Zitoredux

by Grant on Jan 15, 2007 8:58 AM PST in News Comment 22 comments

In case you didn't see this diary, it linked to Ken Arneson's series on Barry Zito. Parts one, two, and three are all good, with three being especially impressive. It's amazing what a blogger can do when he puts, you know, effort into a post. Not me. I just troll the diaries for ideas; maybe I'll scour eBay for slightly amusing auctions.

Like this one. Would that shirt be an example of irony, ignorance, or abject denial? Blessed? Blessed?

The above series is cautiously optimistic when it comes to Zito, and does well to convey the appreciation that one A's fan had for Zito's style of pitching. It kind of got me licking the optimism toad again. Then I found this article, which made me buy the toad drinks:

Of the 29 pitchers moving to the NL from the AL, their ERA-Plus figures increased to 110 (10 percent above league average) from 97 (just below average).

Oh my. I'm so optimistic right now it hurts, even allowing for the concern that the Giants' best offensive talent might be indicted or is an AMPHETAMINES JUNKIE WHO WILL CRAWL INTO YOUR HOUSE AT NIGHT AND SODOMIZE THE SOUL OF YOUR CHILD. Other than that, I'm enjoying these new Zito articles.

Belated comment starter: Did the change in ERA+ with starters that switched leagues surprise anyone else? I thought there'd be a difference, but nothing that drastic.

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Re: Zitoredux

My name is Armando Benitez. You keeled my fastball. Prepare to di(ssect my next pitch and blow my save).

I own my own business and I'm a giants fan; being a Giants fan is harder.

by hairball on Jan 15, 2007 9:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

God blessed me when he put me he SF rather than NY.

With Barry back, what could go wrong?

by Rusty the Mechanical Man on Jan 15, 2007 10:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

Next step = taking the toad home, putting on some nice relaxing music, waking up in the morning with a splitting headache and scant memories of wild hallucinations, and then nervously waiting out gestation in fear of the toad-man child.

All this in the name of optimism. I salute you.

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Jan 15, 2007 10:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

Are you advising Grant to take the long toad home?

Waiting for Nate, Tim, Billy, & Emmanuel

by Lyle on Jan 15, 2007 11:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

You take the low toad, I'll take the high toad.

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Jan 15, 2007 12:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

There is only one toad that I follow

LicenseToPills: barry bonds says words, they have nothing to do with his thoughts, they are just subjects and predicates in his mental kingdom

by Natto on Jan 15, 2007 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

I don't know, Hypnotoad just hasn't been as good this season.

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Jan 15, 2007 12:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Huh..

I thought that would be an auction for Sr. Montoya's shirt.

The Dodgers are evil.

by irwin on Jan 15, 2007 12:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

The NY Times yesterday had a great article that discussed the switch from the AL to the NL and the impact on pitchers (I think that is where your quote came from). In the article they also predicted that Zito could shave off as much as a half a run from his AL 3.8x ERA. They combined the trend in the swich with the league and the park and predicted a possible 132 ERA+ and 3.30 season ERA.

Not bad.

by ckrehel on Jan 15, 2007 1:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

I'll take it. Shoot, I'd take 3.75 and 105 ERA+.

I own my own business and I'm a giants fan; being a Giants fan is harder.

by hairball on Jan 15, 2007 1:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

I think Zito will beat Schmidt's 3.59 ERA pitched last season,
and easily top his 11 wins.

by Kid Fresh on Jan 15, 2007 4:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

3.50 and 16 wins sounds about right to me.

And a 4 - 0 record in the postseason!

California dreamin', on such a winter's day...

I'm always thinking ahead, like a carpenter that builds stairs. http://sportsnomad.blogspot.com/

by sam urai on Jan 16, 2007 5:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

I agree with the shirt. I refer to Giants baseball as a religious experience, not to mention the number of times I've skipped work to go to the ballpark. Religious holidays, right?

SFDugout: it's where all the cool kids go.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 15, 2007 2:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Blessed?

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

by juanboy on Jan 15, 2007 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blessed?

Is it more of a jihad or a marytr thing then?

SFDugout: it's where all the cool kids go.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 15, 2007 2:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blessed?

I did see a "OSAMA BIN LADEN IS A DODGER FAN" bumper sticker last night in the mission...

by zenbitz on Jan 15, 2007 8:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blessed?

Brian Blessed perhaps.

LicenseToPills: barry bonds says words, they have nothing to do with his thoughts, they are just subjects and predicates in his mental kingdom

by Natto on Jan 15, 2007 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

Connie Demico does toad?

Hitler was a Dodgers fan.

by The Nick on Jan 15, 2007 9:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zitoredux

I want to optimistic about Zito, but it's not just the peripheral stats that make me worry about him. I've also watched him pitch quite a bit the last several years and he just isn't that good. Is there something magical about his 87 mph heater and shaky command that NL hitters can't pick up? Does the curve alone keep him an above average starter? I sure hope so, but I wouldn't be on it.

by mxmob33 on Jan 16, 2007 8:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

On a completely different subject

Dominican Winter League
3B Pedro Feliz -- Feliz has been mostly a singles hitter since joining Gigantes Del Cibao. The slugger is batting .250 (11-for-44) with one home run and seven RBIs in 11 games in the club's 8-3 run. Feliz is tied for the team lead with 10 strikeouts.

I was really hoping that that report might read a little differently!

I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused!

by PLUChris on Jan 16, 2007 12:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: On a completely different subject

.250 with 10 strikeouts in less than 50 ABs in the fucking Dominican Winter League??? I'd call it sample size but for the last zillion years of similar production he's had on the Giants.

The least he can do with those numbers is hit for power... but I guess that's suddenly too good for Pedro Feliz.

Maybe all that rest he didn't get last season is still lingering. Jeeez-us. I sure hope he doesn't so much as touch a bat this year.

(for all those on the PF defense, I never wrote this comment with the intent of giving him the slightest benefit of the doubt, so please take it appropriately)

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Jan 16, 2007 6:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs