By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke is having an All-Star caliber season. But he shouldn't start for the American League in baseball's All-Star Game on July 14.
I've rooted for Greinke since he came to the Royals, figuring he would be one of the home-grown players leading the Royals into a brighter future (not working out as planned, by the way).
This season Greinke is 10-4 with the AL's best earned run average at 2.00.
But if Greinke is selected to start the All-Star Game, he will be subjected to an incredible amount of media attention -- even much more than he received during his incredible start to the 2009 season -- from sportswriters all over the nation.
They will have several days to pounce on Greinke and the National League starter, whose careers will be dissected on the run-up to the game in St. Louis.
And the media will want to talk to Greinke about his story, time and time again. How he had to take months away from the game to treat his depression and his anxiety over playing the game.
True, in some ways it's an inspiring story, especially because of the success Greinke is having now. But here's the catch.
While starting the All-Star Game would be a big deal to most people, Greinke obviously isn't into those kinds of honors. Just listen to him in his post-game interviews, and you can see that his mind is focused on what he's doing and little else.
So let Greinke come into the All-Star Game a little later than the 1st inning. In that way, he gets to pitch in the game, gets to soak up the All-Star festivities but is just another player on the roster, another player doing his job.
And that will be great for Zack Greinke, and for Royals fans who are fortunate that their representative to the game this year actually deserves the honor.
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You couldn't be more wrong
I think Greinke can handle himself. He got as much attention as he could get at the beginning of the year and he knows how to disappear if he wants to. He has also be well aware that he was going to the AS game for a while now and there was a decent chance he would be starting. Why don't you try and give him just a little more credit than you would a 12 year old. Personally, I think this is rather disrespectful. I don't think he needs you to make these decisions for him.
Good advice
Agree totally. This game is pretty much a circus at best. Baseball writers are notorious for making much ado about nothing.
Go Zack, see ya in the 4th or such.
Jenniferm -
my assumption (maybe wrong) is that he would rather not engage in the circus of being the starting pitcher for the All-Star game.
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By all means, if Maddon wants him to start, and if Zack wants it, hell yes!
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From what I've read, he would not want it. He just wants to play ball, and if he didn't answer another question from the media, he'd be where he wants to be.
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If you see him out of the media's reach with his teammates, you can tell that's where he feels comfortable.
I do know of his problems....
...I live here in KC, remember. Whether or not he has overcome his afflictions or is medicated because of it, isn't a good enough reason to deny him an honor that he has earned by his play on the field.
He's not a good interview, I get that. He's not a good soundbite, period. Again that is still not a good enough reason to sit him. Furthermore, if asked, he should accept the starting job--if someone is more deserving, then start them. But to simply say, "don't start him, because of his depression", is an insult to those who deal with the same disorder every day.
Jenniferm -
apparently you don't understand his past problems, and you may not have seen his postgame interviews. He is on medication for an anxiety disorder which is worse when he's on camera or focus of attention. He's a great guy who had a problem. He can be rewarded by pitching in the game - and starting (with all of the media attention it creates) is unneccessary. And if I was his manager, I'd be thinking of him and if he really wanted to start, make a case to Madden, but if he doesn't, I'd help him out.
am I the only one
who finds this kind of an odd column?
So now media attention is wrong?
He shouldn't start because he might be asked questions about problems he's had in the past? Media scrutiny is a bad thing, now? Good grief.
If Greinke is selected to be the started its because he's earned it on what he has accomplished. He should be rewarded with starting. And he should be proud of that.
Stick to Palin trashing Yael--you get more hits on this blog that way.
Yael - since Trey Hillman is one of Madden's
coaches, I would hope he tells him just that. Let Roy Halladay start the game, get the media attention, and then let Zack come in in the 4th inning. Zack would pitch better and would probably be a relief.
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Good column.