The Collegian

Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Sports

This past off-season, Giants GM Brian Sabean took a huge leap of faith and signed pitcher Barry Zito to the most expensive contract for a pitcher in Major League history. As an A's fan, this was disheartening and hilarious. Zito is a fine pitcher, yes, but is most assuredly NOT worth $126 million. After having a miserable Giants debut on "Opening Day" against the Padres, Zito chalked the poor performance up to 'trying to be too fine' with his pitches. That is the very same excuse he made for every bad start he had with the A's. This means that he clearly has not learned the type of maturation that is supposed to come along with such a ridiculous contract. Because of that, Giants fans, get used to routine starts of six or so innings, with about four or five runs allowed (seemingly the Giants' weekly output thus far this season) and a handful of walks. Then, in post game interviews, expect to hear this "I was trying to be too fine" stuff ad nauseam.
Not that I am bitter about Zito jumping ship to the Giants. That provides me and the rest of A's Nation (all 17,000 or so of us) the chance to continue watching him pitch, without having to care. We can just laugh and observe the same old inconsistent-but-sometimes-brilliant pitching that he provides.
The A's, on the other hand, dodged an arthritis balm-injected bullet by failing to sign the other Barry (Bonds) in the off-season. That would have been just horrible. As it is, neither the A's nor the Giants have gotten off to very good starts this young season, but with the A's, failure is more acceptable than it is with the Giants. The A's contend every year, despite a payroll that is still among the lowest in baseball. So losing in the ALCS last year, while disappointing, was not the end of the world as it would have been for the Giants.
Sabean took a huge chance assembling this team, but it will probably not pay off. They're too old. The Bonds Factor only plays against the team, since no one with a rational mind can honestly root for him to break Hank Aaron's record. As for Zito, enjoy his inconsistency. He's your problem now.
Am I biased? Perhaps. I prefer to think of it as 'clear-headed'. To each his own.
If the Giants do somehow make the World Series again, I have an idea what might happen….Game 6, Giants on the verge of an improbable Series win. Manager Bruce Bochy proudly hands the game ball to starter Russ Ortiz, who has pitched the team to the brink of a championship….hmm, that sounds familiar….

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools