Comments on: The New New New New Barry Zito http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/ An A's-Giants blog Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:49:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bay Bridge Baseball http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-2675 Bay Bridge Baseball Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:57:42 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-2675 [...] reminded me of an interview I did with Zito before spring training, when he described his new attitude. This new attitude, as you know, is not new. He’s had a lot of epiphanies and new attitudes [...] [...] reminded me of an interview I did with Zito before spring training, when he described his new attitude. This new attitude, as you know, is not new. He’s had a lot of epiphanies and new attitudes [...]

]]> By: DrBeeper http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-298 DrBeeper Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:04:15 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-298 It's actually strikes me as reasonably simple: Bad infield defense = BZ tries to strike everyone out = too many pitches (100+ pitches in 5 innings), too many walks, and too many fly balls (more HR's allowed) In his best years he was a ground-ball pitcher with above-average infield D. The Giants D is truly awful - and not being addressed in any way. It’s actually strikes me as reasonably simple:

Bad infield defense = BZ tries to strike everyone out = too many pitches (100+ pitches in 5 innings), too many walks, and too many fly balls (more HR’s allowed)

In his best years he was a ground-ball pitcher with above-average infield D. The Giants D is truly awful – and not being addressed in any way.

]]> By: Jeff Fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Jeff Fletcher Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:33:03 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-297 Nat, you are fooling yourself if you think that Barry Zito would take the same amount of criticism if he were making $1 million a year. I don't dispute that his performances have been poor -- regardless of the salary -- but I think the salary causes people to expect even more of him, and that just magnifies the failures. By the way, I just looked it up and Zito's ERA over two seasons with the Giants is 4.83, for an ERA+ of 91. (An ERA+ of 100 would be exactly average for his league.) So I think calling him horrific might be a bit much. I'll add that the benefit of pitching at AT&T Park is nullified by the Giants poor defense. Since Zito isn't a strikeout pitcher, he gets hurt more than guys like Cain and Lincecum by all those balls the Giants don't catch. The Giants ranked 23rd in the majors last year in defensive efficiency (getting outs on balls in play). Nat, you are fooling yourself if you think that Barry Zito would take the same amount of criticism if he were making $1 million a year. I don’t dispute that his performances have been poor — regardless of the salary — but I think the salary causes people to expect even more of him, and that just magnifies the failures.

By the way, I just looked it up and Zito’s ERA over two seasons with the Giants is 4.83, for an ERA+ of 91. (An ERA+ of 100 would be exactly average for his league.) So I think calling him horrific might be a bit much.

I’ll add that the benefit of pitching at AT&T Park is nullified by the Giants poor defense. Since Zito isn’t a strikeout pitcher, he gets hurt more than guys like Cain and Lincecum by all those balls the Giants don’t catch. The Giants ranked 23rd in the majors last year in defensive efficiency (getting outs on balls in play).

]]> By: Nat Busichio http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Nat Busichio Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:24:31 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-294 The fact that he makes a lot of money isn't the reason people criticize him so much, it's because he's arguably one of the worst starters in the league. His horrific numbers are compounded when you take into consideration that half his starts are in one of the better pitching parks in the league. The fact that he makes a lot of money isn’t the reason people criticize him so much, it’s because he’s arguably one of the worst starters in the league. His horrific numbers are compounded when you take into consideration that half his starts are in one of the better pitching parks in the league.

]]> By: Ben http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Ben Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:33:54 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-289 Thanks for the kind words about big Z. I'm an A's fan who saw his decline well in advance, but I've always respected his character. I truly think he's one of the nicest guys in sports. His Strikeouts for Troops program is very admirable. It sounds like he's gotten out of his own head, which is probably all that he's ever needed. Thanks for the kind words about big Z. I’m an A’s fan who saw his decline well in advance, but I’ve always respected his character. I truly think he’s one of the nicest guys in sports. His Strikeouts for Troops program is very admirable. It sounds like he’s gotten out of his own head, which is probably all that he’s ever needed.

]]> By: Frontrow http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/02/the-new-new-new-new-barry-zito/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Frontrow Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:41:18 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=321#comment-288 and what's the excuse when there is another 2-7 start? and what’s the excuse when there is another 2-7 start?

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