Scottsdale, Ariz. – Brian Sabean is wide open for criticism. The San Francisco Giants’ general manager sits behind home plate at Scottsdale Stadium, fielding the question like a routine groundball: What led you to sign Barry?
Not that Barry, the one responsible for Tuesday’s media throng, the man pursued relentlessly by the federal government, the slugger baseball wishes would disappear before he passes Hank Aaron’s major-league home run record.
We’re talking Barry Zito, the arm for whom the Giants maxed out the Black American Express card, awarding a seven-year, $126 million contract – a record for a starting pitcher. Hasn’t Sabean heard of Mike Hampton or Kevin Brown?
Sabean, one of baseball’s best at his job, explained his decision as the Other Barry took batting practice.
“We loved the player. We didn’t want to lose him. And you never know what you are truly up against from other teams,” Sabean said. “With his track record and being left-handed in our ballpark, we were willing to do whatever we had to do. And if that’s overpaying, so be it.”
Regardless of Bonds’ production, the reality is the Giants can’t rebound without superiority from Zito. San Francisco’s problem during the past two losing seasons?
“Teams came into our park and outpitched us,” Sabean admitted.
The onus is on Zito to change that. He has never missed a start because of an injury. He won a Cy Young with Oakland. He has pitched well in the postseason. He’s reliable.
The issue is whether he’s a certifiable ace. That’s the expectation that comes with this kind of cash. Make $7 million and the fans will accept 16-10, his record last season. Repeat that this year and those same fans may ask George Mitchell to launch another investigation.
“We have talked with him about not trying to do too much,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He just needs to be himself.”
So you can imagine the Giants’ surprise when Zito arrived at camp with a new pitching motion, featuring a longer stride that threatened to flat-line his deadly curveball.
“He still has some stuff to iron out,” Sabean said. “We are going to incorporate some of the things he worked on in the offseason, but by and large he will have his same (old) delivery.”
Zito says all the right things – “People will say I went after the money, but it was about the right fit,” he told reporters. He has embraced his prominent role with the Giants. On Tuesday, he and Bonds walked onto the field wearing T-shirts with pointing arrows that read: Don’t ask me, ask Barry.
Clever. That’s Zito. He thinks outside the batter’s box. But he has not faced pressure like this.
Google “Hampton contract” and the URL asks, “Did you mean injury, disappointment, regrettable mistake?” Hampton received an eight-year, $123.8 million deal from the Rockies and was jettisoned after two seasons.
Coors Field got into his head, leaving him so flustered he actually stopped throwing his trademark sinker. By comparison, Zito will pitch half his games at AT&T Park, where home runs are just a rumor for everyone except Bonds.
That Barry, barring injury, will break Aaron’s record. It won’t matter, however, if Zito breaks hearts.
Footnote
Giants center fielder Dave Roberts seriously considered signing with the Rockies before they bowed out when the price became too steep. “I enjoyed my conversations with Mr. (Dan) O’Dowd and (Clint) Hurdle. Honestly, I really like what they are doing over there,” he said.
