Barry Zito and "the end"

Grantland piece on the man behind everyone's favorite $126 million contract.

10 months ago Kitspool 7 comments 0 recs |

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The computer mainframe in the basement of Scott Boras’ battleship offices foretold none of this. It didn’t see the injuries, it didn’t see the waning confidence, it didn’t see the fastball that has become a fastball in name only. It didn’t see anything like this end. The computer saw only magic in Barry Zito’s future, because the computer can do only math.

???? The computers saw a pitcher with middling peripherals that were trending the wrong way. They also saw a home park and defense that were amazing to pitch in and in front of. Or are they confusing the image Boras was trying to sell with the image of truth?

Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, future CF for the World Champion San Francisco Giants.
"And besides, if I wanted to participate in a mindless patriotic ritual where my voice isn’t really heard, I would vote." - Chris Marcil

by marcello on Aug 4, 2011 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

That last phrase is rhetorically flawed and it’s a small shame — the author wants to create a math/spirit dichotomy in the article and so lays it out ham fisted to end the opening paragraph, which is a shame because by and large I though this was a beautifully written piece that really could have sustained a longer form. It only lags when that dichotomy conceit is pushed too forcefully.

The “problem” with the computer of course, is laid out in the next paragraph:

When Boras prepares to make the case for one of his clients to earn many millions of dollars for playing baseball, he asks his staff to mine that database for corroborating evidence.

It’s not that it “can only do math.” The computer’s problem is that it gave them what they asked it for.

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Aug 4, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

The injuries?

Just going from this quote out of context, but if that is referring to Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants/Fresno Grizzlies, he’s had ONE freak injury over his entire contract.

Relief! I Thank you for your Lefferts.

by Cody_ransom on Aug 5, 2011 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

So Barry would have been good if Boras never told him how good he could/should/will be? Color me skeptical.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Aug 4, 2011 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

I like the bit where they rave about his record when he received a lot of run support. Nothing fortells the greatness of a starter quite like how often they win when the offense plays well.

by snafu on Aug 4, 2011 10:21 PM PDT reply actions