Zito: The Next Chapter.

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on April 17, 2011

Am I the only one who’s starting to get fascinated with this guy? He’s got a 1.54 WHIP (bad) and a 6.23 ERA (awful). And yet he’s only given up 1 bomb this year and opponents are only hitting .245 off him. How is that possible? Zito is throwing 81 mph fastballs. That’s right around what a middling high school varsity pitcher throw them at. So you’re telling me that a guy throwing high school fastballs to major league pitchers has only given up one hr in 13 innings? I find that astounding….

And now he’s hurt.

I’ll save all the “blessing in disguise” talk, though I think we can all feel reasonably confident that if he doesn’t get hurt we lose that game. And it’s jut an ankle, he’ll be fine. The dude survived a pretty substantial car crash without even incurring a scratch, I doubt an ouchy ankle will keep him out too long. But when he comes back, what then? More 81 mph fastballs? More 6+ ERA’s? He’s still got the single win since last July 16th……

A…..B…..Z

The Flap Fantasy Baseball Standings (Pawlie extends his lead)….

1.	PawliesPandas	106	2.5	1	10
2.	Clowns R Us	102.5	5	5	8
3.	NO Whitey	94	-2.5	10	9
4.	Bladerunners	92	0	8	15
5.	Unca’s Army	90.5	-1	6	8
6.	Flavor	86.5	0	14	10
7.	Tizzle	80.5	-3	9	7
8.	IrishGiants	71	4.5	3	8
9.	CrazyDiamonds	67	1	13	5
10.	Giant Head	64	-1	4	22
11.	NoTalent	59.5	-3	7	11
12.	Dirt Bags	55	2.5	2	18
13.	Ferretball	50	-2	12	3
14.	Berra’s Bombers	31.5	-3	11

152 comments

152 Responses

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Nipper said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:24 am

At least Ferretball has escaped the cellar. Bravo!
- Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:34 am
  
  What’s in Nipper’s cellar? Mad Dog 20/20, Ripple, Night Train and Richards Wild Irish Rose. Salute.
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:45 am

Hey, Randy Jones threw 75 MPH. Here’s this little tidbit, written in 2006, about his retirement activities:

“Jones worked in a food commissary business for a while before opening a barbeque stand at the Padres’ home stadium. He also operated a baseball academy, with the A’s Barry Zito being one of his ‘students’.”
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:46 am

Ed, don’t take this the wrong way, but how the hell does your team only have 31 1/2 pts? Something funny going on across the pond if ya ask me. Hang in there, it’s early. No way in hell can the New Yawker and clown keep up their torrid pace. Give my regards to Kate and Willie on their impending nuptials. But tell Kate she needs to put on a few pounds. Fill her up with your best bangers.
willied said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:51 am

gotta luv the pic in the Chron today, Posey waving his finger for them to come get Zito.
Saw Doug Jones pitch for the Tribe as a closer vs. the A’s, and he threw slow and slower mostly, and was pretty successful at it.
blade3colorado said, on April 17, 2011 at 8:56 am

Thinking the same thing about Josh Tomlin Willied . . . another “slow and slower” pitcher. Ironically, to date, he is being successful at it (not going to pick him up for my FL team though).

De ningún modo puta en tierra verde de Dios.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:02 am

Slow is hunky-dory ~ so long as there’s plenty of smart attached.
Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:27 am

it’s about location, not *smart*. Some guys have it other guys don’t. Zito doesn’t……..
twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:29 am

Zitster’s problem isn’t his fastball, he’s a fucking idiot-that’s his problem..
zumarust said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:50 am

The Dodgers are thinking about bringing up a AAA outfielder- Jerry Sands. The Dodgers know they’re already in deep trouble. They’re just looking pathetic in their series against St. Louis.
zumarust said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:51 am

And it’s weird in Dodger stadium. The fans don’t even bother to boo. They just leave even earlier. It’s like watching a Spring Training game.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:51 am

Flav: As a general rule smart = location. Idiots have problems with both of those metrics. Opposite side of the equation = Greg Maddox, definitely a thinking man’s pitcher.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:52 am

Zito just placed on the DL. Say hello to your little friend, Brian Vogelsong.
- twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:03 am
  
  It’s “Ryan”
  - Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:18 am
    
    Yeah, I know. I must’ve been thinking about “Brian’s Song.” “I love Brian Piccolo…”
    They didn’t need to recall Ryan or Brian Vogelsong IMO anyway. With the two off days in the next 15 days, they coulda kept the guys on normal 5 days rest instead of giving ’em the extra day. I woulda recalled an extra position player. 12 pitchers on your staff is superfluous to begin with anyways.
Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:53 am

I disagree Stix. If you can’t throw the ball where you want it to go it doesn’t matter how smart you are, it’s just not going to go where you want it to go…..
Some of you have seen this epic-ly bad throw from Mariah Carey but check out who she’s throwing it to…….
zumarust said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:55 am

Zito with the fans’ least-grieved injury in SF Giants history.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 9:57 am

Another problem looming in the pipeline. Fresno again. Now it’s Brett Pill who’s becoming a glut problem. He’s a first baseman, though since Ishi’s demotion, he’s mainly been used as the D.H. Problem is that he’s hitting up a storm and his OPS is well over 1.000. Unless the Giants come up with some clever trade ideas between now and the end of the season they are gonna suffer come Rule-5 draft time. Right now the Giants have enough 1st sackers in the upper reaches of the system to outfit the entire Division.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:00 am

Flav: Smarts also include body as well as intellectual intelligence. Obviously Maddux had both in good measure. Same cannot be said for SF’s latest listee.
twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:01 am

Pill is not a prospect.
xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:09 am

Hard to judge whether losing Zito to the DL is worse than having Zito in the rotation every 5 games. You know — be careful of what you wish for, you may get it. Also, I wonder if his ankle or foot was already hurt before he lunged at that little bloop yesterday? If only somebody had some smartphone video of him fooling around at the beach during that road trip a couple of weeks ago. (See, his contract has this clause . . . .)
Rough Trade said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:19 am

I think it’s good we’ll get a chance to see what Vogelsong has to offer.

Z never wants to throw the FB for strikes. He relies on the curve change and cutter to get hitter’s out. It looked like he had no command of any of those last night.
twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:19 am

Other non-prospects filing up roster spots in Fresno:
Brock Bond, Terry Evans, Tyler Graham, Jackson Williams, Edgar Gonzales, Chris Stewart
About to lose prospect status: Rohlinger
Treading the line, about to Bowkerize: Burriss, Sosa, Ford
Best prospects: Gillaspie, Neal,Edlefson.
Special category: Kroon
Rest of pitching staff: not prospects
- James said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:28 am
  
  Now that is a POTW.
- xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:43 am
  
  Yep.
Rough Trade said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:37 am

Obviously an important outing for Bumgarner (0-2 , 9.00 era, 2.50 whip) , for his own psyche and the pen heading into Col.
xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:41 am

Another nice, succinct PrOD on Brown, TF. Prodded me to take a slightly closer look. The rap on him coming out of Cal State Fullerton was his batting approach — weird stance, free swinger (very few walks). If the Giants could change Belt’s stance and launch his mlb career, who knows what they can do with Brown. Pitch selectivity may be the key to Brown’s success, becz he seems born to lead off. His SO/BB ratio has improved tremendously this year at San Jose, but it’s early. We’ll see him in September, I bet. (btw, for anyone who remembers my early forays into prospect research, I no longer rely on that guy who made fun of the collegiate Buster Posey as “soft looking and pear shaped.” Fucker neglected to mention that he’s the best pear-shaped athlete on the planet.)
- zumarust said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:47 am
  
  Plus the fact that 90% of all MLB baseball players are pear-shaped. It’s a common baseball physique.
  - Rough Trade said, on April 17, 2011 at 12:02 pm
    
    Reminds me of Moneyball, when Beane, defending his desire to draft fat ass Jeremy Brown, said, “I repeat. We’re not selling jeans here.”
- xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:52 am
  
  Well, I don’t know about that. Pablo went from super burrito to flauta. Huff is like a rifle. Lincecum looks like a guy who won Olympic gold in gymnastics. Burrell, Cain and Mota could be a trio of royal bodyguards. Etc.
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:47 am

We expect pitchers not to “nibble,” and at the same time get pissed whenever any strike that isn’t placed perfectly on the black gets whacked. And even when they do hit the target, it can still be a “mistake” because, retrospectively, Kruk declares that low and in is a “strength” of the hitter.

Zito just never developed the command he needs to pitch well with a sub-88 mph fastball. That’s true of 99% of ML pitchers.
- zumarust said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:50 am
  
  It’s real disappointing that Zito’s fastball is back to low 80s. He had that thing up to 87 last season. Now he’s just like he was a few years ago.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 10:55 am

CF Rowand, 2B Sanchez, RF Huff, C Posey, 3B Sandoval, LF Burrell, 1B Belt, SS Tejada, P Bumgarner

I hate to admit it, but I think Bochy got it right today. I’ll have to find sumthin’ else to bitch and moan about.
I’m sure that’s one goal I’ll accomplish today. Probably the only one…
Rough Trade said, on April 17, 2011 at 11:21 am

Maybe he’s going to wait until Colo to give Nate a start in RF.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 12:32 pm

Schulman tweeted: Panda is putting on a BP show reminiscent of Bonds.

I’m surprised Bochy isn’t batting him 8th today. Boob.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 1:44 pm

Sweet second by the Undertaker. Smooth moves by corner infielders.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 1:52 pm

Dummy Bum swing at the first pitch right after Tejada makes an out doing the same damn thing.
I guess he’s not worried about his pitch count and getting a little breather. [insert Hervé Villechaize here]
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 1:57 pm

And as Bumgarner’s ERA approaches 4 digits, let me be the first to say; sophomore slump.

Shit…
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Is this the official sophomore slump, or can MadBum get it back together sometime soon?
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:00 pm

The Undertaker is reaping a grim pitching line today.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:01 pm

Let me also be first to say that I hope the rest of you Flappers are enjoying your Sunday afternoon. Mine wholeheartedly sucks. Not that anyone cares… Barry Enright has a perfect game going…
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:06 pm

…and there goes Barry Enright’s perfect game. I impress myself sometimes.
SanDawg said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm

Works like a charm Denny…
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm

Huff the Magic Dragon breaks the ice. Gets one back. This guy sure fooled Buster, though.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:16 pm

Buster may get fooled on occasion while at the Plate. But behind the plate he’s anything but a fool.
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Just got back from watching the Stanford girls beat OSU. Great afternoon of fun in the sun. I wish Katie would give even the slightest shit about baseball, all she wanted to do was play on my iPhone.
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Enright gets lit up by everyone. I think he beat us last ye, too. He seems to be getting quite lucky in this game..
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Decent A.B.’s all around, particularly by Panda and Belt. No runs, but they stretched Enright a bunch. His pitch count is getting up there and the lineup has turned over. Sixth could be productive. Hole em, Bumgarner.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Buster Baby!
xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Yeah. There one guy who shows no signs of a sophomore slump
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Finally. Enright belongs in the minors.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:57 pm

Panda Power! Back-to-back baby. You gotta love the fight in this team. They continue to display great resolve each and every game.
xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 2:59 pm

Viva la flauta!
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:00 pm

What am i tell you? Giants hitters in the fifth took the stuffing outta Enright. Next thing Rowand ignites that sixth inning as per expectations. Sanchez, with a duck on the pond, comes through again. Huff just misses, but brings in the run. Gotta love the Runt, great anticipation on the bases. Buster don’t get fooled this time. And the Panda is BACK.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:04 pm

Bumgarner picked a good time to have his best inning. You know what they say about timing…

Jesus, I just noticed Buster’s GO/AO ratio this yr is 7.67 Hard to have any air outs when you hit ’em over the fence.
xootsuit said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:07 pm

While we’re busy ignoring commercials, anybody else see the video of Verlander’s bizzare balk vs. the A’s? wtf? He’s the early front runner for this year’s Jimmy Piersall Award, no doubt about it.
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Nice hustle from tejada on that last at bat. He missed the 4th one worse than he missed the 3rd one
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Three, four and five hitters all in double digits RBIs now. Huff and Sandoval at ten and Buster eleven.
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Another one of denny’s fucking Dodger pitchers went lights out today– too bad he doesn’t get the W. Boo fucking hoo!
- Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:45 pm
  
  No, but Kemp just hit a GW 2-run jack to give Baby Huey (who gave up a run in the T9) the W.
  
  Lasorda is right; God is a Dodger fan. Heeeeee!
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:41 pm

First slider I ever saw: babe Ruth, sone fucking 15 threw one at me, I still don’t know how he did it. It hit me square on the patella and I went down like a pussy. had a nice lace imprint on my knee for a week
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:51 pm

Baggs remarked earlier today about Fruckie’s bum shoulder causing him to “shot put” his throws.
I’d say he throws as hard a girl, but that would be denigrating to the distaff side.
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm

Too bad Gibson’s SB stupidity wasn’t punished.
blade3colorado said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm

Not only that Dennis, but No Luck Franklin (umm . . . perhaps, we should refer to him as “No Talent” Franklin) blew the save again and was also given the loss . . . I think that makes 4 or 5 straight blown saves.
Bozo said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Alright Giants, let’s get that run back. Hell, get a couple.
- Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:59 pm
  
  Good to see you dodged the tornado. Now will your fantasy team kindly please take a dump?
- Bozo said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:13 pm
  
  Thanks Den, it was a pretty wild storm but I don’t think any of the tornados hit ground in my county (they’re saying 62 hit ground in the State). Massive lightning storm with gusts ranging from 50 – 70. Was watching a local weather guy pointing out two swirling objects (on the radar) going by our village on the sound. The guy said “not a good night for boating”, now I’m not from around here but thought to myself “Do ya think?”, I mean, gale winds, lightning strikes on the water and it being pitch black would have given me pause about getting in a boat.
  
  FL, it’s a long year DMD. With these clown shoes I imagine I’ll trip up at some point (Joe Nathan is doing his best to fuck me).
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Affeldt didn’t get beat on a bad pitch there but am I missing something? Is lopez hurt? Lopez/romo seem more preferred than ramirez/affeldt in the 8th…
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 3:56 pm

Still saying Affeldt’s value is mostly situational.
Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm

Belt is just not hitting balls hard, foul or BIP. Tejada has had a terrible game
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm

I think Tejada foul tipped that last one as well, no? Jesus.
twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:02 pm

Hard to argue with Ramirez.
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:06 pm

Affeldt looks like the same pitcher he was 2 years ago. Just not quite as lucky.
- Big Flavor said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:27 pm
  
  Agreed
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:07 pm

6 thru 9 in the lineup; 0 fer 14 w/ 8 Ks. Not a good day to be low man (men) on the totem pole.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:09 pm

Romo. Wow! Giants looking golden at setup.
willied said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:11 pm

The D kind of let the team down too in that inning. This was I’m sure the last thing bochy wanted after he had to use 4 guys out of the pen yesterday, and facing the Rox for 3 next.
Tough break for his D subs too, as now he has Huff and Burrell out of the game (as Kuip is saying as I type this).
twinfan said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:17 pm

Affelt got two grounders,one butchered by Fruckie, one seeing eye..
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:19 pm

I think Tejada foul tipped that one as well. Goddammit.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:24 pm

Still thinking there’s a need for a late-inning SS.
James said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:25 pm

I’d like to see that Runzler as starter experiment played out.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Not going to show up in the box score, but that nice little scoop by Belt off that brutal underhand toss by Runzler was a nice save. He’s having a rough day at the plate, but he hasn’t taken it out on the field. Very good sign from our young rook.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:28 pm

Time for a little more yard work from Orson Wells light.
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:40 pm

Five consecutive innings of baffled bats? Will that bottom of the order do anything???
stixwiz said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:41 pm

Nate is the man ON the bubble. Pathetic.
mrmrbill said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:45 pm

this is gettin friggin tedious…
Macdog said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:47 pm

16 in a row. I miss the double plays.
Del Mar Dennis said, on April 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm

I understand the double switch, but I sure in the hell don’t like it. We just lost quite a bit of D over at 1B with the insertion of MDR. Better not toss any in the dirt his way…