s pretty much the only player worth going out to watch…like he was at the beginning lol
I can't wait to hear his Hall of Fame speech.
Hadn’t even thought about this 😅 It’s going to be very unique and special
His speech "Thank you for electing me into the hall of fame thank you"
*crowed goes crazy standing ovation*
Zack is 0-2 in world series and has never won one and he is still playing and he is back on the Kansas City Royals
Yes he won the world series the game he got interviewed in the beginning of the video. The same game as well.
what?
Years ago, there was talk regarding if the New York Mets should trade for him. There was a lot of debate if he could’ve handled the New York media and all the attention. It probably wouldn’t have worked out.
Oh my God, it’s already happened. Damo knows more about baseball than me. 😅
🤣 I’m not sure lol, I’m still getting my head around these stats. I’m definitely better with the pitching stats so far. They’ve gotten most of my focus. Appreciate the comment 😂
He's still playing and back with Kansas City. We love him a lot.
Nope, no World Series wins. He kept missing out. He left the Royals after 2010, they made it in 2014 and won in 2015. He left the Dodgers after 2015, they made it in 2017 and 2018 and won in 2020. He finally made a World Series with the Astros 2019 but they lost to the Nationals in 7. Then he played with them in the 2021 Series but they lost to the Braves in 6. Now, he's back with the Royals and, yes, he's still playing in his 20th season.
Sadly he lost the World Series against the Washington Nationals in 7 games. Game 7 of the 2019 World Series the game in reference the Houston Astros blew a 2-0 lead and lost 6-2
Yeah you got the general idea of FIP right, its Home Runs, Strikouts, and Walks(all of them), and its scaled to ERA, so a good ERA is a good FIP.
Now as with everything its not always absolute, some guys can run a low ERA and be good because even though the balls are being put into play, they're being put into play weakly which pitchers can absolutely influence and weakly hit balls are much easier to field. As always there's nuance to every stat and everyone has opinion's on what's relevant and what's not when examining for a certain context. I'm gonna look at different sets of stats depending on if I'm evaluating for a Cy Young or MVP, for Fantasy, or Armchair GM wanting my team to win.
The slowest pitch is the Ephus pitch. But nobody uses it anymore
Thanks for this info 🤝
The spitball, screwball, knuckleball, eephus pitch. All strange variations you don’t see used often.
If you like weird baseball players you guys gotta do Many Ramirez for baseball doesnt exist...He makes Zack look normal...
Greinke is a baseball savant. Hope he gets in the baseball Hall of Fame.
I don't follow baseball much but I did for a little bit when he was a dodgers, he was incredibly dominant back then I thought he'd be a lock for the HOF
Pat Neshek is probably the polar opposite of Greinke lol
I wonder how Greinkes career would've been if he became a full time shortstop 🤔
19:25 No, Greinke wasn't with the Royals when they won the World Series in 2015. The players the Royals got in return were actually pretty big pieces for the 2014 and 2015 postseason runs! I kinda wish he could've been there but glad he found success elsewhere too
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I dont believe he has ever won a World Series. That pre-game interveiw was in 2019 with the Astros and he did not win that series. That was a very strange WS. The only WS in which the home team never won a game.
He didn’t win, but he didn’t lose either. He was absolutely dealing and gave up a solo homerun late and got pulled even tho he wasn’t showing signs of struggling. Grienke getting pulled there likely cost the Astros the championship. He only played in 2 World Series, both with Houston.
because the guy's dream was to be a firefighter so when you hear it go he would run outfit to go help whatever they needed
It sounds like they should have let him try to be a hitter. It looks like he had the talent. o
Old school pitching at its finest, instead of guys who throw 100 every pitch and looking at the scoreboard to see how hard they are throwing
This guy has ain’t got nothing on the spaceman Bill Lee from the Boston Redsox
I need to know what medication he was prescribed, and I need it NOW!
My favourite non-Blue Jay!
Geinke is one example of many players who could do what Ohtani is doing, and more--let me explain. A lot of pitchers start out as the best hitters on their teams when they are young and then after a while don't get to do anything but pitch--and they can play other positions very well defensively. I don't know if Ohtani can actually play the field (I don't really count pitchers as fielders in the same way other positions must play the field). Greinke was an outstanding shortstop and hitter when he was younger, but in baseball, one is either a pitcher or not--thank you Ohtani for beginning to help break that down again.
You gotta do Crazy Max next!
For insane pitching and stats, should checkout Clayton kershaw.
He is still playing
While a lot of baseball guys like FIP, and Im not saying its bad, but it doesn’t account for pitchers that pitch to soft contact more than others.
It’s a valid point you make, can impact some pitchers, thanks for the comment 🤝
He is back on the Royals and he is terrible with a 1-11 record and a 5.49 ERA . But this is his 20th season so for all his wanting to quit he lasted more than most players .
I don't want to diagnose someone and sound ignorant, but my sister has autism, and it sure seems like Greinke does too.
Hey Spencer, quite a few have mentioned this too in the comments. Saying that he has very similar traits. Appreciate the comment 🤝
If you have problems like Zach. go see your doctor and try to get help. Don’t sit and suffer.
I think Greinke is on the autism spectrum. And not just lightly. He doesn't seem to understand how his words impact others, he can't handle others. He can't handle crowds, he breaks down when social situations don't go as expected. He gets singularly focused on things like drafting or whatever.
As a 56 year old American baseball fan who grew up on simple pitching statistics like ERA and win/losses, I'm not familiar with advanced statistics like FIP and WHIP. Hearing you explain it, as a foreigner, makes me "uncomfortable". It's like having a 10 year old child explain to me how to give pleasure to a woman.
I love greinke because hes just a dude. He doesnt try to be anything other than a guy thats good at baseball.
It sounds like he had a chip on his shoulder against the world that people saw as a mental health problem. I mean, I think some people just want to do things their own way and the world be damned. That's what this sounds like to me. I could be wrong. o