kar120c
11-11-2008, 06:05 AM
Just saw this blog about Barry Zito...
http://danny-knobler.blogs.sportslin...90096/11620015
Does anybody want Barry Zito?
While the Giants' main focus this winter is on finding some way to add offense -- no surprise since San Francisco was 29th in the majors in runs scored -- they've also told teams that they'd love to dump Barry Zito.
"They're trying to give him away," said an official of one team that had spoken to the Giants. "I think they would eat as much money as it would take to get rid of him."
You can be sure it would take a lot. Zito has $101.5 million and five years still to go on the $126 million, seven-year deal he signed with the Giants two winters ago. Two years into that deal, Zito has lost his fastball and has also lost 30 games, going 21-30 with a 4.83 ERA for the Giants.
The Giants have decided to build their team around young starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and they've told teams both are untouchable in trade talks. Somehow, though, the Giants will need to find some hitters.
"They're starving for power at the corners," the official said. "They want a third baseman, a right fielder, a first baseman. They just need bats."
My take:
IMHO, Zito is a wild card (no, not wild pitcher - wild card). When he is bad, he is the Terminator of Terrible. He does not just get beat, he gets destroyed (Like Risse said, "He won't stop! He just keeps on coming! That's what he does!").
What make him so tough to watch is that he has days where one can easily see why he had so much success prior to joining the Giants. He has a wicked, knee buckiling curve. And he has good control over it. And he sets up hitters as well as that other guy that wins-with-less-than-awesome-stuff: Greg Maddux.
Zito's problem is two-fold: 1) his fastball velocity has decreased dramatically, and 2) his control has been poor as well. Good hitters will try to go up against his great curve, knowing that they have little to fear from his fastball (compare this to Lincecum and you see my point). Ordinary hitters just fight off his curve, and wait him out for a BB.
The key for Zito is to regain two things: 1) A small amount of velocity on his fastball - 88 to 90 would do it - he was around 85 in 2008. 2) Improved control that would keep him under 40 walks per 200 IP.
If he could do that, and the Giants could get him some runs (last year, a big if), he would win 15 to 18 games.
He would also prove to be the (mentally) toughest Giant. What he has been through the past two years - justified as it is - is something that very few players could deal with.
http://danny-knobler.blogs.sportslin...90096/11620015
Does anybody want Barry Zito?
While the Giants' main focus this winter is on finding some way to add offense -- no surprise since San Francisco was 29th in the majors in runs scored -- they've also told teams that they'd love to dump Barry Zito.
"They're trying to give him away," said an official of one team that had spoken to the Giants. "I think they would eat as much money as it would take to get rid of him."
You can be sure it would take a lot. Zito has $101.5 million and five years still to go on the $126 million, seven-year deal he signed with the Giants two winters ago. Two years into that deal, Zito has lost his fastball and has also lost 30 games, going 21-30 with a 4.83 ERA for the Giants.
The Giants have decided to build their team around young starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and they've told teams both are untouchable in trade talks. Somehow, though, the Giants will need to find some hitters.
"They're starving for power at the corners," the official said. "They want a third baseman, a right fielder, a first baseman. They just need bats."
My take:
IMHO, Zito is a wild card (no, not wild pitcher - wild card). When he is bad, he is the Terminator of Terrible. He does not just get beat, he gets destroyed (Like Risse said, "He won't stop! He just keeps on coming! That's what he does!").
What make him so tough to watch is that he has days where one can easily see why he had so much success prior to joining the Giants. He has a wicked, knee buckiling curve. And he has good control over it. And he sets up hitters as well as that other guy that wins-with-less-than-awesome-stuff: Greg Maddux.
Zito's problem is two-fold: 1) his fastball velocity has decreased dramatically, and 2) his control has been poor as well. Good hitters will try to go up against his great curve, knowing that they have little to fear from his fastball (compare this to Lincecum and you see my point). Ordinary hitters just fight off his curve, and wait him out for a BB.
The key for Zito is to regain two things: 1) A small amount of velocity on his fastball - 88 to 90 would do it - he was around 85 in 2008. 2) Improved control that would keep him under 40 walks per 200 IP.
If he could do that, and the Giants could get him some runs (last year, a big if), he would win 15 to 18 games.
He would also prove to be the (mentally) toughest Giant. What he has been through the past two years - justified as it is - is something that very few players could deal with.