Every season, baseball brings us something at least slightly new. Zack Greinke has struck out at least 7 batters without allowing an earned run in each of his first four starts (no runs at all in the first three). Nobody has started the season with more than two such starts dating back to 1954 (as far back as baseball-reference.com’s database goes). Here’s how Greinke’s first four starts stack up to some classic seasons past:
| Pitcher | Year | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Greinke | 2009 | 4-0 | 29.0 | 0.00 | 5.90 | 0.00 | 1.86 | 11.17 |
| Cliff Lee | 2008 | 4-0 | 31.2 | 0.28 | 3.13 | 0.00 | 0.57 | 8.24 |
| Pedro Martinez | 2000 | 4-0 | 28.1 | 1.59 | 5.40 | 0.64 | 1.59 | 12.71 |
| Greg Maddux | 1994 | 3-1 | 32.0 | 1.12 | 6.19 | 0.28 | 1.13 | 5.91 |
| Dwight Gooden | 1985 | 2-1 | 30.0 | 1.50 | 5.10 | 0.30 | 2.40 | 7.80 |
| Fernando Valenzuela | 1981 | 4-0 | 36.0 | 0.25 | 5.25 | 0.00 | 1.75 | 9.00 |
| Bob Gibson | 1968 | 1-1 | 30.0 | 1.97 | 7.50 | 0.60 | 1.80 | 5.40 |
(If you’re wondering, Gibson went on to throw 23 innings in his next two starts).
This isn’t a scientific sample, and four starts do not a season make – but this is one heck of a start to a season, and it’s gaudy enough to raise a real possibility that Greinke has broken the barrier between promising and dominating.
I’ve watched his last 2 starts. Dominating does not even begin to describe his performance. He doesn’t get rattled and just keeps throwing strikes. IN his second start, against the White Sox, it was obvious he didn’t have his best stuff. He just kept battling and getting people out. The only difference between that performance and his others is he threw more pitches. He has been amazing. If you get a chance to watch him you are in for a treat.
It seems like it is time for the Steinbrenner brothers to go buy him.