Impact Analysis: Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants

June 6, 2008 @ 08:47:41

By Richard Garcia
Edited by Herija C. Green

Prior to picking up his first win of the season May 23, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito was far from earning the $126 million contract he signed with the club before the 2007 season. He had posted a 0-8 record with a 6.25 ERA in his first nine starts while allowing 24 walks and striking out 22 batters. Following an April 27 start in which Zito allowed eight earned runs in three innings against the Cincinnati Reds he was promptly removed from the rotation.

That demotion didn't last long, however. After just 10 days working out his problems in the bullpen, he returned to the rotation only to pick up two losses and a no-decision in his first three starts back. However, he did appear to be on the right track and allowed seven earned runs in 16 innings while picking up more strikeouts (11) than walks (nine) during that time.

Zito then finally picked up his elusive first win after he allowed just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings against the Florida Marlins. However, he still managed to walk four batters, which has been one of the main reasons that he is carrying a 1.84 WHIP this season. The win was a good sign for 30-year-old lefty, who has failed to live up to the lofty expectations his contract garnered. Unfortunately, Zito hasn't been able to feed off the success he had in that one start. Since picking up his only victory of the season (1-9), Zito has a loss and a no-decision. In those starts, he has allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings while walking eight and striking out six.

Zito wasn't always this awful

Zito was originally a 59th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 1996 and later a third-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 1998. He was excited and eager to take the $125,000 signing bonus the Rangers were offering and begin his professional career. However, his father had other ideas. At the advice of his dad, Zito took a scholarship to the University of Southern California, instead. He would go on to earn All-American honors and pitch his way to the ninth overall selection by the Oakland Athletics in the 1999 draft. His bonus from the Athletics was for $1.59 million.

After making his major league debut in 2000 with the Athletics, Zito didn't truly find his form until the end of the 2001 season. He would outshine starting pitchers Mark Mulder (St. Louis Cardinals) and Tim Hudson (Atlanta Braves) by finishing the year going 11-1 with a 1.32 ERA in his final 13 starts. That would lead into the following season where he would claim the 2002 American League Cy Young Award with a 23-5 record and 2.75 ERA. In his career with the A's, Zito made the AL All-Star team three times.

What's left?

Zito appears to be a shell of the pitcher that was a dominating force early in the decade. In his first season with the Giants, he ended the year as one of the most overpriced disappointments in the sport. He managed to post an 11-13 record with a career-worst 4.53 ERA. However, the Giants offense was the second-most anemic in the major leagues last year, and they are closely following that form this season as the fourth-lowest scoring team in the majors. Nonetheless, Zito hasn't been helping himself on the mound. His nine losses this season are close to matching the career high he set in 2005 and matched last year (13).

Fantasy outlook

Fantasy owners who haven't dropped Zito to the wayside need to do so immediately. Even in the deepest of mixed leagues, there has to be a better option available than Zito, who has just one win, a 5.87 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and more walks allowed than strikeouts. Zito hasn't had much fantasy value since joining the Giants and pitching in what is generally known as a pitchers' ballpark hasn't helped. It appears that there is no hope for Zito, who should be dropped with confidence in all formats but NL-only.

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Richard Garcia
Garcia served as a managing editor for KFFL. Prior to his time with KFFL, Richard worked in managerial roles with both Frito-Lay Inc. and UPS. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in public relations from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and fulfilled his internship requirements with the Los Angeles Kings Hockey organization in 2001.

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