Zito unveils new delivery for Giants

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 9:33 AM CST Comment 24 comments

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_giants_zito;_ylt=AlC41oo76DBgH.ayOY0ll1ai24cA

So, the Giants spend $126 million for a solid number 2 starter and he completely reinvents himself over the same winter he signs his giant (intended!) contract.

If I were the Giants I would be a little more than annoyed by this...if for no other reason than they really don't know what they will be getting from this brand new Zito, which, considering he was sold on his consistency is pretty unusual. And, in a way, continues to prove that Zito has flake-ish tendencies.

Though, what do I know? It could be Zito trying to improve upon his steady decline in peripherals. But I just imagine everyone in Giants camp weren't expecting this and judging by Dave Righetti's comments, they are pretty dumbfounded by it.

I love how you can tell Righetti is kind of like "WTF?" about this and is just barely trying to hide it...

My top three Dave Righetti comments from the article:

"If he loses the curveball, which he could because he'll be throwing from a different angle now -- we'll see how sore his groin is tomorrow."
"I looked at his tapes from Oakland, so that was a waste of time."
""He said he was going to do a little something different. He was right. That's a little bit different. That's a first."

Anyhow, it's just something else to keep an eye on in Spring Training...until the regular season starts and Zito goes back to his old delivery and this becomes a non-story.

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

No shit

"Hey guys I know you just gave me 126 MILLION DOLLARS, but I thought since I have the financial security I would try and mix it up a little ya know. Variety is the spice of life! Hey did you see I banged that skank Hillary Duff? Oh and me and the boys are going to go rip a few cords in the studio so go ahead and get Spring Training started without me."

"Everyone in the world thinks they know everyhing" - DStar

by Mike Simonek on Feb 16, 2007 9:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

For realzies...

Needless to say, given the money and this development, I'm happy the Rangers didn't land Zito.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That story...

...played big on the local news here.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 16, 2007 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Zito cant spell Hilary Duff

Let alone bang her.

I'm glad the Rangers didn't land Zito cus he sucks, also. Awful contract.

"Longview's record low temperature for Friday morning is 20° set back in 1909...I think that will fall...we will see."<--sez weatherman.

by Sharky on Feb 16, 2007 7:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh?

"If he loses the curveball, which he could because he'll be throwing from a different angle now -- we'll see how sore his groin is tomorrow."

Does that mean if he can't find the curveball, Righetti's gonna Pierzynski Zito?

by Nate on Feb 16, 2007 10:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

That's exactly what it means.

That or Righetti realized he'll be having to teach Zito how to pitch again.

I'm taking bets that next year Zito will come into spring as a submarineer!

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 10:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

That may just be the best $100 million that Hicks decided not to spend... what a flake. Imagine if MY came to camp saying that he decided to be a switch hitter...

by JBImaknee on Feb 16, 2007 10:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Uh oh

Imagine if MY came to camp saying that he decided to be a switch hitter...

Tim Hardaway would not be happy.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

well played

"Everyone in the world thinks they know everyhing" - DStar

by Mike Simonek on Feb 16, 2007 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

at least he plays in the NL

Jeff Weaver showed us all last year how you can suck ass and still get wins in the NL

by dubman on Feb 16, 2007 11:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Zito interview on radio this morning

He was on KNBR this morning and sounded very, very perturbed. Not the Zito we've all become accustomed to over the years.

In regard to Righetti, Zito said he notified him of his intentions 6 weeks, so he "held up his end of the bargain".

Additionally, he said "you don't look a Michelangelo sculpture when it's halfway done and criticize it".

If you're interested in listening to it, it's here:

http://knbr.com/morningshow/index.html

Scroll down to the Feb 16 listings.

by tlt29 on Feb 16, 2007 2:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

give me a break

Michelangelo?! It's amazing what $126 million will do to a guy's ego, apparently.

It's Coagulicious!

by trza on Feb 16, 2007 2:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

big contract =

more scrutiny. there aren't many pitchers who don't tweak their mechanics from time to time...or even constantly.

Towel drills cannot help a pitcher throw a baseball better.

by SteveP on Feb 16, 2007 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This appears...

to be different though. It's not like he is dedicating himself to staying back or adjusting his glove level or something. He is completely changing his delivery...which, as Righetti said, you just don't see.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would...

but, I can't listen to KNBR anymore because I can't stand Ralph Barbieri's speaking voice.

It's like nails on a chalkboard made of cats that are on fire.

Now, since it looks like this is from the morning show, you would think I would be okay, but I know, I know they will slip in a Razor and Mr. T promo and I'll start reaching for my gun.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't like Barbieri...

...you won't like the morning show clowns.

Barbieri's voice wears on you, but at least he knows what he's talking about.

Murph and Mac are annoying personalities, and they really have no clue what they're talking about.

by tlt29 on Feb 16, 2007 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I used to think...

...the Razor was totally insufferable. But once I got over his voice, I can tolerate him.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 16, 2007 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Razor

I hated him when he had his own show way back in the late-80's. He was a total jackass when he was solo.

Since they paired him with Tolbert in '96, I've really grown to like the guy. The voice is definitely much more tolerable for some reason, and he's not nearly as big an assclown as he once was. Tolbert mellowed him out.

by tlt29 on Feb 16, 2007 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you still...

out here in the Bay Area?

We totally should start a LSB Rangers night at MacAfee...or whatever they are calling it.

We'll all wear our Batlack jerseys, throw chairs, and drunkingly yell "Fat chance you're getting Blalock for Fuson! It wasn't even tampering!" to puzzled A's fans.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that sounds awesome

I'm in.

Edwards-Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Feb 16, 2007 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm in Lincoln

I moved from San Jose in 2005, but I still get down to the Nickel-and-Dime (I've got street cred) when the Rangers are in town.

I'm down for LSB night at the NetAss. We could all go beat the hell out of the jackasses in the LF bleachers that play their damn drums all game long.

by tlt29 on Feb 16, 2007 5:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome...

now we just need to convince Adam and Sharky to come.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

theMenchcanMash

Have you gone by different screen names here? Did you ever post on ESPN or Newberg?

by tlt29 on Feb 16, 2007 5:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

History...

I've been in and around Ranger forums since about '98. I was Ranger administrator of a site called mlbfans.net for a while back then and caught on at Newbergs.

I never really did more than lurk though. But I remember the glory days over there of Jim Meeks and Carl Golden and LBrooks.

Usually, I just posted with my real name, Chris Fittz...or I would come up with an alias that I would use for a while like The Great Emu or something.

The 2000 season was when I started lurking at the ESPN boards...I didn't start posting there until probably around 2004-ish, though.

I've always used theMenchcanMash, there.

Anyhow, when Wufdog killed the ESPN boards, I just followed everyone else here.

by theMenchcanMash on Feb 16, 2007 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs