In December, 2006 the San Francisco Giants and Barry Zito agreed on a seven year, $126 million dollar contract. Zito's deal pays him roughly $18 million a season. Since winning the Cy Young Award in 2002 his numbers have declined. Honestly I was blown away when I read the news about Zito's contract. I thought "what a waste of money".
So far this season he has a 6-8 record and has been shelled in almost all of his losses. On May 18, 2006 he started against his old team the Oakland A's and lost 15-3. His stats for that game:
4 innings
6 hits
7 earned runs
7 Walks
2 Strike outs
In his last 7 starts, which includes that start and another against the A's, his performance has been just crap. He is supposed to be the franchise player. Is he worth 18 million a season? That is an easy answer, NO
Brian Sabien, the Giants general manager, was so proud of himself when he landed Zito from across the bay. I am sure he has been banging his head against the wall since Zito's opening day start. . The Giants are currently in last place, 10 games under .500 and have lost 6 in a row. Zito has two of those losses, getting blasted in both starts.
As a giants fan, I expect so much more out of a "superman" and he should be earning his money. I have watched a few of his starts this season and he just seems lazy on the mound, not really into the games. Shoot pay me that amount of money and I will give you 1000 % (not saying that I would do any better as a MLB pitcher). I am completely surprised at his record, I would have thought that he would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 11-3, not 6-8.
All Giant fans know that our year is over, I just hope that Barry number II can turn it around and that maybe they will deal and get rid of the other Barry.
