Zack Greinke didn't seem to care who knew the signs ? pic.twitter.com/B9z6imk0eS
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 13, 2020
Zach Greinke is known for being an eccentric, but he took things to a whole new level on Wednesday night.
With runners on first and second, and Mauricio Dubon at the plate in the seventh inning, The Astros pitcher began calling out his pitches, telling his catcher MartÍn Maldonaldo “Second sign after one, second sign after two,” while standing on the mound. It didn’t help Dubon, who flew out to center on the pitch Greinke called.
Greinke explained the bizarre scene after the game.
“Today, there was a man on second base and it got all messed up and it took longer than I was hoping it would take,” Greinke told reporters via MLB.com. “It’s 50 percent my fault and 50 percent Maldy’s fault. … I don’t like taking a long time with a man on second base especially. I’m trying to find a way to speed that up. So far this year, it’s been good. It got messed up today.”
Greinke also appeared to give Brandon Belt a similar treatment, indicating he was going to throw the first baseman a fastball before striking him out with one.
Here's Zack Greinke telling Brandon Belt (and Martin Maldonado) that a fastball is coming. Belt proceeded to swing through the 88-mph fastball for strike three. This was at least the second time in this game that Greinke told the batter what was coming. #SFGiants #Astros pic.twitter.com/MSWtIRFuwz
— Ben Kaspick (@BenKaspick) August 13, 2020