Whoa.

"We'll put Barry in the bullpen right now," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy after meeting with Zito. "We're going to back him off. He won't be making his next start. He'll be helping us in the bullpen."

Bochy would not give a timetable for Zito returning to the rotation.
...
"Rags will be working with him," Bochy said. "That would include the mental side, too." But Bochy said Zito will be unavailable for relief duty during the three-game series with the Rockies.

"Barry is all for doing whatever he can to help the club," Bochy said. "This is the best for Barry and the ball club right now."

SF Chronicle

What?!! You're kidding me? Would Jamie Moyer be better suited for starting or relieving? Because that's what Zicasso! is at this point, a slightly supercharged Jamie Moyer.

Uh, Moyer has pinpoint control. Even at his best, Zito never had superlative control. And it's worsened since then.

How the mighty have fallen.... and fallen... and fallen..

Uh, Moyer has pinpoint control. Even at his best, Zito never had superlative control. And it's worsened since then.

And Moyer doesn't have anything like Zito's curve.

Oh, c'mon, at least make him the closer or something.

I know folks have surmised physical problems, but can anyone speak to whether baseball really matters to Barry? When he was in Oakland he was certainly portrayed as a free spirit who wasn't "consumed" with the game. Now that's fine (going to sound like Crash Davis here) when you win 20 in the show. Makes you colorful.

But maybe Barry just ain't that interested. Not saying he's a bad guy. Just that at the end of the day maybe he's not all that "boo hoo" about what happens on the field.

This likely reads worse than my intent.

But Zito doesn't have anything like Zito's curve, which is a big part of his devastating suckitude.

The Giants still owe Zito over $100m, which is incredible. In fairness to Sabean, signing Zito was obviously down to ownership, but it's probably the worst contract of all time in real terms.

Isn't it better to have Zito just blow one out of every five games than two or three out of every five games?

Also, they are missing a big opportunity here to market Leela Zito as the worst blurnsball baseball player of all-time. Sell half-price tickets to his starts and have fun with it!

Also, they are missing a big opportunity here to market Zito as the worst blurnsball baseball player of all-time. Sell half-price tickets to his starts and have fun with it!

Here is where I will again bring up my idea of having him start 65 games a season. And then if Cain keeps having problems, Zito can be given an even bigger role, and start every game that Lincecum and Sanchez don't start!

This is interesting................http://www.vfaccess.com/0805/sweep1.cfm

This is interesting................

How does one "inspire" a private yoga session for two? Also, does one of the two include Barry Zito?

Just don't want him to get 20 losses.

You can't fault Zito for being greedy. Everyone knew it was a horrid contract to a mediocre pitcher (now at best) when Sabean handed it out. Who knows if he's trying or not? You gotta think that no matter who you are, if you are making 100 million at something, you don't want to suck and be an embarassment. Either way, maybe they should let him pitch out of it since no one good is replacing him anyway. Also, it is early in the season. he could still finish with mediocre-ish numbers, maybe.

I wonder if it'd be worth it to eat salary and trade him for a prospect. How much would they have to eat? 60-70 million, Arod territory?

You can't fault Zito for being greedy.

When the man backs a dump truck full of money up to your house, you don't tell him that it's more than you're worth.

Dock:

I asked the same thing a week or so ago when my wife brought it to my attention. She just shrugged.

Yeah, but Zito represents whats wrong with this culture. With everyone ripping eachother off and what not.

Yeah, but Zito represents whats wrong with this culture. With everyone ripping eachother off and what not.

There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of The Man's foolishness.

Just don't want him to get 20 losses.

I hadn't thought of it, but this could actually be correct. If you're Brian Sabean right now, you're obsessed with how to avoid being fired over the worst contract in baseball history. (Yes, this is worse than Dreifort, Pavano or Hampton.)

Zito's power fastball/slider arsenal is perfect for the pen.

hey, the Yankees could use a LOOGY.

how about Zito and 80 of his remaining $100 million for Shelly Duncan and a picture of Homer sleeping on the couch?

Man, I didn't realize how bad he'd gotten. And it's worse than his quickie stat line looks--not only is his ERA 7.53, but 20 percent of the runs he's allowed were unearned. So his RA is over 9, in a pitcher's park (in front of a team lucky to score a third of that). Good god.

Put it this way--I thought the 7-year Zito contract was a lousy risk at the time it was signed, but I did not, in my wildest dreams, figure he'd pitch his way out of the rotation (of a bad team) before the end of April of year two of that deal.

Actually, none of my wildest dreams feature Barry Zito in any way, shape or form, but you get my drift.

Actually, none of my wildest dreams feature Barry Zito in any way, shape or form, but you get my drift.

His uncle, on the other hand, you had a season-long dream about him.

And put it another way--the Zito saga makes me feel a whole lot less angsty (relatively, at least) about Ted Lilly's early season struggles this year (though I've been helped along by Lilly's last two [solid] starts). Lilly's signed for a little over half as much per year ($10MM) and for a little over half as long (4 years).

With each passing day, the probability that Brian Sabean possesses compromising photographs of Peter Magowan increases a little bit more.

His uncle, on the other hand, you had a season-long dream about him.

Well, yeah, but everyone has that dream, so I didn't think it was even worth mentioning. Hell, the "Barry Zito's uncle" dream is as cliched as the one where you end up in the hallways at school in your underwear.

Hell, the "Barry Zito's uncle" dream is as cliched as the one where you end up in the hallways at school in your underwear.

I was sure that was a dream, but a couple people took pictures...

Well, yeah, but everyone has that dream, so I didn't think it was even worth mentioning. Hell, the "Barry Zito's uncle" dream is as cliched as the one where you end up in the hallways at school in your underwear.

Not everybody. Just you and Victoria Principal.

Not everybody. Just you and Victoria Principal.

That was her? Dude--she looked like the elementary school janitor!

I was sure that was a dream, but a couple people took pictures...

Yeah, me too, but fortunately it was pre-YouTube...

Blurnsball...dreams sponsored by underwear companies...

What's with the year 3000 vibe in here?

What's with the year 3000 vibe in here?

We're planning the Zito contract expiration date celebration to coincide.

You rang?

Actually, none of my wildest dreams feature Barry Zito in any way, shape or form, but you get my drift.

Mine either. Zito appears only in my tame dreams. Zito, a feather, and a smile.

My wild dreams, OTOH . . . well, you guys probably don't want to hear about my wild dreams.

My wild dreams, OTOH . . . well, you guys probably don't want to hear about my wild dreams.

Water of the faeces?

"Who are those horrible orange creatures over there?"

"Why, those are the Giants! They work here in the Sadness factory."

"Tell them I hate them."

Good news everybody!

I've traded you all to San Francisco

You can't fault Zito for being greedy.

Krusty Zito: Ohh, they drove a dump truck full of money up to my house. I'm not made of stone!

(Zito and Sabean walk through the rain and knock on the Dodgers' door)

Coletti: Who's there?
Sabean: Oh, just a broken-down hobo who's hit rock bottom. And his commanding officer.
Coletti: Why, you're that disgraced general manager! Having you on staff will distract people from our horrendous free-agent signing record! Come in!

Oh, just a broken-down hobo who's hit rock bottom.

Are you sure that's Sabean at the door, and not Zito?

Before yesterday's start:

Zito: But I can't pitch anymore!
Giants fans: Yes, you can! The beauty was in your heart, not your arm.
Zito: [Pitches badly]
Giants fans: [Crowd boos] Your pitching's bad and you should feel bad.

What's next, the mLs?

43: read 42 again!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm too busy reading papers to read the posts carefully, Crispix. You try grading and being witty around here at the same time and see how YOU do, pal. ;-)

(Of course, if I reverse that, I'd have to tell my students they can't expect me to read their papers carefully while I'm busy on a baseball web site, so don't complain if I miss their elegant analysis. Oh, well. It's all a crapshoot anyway, right?)

Just for the record, I'm kidding. That's if my Dean sees that, somehow.

I had forgotten that one!

One of Zoidberg's finest lines saved for last

I use a version of that all the time at the ballpark: "You play bad and you should feel bad."

If only that had been in the first season, I spent that whole summer shouting unclever heckles at Tony Batista...could have used that one, especially if delivered in a Lobster-Jew accent

ouch.

I'm still hoping he gets dropped and returns to be the most durable #5 starter in Oakland A's history. Beane would throw Conor Robertson Dan Meyer your way for 93 million Sabean!

But maybe Barry just ain't that interested. Not saying he's a bad guy. Just that at the end of the day maybe he's not all that "boo hoo" about what happens on the field.

Zito spent the spring working on his mechanics because he knew something wasn't right. I don't think it's fair to say he isn't interested.

Zito did that last year too.

I think the most obvious explanation is Zito is hurt. The question is, since when? Zito used to throw 88-91 mph on the fastball and had the universally acclaimed best curveball in the majors. He now can't really throw a good curveball and his velocity has dropped down six mph. He's got to be hurt, he just has to be.

I'd like to be, oh, Huston Street's agent at the next negotiation:

"C'mon, Zito makes $18 M and he doesn't even close."

So, will Zito's release happen soon enough to set the record for most money left to be paid to a released player?

As it relates to mechanics, I think Nyman's article on Zito (the 3rd installment which I hope comes out soon) will be an excellent interpretation of how he has changed. I got a sneak peek and it is along the lines of what I was thinking was wrong when I almost wrote about it early last year. Of course, I think Nyman will do a MUCH better job explaining it than I would've done.

Too bad Turanga Zito isn't a one-eyed lady skullbuster. At least then he might bring out the freakshow crowd.

Harvey,

I think Zito's problem is that he cares too much. He admits that he performs best in non-pressure or low pressure situations but in the clucth he overthinks and tries too hard to push the ball. Seems the stress of the contract & all the focus on his performance is setting his head off.

The Giants still owe Zito over $100m, which is incredible. In fairness to Sabean, signing Zito was obviously down to ownership, but it's probably the worst contract of all time in real terms.

Well, not unless the Mike Hampton contract got voided... though I guess with something like half a dozen teams on the hook for various portions of that monstrosity, perhaps it doesn't have the same effect.

Severely reduced pay for everybody!

As it relates to mechanics, I think Nyman's article on Zito (the 3rd installment which I hope comes out soon) will be an excellent interpretation of how he has changed. I got a sneak peek and it is along the lines of what I was thinking was wrong when I almost wrote about it early last year. Of course, I think Nyman will do a MUCH better job explaining it than I would've done.

Wasn't the crux of his analysis that Zito's mechanics have always been terrible?

Would now be a good time for a prolonged DL/minors stint to totally rebuild His mechanics from scratch? What do they have to lose?

I think we all know how Zito's next contract discussion's gonna play out:

Zito's Agent: "You put a one and three zeroes in front of that, or we pass."

Zito: "That's great. How much did you get me? "

Zito's agent: "One thousand dollars."

In fairness to Sabean and the Giants -- when this contract was signed -- Dave Littlefield's sucky-veteran-with-bloated-contract salvage yard was still open for business.

No one could have foreseen that it would close so quickly.

Wait... one could have foreseen that happening?

Well never mind then.

Well, not unless the Mike Hampton contract got voided... though I guess with something like half a dozen teams on the hook for various portions of that monstrosity, perhaps it doesn't have the same effect.

What would the Hampton deal look like in 2007 dollars? Granted, we're only talking five years here, but even a little bit of contract inflation could make the Zito deal look a little better.

Taken in the context of how it looked at the time, though, I think the Zito contract is much worse.

- Zito had ERA+ of 101, 116, and 113 the three years before he signed. Hampton had ERA+ of 122, 154, and 142.

- Both pitchers were lefties with similar K rates the past three years, and Hampton had only a slight disadvantage in walk rate.

- Both pitchers had made 30+ starts the past 3 years.

- Hampton was a year younger.

- Dan O'Dowd had a much tougher ballpark to sell pitchers on than Brian Sabean did.

Call it the fanboy in me if you will, but Hampton was a better bet -- not that he was Pedro Martinez or anything. In the event, it was a disaster, and Zito is going to have to work pretty hard to wind up being worse -- although he's made a good start -- but I think in terms of whether it was a good idea at the time or not, he's already very clearly got the trophy.

Call it the fanboy in me if you will, but Hampton was a better bet -- not that he was Pedro Martinez or anything. In the event, it was a disaster, and Zito is going to have to work pretty hard to wind up being worse -- although he's made a good start -- but I think in terms of whether it was a good idea at the time or not, he's already very clearly got the trophy.

I don't know... Hampton put up those lines pitching in front of 2 division winners and a 90 win second place team -- both of which had exceptional defenses behind him, and decent to great bullpens.

Hampton's BB rate always scared me -- and I was extremely happy when the Cubs' Hampton bid fell short.

But maybe Barry just ain't that interested. Not saying he's a bad guy. Just that at the end of the day maybe he's not all that "boo hoo" about what happens on the field.

When he was with the A's, he was well known for being committed to working out and staying in shape during the offseason. Hardly the likely behaviour of someone who just ain't that interested.

I think the most obvious explanation is Zito is hurt. The question is, since when? Zito used to throw 88-91 mph on the fastball and had the universally acclaimed best curveball in the majors. He now can't really throw a good curveball and his velocity has dropped down six mph. He's got to be hurt, he just has to be.

I agree. This isn't just mechanics, and isn't just a mental thing, although it's almost certainly both of those. But at its foundation this has "sore arm" all over it.

The Zito contract was indeed worse than the Hampton contract, based purely on the money and how they could be expected to perform.

The Hampton contract drew even more scorn than it deserved at the time, because it was with Colorado and obviously something up there turned good pitchers bad, so why even bother trying to have good pitchers. And because it was done at the same time that Colorado also gave Denny Neagle way more money than anyone expected, so it was clear that it was not part of a cunning and brilliant plan.

I don't know... Hampton put up those lines pitching in front of 2 division winners and a 90 win second place team -- both of which had exceptional defenses behind him, and decent to great bullpens.

I thought about mentioning park and team context, but wanted to keep the post length down.

It is true that Hampton pitched all three years in pitchers' parks with very good teams. Still, Zito's were compiled in the NetAss, not exactly a hitter's paradise, with one division winner and two second-place teams, one of which was also a 90 win squad. Defensive support clearly goes to Hampton, and you do have to discount him some for that ... but his ERA+ numbers aren't just a little better, they're much better. At the absolute worst, I think you could say that Hampton was no worse a bet than Zito.

Not that I'm saying either deal was a good idea -- they were both bad gambles on pitchers who, to put it gently, didn't warrant that kind of money. But if you put those two guys' lines in front of me, stuck a gun to my head and demanded that I pick one to throw $120 million at, I'd go with Hampton.