Zito, Righetti begin reclamation project
Henry Schulman
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
(04-29) 20:56 PDT -- Barry Zito began his new job as a reliever Tuesday by doing exactly what he would have done as a starter. He threw a 10-minute, 70-pitch bullpen session that impressed pitching coach Dave Righetti.
"His side today looked like he was pitching-ready for a game," Righetti said. "I enjoyed that as a coach."
Zito has had good bullpens before. The issue is what he does on the mound, and Righetti understands he and his charge will travel a long and difficult road. At the end of the road, Righetti said, will be a successful starting pitcher.
"Personally, I think he can win with the stuff he's got," Righetti said. "I believe that. If you don't believe that, you can't coach him, right? That's the way I'm built. I believe it. He's got to make adjustments."
The biggest will be accounting for a fastball that rarely surpasses 85 mph and, in Righetti's mind, probably never will. Asked if he believes Zito can regain his velocity, Righetti said, "No, unless he has an operation, unless he does a Rod Beck and puts on 20 or 30 pounds and throws harder. But how can you throw harder? I've never seen it other than somebody getting hurt and getting a new arm."
So what does Zito do? One key is creating speed separation between his fastball and offspeed pitches, and one does not need to be a flamethrower to do that. Righetti cited Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer, who throws some fastballs in the high 70s and offspeed pitches in the high 50s. Fastball movement would help, too, and Zito has been working on a sinking fastball that he has not brought into a game.
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4 comments:
what needs to happen is that zito needs to grow some balls, suck it up and get it done. The truth of the matter is that their are pitchers, Lh pitchers out there that would pitch where he's at, in the city he's in, and the team he plays for, for nothing. Ball players that all they want is a chance, play the gme because they love it. Because its all they know, and its all they ask for. Nothing more, nothing less. I would play for seeds and meal money, and to thing he's getting 14.5 million this year for nothing. Its free money that will never see again. So zito, grow some nuts, get a hair cut and become a gamer you premadana.
his head is a mess. i don't know how he'll get out of this. righetti's comments are encouraging. imagine what free agents we can get with $127 million. wow!
What are you guys crying over Zito? You should be grateful you even have someone that can at least draw seagulls to the park that Barry built and now I'm not talking about steriod boy. And what's Rags supposed to say about his multi-million dollar boy....that he sucks and can no longer throw it by a little leaguer? Face it and eat it. No one is going to take on that contract. At least send him to Fresno where you fans will get your money's worth as a carnival side show. I'd say I feel bad for you; but I don't. Eat it Giant Fans!!!
You know gonzo, nobody is crying over Zito we are just pissed he’s becoming more like a Dodger with each passing start, a prissy LA brat that cant win and seems to be like the fans from LA when he pitches. He doesn’t show up until the 3rd or 4th and is normally gone before the 6th- 7th. Now that is if he even makes it to the 3rd or 4th inning. But I will give it to you, you have the best fans in baseball who at the time of a game are stuck on a freeway listening to Vince Skully as his dull boring voice puts them to sleep. Listening to him is almost as bad as watching the Dodgers in Dodger stadium with 5,000 fans before the first pitch.(cause they are all at the local Starbucks getting a frap, extra whip, with soy milk, or drinking it in traffic stuck bumper to bumper when the 3rd inning just ended) Any who the giants may be bad this year but you know the dodgers sucked so bad they had to coin the fraise "Wait until next year"(self explanatory). While us in the city by the bay listen to "Humm Baby", the sound of a foghorn go off, and a trolley car bell.
Better yet lets paint the white house dodger blue and rename the streets from 1600 W. Pennsylvania Ave to“wait until next year” and Blow me Ave. We are already in the shitter whats more shit thrown on top of shit. Although I would know how Monica felt I would be left with a bad taste in my mouth.
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