There’s been a lot of speculation as to why KC P Zack Greinke bolted from the Royals’ spring training camp last week, and ESPN’s Buster Olney seems to have the answer : Buddy Bell is a big meanie.
Talked to several folks in baseball yesterday about Zack Greinke’s departure from Kansas City’s camp. Greinke (above), according to these sources, was going through some drills halfheartedly last week, and K.C. manager Buddy Bell got on him, pushing him to improve his effort; Greinke, displeased, later met with Bell. And then, a couple of days later, he packed up and walked out of camp. According to one source, Greinke indicated that he felt the team’s new pitching coach had nothing to offer him. Greinke’s discontent was felt last year, as well, when he repeatedly indicated to others that he was fed up with the way his baseball career was going. He told others he was ready to walk away.
I called Aaron Babcock, who oversees media relations for the Royals, and Babcock generally maintained the club’s party line on Greinke’s situation: The pitcher has left for personal reasons, and Babcock added that there are a lot of stories floating around that are not true.