Guillen gushes over Greinke after Kansas City's 3-0 win over White Sox
Ozzie Guillen is not easily impressed, with his own players and especially with the opposition.
But after Monday night's 3-0 loss at Kansas City, the White Sox' manager couldn't contain his man crush on Royals starter Zack Greinke.
"I think that's the best performance I've seen in a long time by any major-league pitcher," Guillen said after Greinke (6-0) stymied the Sox while pitching his third complete game (and second shutout) of the young season.
"It reminded me of when we came here one day (in 1991) and (Bret) Saberhagen threw a no-hitter," Guillen told reporters. "I think this kid's got better stuff than Bret at that particular time. When you're throwing breaking balls behind in the count for strikes and then throwing 96 (mph) for strikes. ... To me, he's the best in the league right now."
While going the distance, Greinke scattered 6 hits and struck out 10. Oh yeah, the right-hander also lowered his ERA to 0.40.
"I always loved this kid," Guillen said. "I always thought he had great stuff and I always thought it was a shame he wasn't winning that many games."
Greinke, the sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft, was always pointed toward major-league stardom. But the right-hander struggled in 2004-05, going a combined 13-28 with Kansas City before missing most of 2006 with personal problems.
Last season, Greinke finally started putting it together while going 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA for the upstart Royals. The success has obviously carried over into this season.
"It doesn't surprise me what he's doing right now at all," Guillen said after the White Sox dropped their third straight. "He's that good, and now he's believing in himself. I tip my hat.
"You don't want to see it happen against you, but baseball needs people like that. And for me to give credit to somebody, it takes a lot."
The Sox didn't do much against Greinke until the eighth inning, when A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez reached on consecutive singles.
Instead of rallying from the 3-0 deficit, Scott Podsednik grounded into a double play and pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit struck out.
Sox starter Bartolo Colon (2-2) worked 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits while throwing 98 pitches.
"Colon was good," Guillen said. "He just competed against the wrong guy."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Gregor's game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Monday's grade: </b>C. So the White Sox were overwhelmed by Zack Greinke, who's already established himself as the Cy Young Award favorite. Wasn't the first time and it won't be the last.</p> <p class="News"><b>Not a peep:</b> Introverted slugger Carlos Quentin was 0-for-4 Monday and he's 2-for-15 on the road trip. The swoon's dropped his overall average to .233.</p> <p class="News"><b>Another flash:</b> Inconsistent reliever Clayton Richard was on vs. the Royals, pitching 3 scoreless innings. The outing dropped the lefty's ERA from 6.00 to 4.80.</p> <p class="News"><b>On tap:</b> After dealing with Greinke in the first of two in K.C., the Sox don't get much of a break with Kyle Davies tonight. At U.S. Cellular Field on April 9, Davies pitched 7 shutout innings and allowed 3 hits. Since Sept. 1 of last season, the righty's 6-2 with a 3.52 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .226 average.</p>