Australian Officials Not Happy with Zack Greinke
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Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images(GLENDALE, Ariz.) — Australian officials are not happy with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zach Greinke saying that he is not excited about making the trip to Sydney Cricket Ground to open the 2014 Major League Baseball season next month.Grienke and the Dodgers are scheduled to open their season in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks with two games, more than a week before the rest of the teams begin their season.
“I would say there is absolutely zero excitement for it. There just isn’t any excitement to it,” Greinke told ESPNLosAngeles.com. “I can’t think of one reason to be excited for it.”
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Australian officials have reached out to the Dodgers and Major League Baseball for an explanation.
“Zack has this endearing, contrarian quality to him that we all know and love about him,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said of Grienke, who could pitch in the second game. “He’s famously focused and meticulous about his training regimen. It’s what makes him so good and such a great teammate. This is clearly going to alter his routine. I understand that aspect of it.”
“But my problem right now is trying to make room for all the people that want to go — players, family, front-office people. As an organization, we couldn’t be more excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he continued.
The Australian games are to be played on March 22 and 23.
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