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An Ode to Barry Zito --



Barry, Barry, Barry ... where did it all go wrong? Where has that 12-to-6 curveball gone? That high 80's to low 90's fastball that set-up the curve? The ERA's in the 3.xx's instead of the mid-to-high 4.xx's? etc. etc. You're even getting booed at your own home park! What's a fantasy owner to do with you Barry, especially in a league where I can't "pump and dump" you (i.e., trade you) to another (unfortunate) team by touting your solid (e.g., Cy Young) seasons of yesterday.



Seriously ... chime in, if you would. What on earth do you do with this guy in this format? Drafted him in the 20th round, so it's not a huge loss, but honestly -- I get scared even thinking about clicking "activate". You know he's going to have a few decent starts this year, but do you just move on and take your chances elsewhere. He's literally ERA and WHIP roulette -- 2-3 of his bad starts can kill you.



What would you do ... and I'd love to hear from other Zito owners especially ... when did you draft him, and what are your plans for him? (I noticed the drops of Zito starting last week, as well as the less than 100% main event ownership), hence this thread.



Thanks for your insights!

I don't own him any leagues but I would drop him. Plus he pitches for the Giants who are the worst team in baseball and will provide very little run support for him.

I think the only real choice is to sit him on your bench until he pulls it together a little. He is unplayable and undroppable right now. Play a RP in his place if you can't find a solid starter.

I feel yer pain...got him in the 21st rd, not alot of great starters left...talked myself into it b/c of that former Cy Young & read somewhere that his last 2 mo's were much better...was hoping for a bounce back....started him the 1st wk instead of Suppan & Dempster (b/c Bad Ass Barry had 2 starts!)



I'll hang onto him for a while, maybe start him at home...taking a wait & see approach.

If it's any help. He was dropped in my main event league last week. Kinda surprising. I'll put a respectable bid in on him. If I get him, great. If not, at least no one got him for cheap!

A good matchup is what is looked for in bottom tiered pitchers. Would you trust Zito at home vs. St Louis, Florida, and Pittsburgh? The answer would be a resounding...er.. maybe.

Those are best case scenario matchups. Look at your waiver wire and see if you can find three pitchers that you would feel more comfortable in owning. If the answer is yes, then you must come to the realization that you're holding Zito for his name brand recognition and what he did for owners during the Oakland years.



[ April 10, 2008, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

He has a spot on my bench today. With better pitchers on the DL and taking up bench pitcher spots, Zito's days may be numbered. I still believe that 150 k's will come via 200+ IP along with a win every third start, if I hit it right a couple times more then I hit it wrong I might get a 4 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to boot over 8-10 periods I use him. There are worse things out there then 29 year old lefties with a full time job.

As I articulated earlier, Barry ... you were treading on thin ice.



Tonight's start absolutely, positively, puts you in rarified territory in my world.



Repeat after me, Barry.



YPNM.



You are SO waiver bound Sunday, you and your $100+ million contract and "guitar playing" for fun won't know what hit you.



Thanks for the memories; we did have some great runs together. My early supposition, though, is that you're going to go down amongst the absolute greatest of the "worst" free agent / long-term contract signings ever, along with the Mike Hampton's, Darren Driefort's etc.



I'm out, Barry. You're not even worth these very keystrokes ... all that remain is the act of firing you. Which is ... now, DONE!

Drop him. He will help in no categories this year. Zito is done.

Originally posted by Sheep:

He has a spot on my bench today. With better pitchers on the DL and taking up bench pitcher spots, Zito's days may be numbered. I still believe that 150 k's will come via 200+ IP along with a win every third start, if I hit it right a couple times more then I hit it wrong I might get a 4 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to boot over 8-10 periods I use him. There are worse things out there then 29 year old lefties with a full time job. He could pitch 350 innings this year and not get 150 K's.

He was undraftable on my board. I don't think he's worth a buck in FAAB, dump him to open up a spot for someone who could deliver some value for you.

Originally posted by The Mighty Men:

quote:Originally posted by Sheep:

He has a spot on my bench today. With better pitchers on the DL and taking up bench pitcher spots, Zito's days may be numbered. I still believe that 150 k's will come via 200+ IP along with a win every third start, if I hit it right a couple times more then I hit it wrong I might get a 4 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to boot over 8-10 periods I use him. There are worse things out there then 29 year old lefties with a full time job. He could pitch 350 innings this year and not get 150 K's. [/QUOTE]Might issue 200 walks with that many innings.

Originally posted by TTBoy:

An Ode to Barry Zito --



Barry, Barry, Barry ... where did it all go wrong? Where has that 12-to-6 curveball gone? That high 80's to low 90's fastball that set-up the curve? The ERA's in the 3.xx's instead of the mid-to-high 4.xx's? etc. etc. You're even getting booed at your own home park! What's a fantasy owner to do with you Barry, especially in a league where I can't "pump and dump" you (i.e., trade you) to another (unfortunate) team by touting your solid (e.g., Cy Young) seasons of yesterday.



Seriously ... chime in, if you would. What on earth do you do with this guy in this format? Drafted him in the 20th round, so it's not a huge loss, but honestly -- I get scared even thinking about clicking "activate". You know he's going to have a few decent starts this year, but do you just move on and take your chances elsewhere. He's literally ERA and WHIP roulette -- 2-3 of his bad starts can kill you.



What would you do ... and I'd love to hear from other Zito owners especially ... when did you draft him, and what are your plans for him? (I noticed the drops of Zito starting last week, as well as the less than 100% main event ownership), hence this thread.



Thanks for your insights! IMO, there are overpaid/overhyped SP's not worth drafting. a top tier set-up is of more value than a piece-of-s..t SP.

Originally posted by Sheep:

He has a spot on my bench today. With better pitchers on the DL and taking up bench pitcher spots, Zito's days may be numbered. I still believe that 150 k's will come via 200+ IP along with a win every third start, if I hit it right a couple times more then I hit it wrong I might get a 4 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to boot over 8-10 periods I use him. There are worse things out there then 29 year old lefties with a full time job. My belief is short lived. I put him in my lineup for a DL replacement the day after this post and he had his best start. I put him back in for a double start this week. There are a number of reasons I only have 300 pitching points, but Barry Shito is at the top of that list.

After having Zito, Mussina, Glavine, and K Rodgers I sent them all to pasture for Danks, Wellemeyer, Cliff Lee, and K Lohse and now I look forward to seeing these guys pitch for short money and with spunk vs old, fat and happy, all with memories of skills.



Cut them all and laugh on the Sunday someone picks them up.