Newsletter: Dodgers Dugout: Zack Greinke is a real zero

Hi, welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. DeAndre Jordan was supposed to write today’s newsletter, but he changed his mind.

Zack attack

You have to wonder if Zack Greinke was a big “Seinfeld” fan, because he has made nothing a big thing again. The right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals on Sunday and extended his scoreless innings streak to 43 2/3 innings, the fourth-longest streak since 1960. Two of the top three are Dodgers: Orel Hershiser pitched 59 straight scoreless innings in 1988, Don Drysdale had a streak of 58 2/3 innings in 1968, and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson had a 47-inning streak in 1968. When asked about it after the game, Greinke simply said, “I'm just not making a bunch of mistakes.”

Greinke’s next start will probably come Friday in New York versus the Mets, against whom he has already pitched seven scoreless innings this season. And if his streak continues after that game, he could set the record on July 29, against the Oakland A’s at Dodger Stadium. That is also Yasiel Puig bobblehead doll night, so you might want to think about getting your tickets now.

Greinke’s contract

Greinke is now the clear favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, which is good news, but could also be bad news. Greinke signed a six-year, $147-million contract to join the Dodgers before the 2013 season, but it had an opt-out clause that will allow him to become a free agent after this season. Doing so would mean giving up the $77 million remaining on his deal. If he continues to pitch the way he is now, I couldn’t blame him for opting out and seeing what he could get on the open market. But as a Dodgers fan, I want him not to opt out so I don’t have to worry about him going somewhere else. If he opts out, the Dodgers could still re-sign him, of course, but that would mean opening up the bank vaults. What would you do if you were Greinke, and, if he opted out, what kind of deal would you offer him if you were the Dodgers? Email me your thoughts and I will print some in upcoming newsletters.

Harper not impressed

That whine you hear is not a nearby engine, it’s Washington outfielder Bryce Harper. Harper, who is not popular among a lot of fans around the majors, gave Dodgers fans a reason to dislike him. Asked about Greinke after Sunday’s loss, Harper told the Washington Post: “For me, I don’t think he was very tough. … ” Then he complained about the wide strike zone he says Greinke was given: “When you're getting six inches off the plate, it's tough to face him." Harper struck out twice during the game.

Scioscia on Hershiser

You remember Mike Scioscia, don’t you? He was the Dodgers’ catcher in the 1980s and caught Hershiser when he broke Drysdale’s scoreless-innings record. I’m not exactly sure what Scioscia is up to nowadays (apparently he is managing somewhere), but he talked to Times reporter Greg Hadley about Hershiser on Sunday.

Who will the Dodgers get?

The trade deadline is drawing near, and here’s a look at 10 players who could be dealt by the deadline, with the Dodgers’ chance of landing them. One starting pitcher and a reliable setup man for Kenley Jansen is all I ask for.

Draft blues

Remember how excited everyone was when the Dodgers selected Vanderbilt pitcher Walker Buehler with their first-round pick in the draft? And then got even more excited when they were fortunate enough to grab Louisville pitcher Kyle Funkhouser? What were the odds of landing two top pitching prospects like that? Well, curb your enthusiasm. Buehler needs Tommy John surgery, and Funkhouser turned down a $2-million signing bonus and will return to Louisville. Buehler missed part of last season with Vanderbilt because of elbow soreness, but the Dodgers gambled on him anyway. When they drafted Buehler, Billy Gasparino, the Dodgers' new scouting director, said, “At times maybe it can make you take on a little more risk because you know there are other ways to acquire talent." There’s a difference between taking a risk and doing something obviously misguided, such as taking a college pitcher who has a history of elbow soreness. Doing that is a good way to go from the new scouting director to the old scouting director.

This week in Dodgers history

 

July 20, 1970: Bill Singer no-hits the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-0 win at Dodger Stadium.

 

July 23, 1974: Steve Garvey singles and doubles and is named the All-Star game’s MVP as the NL defeats the AL, 7-2.

 

And finally

 

With Greinke having a chance to cash in on a big payday because, in part, of this scoreless-innings streak, shouldn’t his walking-to-the-mound music at Dodger Stadium be “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits? Nancy Bea Hefley, do that just once, would you?

Have a comment or something you'd like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me and follow me on Twitter: @latimeshouston