Here is the opening to my Friday column about Giants’ starting pitching:
SAN FRANCISCO – You can read these words on the Giants’ post-game notes from their 5-2 win on Thursday, breaking a three-game losing streak to the A’s: “Barry Zito threw 6.0 quality innings, allowing just one run on three hits.”
It’s the phrase “quality start” that causes a frog the size of a hippo to form in your throat.
Quality start, seriously?
Well, sure, technically it was quality. Zito gave up one run in six innings, and the definition of a quality start is no more than three runs in six innings. But if you look closely — or even not so closely — you notice he walked six batters. To their credit, the Giants include that relevant detail in their game notes.
Let me assure you walking six is walking a lot of batters.
To read the full column, click here.
