Zito, you’re letting us down
Sometimes what should happen doesn’t necessarily always happen,
even when something is entirely logical and makes complete and
perfect sense to everyone involved. Everyone except the people who
have the power to put forth what should actually happen.
It’s the painstaking divide that separates the fan from the
owners. Well, that, and lots and lots of money.
Zito, you’re letting us down
Sometimes what should happen doesn’t necessarily always happen, even when something is entirely logical and makes complete and perfect sense to everyone involved. Everyone except the people who have the power to put forth what should actually happen.
It’s the painstaking divide that separates the fan from the owners. Well, that, and lots and lots of money.
See, the fan sees Barry Zito trot out every fifth game; sees Zito pitch horrendously, allowing multiple hits here, multiple runs there; sees Zito pick up another loss; and sees Zito do it again in five games.
What should happen is something, anything, that allows Zito to regain his past form, allows Zito to live up to, say (let’s start small), $10 million of his $126 million contract.
If I had that answer, though, I’d probably be making $10 million of Zito’s $126 million contract. All I know is that the Giants, which are displaying an almost enviable case of patience, should do something, anything, and they’re not.
This is going to take more than just a sit-down with Righetti.
I’ve heard it’s mechanical, that he needs to change his arm angle. I’ve heard it’s mental, how he pitches beautifully in the bullpen and not so much on the mound. I’ve heard it’s because he’s not surfing. I’ve heard it’s because he’s not playing the guitar as much. I’ve heard it’s because he switched to Geico. I’ve heard it’s because he didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn. I’ve heard it’s because he’s flat-out lost it.
At The Pinnacle’s press time, Zito is 2-11 with a 6.32 ERA. He pitched Wednesday in Cleveland, and either helped strengthen my column (he lost) or put only a minor dent in it (he won).
There’s a lot of anger in the Bay Area right now – almost at an I’m-14-and-I-hate-my-parents level – for the way Zito is pitching. And rightfully so. The man is, so far, earning $7.25 million per win!
But first of all, and let’s just put this point out there, Zito was never worth $126 million. The Giants were duped by an agent – Scott Boras – who’s made a living by duping. One could make the argument that Zito has had two good seasons (2000 and 2001) and one great season (2002), and that’s it! And the Giants were takers.
I can’t fault a man who accepted an exorbitant amount of money. It certainly makes for an easy argument, saying that he’s not “living up to his contract,” but I would have taken the money, and you probably would have, too.
In his last four seasons with Oakland, after he won the Cy Young in 2002, Zito averaged a 3.87 ERA, a far cry from his first three seasons with the Athletics – 2.72, 3.49 and 2.75.
So is Zito on the decline? Yes. Is this a case of Zito being Zito? Pretty much. Should he be this bad? No, certainly not. But blame the Giants for making Zito so rich, and blame the Giants for trotting him out there every fifth game.
Zito is not what he used to be, and will probably never regain that Cy Young form or live up to his massive contract. But if the Giants can get just a little back from their contract mistake, then there could actually be a silver lining to this story.
The answer? It’s certainly not a stint in the minors, and the Giants know this. Not only would a $126 million demotion be a slap in the face, as well as kill any and all remaining confidence that Zito might have, but if he does poorly, well, then there is no coming back.
The Giants need to make a concerted effort by putting Zito in the bullpen. It’s not necessarily a slap in the face, but more like an annoying ear flick.
They need to give Zito a few short outings from the ‘pen, let him regain some confidence, let him work his way into a long relief appearance, and progressively go from there.
The Giants put Zito in the bullpen in April, but he never made an appearance, making the move interesting, perhaps even psychological, but a complete waste of time.
For a team that blew a seven-run lead to the Royals last weekend – the Royals! – is another option in the bullpen the worst idea?
Unfortunately, it’ll probably never happen, although it should.
