Grienke Close To Comeback

"Greinke threw three scoreless innings for Class-A Brevard County Tuesday, striking out four and allowing just one hit. He's expected to make another start or two in the minors, perhaps with Triple-A Nashville, before being activated from the disabled list. That puts the right-hander's timetable for his 2011 big-league debut sometime in the first week of May (ESPN)."

Milwaukee has been able to hang in their without Grienke (9-8 tied for 1st place in NL Central), but if they are going to stay in this race they are going to need Grienke to come back and be an "Ace". Marcum has been good for them going 2-1 with a 1.90 ERA, but I question if he is going to be able to keep it up since he has had injury problems in the past and there are some reports that say his velocity is down from last year. Grienke is the key to this team. They already have a good enough lineup to make a run at this division, and if Grienke can be "their guy" I think they have a good chance to get it.

Zack Greinke To Start Year On DL

Zack Greinke, the offseason acquisition the Milwaukee Brewers hoped would put them over the top in their pursuit of an NL Central title, is expected to begin the season on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a hairline fracture in one of his ribs playing pickup basketball. ESPN

Doesn't seem that big of a deal, but last year Jacoby Ellsbury had broken ribs and it basically killed his whole year. The Brewers went all in with Greinke and the acquisition of Shaun Marcum and if things don't go well they could have another CC Sabathia situation, where they leave and the Brewers are left with nothing.

I do think that Greinke will be fine and have an outstanding year in a no pressure situation in Milwaukee. However, once the playoffs come around expect an inflated ERA.

Zack Greinke Traded To Brewers

Kansas City Cy Young pitcher asked for a trade and he received it as they traded him and Yuniesky Betancourt for The Royals announced Sunday that they acquired shortstop Alcides Escobar, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitching prospects Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress.

I get why KC did it, Greinke didn't want to be there, but they didn't get one prospect back to get excited about.

Escobar is the Brewers top prospect but is seen more of a defensive wizard SS then anything else. Cain is a gap hitting speedster with no real power. The pitching prospect Jeffress is a pot head and was suspended multiple times for weed. and Odorizzi is OK.

KC just gave up a great pitcher for nothing really. But I guess that's the KC way.

The Brewers on the other hand have made some good moves this year in acquiring Shaun Marcum and now Zack Greinke to round up the rotation. Maybe this is a way to entice Prince Fielder to re-sign. Or it could be another CC Sabathia situation where Zack Greinke bolts after the year.

Zack Greinke Is Maybe On The Block

Zack Greinke's starting to act up for the Royals and who wouldn't with the way that team has performed recently. ESPN has run down a couple of teams who would be a good fit and they are Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore and the Phillies. The Phillies could potentially do this if they give up uber prospect Dominic Brown who is said to be their future in the OF.

If you were the Phillies you would have to do this and put together the best rotation in baseball with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hammels, Zack Greinke and Joe Blanton and try and re-sign Jayson Werth.

I'm not a huge Greinke guy but he goes to the minors (National League) he could be dirty.