More on Zito
"Congrats on getting the cream of the free agent crop! While you sound a little less than excited, I have been eager to hear your thoughts. One has to wonder if Zito will be the next A-Rod, meaning when will the madness stop? We still haven’t approached those numbers yet."
The above comment from another Diamondbacks blogger prompts this entry. Well, I’m not really a Giants fan, although my posts arguing that Eric Byrnes should become a Giant may give that impression. I argue for that because I think Eric would enjoy it and have the kind of opportunity he wants, i.e. a multi-year deal as an everyday player. I basically root for two teams: whoever has Eric Byrnes and the Mets. I was hoping Zito would sign with the Mets. I was looking forward to Billy Wagner closing for Zito.
Which brings me to the point of who will close for Zito? He goes from having Huston Street (2005 AL Rookie of the Year) to Armando "Arthritis" Benitez.
Around the newsroom at KPFA, I often said "run support for Barry Zito is a beautiful thing." Will he get that with the Giants compared to what he would have gotten with some of the other teams mentioned in the Zito sweepstakes such as the Mets, the Angels, the Yankees?
If Zito doesn’t come up with 18-20 wins because of a poor bullpen or poor run support, he’s not to blame, but with the price tag attached to his contract, he’ll be in the fans’ and media’s crosshairs. So basically, the Giants still have work to do to make this signing a sound investment toward a winning future and not just something tomake Bay Area fans forget about the players who didn’t want to sign with them and the fact that the feds are still after Barry Bonds.
I think it will take another year to see whether Zito, in terms of winning, landed in quicksand or in clover.
Good Luck, Z.
mlblogsbyrnesblog
I noticed that a lot of the callers to the KNBR Byrnesapalooza agreed with you and me that Eric should be a Giant. He should have been one years ago.
For me, it would be a bittersweet joy, since E is the most fun to heckle of all the major leaguers I’ve gone after. Besides, I think he enjoys me being mean to him. Lots of guys are into that, you know.
Now that we know you are aware of this blog, E, how about logging in now and then? Would it hurt? Also, with the new ticket prices, a lot of us will have a very hard time attending. I know players can’t change that, but you know, some players will get tickets for fans with big hearts and small bank accounts.
Oh, one more thing, no ‘Mando bashing. I actually like him, and if he’s healthy, he can save Barry’s cute little butt.
Fully healthy, I don’t think Armando Benitez rises to the level of Huston Street or Billy Wagner. Maybe he did at one point, but not now.
Hey, ya gotta believe! People said Jeff Weaver was washed up, and he sure looked pretty good the last time I saw him pitch . . the final game of the WS.
Jeff Weaver doesn’t have arthritic knees.