In a season filled with strange moments, Astros pitcher Zack Greinke flashing the pitch he was about to throw for all to see during a second inning Ramón Laureano at-bat might have taken the cake.
With runners on first and second, Laureano took an 85 mph slider from Greinke and deposited it 449 feet into the left-center field bleachers, giving the A’s a short-lived 3-0 lead.
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Greinke was asked about the pitch following the game and he openly admitted to changing it in plain view.
“That’s just what I’ve been doing this year for the most part,” Greinke said. “I just switched the pitch so it doesn’t waste time.”
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Following the 11-6 loss to the Astros, Laureano was asked about whether or not he had seen Greinke’s pitch sign.
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“I don’t look at him when I hit, I just look at the grass,” Laureano said. “Whenever he’s ready I look at him.”
While Laureano might have missed the sign, he didn’t miss the pitch. In fact, the A’s center fielder took another Greinke slider in the fifth inning and almost hit it to the same spot in the left-field bleachers.
In the end, Laureano’s big day wasn’t enough to stop the A’s from being eliminated from the playoffs, and Greinke’s gaffe ended up being much ado about nothing.
The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays might want to keep an eye on Greinke moving forward. If he’s openly giving away pitches, that might impact his effectiveness in the American League Championship Series.