Barry Zito to the San Francisco Giants $18 mil a year
According to ESPN.com and Gammons Zito just signed for some crazy jack across the Bay. $18 million for 7 years ($126mil) and a mutual option for an 8th is insane. To truly understand the debacle that is signing Barry Zito, we must go inside the numbers, and everyone knows baseball is a numbers game.
In Zito's first three seasons in the majors he made a splash. He threw up crazy statistics unlikely to be duplicated again in his career. His rookie season is eerily similar to Josh Johnson's first season with the Marlins I might add, so for those interested in rookie cards pick up some JJ cards ASAP. Back to the stats, Zito's first three seasons 47-17 with era's of 2.72 3.49 and 2.75 crazy. We could even throw in his 4th season at14-12 3.30 era. The three seasons following that he was 41 and 34 with era's of 4.48 3.86 and 3.83. Those are all sold numbers, even ACE numbers but not one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball numbers. 7 games above .500 is not impressive in the least. Zito is also a slow starter, and changing leagues can only further augment a slow start. Pre All-star break he is 18-21 with a 3.91 ERA and 23-13 4.21 era after the All-star Break.
However, since his rookie season, Barry has thrown 213 innings or more every single season. This ability to stay healthy is surprising if not unprecedented. He will only be 28 starting the 2007 season and at the end of the contract will still be 35 but with a ton of innings pitched.
His fast ball tops off at 89 with a crazy sick curve ball and from reports, a solid change. He has 7 career starts in the playoffs amazing compiling a 1-5 record with a 3.25 era. Much of his ERA problems in the playoffs to be fair were this past season in the ALCS against the red hot Tigers, but what does that say about starting the big game in the p-offs. However, he has dominated the yankees in the playoffs with a 1.59 and 1.12 era in both starts against the Bronx Bombers.
Zito goes to a Giants team with a legitimate chance of competing in a mediocre National League West. The Giants lost Jason Schmitt in the offseason making them, in my opinion, desperate for another ace on the staff. Matt Cain is a baller, but not yet ready to take over the top spot in their rotation. Furthermore, Zito will be pitching in the National League for the first time. Pitchers aren't signed to be hitters, but how will having to step in the batters box 2-3 times a game and running down to second effect his overall stability on the mound and throughout a long season? On the contrary, the popular belief is that the American League is the far superior league with mashers like A-rod, Man-ram, Ortiz, Big Hurt, etc. and that each team is deeper. This is true, especially since pitchers have to pitch to DHs instead of a pitcher in the 9 hole in the National League. This leads me to the conclusion that pitching to pitchers in the 9 spot will ultimately balance out if not overshadow the fact Zito has to hit and is coming to new stadiums, pitching against new teams, and new players.
**Disclaimer**
I am a Mets fan and a bit bitter the Mets did not sign Zito, however I am glad they didn't have to throw that kind of crazy jack at a player that has an effect 1 out of every 5 games and is from Oakland. How have the signings of the other two arms of the big three gone (Mulder and Hudson)? Not very good, maybe Billy Beane eats them up using all they have and spits them out onto free agency laughing his way to consistent .500 teams and playoff births.
In Zito's first three seasons in the majors he made a splash. He threw up crazy statistics unlikely to be duplicated again in his career. His rookie season is eerily similar to Josh Johnson's first season with the Marlins I might add, so for those interested in rookie cards pick up some JJ cards ASAP. Back to the stats, Zito's first three seasons 47-17 with era's of 2.72 3.49 and 2.75 crazy. We could even throw in his 4th season at14-12 3.30 era. The three seasons following that he was 41 and 34 with era's of 4.48 3.86 and 3.83. Those are all sold numbers, even ACE numbers but not one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball numbers. 7 games above .500 is not impressive in the least. Zito is also a slow starter, and changing leagues can only further augment a slow start. Pre All-star break he is 18-21 with a 3.91 ERA and 23-13 4.21 era after the All-star Break.
However, since his rookie season, Barry has thrown 213 innings or more every single season. This ability to stay healthy is surprising if not unprecedented. He will only be 28 starting the 2007 season and at the end of the contract will still be 35 but with a ton of innings pitched.
His fast ball tops off at 89 with a crazy sick curve ball and from reports, a solid change. He has 7 career starts in the playoffs amazing compiling a 1-5 record with a 3.25 era. Much of his ERA problems in the playoffs to be fair were this past season in the ALCS against the red hot Tigers, but what does that say about starting the big game in the p-offs. However, he has dominated the yankees in the playoffs with a 1.59 and 1.12 era in both starts against the Bronx Bombers.
Zito goes to a Giants team with a legitimate chance of competing in a mediocre National League West. The Giants lost Jason Schmitt in the offseason making them, in my opinion, desperate for another ace on the staff. Matt Cain is a baller, but not yet ready to take over the top spot in their rotation. Furthermore, Zito will be pitching in the National League for the first time. Pitchers aren't signed to be hitters, but how will having to step in the batters box 2-3 times a game and running down to second effect his overall stability on the mound and throughout a long season? On the contrary, the popular belief is that the American League is the far superior league with mashers like A-rod, Man-ram, Ortiz, Big Hurt, etc. and that each team is deeper. This is true, especially since pitchers have to pitch to DHs instead of a pitcher in the 9 hole in the National League. This leads me to the conclusion that pitching to pitchers in the 9 spot will ultimately balance out if not overshadow the fact Zito has to hit and is coming to new stadiums, pitching against new teams, and new players.
**Disclaimer**
I am a Mets fan and a bit bitter the Mets did not sign Zito, however I am glad they didn't have to throw that kind of crazy jack at a player that has an effect 1 out of every 5 games and is from Oakland. How have the signings of the other two arms of the big three gone (Mulder and Hudson)? Not very good, maybe Billy Beane eats them up using all they have and spits them out onto free agency laughing his way to consistent .500 teams and playoff births.
posted by Buffalo Sports Dude at 10:14 AM
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