I stick by the prediction I made a while back on TV — that’s when Barry Zito appeared to be going well. On a game of over/under I said he did not “stand a chance in hell” of winning 6 games this year.
I’m sticking with that.
He got bombed today as usual, 5 runs in 5 innings. The Giants cannot afford to pitch him very often unless they want a guaranteed loss. As soon as Jonathan Sanchez returns Zito goes to the bench. Then the Giants have to figure out what to do with him. Your suggestions?
Tiburon Dave
Release him…eat the contract and move on…
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He can spend the next ten years of his life making music and writing poetry in Kentfield…
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July 31st, 2011 11:46 am
Neal
I think enough been said about Zito including your 50 or 60 columns and blogs,he was and is a huge mistake, one of the worst signing in free agent history, the guy is just stealing money, how do you live with yourself, time to quit Barry, be a man and just quit.
July 31st, 2011 11:49 am
glenellen
I hope that Sanchez can overcome HIS issues. Am I reading that pitchers can get into “head cases”. If so, Sanchez and Zito are both head cases. Can someone please stand up and pitch.
July 31st, 2011 11:56 am
Neal
Lowell, you had a earlier prediction or opinion that King Zito had to have a great year for the Giants to be a contender, does that opinion count anymore or is it just dust in the wind, I remember Stan and I said that was just absolutely ludicrous, last time I checked Giants are in first place despite Zito incompetence.
July 31st, 2011 12:00 pm
eb
I remember my Giant fan friends needling me about the A’s losing Zito to them via fre agency, now they treat him like a VD they can’t shake. The Giants have to cut the ties, they can afford it, I mean the guy is only bringing them down. It’s sad that Tejada and Zito are having their Bay Area legacy’s tarnished with their play in SF.
July 31st, 2011 12:02 pm
Matt
Hey Neal,
Get real dude. Don’t tell me you would leave $50 million on the table. The Giants gave him the contract. He didn’t have a gun to their heads.
Eat the contract and pay the man.
July 31st, 2011 12:08 pm
Matt
Hey Neal,
Get real dude. Don’t tell me you would leave $50 million on the table. The Giants gave him the contract. He didn’t have a gun to their heads.
Eat the contract… the money is gone.
July 31st, 2011 12:08 pm
Stan
Even Krukow broke down in truth-You can’t get Major Leaguers out with a 82 mph fastball. And then added that Zito isn’t getting the ball down.
Of course once Zito’s put the game out of reach,THEN he was hitting spots. It’s all a head game with him. Life is a head game to him,where he makes his own reality.
Zito’s curve has become more like an ephus pitch now…remember those? Hitters just wait for it to come down-whammo!.
I would put him on the DL. His lucid dreams wont let him sleep or he see’s unicorns. And if that wont pass..bullpen long relief.
July 31st, 2011 12:11 pm
CohnZohn
You’re right it was ludicrous. Sometimes I’m ludicrous. Your in ludicrousity, Lowell
July 31st, 2011 12:14 pm
Dennis
Looks like you were right about this one. They don’t have enough games left for him to win 3 even if he was in the rotation, figuring on the “blind squirrel” theory.
July 31st, 2011 12:15 pm
Dennis
Lowell, I thought that was Grant’s prediction?
July 31st, 2011 12:22 pm
Russell
Keeping Zito on the Giants roster any longer is just ludicrous!
July 31st, 2011 12:30 pm
wolff1
Why do you deal with baseball, it’s a sucking sport at all, boring zzzzz
July 31st, 2011 12:54 pm
Mike
Zito’s contract is a sunk cost. Another vote for release and pay him. Tejada too.
July 31st, 2011 2:03 pm
Kevin Allen
Maybe Giants can officially declare him injured, or damaged (82 mile fastball) and thereby recoup what they owe him from Insurance. Take the Insurance money and put it back into the team. Cut Zito, now! Do the same with Rowand, too.
July 31st, 2011 2:46 pm
Stan
LOL! you read the postgame Zito quotes? ” I didnt bring it out to the mound today,I conducted myself today…It’s not beneficial to pitch with that intention”..WHAT?? That’s victorian English and gibberish with babbling! What a nut. Philosophical baseball rambling.
But he’s all there at check cashing! Sharp as a tack …at “conducting” banking!
July 31st, 2011 2:54 pm
Johnc
What to do with Zito.I was eager to eat crow about Zito after he came back from injury and had three good outings, but after the last three games he has reverted to what only can be described as atrocious.
He has become such a liability that the Giants have to find creative ways not to play him. I prefer that they release him outright and eat his contract once and for all.
July 31st, 2011 3:14 pm
CohnZohn
It may have been. I lose track.
July 31st, 2011 3:33 pm
Kathy
I agree with Tiburon Dave. Release him, and move on.
July 31st, 2011 3:33 pm
Public Animal
Zito is one problem but I think the bigger story could be the Giants “breaking up” the chemistry they had with a bunch of rental players. That I would like to see analyzed — Zito is a boring story by now. Did the Giants make a mistake dumping the team that got them here in the first place? I think so.
July 31st, 2011 3:50 pm
Bob In Pacifica
You can’t keep him on the roster. He’s not going to start and every reliever on the 25-man roster is more valuable than him. So the question is whether they can put him down in Fresno. I know it’s tricky with Major Leaguers with so much tenure. I think if he refuses they either have to keep him on the roster or release him.
The best thing would be to hide him in the minors or on the DL until at least September when he could be the 40th man on the bench and be thrown into 13-0 games to eat up innings. The worst thing would be to keep him on the roster. At some point it’s fish or cut bait.
July 31st, 2011 5:16 pm
stlhd
You read all this stuff, and you assume Mr. Zito does too, and you come to the conclusion that he has no honor. He has plenty of pride – understandable. If it is greed, it is inexcusable and he should be held in contemp.
He should consider what Gil Meche did with KC. He had a year left on contract but went down with a season-ending injury. Gil could have gone on the DL and got paid.
He retired.
Honor.
Mr. Zito is a Cy Young winner, and a great athlete – but this time has passed. Retire with honor
July 31st, 2011 5:28 pm
Derek
If you paid for an expensive product (car, toaster, whatever) and it rarely worked as advertised, would you continue to use it (“It cost alot of money–it’s supposed to be good”)? NO–you’d get fed up; the price just wasn’t worth the constant hassle and grief.
It’s tough to defend a championship when you effectively forfeit 1/5 of your games…I almost wish Arizona catches the Giants in the standings in order to finally force their hand with Zito.
July 31st, 2011 5:50 pm
Frank in Minnesota
Seems to me that he (Zito) is not even a team leader. The Giants would be saying a lot to the team by releasing him and cutting their losses….showing the team of their committment to head to the playoffs with some meaning and high expectations. He failed, admit it and move on….
August 1st, 2011 4:05 am
Stan
The Giants still “owe” Zeets 60 million dollars. But,Bochy said Zito “pitched us 5 innings today” Pitched real good. ALWAYS say good things about Zito, Bruce..real good things.
August 1st, 2011 6:08 am
Neal
Lowell, you got the best sense of humor, Matt, the clown should donate the $50 million to charity, although you can argue he is a charity case, and secondly I am very sarcastic, and you should not take me verbatim.
August 1st, 2011 6:27 am
Stan
Now I see,the idea of send Zito to the minors is gaining steam..a great idea I proposed LAST YEAR. I was told by experts then that it was impossible,etc,etc,…Well Mike Urban says it owuld be the best for Zito and the Giants.
And if you haven’t noticed a wild west range war has broken out between KNBR and The Game 95.7 I’m watching one for now and ,listening to the other on radio…its wild to hear Urban agree with me on Zito and D.Bruce say the 49ers should have gone after Vince Young…YEAH-NOW TRUTH IS COMING OUT!..PLT for competition.
August 1st, 2011 9:48 am
dr nick
Put Zito in charge of the warm-up music. And he can lead optional team yoga classes…. Yup that’s all I trust him to do.
August 1st, 2011 11:11 am
Stan
And those Zito quotes are so weirdly out of place..he might consider some mental health help. The minors? Does Nappa state hospital have a team?..he needs some rest.
August 1st, 2011 11:14 am
Stan
Ok,I kid..but those quotes..are strange.
August 1st, 2011 11:15 am
glenellen
This topic is getting more play than that guy that used to QB the Raiders.
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The fact that he was left off the playoff roster last year…then Voglesong steped right past him ….yes minor leagues sounds good. Last time it helped him remember how it is, or who he is or… it did some good somehow.
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Oh, gotta go listen to Brooks & Larry Krueger.
August 1st, 2011 12:23 pm
KauaiRobert
I say they kill him and collect the insurance money.
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-ALOHA-
August 1st, 2011 2:42 pm
Johnc
Release Zito so he can become a dance insturctor on that party boat in McCovey Cove.
August 1st, 2011 3:23 pm
Stan
LOL,LOL-my First double lol,EVER on Cohn Zone. Why? Because the Giants DID put Zito on the DL!!!!..As I said they would on the 31st at 12:11 here on the Cohn Zone!
Strained foot?..doubt me -but I almost said that..then went for the funny answer.
The Government agents are knocking on my door…with a plane ticket to Roswell. They tell they have nice beaches…
August 1st, 2011 6:24 pm