Will the move to the bullpen help the oft-ridiculed (by me) Barry Zito succeed?  That depends on a number of things: 1, will short bursts help his velocity, and more importantly, his command?  Secondly, the answer is no, because the Giants will never receive the value they “expected” from Zito when they gave him more than one-tenth of a billion dollars. 

It’s possible that being in the bullpen will bump Zito’s stuff a bit (the nature of “letting it loose” rather than “saving something”).  But as it stands now, Zito has the stuff of a LOOGY, and that’s not going to get it done, and that’s if he’s making league-minimum.  He’s not.  He’s making 14.5 million dollars this year.   

It’s funny that in Year 2 of 7, Zito’s been demoted to the bullpen.  Most big-money contracts are “back-loaded”, meaning the player earns the most money in the final years of the deal.   Zito’s contract is no different. 

It’s 2008, and Zito has lost a great degree of skill (velocity, command and movement, the three things pitchers kind of need). In 2013, Zito will earn 20 million dollars.  He could be retired by then.   

The Zito deal, including the dollar figures and especially the history of the player before he inked his name (any idiot could see that Zito was declining) should be posted in the office of every MLB GM so they can see exactly what not to do.   

Of course, Peter Magowan, the principal owner of the Giants, gave his GM, Brian Sabean (the man who flushed one-tenth of a billion down the drain) a nice friendly extension for his work.   

It must really suck to be a Giants fan. 

*** 

While I’m harping on the Giants, it sickens me that they pulled all of the Barry Bonds tributes from the outfield walls of their home park, AT&T Park.  What, all of those home runs and all of those RBIs and walks and hits (not to mention the merchandise and ticket sales) don’t matter?  71, unimportant?  73, worthless?  757, non-existent? 

Hypocrites. That may be harsh, but they’ve earned it for this.  If I were a Giants fan, that’d mark the end of any of my money going into Magowan’s hands. 

*** 

For the first time since 2000, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez has hit the Disabled List.  Brian Cashman, the Yankees General Manager, says that Rodriguez has a Grade II quadriceps strain.  Essentially, in doctor-speak, that means the quad is torn—slightly, be still my beating heart—but not so badly that surgery is required.  A little rest and some relaxation will cure it. 

That’s all well and fine, but can the Yankees survive without Rodriguez?  I’m not sure.  Granted, it’s only two weeks (hopefully), but with Phil Hughes stinking (and being thrown on the 15 day DL for it), Ian Kennedy mimicking a punching bag for the first month of the year, and Jorge Posada’s shoulder going ka-put, it’s possible that the Yankees could really sink without their third baseman.  The offense ramifications are clear, but what about the defense?  Yes, I dig Morgan Ensberg, his glove is better than A-Rod’s, and his bat is good too. But what if G.I. Joe goes and starts the Former Attorney General (hat tip to River Ave Blues) Alberto Gonzalez at third?  That’d be a severely idiotic move, the kind that managers who got canned and work for the Four-Letter television station make.    

So, Joe, play Ensberg.  Then play A-Rod when he returns. 

It’s as simple as that. 

*** 

Calm down, Reds fans.  You guys got all jacked up on Johnny Cueto’s mojo after he debuted and devoured the Arizona Diamondbacks.  I feel you; he was pretty nasty that afternoon, eh?   

Sure, his ERA is 5.40.  But he has a nasty strikeout to walk ratio and he’s not giving up a ton of hits.  The six dingers are a problem, but he’s young and he’s 33 or some odd innings into his MLB debut.  It’s not a big deal, he’ll be fine.   

So you can take your hands off the rifle, okay?

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