Bear
05-06-2008, 05:03 PM
05/06/2008
By Chris Haft
MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Without making a single appearance out of the bullpen, Barry Zito has rejoined the Giants' starting rotation and will face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The Giants demoted Zito, who's 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, to the bullpen one day after he allowed eight runs in three innings against Cincinnati on April 27. But after throwing 66 pitches in that game, he wasn't physically able to pitch in relief until this past weekend in Philadelphia, where the opportunity to use the left-hander never presented itself in three one-run decisions.
In announcing the move Tuesday, manager Bruce Bochy indicated that sending Zito to the bullpen was designed to give the club's reputed No. 1 starter a mental break as much as anything else.
"We wanted to back him off a bit," Bochy said.
Zito's biggest problem has been his pitch location, an issue that all parties believed he adequately addressed while throwing two bullpen sessions since his last start.
"It has to do with being aggressive in the strike zone," Zito said.
The switch caused the Giants to juggle the rest of their rotation somewhat. Matt Cain remains scheduled to pitch Thursday, although Pat Misch, originally set to pitch Wednesday, will instead start Friday at home against Philadelphia. Tim Lincecum, initially Friday's starter, will pitch Saturday.
The Giants were expected to return Zito to the rotation by Saturday, the first day they'd need a fifth starter since his move to the bullpen.
Is this a plan? I don't think so. It seems to me that if you are sent to the pen to work out you problems than you should pitch out of the pen at least once. But that is just me.:shakehead:
By Chris Haft
MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Without making a single appearance out of the bullpen, Barry Zito has rejoined the Giants' starting rotation and will face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The Giants demoted Zito, who's 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, to the bullpen one day after he allowed eight runs in three innings against Cincinnati on April 27. But after throwing 66 pitches in that game, he wasn't physically able to pitch in relief until this past weekend in Philadelphia, where the opportunity to use the left-hander never presented itself in three one-run decisions.
In announcing the move Tuesday, manager Bruce Bochy indicated that sending Zito to the bullpen was designed to give the club's reputed No. 1 starter a mental break as much as anything else.
"We wanted to back him off a bit," Bochy said.
Zito's biggest problem has been his pitch location, an issue that all parties believed he adequately addressed while throwing two bullpen sessions since his last start.
"It has to do with being aggressive in the strike zone," Zito said.
The switch caused the Giants to juggle the rest of their rotation somewhat. Matt Cain remains scheduled to pitch Thursday, although Pat Misch, originally set to pitch Wednesday, will instead start Friday at home against Philadelphia. Tim Lincecum, initially Friday's starter, will pitch Saturday.
The Giants were expected to return Zito to the rotation by Saturday, the first day they'd need a fifth starter since his move to the bullpen.
Is this a plan? I don't think so. It seems to me that if you are sent to the pen to work out you problems than you should pitch out of the pen at least once. But that is just me.:shakehead: