SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- D-backs ace Zack Greinke reported to Salt River Fields on Friday after missing the first two days of pitcher and catcher workouts.
Greinke asked Arizona manager Torey Lovullo for a couple of extra days off before he reported and Lovullo granted the request.
Greinke and Lovullo met Friday and Greinke played catch before leaving the facility to undergo his yearly physical.
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"It was good to see him," Lovullo said. "And I told him that it's just good to know that he's around, it's good to see him, it's good to see his smiling face and just know that he's in the next room. I enjoy that, and maybe the parental instincts that I have when all your kids are where they're supposed to be and they're happy, you're happy as a parent."
Greinke recently threw a 40-pitch bullpen session, which would put him on track with the other pitchers in camp.
According to the team, Greinke is completely healthy.
"He said he's excited and ready to go," Lovullo said.
Earning an Abraham Lincoln
Lovullo's favorite drill of the spring comes late in camp when the team is down to between 25-30 players and is getting ready for its exhibition games at Chase Field.
That's when the manager sets his defense, puts runners on the bases and calls out a situation for the team to execute.
To add to the degree of difficulty, the runners that are used for the drills are the fastest players in Minor League camp.
"So you have to think quick on your feet, you don't know what's going to happen and we have a menu of about 25 things that we want to get through," Lovullo said.
Not only do the Minor League players get a chance to make an impression on the big league staff, they also get a chance to make some extra cash.
"I give $5 to them every time they're safe," Lovullo said. "So this is a really intense drill."
(Synthetic) grass is greener
The D-backs are planning on installing B1K synthetic turf at Chase Field for this season. To help the players get ready this spring, the team's agility field has been redone with the turf, as has the half-diamond used by infielders to take extra ground balls.