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Big League Stew

Mon May 19, 2008 9:36 am EDT

Is it time to start feeling sorry for Barry Zito?

By 'Duk

As I post these latest "Wow, I just got rocked!" faces of Barry Zito, I think the answer is yes.

Zito posted a decent outing on Saturday, but still lost for the eighth time in nine starts as his offense couldn't get anything going against the White Sox, losing 3-1. That left him as the first Giants starter to lose his first eight decisions since Jesse "Crab" Burkett in ... wait for it ... 1890.

Repeat: 1890. Eleven years before Teddy Roosevelt became President. 

Now I realize there are a lot of you out there — many wearing orange & black caps — saying that Zito doesn't deserve any of our sympathy. You think that because he's in the second year of a 7-year/$126 million deal that laying in a mattress stuffed with money should provide enough comfort.

While that's a point that's oft-repeated and one that's easy to see, I think that's precisely the reason to feel badly for Mr. Zito.

Look, there isn't anyone among us who wouldn't have put pen to paper had Brian Sabean showed up on our doorstep two offseasons ago and asked us to spend it while living in San Francisco. 

And there probably isn't anyone among us that wouldn't have then gone out and tried to prove that they deserved the contract, even if their last outing was in a Wiffle Ball tourney at a company picnic eight years ago. It's human instinct.

So what do you think is going through Zito's mind right now? Here he is, the second-highest paid pitcher in baseball and yet his professional reputation is nothing but bad blog fodder. Not to get all cliche here, but I'm thinking at this point the money doesn't even matter. Zito just wants to get back on track and show at least a few flashes of what brought that contract in the first place.

For those of you who take pride in your career, I'm assuming you can relate.

All of which is to say that I hope Zito finally gets a win next time out. He's not pitching this poorly on purpose and there are only so many times you can post pictures like the ones above before you really start to feel for the guy.

(A BLS head nod goes to Sooze at Babes Love Baseball for the jumping point.) 

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14 Comments

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  1. bgshady25
    1. Posted by bgshady25 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    7 years/126 million for a guy that is 0-8? That is the biggest joke i have ever heard. Get rid of him San Francisco or send him to the minors he is just hurting your team.
  2. Victor G
    2. Posted by Victor G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    poor zito...
  3. Truth
    3. Posted by Truth Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    Barry isn’t the only one to blame for his miserable start. The blame should be given to his family. His father Devil Joe is Satan himself. He has control of his finances and is mean and CHEAP. Barry is being SUED by many companies and contractors for not paying his bills. He has Millions and Millions of dollars and he would rather stiff and maliciously hurt hard working people and send his lawyer to threaten and intimidate them if they pursue legal action. Barry’s evil father Devil Joe is bringing him down. No wonder he is doing bad, its tough to deal with a personal life were you are HATED by so many people and going to court so often. Personally I hope it’s the CURSE I put on him, even though at first I didn’t believe in it, it may be working. Best 300$ I ever spent. If his father dies in the next 2 years I will give the gypsy lady a big tip. Man I hope it works. Oh and the Marijuana he smokes with his sluttish girlfriend doesn’t help either. You should know better than to do drugs.
    Clearly you don’t
  4. Truth
    4. Posted by Truth Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    All you Zito sympathizers...WAKE UP. That man has zero heart. He is trash beyond trash, his family DNA has been linked to Satan himself. His teammates HATE him as well as everyone who ever met him personally. He should have no fans, he talks bad about everyone and only thinks about 2 things, himself and how to hurt everyone else. The Demon Prince Zito will fail forever, yes you have 100 million undeserved dollars BUT I hope you choke.
  5. Admiral Cowpollock
    5. Posted by Admiral Cowpollock Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    Two words: EARLY RETIREMENT. Zito has nothing left. His "fast"ball meanders in at a leisurely 84 mph. Living in S.F. I have ample opportunity to watch Barry hurl, and folks, it makes me want to hurl myself. His stuff is getting CRUSHED so decisively I'm at a loss to imagine what he could do to improve. How did this guy ever win a Cy Young? On the upside for Giants fans, that cheap knuckle-dragging nitwit Peter Magowan has retired, and hopefully Sabean will follow him out the door. Blame those two jokers for the $126 million Big Z -- Big Zero, that is.
  6. bandogypsys
    6. Posted by bandogypsys Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Feel bad for Giants fans, we criticized a 7 year deal for any pitcher from the get go, let alone one that eats 15% of our yearly payroll. He owes the fans something, go to the minors, retire, or at least start giving us some postgame talks where you make fun of yourself, because as of now, I hate that bum.
  7. Older_than_Moses_Shaq
    7. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    Hope he finishes out the year without a win and baseball players get rid of that pariah of an agent of his. Screw him and any teams signing pitchers away from the teams they came up with to sign seven year contracts at mega-bucks smaller markets can't afford. They all get what they deserve. I hope they all have careers just like his is turning out to be.
  8. Jerry West
    8. Posted by Jerry West Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    I happen to personally know this guy and frankly nobody on this blog has any idea what they're talking about. Especially some of these malicious fellas hiding behind their keyboard saying that Zito is satan himself. On the contrary, he's one of baseballs kindest players and has been praised for his charities. Despite all of that, his money means very little at this point... its about finding his focus and his stuff and pitching well. He's a good guy, a regular guy and unfortunately he's struggling. I don't think his run support has been all that great either. And to those haters, you would probably literally piss your pants if you even had to face a single major league hitter... so go back to your pathetic lives and give some respect, because you don't have the balls this guy has.
  9. Greg
    9. Posted by Greg Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    I agree with The Duke. Zito is a very nice guy, always taking time out to chat with and talk to fans. I've never heard or heard of him talking bad about anybody, and he has been a clubhouse favorite - both in Oakland and in S.F. Sure he's stuggling, but look at a lot of his games since being in S.F. There was a strech of 8 or 9 games last season where he gave up 1 to 2 runs, and got ZERO wins to show for it. His last two games he's given up 2 runs and S.F. has given him NO run support what-so-ever. Zito has always been known as a very mental pitcher, and the stress of trying to prove he deserved that fat contract is catching up to him. But not even Santana or Webb would win a lot of games with the offense the S.F. has (or doesn't have).
  10. dave p
    10. Posted by dave p Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    He maybe nice, but I still the best thing for the Giants and Zito, is for Zito to go to the minors for a while.
  11. David Z
    11. Posted by David Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    He's lost his velocity, it's really as simpel as that.
    But Zito would have at least a couple of wins if the Giants could muster up a consistent offense.
  12. Metsfan28
    12. Posted by Metsfan28 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    Hey San Fran the mets will take Zito and his huge payroll off your hands and u give them Tim lincecum and Matt Cain wooo
  13. J to the O
    13. Posted by J to the O Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    Zito is a true pro and mark my word he will bounce back. I am definitely not happy about his performance thus far, but the most disappointed person is obviously Zito himself.
    What is this Satan stuff?? That is just stupid commentary from extremely ignorant people. Zito is the nicest person in baseball today, hands down.
    Zito has pitched well the last few starts and has not had much run support in the Giants anemic offensive lineup. When you pitch well and still lose especially when you are on a losing streak it becomes even more mentally draining. Look at Matt Cain last year. He had a fine year this past season and had absolutely no run support. His ERA rose after awhile because of the mental stuff he had to deal with. For example Cain suffered a loss when he tossed a flipping no hitter! Zito will be just fine, he was fine even when he had a couple of years of bad run support in Oakland!
  14. Corey R
    14. Posted by Corey R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    I think we could look at the Gaints off season moves and note that they just can't score a dam run or Timmy would have a record near webb easy. Honestly picthers need run support. Take out that 3 inning start he does not look as bad. Dam you Gaints you have a wounderful pitching staff you need some run support if we are going to swim in the celler than let the young guys play move some of the Vets to new teams all ready.
    End rant.

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