LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Australian officials were reportedly upset over comments made by Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke about his disinterest in opening the season in that country, where the Dodgers will face the Diamondbacks March 22-23 on a cricket field at Sydney — more than a week before opening day for the rest of baseball.
“There is absolutely zero excitement for it,” Greinke told ESPNLosAngeles.com at the beginning of the week. “I can’t think of one reason to be excited for it.”
That caused a bit of an uproar in Australia. But former Braves relief pitcher Peter Moylan, a proud Aussie who was a teammate of Greinke’s last season with the Dodgers, said he understood the comments.
“I don’t see what the big deal is,” said Moylan, now with the Astros. “I think for a guy who’s so methodical in his preparation, it’s just going to (upset his routine). He’s also a guy who doesn’t pull any punches in what he says. He doesn’t worry about people’s opinions of him, he’s more worried about, if you want to get my view, I’ll give you my view. If you don’t like it, don’t write about it.”
“Obviously people in Australia don’t want to hear that. The (Dodgers) team is excited to go there, I’m sure. But I know for a fact that flying there and flying back, in that short period of time, it’s going to weigh on you for a couple of days when you get home. That’s going to be the only frustrating thing.”
