Greinke World Premiere

Posted: April 28th, 2009 | Filed under: Baseball, Media | 57 Comments »

So, here it is: The World Premiere of this week’s Sports Illustrated cover featuring Zack Greinke.

greinke1.jpg

57 Comments on “Greinke World Premiere”

  1. 1: levi said at 8:16 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Circle me, Bert! I love that cover, Joe.

  2. 2: Greg said at 8:18 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Congratulations on another cover Joe!

  3. 3: Brett said at 8:30 am on April 28th, 2009:

    It’s a little odd that you can’t see his face in the cover photo, but somehow it seems appropriate. I like the shot.

  4. 4: Jeff Alou said at 8:32 am on April 28th, 2009:

    As a KC Royals and KC Star fan, I am stoked for both you and Zack. KC in the hizz-ouse.

  5. 5: Lukehart80 said at 8:32 am on April 28th, 2009:

    congratulations on the cover.

    you seem to be 0-1 in cover jinxes (unless albert IS jinxed right now, and would otherwise be hitting .500 with 15 home runs), can greinke make it 0-2, or have you played a pivotal role in wrecking the royals’ season? i’m an indians’ fan, but i’m happy for zach greinke, and for the k.c. fans who get to enjoy him. i hope he can keep it up.

  6. 6: Old Man Duggan said at 8:33 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Pretty awesome.

    And your two covers happen to be my two favorite players, so keep it up.

  7. 7: Lukehart80 said at 8:33 am on April 28th, 2009:

    i’m so happy for him that i spelled his name wrong.

  8. 8: thismayconcernyou said at 8:35 am on April 28th, 2009:

    “Zanax” himself … great cover. I’m very curious as to where this story goes. No matter what, i know I’m actually buying a copy of SI …

  9. 9: ajnrules said at 8:48 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Cool. I was worried I’d miss the premiere, because I was going to be away at 11:00 am CDT, but I’m glad the cover came out early. It’s a great cover, giving Greinke a sense of dominance and mystery, and I know the article is going to be better. I can’t wait for Thursday when the issue comes in the mail.

  10. 10: There Goes The Royals’ Promising Season said at 8:51 am on April 28th, 2009:

    [...] Bad hitting? Bad pitching? Bad managerial moves? Nope, none of that. The culprit can be found on the upcoming SI cover, featuring the Royals’ ace, Grienke (I know Gil Meche is the Opening Day pitcher, but Grienke [...]

  11. 11: frank said at 8:51 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Where’s the story? When does that come out?

  12. 12: mike said at 9:02 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Joe

    I think most of us know you didn’t write the hed, but was that your angle at all?

  13. 13: Kyle Richardson said at 9:06 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Can’t wait to get the issue, not only for the article on Greinke, but for the feature on Kelly Slater… He was always my favorite on Saved By the Bell!!

  14. 14: MatthewCarlson said at 9:33 am on April 28th, 2009:

    I want to cry I am so happy for Zack and the Royals. He makes the Royals contenders, he is the one player we can point to and say he is OUR guy. His story is amazing, and any interview is a classic. Cannot wait to pick this up.

  15. 15: Stuart said at 9:54 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Cool picture, but I wish that you could see the front of his jersey or hat or something that said Royals on it.

  16. 16: Jeff Wunsch said at 9:57 am on April 28th, 2009:

    I love Greinke in a man love kind of way.

  17. 17: Spud said at 10:00 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Nice cover.

    I hope the jinx applies to the Twitter reference instead.

  18. 18: PC said at 10:04 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Greinke on the cover, with a story by Joe Posnanski, PLUS a Gary Smith story. Best. Issue. Ever.

  19. 19: Jeff H said at 10:06 am on April 28th, 2009:

    “There’s a lot more interesting stuff going on right now,” he said. “They should have something else on the cover. Playoff basketball or something else.

    “So it’s a mistake. They’ll probably sell their least amount of magazines in a long time — except when NASCAR was on the cover.”

    Zach Greinke on being on this week’s cover of SI.

    http://thebiglead.com/?p=13667#comments

  20. 20: anon said at 10:07 am on April 28th, 2009:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/04/28/zack.greinke/index.html

  21. 21: Kevin said at 10:10 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Congrats on the cover!

    We could be watching the best Royals pitcher ever!!!

  22. 22: DocBrown said at 10:19 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Kind of a lowball shot taken there in the cover script. A classier move would have been to save the “flake” line for inside the article as opposed to on the cover. Hopefully that was an editor’s decision and not Joe’s.

  23. 23: Danny said at 10:24 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Great article, Joe. I like it a lot.

  24. 24: Don said at 10:30 am on April 28th, 2009:

    It’s almost a shame that the Blue Jays are going to mess him up so badly tomorrow.

    Go Jays!

  25. 25: C Dunlap said at 10:35 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Awesome cover – and I know it will be a great story! I love your writing, Joe, but it seems to reach another level when you’re writing about Greinke. His story is so compelling, and I’m glad you’re the one who gets to share it with the world.

  26. 26: Dave said at 10:35 am on April 28th, 2009:

    “It’s a little odd that you can’t see his face in the cover photo…”

    I think the key for SI was that you couldn’t see his “KC” in the cover photo.

  27. 27: Tyler said at 10:52 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Anybody have an idea as to where the photographer was standing when he took that photo?

  28. 28: Willie Wilson said at 11:02 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Great article, can’t wait for the Bannister version in 2010 and Hochevar in 2011

  29. 29: FB 101 said at 11:21 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Great article/cover! We like Greinke too, duh! http://www.fantasybaseball101.com/2009/04/24/zack-greinke-cy-young-candidate/

  30. 30: Doug French said at 11:31 am on April 28th, 2009:

    They couldn’t at least show his face?

  31. 31: Tampa Mike said at 11:33 am on April 28th, 2009:

    Kind of strange that you can’t see his face or the Royals logo. I guess SI wants to give Zack some love, but not the Royals. Typical.

  32. 32: Leah said at 11:50 am on April 28th, 2009:

    I LOVE IT!

  33. 33: MonkeyHawk said at 11:52 am on April 28th, 2009:

    I just read the story, Joe.

    Nice work, per usual.

  34. 34: Mat said at 12:06 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Well Deserved! Congrats!

  35. 35: Fraser said at 12:27 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Not to pick nits, but isn’t the grammar on the cover incorrect? Shouldn’t there be a “he’s” before “best pitcher in baseball” (and maybe an “and” before “right now”)?

  36. 36: Lost Time Is Not Found Again: April 28, 2009 | MOUTHPIECE Blog // A Chicago-Addled Sports Blog said at 12:32 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    [...] + Zach Greinke is on the cover of the newest Sport Illustrated. He’s the fist Royal on the cover in 20 years. I love that this dude is on my fantasy team. {Joe Posnanski.} [...]

  37. 37: Ward said at 12:48 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    “It’s almost a shame that the Blue Jays are going to mess him up so badly tomorrow. ”

    Whatever you’re drinking, I’ll have a double, because that’s some good stuff…

  38. 38: Blue said at 1:07 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    That has to be one of the only covers in the history of SI without a face on it.

  39. 39: H2 said at 1:48 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    We’re very sad the cover title was not “Stinky Greinke”

  40. 40: ghb5 said at 1:48 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    I agree with the numerous others who have lamented that the Royals logo and Greinke’s face aren’t visible. I could get over not seeing Greinke’s face if the “KC” logo were visible on the back of the mound like it is at the K.
    After the two KU covers in 2007/08 is this the most love Kansas City has gotten from KC since Brett and Montana appeared in the early ’90s?

  41. 41: Michael said at 2:04 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    As a Kansas Citian and a Royals fan, I couldn’t care less about not seeing a “KC” or Zack’s face. That image is perfect, almost poetic. Greinke is an elusive character.

  42. 42: skott daltonic said at 2:19 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    this is a great story.
    as a person who’s suffered from depression and anxiety i often look at situations like this for some confirmation in dark times.

    jim piersall is another athlete that i find comfort in.

    great stuff. can’t wait to read it!

  43. 43: Wes said at 2:21 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Amazing Cover.

    I’m definitely buying this one. Greinke is a freakin beast!

  44. 44: rake said at 2:37 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    That photo has to have been taken from the stands as Zack warms up in the home bullpen at Kauffman, right? So I guess, in a roundabout way, you can say the $250 million stadium renovation bought the Royals a fantastic SI cover, too.

  45. 45: patrick said at 2:38 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Cone was on the cover in like 94 or 95 for the baseball preview issue

  46. 46: Don said at 3:41 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    “Whatever you’re drinking, I’ll have a double, because that’s some good stuff…”

    I’m a Jays fan: specializing in self-delusion since 1994.

  47. 47: Greg Tamblyn said at 3:48 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Pressure’s on now, Joe. If he has a bad start you might want to have some plane reservations for someplace far away, like Malaysia. Or Mars.

    Good cover, though.

  48. 48: Ben said at 4:33 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    I am feeling more and more validated in my April 2007 decision to buy a Zach Greinke jersey. Unless of course being a grown man with a baseball jersey is inherently stupid. But regardless, I feel like I chose well.

    Also, congrats on another cover, Joe! Can’t wait to read it.

  49. 49: Neekolaaz said at 5:58 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    So awesome!

  50. 50: We’re Going Streaking! Fukudome having himself another April | Boobs and More said at 7:45 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    [...] RoyalsThe Naked Truth: 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 29 IP, 36 K, 6 BB, 0.862 WHIPHaving a nice little Saturday: SI’s newest cover boy hasn’t allowed an earned run all year. He can’t break Orel Hershiser’s record because he gave up an [...]

  51. 51: Geoffrey said at 7:32 am on April 29th, 2009:

    Congratulations on another cover Joe.

    I really like the picture, especially since it shows Zacks back so still nobody will know who he is, haha.

    Hopefully this will again not be a jinx here Joe as I just added Zack to my fantasy team

  52. 52: David Dubbert said at 9:21 am on April 29th, 2009:

    Joe – I loved the article. Great work!

  53. 53: Michael (in NYC) said at 10:05 am on April 29th, 2009:

    Congrats, Joe.

  54. 54: Go Whale! said at 11:34 am on April 29th, 2009:

    Is it me, or does Grienke balk when he pitches? The last SI photo in the story shows his foot off the rubber before he has released the ball.

  55. 55: Weaver said at 12:50 pm on April 29th, 2009:

    Congrats on the cover, Joe. You deserve it!

    But, if Zack falls off even a bit, I’d like to introduce you to Option B for “The Best Pitcher in Baseball.” His name is Felix Hernandez.

    It’s going to be fun watching these two young phenoms come into their own this season.

  56. 56: Jim in Florence said at 1:35 pm on April 29th, 2009:

    Joe
    A follower for a while, and a fan from the first paragraph. Or the first mention of Buck O’Neil, whichever came first. Cap doffage to you and The Kid from Tomkinsville. I hope you both keep throwing gems and that we’ll be seeing “Greinke vs. Koufax” and “Posnanski vs. Lardner” blogs in some bright future.

  57. 57: KCJoe said at 11:03 pm on April 29th, 2009:

    As a lifelong Kansas Citian, I can’t help feeling like my city is in the midst of an upswing that comes around every few decades. I’m not saying the Royals are going to win the pennant but they certainly have the rotation of a contender. Yes, I know it is still April. But when you have Joe Posnanski on your sports page and writing SI covers every few weeks and 2 pitchers who could contend for the Cy Young (Soria, BTW)… it’s just nice to feel this much pride in my city.

    Great Cover, Joe. Please don’t quit the Star or I’ll cancel my subscription. You don’t want that now, do you?

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