For a couple of days, I’ve been wondering if Barry Zito should get a postseason start. Have we been too hard on him because of the contract, the history of Giants-related failure, and overall ineptitude?
Under normal circumstances, this would be an easy question to answer. The guy wasn’t one of the four best starting pitchers for the Giants this year. This isn’t rocket science.
Cold, hard analysis will only take you so far, though. Forget that Zito is just as likely to walk a guy as is Jonathan Sanchez, but without the same strikeout stuff. Just start thinking about the experience. Zito has been there before. He’s pitched well in the postseason for the most part. It’s something to at least consider.
Knowing what we know now, though, it’d be hard to put Zito in the postseason rotation. He really was miserable against the Padres when the Giants needed something more for their money.
Now, there’s a chance I’m not making enough about the experience angle. The A’s of yore were perenial contenders, and Zito was a big part of that. It wasn’t his fault that Jeremy Giambi didn’t slide.
Only after careful consideration, though, I have to submit my opinion that Barry Zito should not be one of the starting pitchers used by the Giants in the playoffs. It’s a tough call, but it’s how things have to be.