Zito's Resurgance
by Speedforthewin on May 30, 2008 8:41 AM PDT
33 comments
Ok, hear me out, but Zito has actually been markedly better since his "time off." On just thinking about his starts without any numbers, I thought he had done marginally better, but the numbers tell a bit of another tale:
5 G, 5GS, (1-2) W-L, 28.1 IP, 3.49 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, .284 BAA, 21 K's, 16 BB's
Now the WHIP is still alarmingly high, but Zito has drastically improved all of his stats from April to May. I think the Real Zito may be somewhere in the middle, closer to a 4.2-4.3 range ERA.
Comment Starter: Was Zito's month a fluke, or is he becoming a serviceable starter for the Giants?
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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I have a hard time believing he'll continue to succeed without a high 80's fastball.
I think there will be stretches when he can spot the curveball, and that’s when he’ll do well. Without the curveball, people can sit on the “fastball”.
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on May 30, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
As I read in the Merc today.
Zito’s fastball seems to have developed a bit of sink to it. If he can throw that pitch more, than he should be fine at 83-86mph, provided he can locate.
Jesse English: He is BAAAAAACCCCCKKKK!
by gianator on May 30, 2008 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brandon Webb 2.0 ??
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on May 30, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If this is true...
Than Zito may have two big weapons to keep runners from scoring, his resurgent strikeouts and the groundball. If both his curve and fastball are working on the same night, he is probably a better than league average pitcher. One of the questions i have though, is how the new and improved zito will hold up to facing teams a second and third time as the season progresses. That will probably indicate how good or bad Zito is going to be for the next 2-3 years.
Todd Jennings: Next up on the Non-prospect Backup Catcher Train. Next Stop: The Pine at AT&T Park
by Speedforthewin on May 30, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grounded
Barry Zito is getting more outs lately via the ground ball, but he still has gotten more air outs than ground outs in May. Believe it or not, Barry’s best game for ground outs was his season opener, when he retired 10 on ground balls and only four on air outs.
by sharksrog on May 31, 2008 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
sink on it
Zito’s fastball seems to have developed a bit of sink to it
Wasn’t the story already told that he was going to try to add a two-seamer?
by achiappanza on May 31, 2008 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You look at his game stats for his last five starts and the only numbers that jump out as being significantly different than his starts earlier in the season are ERA (cut in half from April to May) and strikeouts (21 in May vs. 10 in April). Guys are getting on base against him at around the same clip, they’re just not scoring as much. I wonder if this has anything to do with the defense behind him having improved this month.
Anyway, he’s becoming a “serviceable” starter again, which would be acceptable if he wasn’t getting paid [AMOUNT OF CONTRACT REDACTED].
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on May 30, 2008 9:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
My question is, Why the hell can’t this guy pitch in April? The same thing happens every year, so you’d think he’d figure out he needs to start his spring training early.
by Evan on May 30, 2008 9:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Or just start the season in May.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on May 30, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously, if he has a crappy spring training next season, he and the team should agree that a phantom injury, then starting the season in Fresno on a rehab assignment would be best for everyone.
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on May 30, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven't actually watched any of his "successful" starts on Tv
So I couldn’t make any comments about his pitch location. I would guess however that it is much improved as his strikeout numbers have gone way up.
The strikeout increase may be the reason for the drop in ERA as he is able to get batters out w/ runners on w/o the ball being put in play.
He is by no means great, but right now I think he is better than Misch. Given how bad it looked in April, I’ll take it.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on May 30, 2008 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Really? I think it’s because you haven’t been watching.
by chilibean_3 on May 30, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know that it’s a resurgance, but it is nice to see an improvement after nothing but crap.
Though, was this last stretch the true nadir of Zito’s time as a Giant? I hate that we have six and a half more years to experiment with that.
...all right, so it was just an excuse to use the word “nadir.” I think it’s a fun word.
"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 May 30, 2008 10:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was five and half more years.
Please explain the details of that last option year, then I will throw up on my keyboard.
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on May 30, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since I’m married to the worst case scenario in every situation I just count the option year as the inevitable.
As for the details of the option year, here’s what an ESPN.com article sez: A source familiar with Zito’s contract told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that the agreement includes an $18 million option for 2014 with a $7 million buyout that could increase the value to $137 million. The option would become guaranteed if Zito pitches 200 innings in 2013, 400 combined over 2012 and 2013 or 600 combined from 2011-13. Zito also has a full no-trade clause.
Also I did not now this of the contract, from the same article: As part of his agreement with the Giants, Zito will fund the construction of youth fields in the San Francisco area through his foundation. So that lessens my ire, a bit. I hate him as a ballplayer, but as a person he does a lot of good things for people who need it.
"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 May 30, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he should start the ‘Walks for Troops’ if he really wants to help out.
by xanthan on May 30, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Barry Zito is improving
He is keeping his team in better shape to win games.
by wilriv21 on May 30, 2008 10:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He's better than Misch!
That’ll have to be the battle cry going forward.
Anyone heard if the Correra will come off the DL this weekend?
by tyrannoman on May 30, 2008 10:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Pitches for San Jose tonight and believe another start for Fresno next week
by wilriv21 on May 30, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I find
That if you just tell yourself he’s making the league minimum, his starts are perfectly tolerable.
That said, yes, I think he’s “Found himself” again. Now if he goes surfing, has a shark take a 1 inch nip on his arm, causing no permanent damage but an end to his pitching, I wouldn’t exactly complain….
Tentatively adopting Dan Ortmeier. And Boom Goes the Dynamite.
by Andy from DC on May 30, 2008 10:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m currently imagining a wacky scheme involving a foam rubber shark costume, a steak knife, and and surfboard…
"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 May 30, 2008 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well It’s not going to work now. Thaaaanks Baron.
Tentatively adopting Dan Ortmeier. And Boom Goes the Dynamite.
by Andy from DC on May 30, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s cover for the real shark.
"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 May 30, 2008 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also
...telling yourself that Zito, Cain, Lincecum and Sanchez are making around $16M combined makes you feel better too.
Delaying the disappointment: I adopt Hector Sanchez because he's only 17.
by tedfordfan on May 30, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As I’ve said before, $126 million may sound like a lot, but you really can’t put a price tag on knowing you’ve got a #5 started locked down for the next six years.
2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!
by Goofus on May 30, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Late bloomer
Zito will improve as the season progresses, thereby giving us hope. Then, as always, he’ll stumble out of the gate next season, and piss us off anew. Nothing drives me battier than a second-half player. Go to winter league or something, meat, so you don’t get rusty.
No, really, I have updated my blog this year: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
by Skaldheim on May 30, 2008 11:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Stumbled?
As posted earlier, Barry didn’t stumble out of the gate last season, posting a March/April ERA of an acceptable 3.73. But the horse Barry Zito, who likely has now been gelded since he doesn’t seem to have much of a future as a stud, stumbled entering the first turn.
by sharksrog on May 31, 2008 12:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zito has indeed improved month by month
and by September, 2011, he could be major league quality.
by Moggeee on May 30, 2008 11:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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