Dodgers defend Greinke over Aust blast

Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers won't be sanctioning pitcher Zack Greinke for inflammatory comments he made about there being "absolutely zero excitement" for coming to Australia to open the season.

The president of the Dodgers has tried to distance his organisation from the blast but neither LA or the MLB are willing to condemn Greinke for having an opinion - and he won't be slapped on the wrist for jeopardising the game's attempts to spread baseball to a new market.

However, the club and organisers are adamant the right-armer is in the minority in regards to having cold feet about the trip.

Dodgers boss Stan Kasten defended Greinke's outburst as being part of his "contrarian" personality and believes his concerns were related to how opening the series in Sydney on March 22-23 against Arizona might affect his training program.

"Zack has this endearing, contrarian quality to him that we all know and love about him," Kasten said.

"He's famously focused and meticulous about his training regimen. It's what makes him so good and such a great teammate. This is clearly going to alter his routine. I understand that aspect of it.

"But my problem right now is trying to make room for all the people that want to go - players, family, front-office people. As an organisation, we couldn't be more excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Given the amount of money being poured into opening the season at the SCG, organisers in Australia were far from thrilled with Greinke's comments and fired off a 'please explain' to the MLB and the players' association.

However, on Monday morning they were assured by officials in America that there is still enthusiasm among the players to spread the gospel of baseball in Sydney and that Greinke doesn't reflect the overall sentiment of the Dodgers organisation.

Greinke is still expected to make the trip and start on the mound for the Dodgers in one of the two matches.