Send Zito to Fresno! A Facebook Group

by orquiza on Apr 27, 2008 5:49 PM PDT

It's a petition Giants Faithful. Check it out:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12712397643

Let management know that we all know Barry needs to get his head straight by leaving the boos of AT&T Park.

Let management know that we may hate Barry, but we don't wish him bodily harm.

Let management know that we think Barry might have something to learn from the wiley likes of Jesse Foppert and Randy Messenger.

Send Zito to Fresno!

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Comments

Can Zito even be sent to Fresno?

Proud adoptive parent of Tim Alderson.

by Anticon23 on Apr 27, 2008 6:02 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Only on a rehab assignment or after being DFA'd and unclaimed

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Apr 27, 2008 6:03 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Isn't it all but certain he'd go unclaimed?

They’d have to eat the contract, no?

Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz

by lyricalkiller on Apr 27, 2008 7:40 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yes they would...

but it is a moot point because Zito would almost surely not consent to go back to the minors, and his consent is required.

by marklar on Apr 28, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Why would he "ALMOST surely not consent"?

(I like how you left yourself an out , lol)
Maybe his head isn’t so messed up that he can’t understand and agree to trying to better himself and us.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 28, 2008 11:54 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

and he must accept the assignment.. he could just go to another team for minimum wage after clearing waivers

by Azmanz on Apr 27, 2008 8:08 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Right, I forgot to write this third part of the trifecta

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Apr 28, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Zito almost certainly has options left

so, he doesn’t need to be outrighted and pass through waivers. But, he can still reject the optional assignment.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 28, 2008 4:43 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Actually, the waivers would be revocable waivers

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 28, 2008 4:44 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

There are no options left on Zito

In fact he was out of options 5 years ago. Any player is out of options when they have been on the 40 man roster for any part of 3 seasons. And since he has been on a 40 man roster for at least 5 years it would take his consent to be sent to the minors.

by marklar on Apr 28, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

We Don't Want Him

Who says Fresno wants him? You take Pat Misch and now we get Zito? Give us Lincecum or Cain ;)

Father of Adopted son Clay Timpner

by Andy In Fresno on Apr 27, 2008 6:05 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

I doubt that the Giants management checks out Facebook groups for roster suggestions. As mentioned above, Zito can’t be sent to Fresno anyway.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 27, 2008 6:24 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Really could it be much worse a source

than whatever oracle they are consulting?

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Apr 27, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Reply hazy, try again

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Apr 28, 2008 7:36 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Lee Hammer says no.

by tyrannoman on Apr 28, 2008 7:57 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm already doing my part on facebook.

Current status: Doug is trying to think of enough synonyms for “disaster” to adequately describe Barry Zito.

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on Apr 27, 2008 6:29 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Mine is: Nat is not a Barry Zito fan.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 27, 2008 6:34 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm just guessing

Brian Sabean is watching Mrs Doubtfire lol!

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 27, 2008 6:41 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Winner

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on Apr 27, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

put him on the dl and send him to norwich

maybe he needs a bit of humble pie….couple of days riding the bus in aa should do it…and all the parks in the eastern (except reading’s new one) are pitchers parks…may boost his ego a bit….unless the kids hit him, and then maybe he will just hang em up and spend the rest of his days banging starlets

by bacci40 on Apr 27, 2008 6:39 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

worse ways to spend the golden years of your thirties, eh?

by tyrannoman on Apr 28, 2008 7:23 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

supposedly Bochy called Zito into the office after the game and said he might skip his start or have him pitch out of the bullpen for awhile. I give the Giants credit for this if they follow through. I didn’t think they had the guts to admit what a mistake this contract was this quickly.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Apr 27, 2008 7:28 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

skip or pen?

a 84 mph 4seamer is going to do nothing out of the pen… nothing good anyway. if you put him in the pen you run the risk of blowing games at the end instead of the beginning. while you can pull him rather quickly, the damage is still done… and pulling him quick may hurt zito’s psyche even more.

i guess i would like to see a skipped start and maybe placing him down in the rotation so he can face competition that is more on his level. and if that doesn’t work.. someone help us all.

by esqdg on Apr 28, 2008 12:59 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I agree, but my idea of “putting him in the pen” means don’t use him unless the game is a blowout. I’m assuming Bochy means that as well.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Apr 28, 2008 5:22 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

makes sense. the only time he should see some action is in a mop up or blow out situation…

by esqdg on Apr 28, 2008 9:20 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

That's all well and good for venting our hatred at Zito

But really, with both Lowry and Correia down does anybody see an alternative pitcher in our system who’s going to be able to throw 6 innings every 5 days at league average? Palmer? Pereira? Personally I have my doubts that Misch can make an average 4th starter without having to dip down to Fresno for a 5th.

Fans of Adam Cowart rejoice, because the sequence of events that could end with him starting a game in SF this year may already have begun.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Apr 28, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I nominate Merkin Valdez. He can begin by throwing 40 – 50 pitches an outing and buildup from there. The marquee reads: Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and Valdez in town to sweep you away.

by wilriv21 on Apr 28, 2008 3:34 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

There is a alleged FB SFG org group, so you could try there. It has the feel of “just get a little higher on the stern” to avoid that sinking feeling. Or maybe it’s the bilge.
Enough nautical terms…
I don’t know how they could rehab him to Fresno w/o bending some rules- but they should explore that option. DFA? That’s not an option for too many reasons.
I see Zito as I did with Shawn Estes, a really intelligent guy who over thinks things & is a borderline head case when things go astray on the hill.
Only Estes was on the cheap compared to this. I’m still down with the 6 man rotation concept even with Kevin Correia on the DL, moving Zito to the end of the rotation against some easier competition giving that a try & seeing if it along with a big dose of zoloft will
bring him around.

by GiantDPression on Apr 27, 2008 7:31 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

But I do wish him bodily harm...

I have this fantasy of him being chained to the brick wall in right field with a batting cage pitch machine firing 82 mph fastballs at his nuts…

by boonitez on Apr 27, 2008 7:58 PM PDT reply reply 1 recs

I like the way you roll. Although we could be creative here. Sell tickets to the event, and raffle off chances to throw your best fastball right at Zito’s not-so-fastballs. All proceeds go to the Giants Community Fund. Do it for the kids!

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 27, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Creative suggestion

At these fastball speeds, the Giants could recoup some of his salary by selling batting time to fans. “Come take BP against former Cy Young winner Barry Zito – only $50 for 20 pitches.”

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Apr 28, 2008 7:39 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I can afford to pay him...

thirty bucks a game as a ringer for my wiffleball league…

Formerly known as K56 and SPWC, in case anyone cares...

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don’t think pitching machines can be dialed down to throw 82 MPH fastballs. The only “fastballs” that slow are Zito’s, so he’d have to throw at his own nuts.

2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!

by Goofus on Apr 27, 2008 10:09 PM PDT up reply reply 1 recs

+1

i honestly would pay to see that.

by ExcuseMeSwing on Apr 27, 2008 10:10 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

sounds like something from Jackass

by boonitez on Apr 27, 2008 10:14 PM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I have had that same dream…only Bob Sagget is saying “sweet sassy molassie” in a Ray Ramano voice.

by GiantDPression on Apr 27, 2008 8:00 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Don’t get me wrong, I just think he needs to be out of the Bay Area for a while. He had the reputation for being incredibly sensitive in Oakland and I just think we need to be cautious with him while he works this out.

Good news is his next scheduled start is against the #5 guy for the Phillies on Saturday. Bad news is, he’s currently the #5 guy on the Giants.

by orquiza on Apr 27, 2008 8:01 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

He pisses me off as much as the next guy , but...

...he doesn’t deserve the shit we wish on him.

I’m sure Barry wants to succeed , but he ’s lost the ability to do so. That’s not a result of a conscious act. For whatever reason mechanical or tactile the guy just can’t pitch his way out of a wet paper bag anymore.

Is there some union contract stipulation that sez they have to trot him out there every fifth day? If not – and Mgmt. is serious about saving face – put him somewhere where he’ll do less damage , work with him on his mechanics , whatever.

If they keep trotting him out there our ire should be directed at them , not him. Zito’s just trying to do the best he can – unfortunately for all concerned (except the opposition) his best just isn’t very good.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 27, 2008 10:05 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs

Of course Zito deserves our ire. He keeps cashing those fat paychecks of his, doesn’t he? I imagine he could retire at any time and dissolve the contractual relationship in the process.

Of course, would anyone ever give up $126 million? Probably not, but if Zito’s honest with himself, he should know that playing out his contract only screws over his teammates and the entire Giants fanbase. And right now, it looks like he chooses the money. So he has no reason to complain about Giants fans fervently wishing that he gets eaten by a shark.

Personally, I hope the Giants trot him out every game so he ends up with a 3-24 record and a 6.40 ERA. Heck, I wish Bochy would keep him in a game for all 9 innings so he ends up giving up 15 earned runs or something. Maybe he’ll have such a horrible experience that he breaks and asks for a contract buy-out!

Milk was a bad choice.

by War on Apr 28, 2008 12:21 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

I gotta differ.

If there’s a hope in Hell that we can make this season interesting then let’s find a way of avoiding those 24 losses.

Ok , 18 losses.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 28, 2008 5:40 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

good lord, can you imagine the pitch count B-Zit would run up in 9 innings? Ugh. That would be a 7 hour game.

I don’t think many here at MCC were in favor of this contract, but can any of us really imagine it would go this south this fast? The guy isn’t quite 30! Do fall off a cliff in this dramatic fashion is amazing.

by tyrannoman on Apr 28, 2008 7:27 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Agreed

I didn’t expect this much dropoff until next season.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Apr 28, 2008 7:40 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Do you really think the problem is his mechanics?

Remember this is the same player who said last year after his slow start that he was focusing too much on living up to his contract. That tells me that the thing is all mental and isn’t something that can be fixed by working out a kink in his delivery. He’s going to have to hit rock bottom, and until he’s willing to do that, he’ll never be able to turn it back around.

Adoptive papa to Omar...so basically I'm screwed.

by PacBellBoozer on Apr 28, 2008 12:33 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

Have you considered

that the supposed “mental” problems can cause a deterioration in his mechanics?

Would you say that “mental” problems would cause his fastball velocity to drop this much?

How will hitting rock bottom, and the willingness to hit rock bottom enable him to turn it around? Rock bottom would be him ending up being out of MLB.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 28, 2008 4:49 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

You're onto something here

Wasn’t it Yogi Berra who said that 90% of pitching is 50% mental? Zito’s head is all out of whack. There’s simply no other logical explanation for such a dramatic dropoff between the end of last season (when he was merely average but certainly a functioning ML pitcher) and now, unless there’s some terrible injury he’s hiding, which doesn’t seem to be the case.

I’m not saying getting his head problems solved will turn him into Brandon Webb - it won’t - but with so much invested in the guy it behooves the Giants to explore all medical options, even one of those crack sports psychologists. Otherwise, we’re in Rick Ankiel territory, and I doubt we can convert Zito into a productive outfielder.

Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.

by Kitspool on Apr 28, 2008 8:41 AM PDT up reply reply 0 recs

juice the Zito!

knowingly or otherwise (wink wink nudge nudge)
worst case scenario is that he’s as bad as he is now, but will garner a suspension from the league for testing positive.
best case scenario…well, i honestly don’t think there is one, but the worst case scenario sounds intriguing!

by ExcuseMeSwing on Apr 27, 2008 10:15 PM PDT reply reply 0 recs