But it's not true. It's absurd, we all know. My book assumes that he might have.
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Greinke was the pinch-hitter in the fourth inning of the Astros' 4th inning. Framber Valdez, their Astros starter, couldn't do much. Greinke scored a run in Game 4. Although he hadn't been to the NL for a while, he was one the best hitting pitchers in the league back then. Dusty Baker had to make sure that he had a bench ready for the Astros in Game 5. Maybe Dusty knew something. Perhaps Jesse Chavez's approach to pitching, essentially fastball, would allow Greinke to time him up. Baker really has hidden genius? We might never find out.
Greinke singled to the right, the most difficult ball the Astros hit that night. Although the Astros didn't win the fourth, Michael Bradley was able to get up to bat thanks to Greinke's single. Minter was forced to start the next inning with two outs, instead of coming in with one.
Minter was still on the hill for Carlos Correa's 5th, when he started with a single. Minter struck out Yordan Avarez, but Yuli Guriel continued, leading to Martin Maldonados' bases-loaded walk, and Marwin Gonzalezs single.
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The sliding doors exercise states that Greinke should do what pitchers usually do and Altuve will make an out. Minter is in the fifth and the two lefties are the first three batters. Minter will have two outs in the fifth inning, with one on. Perhaps Kyle Tucker's groundout moved runners up and left an open base for Alex Bregman, who was then intentionally walked onto it. Maybe...
As you can see, Zack Greinke might have turned the World Series upside down with a bat in hand. This could be the baseball equivalent of the Falcons losing the ability to run the ball when they have a 28-3 lead. It could be. It's impossible to know.
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This is where I could, even though it's not possible, point out the potential losses if the DH is removed when the next MLB season starts (we don't really know). It could have been the last pitch by a pitcher in an MLB game, non-Ohtani. However, some pitchers will still get laugh ABs in blowouts despite the fact that the DH is always in place. It will be a part of our history as well as a piece. Every one of us has that little inkling within that knows there are big changes in the future. It is something we all share. Baker was one of the first to experience it. Greinke had it. Cooperstown should take Greinkes bat, if it was his. It is important to save it for baseball history and to remind us all of the goodness that we have.
Once the series is finished, we won't be able to go back to these moments. That's all. It was a little baseball quirk that brought Greinke to this spot at a time when everything seemed lost for the Astros. To get your way, you only need one break. You only need one break to get out of the muck. It won't be possible to discuss it with our friends, and it won't be something we want to hear again.
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My case is clearly watertight. It is stunning in its layers and arguments, really. Zack Greinke might not be able to have his number retired in Houston but if the Astros win the series, he should be presented with a plaque in Minute Maid Park. My father used to tell me, "Mighty oaks are made from small acorns."
Minter may have run out of gas, but the Astros are just too strong of a lineup for them to keep down for so many games. They will score 19 runs in their next two games and take the series. This is what actually happened.
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Oder did it?
