Colorado Rockies pitcher Pat Neshek is an avid collector of autographs, and his status as an MLB player gives him access to a number of opportunities the common collector doesn’t have. Except, of course, when it comes to Zack Greinke.
Before the All-Star Game in July, Neshek said that Greinke was going to be his top target at the Midsummer Classic, noting that the Arizona Diamondbacks ace typically isn’t one for signing autographs.
“He’s tough,” Neshek said at the time. “Hopefully we can talk.”
Neshek’s plan was to have his 3-year-old son approach Greinke and ask him to sign, but it never ended up happening. On Tuesday, Neshek wrote on a message board that he tried to get Greinke’s autograph during a recent series between the Phillies and D-Backs but the pitcher “stiffed me once again.” Here’s Neshek’s explanation:
Pat Neshek roasting Zach Greinke on this autograph forum is the greatest thing I've seen in a while #turd pic.twitter.com/UNdKedpshf
— chris jones¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@LONG_DRIVE) September 19, 2017
“I waited around for him at batting practice and went up to him and he totally denied having the conversation at the all star game,” Neshek wrote. “I then asked him why this was a problem and he said it’s because ‘I wear him out.’ Hard to wear someone out when he has never signed for me. This is the only ahole in major league baseball that has been a turd to me.”
Greinke has a known history with anxiety issues and prefers to keep a low profile, though he packs a big punch on the rare occasions he does demand the spotlight. As for why he wouldn’t sign for Neshek, only Greinke knows that. Unless there’s a side to the story Neshek isn’t sharing, that sounds pretty unreasonable.
