tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post723768443344861885..comments2024-03-29T02:43:41.299-07:00Comments on When the Giants Come to Town...: Thoughts on Barry Zito NLCS Game 5 PerformanceDrBGiantsfanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574563470247927739noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-265746844278198942012-10-21T18:53:12.374-07:002012-10-21T18:53:12.374-07:00Good points but Zito has actually been like this s...Good points but Zito has actually been like this since 2009. He has been basically like this in 2009, 2010, and now 2012. People forget but he had a great ERA going into August 2010 and was still under 4 at his last start of August 2010. And he probably would have been like this in 2011 if that car accident had not happened, he did pitch well in first initial games in 2011, but then his body failed him and he tried to get it done, as most athletes do, even though he wasn't 100%. He has actually been a good pitcher most of his Giants career, just not the pitcher that a $126M price tag would suggest.obsessivegiantscompulsivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-82263785859663445342012-10-21T18:46:17.914-07:002012-10-21T18:46:17.914-07:00That's the funny thing about Zito, he started ...That's the funny thing about Zito, he started his career very good against RHB but not as much the LHB, but as he got older and losing velocity, the RHB started to figure him out, but then he started to figure out LHB, and just had his best season against LHP ever. <br /><br />Then he comes out with a start like this where he's back to the old Barry shutting down the RHB.<br /><br />It was also lucky that Beltran insisted on coming back in Zito's start, Zito is like one of the few Giants pitchers who can shut him down really well. Might have been different if the Cards brought in one of the other good hitting OF.obsessivegiantscompulsivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-24447951626114016902012-10-21T15:04:05.543-07:002012-10-21T15:04:05.543-07:00Jered Weaver is an example of a starter who barely...Jered Weaver is an example of a starter who barely touches 90 mph with his fastball, but still gets the job done with a variety of pitches and movement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-79468138568356831572012-10-21T12:58:18.140-07:002012-10-21T12:58:18.140-07:00It's getting harder and harder to think of pit...It's getting harder and harder to think of pitchers who don't hit 90 as practically everybody can get to that these days.<br /><br />Romo is a reliever but he comes to mind. He succeeds with insane movement on his pitches, and not just the slide piece. He gets great movement from his upper 80's two seam FB too.<br /><br />Not sure if he hits 90 or not, but Tommy Milone comes to mind as a velocity challenged young pitcher who is succeeding.<br /><br />I'll try to think of some more. I think there is a website somewhere that uses Pitchfx to monitor average FB velocity. I'll have to try to find it.DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-8290584191830335312012-10-21T12:54:05.502-07:002012-10-21T12:54:05.502-07:00Ha! I said SUPPORTIVE accountability!Ha! I said SUPPORTIVE accountability!DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-83273577086419886962012-10-21T12:15:16.220-07:002012-10-21T12:15:16.220-07:00Including knuckleballers?Including knuckleballers?BuyLowSellLowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-69908984774307849452012-10-21T12:13:29.588-07:002012-10-21T12:13:29.588-07:00Maybe sabers should do something to relfect the fa...Maybe sabers should do something to relfect the fact that relationship-committed starting pitchers sleep on the couch, until they pitch again, when they don't have quality starts.BuyLowSellLowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-24562971459363910252012-10-21T12:03:48.815-07:002012-10-21T12:03:48.815-07:00It's always easy to point out the Verlanders a...It's always easy to point out the Verlanders and Strasburgs of the world who dominate as power pitchers. I see a lot of posts about declining FB velocity and how that translates to poorer performance.<br />I would be interested in discussing which pitchers have thrived in the mold of Greg Maddux-- Who would you list in the upper quarter of pitchers who do not have a FB above 90?<br />GO GIANTS! <br />DocGroonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-54687685857789157422012-10-21T10:54:57.051-07:002012-10-21T10:54:57.051-07:00I think the Cubans are exempt, at least for awhile...I think the Cubans are exempt, at least for awhile. Not sure about Japan and Asia.DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-25274759088112515482012-10-21T10:52:42.708-07:002012-10-21T10:52:42.708-07:00If there is no cap, I'll guess the Dodgers blo...If there is no cap, I'll guess the Dodgers blow everybody else out of the water on this one. They seem to be intent on proving to the world they can outdo the Yankees when it comes to throwing money at their problems.DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-28463203119742144272012-10-21T10:43:44.127-07:002012-10-21T10:43:44.127-07:00Great question Doc. The CBA summaries I have seen...Great question Doc. The CBA summaries I have seen say something to the effect that Japanese posting will not be affected. Is this a murky grey area? The Giants have about 1mm bucks left this year that we know about, although they may have snagged some under the radar guys already after Cabrera and Javier. <br /><br />If he would not count towards teams caps maybe he hits the sweet spot and a genuine bidding war breaks out. If he does count, what team would he value. The giants are a nice high profile team. Like them to at least get the due diligence and name in the hat.Shankbonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803824507120403397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-16031046935995493202012-10-21T09:54:50.926-07:002012-10-21T09:54:50.926-07:00Q: Does Otani come under the bonus cap for intern...Q: Does Otani come under the bonus cap for international prospects?DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-76536008105252177562012-10-21T09:53:47.304-07:002012-10-21T09:53:47.304-07:00I think there is more to it than just catching hit...I think there is more to it than just catching hitters by surprise, but yeah, the Cards were not the most likely team for him to do it against. He is noticeably more effective against LH batters.DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-85867315100906004472012-10-21T09:52:45.206-07:002012-10-21T09:52:45.206-07:00I think the answer is that when Zito can locate th...I think the answer is that when Zito can locate the FB, break off curves in the zone and throw in an occasional fading changeup he's as good as anybody out there(well, maybe not as good as Justin Verlander). The problem is he isn't able to always do those things, and when he isn't he gets bombed. <br /><br />As for the last 6 years, I think there are several factors: 1. He hasn't always even tried to keep the ball down. He was trying to pitch like he could reach back for a 92 MPH heater that didn't exist. He's not trying to do that anymore. 2. Having a missus to go home to can make a big difference in a man's life. I call it supportive accountability.DrBGiantsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699322384438591979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-65740727047266471382012-10-21T09:33:35.122-07:002012-10-21T09:33:35.122-07:00Saw Video for Otani do you think we should make a ...Saw Video for Otani do you think we should make a bid for him?johnnynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-20986023054437858752012-10-21T09:01:53.244-07:002012-10-21T09:01:53.244-07:00Give Zito all the credit for pulling together one ...Give Zito all the credit for pulling together one of the best playoff starts in recent memory. In an elimination game on the road with zero momentum against a RH lineup that has a .650 winning percentage against lefties this year and Barry was brilliant. This does beg the question why wasn't he able to do this more over the last 6 years!! Doesn't matter, thank you Barry Zito for this one!Patonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-31306297999984098892012-10-21T08:37:57.233-07:002012-10-21T08:37:57.233-07:00DocB, part of the reason I was surprised, was that...DocB, part of the reason I was surprised, was that during the regular Zito can catch hitters by surprise. He is one of those weird change of pace guys. You're used to seeing guys throwing in the 90's and here comes Zito and his 84'er. <br /><br />In the playoffs, I thought with all the preparation and advance scouting that goes into each game, the Cards would be prepared to face Zito and dissect his slow stuff. So yes, I knew Zito could be effective (shutting out the Rocks in their home opener showed me that) but I didn't think a quality, RH, well prepared team could be shutdown by Zito.<br /><br />I had to watch every pitch to believe it. Monterey Sharkhttp://www.eollinger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389427040394111033.post-66671081746985842892012-10-21T07:33:35.660-07:002012-10-21T07:33:35.660-07:00Sort of a coin flip. Zito keeps the ball down, av...Sort of a coin flip. Zito keeps the ball down, avoids walks a d pitches to contact he can be effective. He gets a lead, the curve ball comes out, and he can be dominant.<br /><br />18 year old shohei Otani, he of the 99 mph fastball and the 6'4 frame, is going pro. No silly posting fee due. Giants need to get in and do some due diligence.Shankbonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803824507120403397noreply@blogger.com