Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo big fan of Zack Greinke except for twice a year
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he expects an invite from his former pitcher Zack Greinke when he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sure that's a bit premature since Greinke is still an active player but the message was clear.
Lovullo believes Greinke, who played under him with the Diamondbacks from 2016 until being traded to the Houston Astros midway through the 2019 season, is an elite pitcher.
Greinke is now on his second stint with the Kansas City Royals and he took the mound at Chase Field as the Diamondbacks opened a two-game set with the Royals. It was his first time back out on that mound since being traded away.
"I appreciate the friendship we have. I always admire him as a true competitor. He goes out there every time, given the baseball and goes as hard as he can and has won a lot of baseball games. I'll never forget what he's done for me and this organization," Lovullo said in his usual pre-game meeting with the media. "There's just one, maybe two days a year I'm not a fan of his and today is one of those days. And he'd probably the same thing."
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Lovullo said that the two have stayed in touch, with Greinke even messaging him when he won his franchise record 354th game two weeks ago, a gesture that he said meant a lot to him.
Greinke, who turns 39 in October, entered Monday's game with an 0-2 record but a respectable ERA of 3.48. He has just 18 strikeouts in 44 innings but walked just four.
But Lovullo and his squad got the better of their former player. Greinke departed with two outs in the fourth inning, having allowed five hits and four walks, equaling the walk total from his previous eight outings this season combined.
The seven runs were the most he has allowed in a game since giving up eight (seven earned) last September against the Texas Rangers. He was on the hook for the loss once he left.
"Zack can do anything he wants in this game. He is a true negotiator when he's on the mound. He wants to win a baseball game and get you out and he doesn't care how he's doing it. Whether there is velocity or there isn't velocity, he's going to land pitches and pitch to the game plan," Lovullo said.
Outfielder David Peralta also had some fond recollections of his time as a teammate of Greinke, who has a reputation as a bit of introvert.
"It's hard to describe Zack. He's a little bit of everything," Peralta said. "As soon as you get to know him he's a great guy. He's a big family guy, a good father, a good teammate. Some say, `Oh he doesn't talk to much but you have to find a way, find the right conversation to get to know him. I was able to do that with him."
Peralta said the best topics of conversation with his former teammate had to do with family and football. When it came to baseball, the right-hander preferred to talk about hitting rather than pitching and he's always been regarded as one of the better hitting pitchers in the game.
Peralta also recalled friendly exchange the two had two years ago when Greinke was with Houston.
"I told him if he hit me I was going to charge the mound so the first pitch he threw me in and then texted me after the game, said , `Hey I didn't mean to do that.' I said, `I know,' We were just joking around."
And about that eventual Hall of Fame ceremony?
"I told him that, you're going to be in the Hall of Fame," Lovullo said. "Make sure you A, mention me in your speech or B, invite me and I'll be there. I won't crash it but he better mention me. That's what I told him many times."
Lovullo explains bunt calls
It's no secret Lovullo is not a fan of the sacrifice bunt but the Diamondbacks already have seven this season which is a lot for one of his teams.
"I'm managing the team we have, managing the guys and trying to put us in the best position possible. I am not a huge sacrifice bunter but I felt like the times I've done it, it was going to help us score some runs that would continue to put pressure on the pitcher," he said.
The last bunt was by shortstop Geraldo Perdomo against Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks during the last road trip.
"There's a reason for it. But mostly it is to help us win a game and help us in a situation Outs are precious in this game and I don't want to give any of them away in a free manner."
Injury updates
Third baseman Josh Rojas continues to work his way back from a contusion on his left hand sustained when he was hit by a pitch by Chicago's Justin Steele in the first inning of Saturday's game.
It was unfortunate timing, coming a day after Rojas homered three times against the Cubs the previous game.
He was replaced in the lineup Saturday by Yonny Hernandez, who was optioned back to Triple-A Reno. Drew Ellis, who was called up in a corresponding transaction, was the starter there Monday for a second straight game.
Rojas is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Tuesday.
"He continues to improve. The swelling has gone down considerably in his hand, function is returning to normal, not quote normal, but getting there which is a huge sign for us.. We feel like we dodged a bullet there," Lovullo said.
In other injury updates:
*J.B Bukauskas will throw a 15-pitch bullpen Tuesday
*Carson Kelly will do work off a batting tee starting Tuesday. He has been doing some catching work already.
*Reliever Keynan Middleton will throw a bullpen on Friday.
*Luke Weaver will throw 30 pitches in an extended spring game at Salt River on Tuesday.
*Three players are in COVID protocol with Jose Herrera ready to play again very soon. The others are Cooper Hummel and Kyle Nelson.
*Nick Ahmed is still on the injured list and unavailable,
Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo big fan of Zack Greinke except for twice a year
